The Dangers Of Cholesterol Drugs

Tens of millions of Americans are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs—mostly statins—and some “experts” claim that many millions more should be taking them.

I couldn’t disagree more.

Statins are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, that is, they act by blocking the enzyme in your liver that is responsible for making cholesterol (HMG-CoA reductase). The fact that statin drugs cause side effects is well established—there are now 900 studies proving their adverse effects, which run the gamut from muscle problems to increased cancer risk.

For starters, reported side effects include:

Muscle problems, polyneuropathy (nerve damage in the hands and feet), and rhabdomyolysis (a serious degenerative muscle tissue condition)
Anemia
Acidosis
Sexual dysfunction
Immune depression
Pancreas or liver dysfunction, including a potential increase in liver enzymes
Cataracts

Muscle problems are the best known of statin drugs’ adverse side effects, but cognitive problems and memory loss are also widely reported. A spectrum of other problems, ranging from blood glucose elevations to tendon problems, can also occur. There is evidence that taking statins may even increase your risk for Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Statins currently available on the U.S. market are:

Advicor (lovastatin with niacin) – Abbott
Altoprev (lovastatin) – Shionogi Pharma
Caduet [atorvastatin with amlodipine (Norvasc)] – Pfizer
Crestor (rosuvastatin) – AstraZeneca
Lescol (fluvastatin) – Novartis
Lipitor (atorvastatin) – Pfizer
Mevacor (lovastatin) – Merck
Pravachol (pravastatin) — Bristol-Myers Squibb
Simcor (niacin/imvastatin) – Abbott
Vytorin (ezetimibe/simvastatin) – Merck/Schering-Plough
Zocor (simvastatin) – Merck

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Gary C.

10:53AM PST on Nov 29, 2011

Thankyou....

send a green star

Lika S.

3:08AM PST on Nov 19, 2011

I'm on simvastatin (generic Zocor) and Tricor. I don't take anything else with it. I'm also diabetic, so I take metformin also. I was on the zocor for much longer than I've been diabetic. I'm wondering if there is a connection.

I try to be as active as possible, but because I have literally decades of back pain (not related to cholesterol, it was 15 years before I started taking ANY prescriptions) so I'm over weight. But no one wants to believe me when I say that giving me IV liquids & antibiotics not only alleviate the pain, but, I lose a lot of weight - just in a couple days.

I don't know what it is about that. but, I wish I knew what was going on.

Jane R.

8:56AM PST on Nov 10, 2011

Informaative. I take a statin. Now I wonder if I should stop. I also take CoQ10 but only one a day. They are expensive.

Roger B.

7:49AM PDT on Nov 4, 2011

heather, the fact that Mercola is heavily criticized by other doctors merely makes me feel that Mercola is a good doctor. When you stop worshiping at the altar of modern medicine, then you will have a real chance of getting well.

heather g.

9:48PM PDT on Nov 3, 2011

Mercola's views differ to that of most doctors and he is heavily critisized in the medical fraternity. However, I think it is always a good thing to read alternative advice. It leads to questioning your regular doctor again and makes them aware that we are taking an interest in our own health.

Pam D.

12:53PM PDT on Nov 3, 2011

I have always said that I would not take cholesterol medication even though high cholesterol runs on my mother's side. I'm a firm believer that side affects from Rx's are worse then the problem they're given to you to fix. However, my "functional medicine" doctor gave me Red Yeast Rice to help lower the "numbers". It did. I have not had side affects - yet - but after reading a number of articles on this "natural" product, I decided to stop taking it. It's STILL a satin with the potential of the same side affects as the synthetic forms of statins. So, I guess I will continue to take my chances on keeping my levels in the best number I can through exercise and my continuing efforts to choose healthier foods.

Margarita F.

9:46AM PDT on Nov 3, 2011

I lower my cholesterol with black tea. Also my A1C. every day with food, two cups a day,don't drink tea before bed time.

9:24AM PDT on Nov 3, 2011

janet, there are many scientists, doctors, and other writers and thinkers who think that the whole cholesterol bit is bogus. You make about 80% of all of your cholesterol. You need cholesterol; it is used by your body to build all kinds of things, particularly hormones. Eating cholesterol free foods is almost certainly harmful. Oftentimes cholesterol is high because stress levels are high. Lower the stress levels and the cholesterol usually goes down. Cholesterol levels are mostly an indication, not a cause.

janet T.

8:59AM PDT on Nov 3, 2011

I tried some of these and had terrible side effects. I can't help but remember the time when doctors thought all women should take hormones for menopause. I was very against it because it seemed stupid when you read about how our hormones worked. Now it is cholesterol and I wonder if they are getting this all wrong too.

klemens o.

8:01AM PDT on Nov 3, 2011

thanks