Statin drugs or NOT?

Question

My doctor is practically forcing me to be on stat-in drugs for high cholesterol, but I am resisting because they give me HORRIBLE side effects, and I don't believe that my cholesterol is that high. Is this a scam to sell more cholesterol lowering drugs? Am I right to refuse what my doctor is pushing?

Answer 1

Most of the time the so called "high cholesterol" is just an allopathic scam.

They say that under 200mg/dl is the optimal levels and anything over is a higher risk to heart attack. Bull.

The science already knows that elevated cholesterol is only partially responsible for the heart problem.

I know people healthy as anything with levels around 300mg/dl.

So the sale of statins like Lipitor must flow. And the 29 million of USA

"patients" must pay.

In few hundred years the medical community will look at today's doctors the same way we look at the Middle Ages Barber Surgeons.

Edit.

Yes that is right - taking money would be a felony.

Nevertheless, NOTHING is stopping the doctors to take gifts, free dinners or free holiday. (Under the pretences of educational purposes)

Answer 2

High Cholesterol is simply another way for drug companies to sell more drugs & doctors to have an excuse to continue treating you.

You would do much better by simply learning to eat more alkaline foods.

Here is a great book by Robert O. Young to help with that:

The pH Miracle: Balance Your Diet, Reclaim Your Health

http://www.amazon.com/pH-Miracle-Balance...  

Answer 3

First of all, you can't tell how high your cholesterol is just by how you feel. You must check the lab tests and see what your cholesterol levels really are. If the total cholesterol count is over 200, then you must do something to lower it. Your cholesterol levels should be under 150 LDL and over 50 HDL.

If your cholesterol is indeed high, the most effective method is usually through changing your diet and exercising at least 3 times a week. Exercise is a very important part of a cholesterol lowering regimen.

Is it possible that your doctor reccommended diet and exercise first and you didn't lower your cholesterol that way? It could be that this is why he said that you must take statins, as he didn't know of any other way to help you.

Answer 4

hi,

  i dont ur condition but no docter tells u wrong find this.k. if at all i will help u to get rid of that. i  will tell u abt the dispensing the drug to u. the drug is prepared at different concentration levels to sut patients comdition. so, whaen a docter prescibes, i think he consideres the condition of urs and i say u 1thing that having LDL conc more is more dangerous for u and this causes many MCI diseases

Answer 5

Diseases associated with high cholesterol (and fats) are the number one killer. Fats also play a key role in the incidence of cancers and many other degenerative diseases. Cholesterol exists only in animal tissues, therefore, one's diet is an important first step in its control. For some people, however, limiting fat and cholesterol intake alone is not enough to reduce serum cholesterol to safe levels because of their own liver's production of excess cholesterol. The use of supplements to augment dietary modification can help reduce cholesterol without the side effects of many drugs.

The effectiveness of any cholesterol-reduction therapy varies considerably between individuals. The nutrients we recommend have not only been shown to lower cholesterol, but also protect against cardiovascular disease by other mechanisms such as inhibition of cholesterol-oxidizing free radicals and abnormal blood clots inside arteries (thrombosis).

The following nutritional supplements offer synergistic benefits to assist dietary modification to reduce total serum cholesterol and elevate HDL cholesterol:

Policosanol, take one tablet twice per day with meals: one in the afternoon and one in the evening. Or Sytrinol, one capsule twice daily. Note:Do not take if it causes your cholesterol to drop below 180 mg/dL

Fiber, 4 to 6 grams before any high-fat meal.

Chitosan, three to six 500-mg chitosan capsules and one 1000 mg ascorbic acid capsule right before a high-fat meal.

Niacin, 1500 to 3000 mg a day (if tolerable).

Artichoke extract, 300 mg, 3 times a day.

Garlic, 600 to 4800 mg a day.

Curcumin, 900 to 1800 mg a day.

Gugulipid, 140 mg 1 to 2 times a day.

Green tea, 750 mg a day of green tea, 93% polyphenol extract.

Perilla oil, 6000 mg a day. We suggest taking six 1000-mg gel caps daily. If triglycerides are high, consider taking 4-8 softgels of fish oil (EPA/DHA).

Vitamin E, 400 to 800 IU daily

Soy protein extract, 2 heaping teaspoons (5 to 6 grams) of soy powder daily.

Selenium, 200 to 600 mcg daily.

Herbal Cardiovascular Formula, two-six capsules daily with food in divided doses.

Caution: Anyone who is seeking to use dietary supplements to lower high cholesterol must verify efficacy by having a cholesterol blood test 45 to 60 days after initiating a nutritional regimen. If supplements fail to work, cholesterol-lowering drugs should be considered. While blood testing is not mandatory for healthy people seeking to reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke, it is recommended that everyone have an annual blood test to establish a benchmark giving you the ability to monitor and optimize your life extension program.

Link to entire protocol below.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 6

There's more than a half dozen statins, try several and find one you like. Some of them are generic now, and dirt cheap.

How high your cholesterol is and how old you are would be two major risk factors here. If you're in your twenties, and your LDL is too high, this can shave as much as 15 years off your life (assuming you're also male). Controlling your cholesterol is one of the most important things you can do for your long term health. And you should not just use a statin - reduce your weight, reduce your caloric intake, reduce your intake of dietary fat.

Besides the statins there are a half dozen other classes of drugs that can be used. If  you don't like your doctor's opinion, get a second one. Look at the numbers yourself: You want HDL over 60, LDL under 130. And remember, controlling your cholesterol is probably the biggest thing you can do to improve your longevity and quality of health short of quitting smoking. Yes. It's that big.

Oh yes, and your doctor doesn't make any money off those drugs. That would be a felony.

Answer 7

if you think you're being lied to, request a copy of the lab results.  take them to the lab that drew your blood and have them translate it for you.  if you had your blood drawn in the office, take the results to a lab like LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics.

you can also seek out a second opinion.  i've had several second opinions in my life and have always had way better care from doctor #2.  one even saved me from a senseless spinal tap.

you are not required to take any medication or follow any medical advice from your doctor.

Answer 8

-I seriously doubt your doctor is "practically forcing" you to take statins.  If you have muscle aches, that is reason enough to stop them.  Did you tell them that?

-you are under no legal obligation to follow your doctors advice.  People with heart disease are free to continue to smoke and eat pizza.  Their free choice.

-You don't have to "believe" what your cholesterol is, you can look at the number.  Just get the lab report and look it up yourself.  Science works with facts, not beliefs. Get it tested at an independent lab if you are that paranoid.

-doctors don't "push" drugs, we don't participate in "scams to sell drugs" we get no monetary or other compensation from prescribing drugs. (Unlike, lets say herbalists or homeopaths...who ONLY make a living if they sell you a prescription potion.  Dispensing physicians were done away with years ago, as it was recognized as a conflict of interest)

-there is some contraversy about what statins actually do.  It may be possible that cholesterol levels are just a marker for the actual problem.   There is however very good evidence, that for people with diabetes, heart disease statins help them live longer whatever their initial cholesterol readings.

Answer 9

Wow!  What comments and answers to this question!!!

So...as a put on my flame-retardant suit...I'll attempt to answer your question as well as I can. [FLAME SHIELDS UP]

Your doctor cannot "make" you take anything he/she prescribes.  That's the number one fact.  You have "patient rights," and that includes NOT doing what the doctor orders.  At the same time, doctors or providers of care have the option to release you from their practice due to non-compliance, but this is not a common practice.

In the world of cholesterol management, there are a variety of drugs that are available.  Yes, some have a higher profile of adverse side effects than others, so nobody should be subject to only trying one. If it doesn't work out, then move on.  As medical care providers, we are providing a service that is a standard of care for each of our patients. There are hundreds of studies the DO show decreased risks with the use of statins, and unfortunately, severe side effects (including deaths). Like we say -- there's no such thing as a "safe" drug.  

What many of the pharmaphobes (sorry folks) want to promote is the same old scare tactics, radicalized theories, and cite references to the same ridiculous "doctors" that go in complete reverse of what the rest of the health care community suggests.  Yet, all their rants, theories, and radical thinking have absolutely NO RESEARCH BASED EVIDENCE!!!  NONE!!!  What is even more sickening is the number of these nit-wits who really think it's a conspiracy -- like each time we write a prescription for anything, it's like money in our pockets. CHA-CHING!!  Well, if that's true....then where's MY CHECK!?!?!?!

There are essentially two groups of people with regard to cholesterol metabolism -- those who cannot metabolize their cholesterol because of a genetic predisposition, and those who's cholesterol is high because of their dietary intake.  The essential part of this is finding out who YOU are.  

If you don't like your doctor's opinion, choice of drugs, or worries, then please find someone else.  I can assure you that NO doctor or prescriber has anything to gain by putting a patient in harm's way.  A second opinion may shed light on this a little better, but above all -- remember that it's YOUR CHOICE!

Be well, be safe.  

Best of luck!

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ADDENDUM:

Obviously my comments were so profoundly painful and insulting to someone here that he/she has decided to rate most of all my comments (unrelated) for this week as a "thumbs-down."  It's unfortunate that this person can get so overwhelmed by the comments of others that a personal attack would ensue.  Oh well.  I guess it just goes to show that "You can't fix stupid."  

Grow up!

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