Are statin drugs harmful?

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old dog

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This is a subject that has probably been kicked around before, but I can't find anything recent.

I have read that some neuros believe people with ALS/PLS should not take statin drugs. Has anyone out there received this advice or experienced problems that coincide with taking statins for controlling cholesteral?
 
I PERSONALLY think that statins are very dangerous, and probably most of the people who are prescribed them shouldn't take them. Look up Dr. Mercola's website, some of his ideas are a bit weird, but he does have a very informative article on why statins are prescribed. IF you do choose to take a statin, then you SHOULD always take Co-Q-10 enzyme, which is depleted in your liver along with the cholesterol.
 
My Hubby is a Dr and he Is dead against them. He also points out that they should never be given to the elderly as if they do work, the cardiovascular benefit would not be seen for a minimum of 10 years. So.......why put someone in their 70's or older on them? Money making, and last doctors that's why? Just my 2 cents.
 
I personaly believe they are very bad for people. I stopped taking mine years ago when at same time my symptoms started thinking it was them....doc highly incouraged use a couple years later, symptoms i had got worse again. Never again for me. My pennies worth...:)

Has anyone died from high cholesterol ?...just asking...
 
Garlic is one of the natural way to lower cholesterol. Along with eating healthy. My papa would buy them in a pill form from the vitamin store. His cholesterol dropped dramatically.
 
There have been some incidences of neurological side effects
 
old dog......i give the statins up for 3 months ...thinking they were the cause of my stiffness and stomach dis comforts...felt good for a few weeks.....but everything came back...in hindsight my so called improvement was wishful thinking...so i am back on them.....all my mates are on them so if they do harm we will all go down together...and if they do good we will still be having our lager sessions together for longer.we hope...seems half the worlds on them.......so live dangerous....johnno
 
Thanks to everyone who answered. I'm seeing a new primary care physician tomorrow. Will run this by her. Hey, Johnny - my cholesterol was nearly perfect in my drinking days. Tip one for me!

old dog
 
hey dog....2 nights a week am out for a few lagers....and they are the best nights sleep i have.....beats the pills everytime.......so get out there for a tipple ore two..and let the doc do the worrying about your cholesterol.....johnny
 
I took my husband off them when he started haveing muscle problems. I figured (over simplifiled Im sure) if a med can Cause muscle problems why would someone who is having muscle problems take them. didnt make since to me. The doctors did not argue or say whether it was a good move or not. just said OK.....who knows
 
There have been studies that show that statin drugs accelerate progression in PALS.

My ALS specialist advised me to avoid statin drugs like the black plague.
 
Actually there are studies that say a High Cholestrol level is actually good for PALS. I will try to find the study.

Reuters reported on 28 April 2008 that elevated lipid levels (also called hyperlipidemia and high cholesterol) appear to significantly improve survival in patients with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Investigators have found that when patients with ALS have a hyperlipidemic profile, their survival is much better. Further confusing traditional medical philosophy, when their LDL cholesterol level is high and HDL low, their survival is the best - just the opposite of prevailing medical opinion.



Higher cholesterol levels may help
prolong survival in patients with
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS) by warding off malnutrition and
muscle wasting, according to a new study
by French researchers.
About two-thirds of ALS patients develop
hypermetabolism, which leads to increased
resting energy expenditure as a result
of the disease, but the origin of this
finding is unclear. On average, these patients
also tend to have much higher blood
levels of both good and bad cholesterol and
triglycerides. Studies have also indicated
that glucose metabolism is affected in ALS
patients and in other neurodegenerative
diseases.
In the new study, researchers at the Federation
of Nervous System Diseases, Hospital
de la Pitie-Salpetriere in Paris, discovered
that ALS patients with considerably
higher cholesterol ratios lived, on average,
one year longer than patients with lower
levels, when compared with normal controls.
The findings, published in the April
8 print edition of Neurology, appeared online
Feb. 13.
 
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Just as an aside, the lead researcher Dr. Zinman is my Neuro.

AL.
 
I only know a few people on statins and all have complained about muscle stiffness, cramps and arthritic pains. Scary drug.
Laurel
 
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