Cholesterol drugs?

[wdfifteen]

I'm going to see my doc about this, but I thought I'd check here to see if he gets it right. About 2 years ago he prescribed a statin drug for high cholesterol. After about 2 months I hurt all over, but it was in the spring and I attributed it to working in the garden too hard. I kept hurting all summer, but I ran out of the pills and didn't reup the 'script right away. The pain went away. I started taking it again and the pain came back, but I'm a slow learner. Last fall I ran out again and the pain went away again. I now see body pain is a side effect. What alternatives to statins are there?

[Deschodt]

Same here.. Statins hurt me all over... niacin did not produce any results short of flushing like a menopausal woman. Doc kept experimenting with other brands for me, but all seem to hurt my joints/tendons... I quit taking all of that $#$@#$ (I should point out my levels are not bad, just borderline)

I'm losing weight instead.. Maybe it's not enough (genetic cholesterol? we'll see), but those pills were gonna kill me faster than the cholesterol ;-)

PS: tried flaxseed as well.. it's not bad, but it has....side effects ;-)

[Dave Kost]

I have had the same problem with the two statins my doctor prescribed - simvastatin and now crest or. I had pains in my legs that I could hardly walk so I stopped the stimvastatin. The same thing with crestor 5mg. Legs felt great after stopping for three days. I see the doc again in a month and may try another statin.

Not a good answer but I think achey legs is a more common side effect that published. Watching your fat intake is the best and safest cure.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I'm going to see my doc about this, but I thought I'd check here to see if he gets it right. About 2 years ago he prescribed a statin drug for high cholesterol. After about 2 months I hurt all over, but it was in the spring and I attributed it to working in the garden too hard. I kept hurting all summer, but I ran out of the pills and didn't reup the 'script right away. The pain went away. I started taking it again and the pain came back, but I'm a slow learner. Last fall I ran out again and the pain went away again. I now see body pain is a side effect. What alternatives to statins are there?

Same thing with me. Aches, fatigue, bloated so bad I looked like I was pregnant.

I had my suspicions but like you it was confirmed when I ran out of my script and something told me to hold off for a bit on the renewal.

So I'm on a steady regimin of Flaxseed, watching my diet and now that I've given up the coffin nails and have energy it'll be back to the gym.

My cholesterol is not horrible, borderline bad so we'll see.

Good luck, sucks when what should save your life makes you feel like crap.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Dave Kost

...simvastatin...

That's what I was on.

[bivenator]

There are alot of statins out there. Talk to your doc, usually one can be found that will not have any/fewer side effects. Borderline cholesterol can be affected by diet and exercise but sometimes this is not enough. Dont let the cholesterol go unchecked. You have had more than your fair share of stress and need to watch out for yourself as well.

[Geary]

Vit B3 beats expensive cholesterol drugs:

http://www.naturalnews.com/028473_Zetia_Vitamin_B3.html

[id10t]

A coworker's husband got off the pills by loosing some weight, exercising more, but hte thing that finally pushed it over the edge is that he started eating a strict vegan diet.

[Geary]

The problem with Statins is:

Activist Post: Health Groups: Statins Linked to 300+ Negative Effects

[Evans, Marv]

I had a bout of body pain & loss of strenght after taking Vytorin for almost 2 years. I figured out want was the probable cause after about a month and stopped taking it. The pain went away & I felt much better - normal actually. I emailed my doc & he switched me to Simvastatin about a year or more ago. No problems sofar, although my cholestoral level is 200+ it's better than 300+. Try to switch to a different drug(s) or try a mostly vegetarian diet & see what happens. Not all statins affect you the same.

[GWN7]

My Dr. gave me Crestor 10 mg to try as my cholesterol was "out of ballance".... well after 5 days of not going (#2) I quit taking them. My colon was very happy I stopped.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by GWN7

My Dr. gave me Crestor 10 mg to try as my cholesterol was "out of ballance".... well after 5 days of not going (#2) I quit taking them. My colon was very happy I stopped.

Ha ! in that case you could try flaxseed ;-) they should rename it F-Lax-seed.

[kanadary]

i heard from my doc that flax seed oil wasn't good for men.

[azasadny]

My cholesterol was over 300 on a mostly vegetarian diet and I am not overweight, just bad genes. 20mg of Zocor has me below 200 and no side effects.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by kanadary

i heard from my doc that flax seed oil wasn't good for men.

Why, seriously, would like to know.

[Tobra]

Lose weight, don't smoke, eat more oatmeal/cheerios, lower fat intake, switch from margarine/oleo to benechol(at the grocery store, niacin, B complex vitamins, more sex


okay, just kidding with the last one, but try it out on the Mrs and see if it works, it could not hurt.

Art. you have a cursed metabolism I think.

Statins are pretty nasty if you ask me

[azasadny]

Yeah, my gene pool needs to be drained and washed with bleach! Anyway, the Zocor lowers my cholesterol without raising my liver enzymes or any other (detectable) side effects. The Allopurinol keeps the uric acid level low enough to prevent my gout from flaring up, so I'm happy...

[Chocaholic]

I've been on Cholestyramine powder for years. Mix a 4 oz packet with OJ before bed. It binds fat (oil, cholesterol, grease) in your small bowel and turns it into a nice turd rather than allowing it to get reabsorbed into your blood stream. Cholesterol has always been sub 200...a bit high on the HDL and low on the LDL (that's a good thing). And I pretty much eat whatever tastes good. Age is 52. Only side effect is a satisfying dump every morning.

Actually got on it after my gall bladder came out. Had, uh...challenges, with bouts of diahrrea because of bile upsetting my gizzard. Took care of that problem and maintains cholesterol also (that's what it's made for). Another name for it is Questran. May be worth looking into...it is NOT a statin.

[azasadny]

Mike,
I took Welchol for awhile, which I believe is similar to what you take. It's in pill form instead of powder and you have to take many (I think I took 6) pills a day.

[LWJ]

I have a pretty specialized doc for this. Lipitor hurt me and perhaps lead to gaining weight. Not certain. I am on Crestor now and have dropped 15+ pounds with no effort. Feel MUCH better.

Also take baby aspirin, fish oil, Vit D, Zetia, and a bunch of Niacin.

Kicked Beef, Pork and Dairy.

Results? dropped cholesterol levels by 1/2 and dropped LDL levels by 2/3.

Feel good as well.

Good luck. PM me if you want to learn the state of the art scoop on cholesterol science.

Larry