Feel free to discuss any topic of general interest, so long as nothing you post here is likely to be interpreted as insulting, and/or inflammatory, nor clearly designed to provoke any individual or group. Please be considerate of others feelings, and they will be considerate of yours.
but strangely, doctors have nothing but praise for the drugs, and apparently unanimously agree that the added risks are worth it. I can't help but wonder what it would take to get a doctor to say something negative about statins. Statins have now been shown to cause acute kidney failure, liver dysfunction, cataracts, etc., (in addition to serious muscle problems), and yet not a single doctor appears willing to even suggest that anyone taking a statin should consider stopping the treatment. What would it take? Would statins have to kill half the patients who take them, before any doctors would be willing to suggest that statins may not be quite as wonderful as they have been claimed to be?
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Boggles the mind doesn't it?? I heard a doctor on TV (can't remember his name or what I was watching) say that statins should be added to drinking water becasue they are so beneficial and safe for everyone.
Statins, PPIs, H2 blockers . . . . all once thought to be safe now being shown to be not so safe. Add to that news like this http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/201 ... rned_N.htm and no drugs appear safe. I won't take a drug unless it's absolutely necessary.
Since there's no way to control the dose of anything in drinking water, a statement like that coming from a doctor, shows a rare combination of stupidity and irresponsibility. Maybe he has political ambitions.
That's an eye-opening article.
This attitude is apparently a major part of the problem:
"The U.S. regulatory system for prescription drugs is the toughest and safest in the world," said Ken Johnson at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
If that's true, (and it probably is), then obviously, drug industry quality control sucks, big time, all over the world. If the FDA caught these violations, just imagine what goes on that they don't catch.
Thanks for posting that link.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Tex a few years ago my doc wanted me on a statin when my cholesterol #'s were 165 / 62 HDL/LDL. He didn't even talk about dietary changes etc. I told him no at the time and that we should re-measure it after some changes. Within 7 months my numbers were 133 / 65
It just goes to show you that with even a modestly high LDL he went right for the pills.
Moral of the story you are your own best doctor; make sure to be informed of your choices and educate yourself on the options
That's kind of scary, when you think about it. The official medical attitude seem to be that virtually everyone should be taking a statin. If that's the case, why does it require a prescription?
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
quite interesting--"but, heart-healthy benefits of the cholesterol drugs outweigh these risks, experts say"
My husband Dave read this and wondered which big pharma companies paid for this study.
Dave has struggled with statins for years, tried every single one, numbers do come down, but gets debilitating side effects. Finally PCP said when you get these muscle, etc. side effects, discontinue for a few weeks then start up again. So it was several weeks on, several weeks off, finally his cardiologist 2 weeks ago said just quit taking statins--forever! We think the clear implication is perhaps one of these times the side effects will not be reversed, and he will suffer permanent muscle damage and kidney failure, etc. I think I read in People's Pharmacy Q & A that at some point it is no longer necessary to take statins--maybe at an older age than Dave--he is 75--but it need not be a life-long commitment. Since Dave feels so much better when he doesn't take them, he is very happy about this. BTW at one time the PCP had him up to 80 mg of mevacor a day, saying it was the maximum recommended, but he had not tried that much on any of his other patients. Of course the numbers came down dramatically, but he felt absolutely awful.
Beverly
the attitude to medication should be no unless there are no other options. In case of cancer or other life threatening diseases yes of course medication is good idea. Also the invention of antibiotic has been a live saver for a lot of people.
I still believe (although I am taking budenofalk and zyzal at the moment) a healthy human body is the best medicine there is.
We talk here only about the pharmaceutical industry and human health. Another industry where they make a lot of money is the meet industry. More and more bacteria's get immune for all antibiotics because to many humans use it too often for nothing (most of the time for viral infections, those morons who believe antibiotics help for a cold) but even more because of an extreme over use in the meet industry.
I hate that meat industry. Have you ever heard of Parma ham (from parma in Italy). The pigs are fattened here in the Netherlands, than in a big truck driven to Italy and slaughter there. Other trucks drive back to holland to sell the ham here. You know why, only than the ham may be called Parma ham. It is really a BIG industry here in the Netherlands. There live far more pigs and chicken here than people.
Research shows that at advanced age, suppressing cholesterol levels is counterproductive, from a longevity standpoint. The problem is, not enough research has been done to determine the age threshold at which it becomes counterproductive. Clearly, after the mid-80's, low cholesterol is not an advantage:
INTERPRETATION: In people older than 85 years, high total cholesterol concentrations are associated with longevity owing to lower mortality from cancer and infection. The effects of cholesterol-lowering therapy have yet to be assessed.
This is an interesting article which cites many references to studies where high total cholesterol did not correlate with increased mortality risk, for various age groups.
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
That's an interesting story about Parma ham. Obviously Italy isn't large enough to raise enough Parma ham, but it's big enough to process plenty of it.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
if knowledge is power than you certainly have made us feel mighty powerful. Lots of ammunition in case PCP--the one who had Dave on 80 mg of mevacor--doesn't agree with this decision. Thanks for the input. Beverly
You're most welcome. Good luck with convincing the doctor.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Visit the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Website
I can't help but wonder what it would take to get a doctor to say something negative about statins. Statins have now been shown to cause acute kidney failure, liver dysfunction, cataracts, etc., (in addition to serious muscle problems), and yet not a single doctor appears willing to even suggest that anyone taking a statin should consider stopping the treatment. What would it take? Would statins have to kill half the patients who take them, before any doctors would be willing to suggest that statins may not be quite as wonderful as they have been claimed to be?
