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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by FredPotter on June 6, 2007, at 15:22:50
Has anyone any evidence that statins have caused side effects such as aggression or depression? Cholesterol makes up a large part of the brain so low cholesterol might have an impact, added to which statins have been shown to lower serotonin levels in the synapses. The synapses consist of cholesterol as well. Fatigue and muscle aches and weekness are quite common too apparently. It's a difficult thing to prove but I'd be interested to hear of any experiences
Thanks
Fred
Posted by Phillipa on June 6, 2007, at 17:03:51
In reply to Statins, posted by FredPotter on June 6, 2007, at 15:22:50
Fred didn't know cholestrol made up a large part of the brain. I didn't know that so thanks for education. Love Phillipa
Posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on June 6, 2007, at 18:10:42
In reply to Statins, posted by FredPotter on June 6, 2007, at 15:22:50
> Has anyone any evidence that statins have caused side effects such as aggression or depression? Cholesterol makes up a large part of the brain so low cholesterol might have an impact, added to which statins have been shown to lower serotonin levels in the synapses. The synapses consist of cholesterol as well. Fatigue and muscle aches and weekness are quite common too apparently. It's a difficult thing to prove but I'd be interested to hear of any experiences
> Thanks
> Fred
Yes I have heard strong evidence Statins can lead to depression. Interesting that Effexor increases cholesterol.Jay
Posted by rvanson on June 7, 2007, at 4:04:03
In reply to Statins, posted by FredPotter on June 6, 2007, at 15:22:50
> Has anyone any evidence that statins have caused side effects such as aggression or depression? Cholesterol makes up a large part of the brain so low cholesterol might have an impact, added to which statins have been shown to lower serotonin levels in the synapses. The synapses consist of cholesterol as well. Fatigue and muscle aches and weekness are quite common too apparently. It's a difficult thing to prove but I'd be interested to hear of any experiences
> Thanks
> Fred
Check out www.spacedoc.net for info on the very negative side effects of the statin class medications that are supposedly so safe.
Posted by Nathan_Arizona on June 7, 2007, at 6:11:02
In reply to Statins, posted by FredPotter on June 6, 2007, at 15:22:50
I think it is hard to say. So many times when a patient is on the statins, there is concomitant heart problems which also may cause depression.
To me, it's a difficult call to make.
Posted by linkadge on June 7, 2007, at 6:39:30
In reply to Re: Statins » FredPotter, posted by Nathan_Arizona on June 7, 2007, at 6:11:02
Yeah that spacedoc site is kind of over the top. It relys on report, that to me seem very outlandish.
It is possable, but OTOH, I have seen case reports of statins improving mood. For instance statins promote neurogensis.
Linkadge
Posted by Abby Cunningham on June 7, 2007, at 8:44:41
In reply to Statins, posted by FredPotter on June 6, 2007, at 15:22:50
Fred,
I don't believe in statins unless you already have cardiovascular disease; my cholesterol is over 200 but I am a woman and no history of cardiac disease in my family, eat healthy, normal weight, exercise, etc. plus my c-reactive protein is fine (a good marker for a woman to show risk of cardiovascular disease).....to me the dangers of statins outweigh any possible benefits........I know a man who died of liver failure from taking Lipitor and other people get permanent muscle damage and sometimes loss of memory.Have you read "Overdosed America"? I highly recommend it. Here is Dr. Abramson's website with link to article on statins:
http://www.overdosedamerica.com/2005/10/pills-to-avoid-heart-attacks-hard-to.html
Abby
Posted by FredPotter on June 7, 2007, at 15:47:57
In reply to Re: Statins, posted by Abby Cunningham on June 7, 2007, at 8:44:41
Thanks. I gather there's no evidence that women benefit at all from taking statins. And neither do older men unless they have a pre-existing condition. I've just read "The Great Cholesterol Con" by Malcolm Kendrick- amusing a bit over the top and with a fair few errors.
What I said before wasn't quite right. 25% of the body's cholesterol occurs in the brain and 2% of the brain's weight is cholesterol.
Posted by rvanson on June 8, 2007, at 12:13:39
In reply to Re: Statins, posted by Abby Cunningham on June 7, 2007, at 8:44:41
> Fred,
> I don't believe in statins unless you already have cardiovascular disease; my cholesterol is over 200 but I am a woman and no history of cardiac disease in my family, eat healthy, normal weight, exercise, etc. plus my c-reactive protein is fine (a good marker for a woman to show risk of cardiovascular disease).....to me the dangers of statins outweigh any possible benefits........I know a man who died of liver failure from taking Lipitor and other people get permanent muscle damage and sometimes loss of memory.
>
> Have you read "Overdosed America"? I highly recommend it. Here is Dr. Abramson's website with link to article on statins:
>
> http://www.overdosedamerica.com/2005/10/pills-to-avoid-heart-attacks-hard-to.html
>
> Abby
Thanks for your input, Abby, as well as the link.I too have no history of heart disease, no history of strokes, no high blood pressure, but its the lastest fad to hand this garbage out like candy, it would seem.
Once you tell the doc you are not going to ingest these statin poisons without any demonstratable need to do so, they usually get awfully upset, dont they ? :-D
I guess the makers of Lipitor wont be sending my former doctor on a free trip to the Bahamas at my expense! <bg>
Posted by Sigismund on June 9, 2007, at 16:49:16
In reply to Re: Statins, posted by rvanson on June 8, 2007, at 12:13:39
Statins are said to deplete CoQ10??
Posted by FredPotter on June 10, 2007, at 15:57:19
In reply to Re: Statins, posted by Sigismund on June 9, 2007, at 16:49:16
Yes depletion of CoQ-10 is supposed to happen with statins. It is crucial in the production of the inner membranes of mitochondria I believe and therefore a lack of it can prevent the production of ATP. No wonder statins make people tired. The effects of Q10 are so fundamental, it's likely to cause all sorts of bad reactions. My Dr had never heard of it
Posted by rvanson on June 11, 2007, at 3:55:51
In reply to Re: Statins, posted by FredPotter on June 10, 2007, at 15:57:19
> Yes depletion of CoQ-10 is supposed to happen with statins. It is crucial in the production of the inner membranes of mitochondria I believe and therefore a lack of it can prevent the production of ATP. No wonder statins make people tired. The effects of Q10 are so fundamental, it's likely to cause all sorts of bad reactions. My Dr had never heard of it.
Funny how us non-doctors are up on the latest scams like statins.
Dr. Jarvik should be strung him up by the cajones for promoting a deadly drug like Lipitor.
Oh, well, it just more proof that in the US, its all about the money in the medical professions and "do no harm" goes right out the door as the greenbacks keep rolling in.
Statins are just the next Vioxx scandal.
Posted by FredPotter on June 11, 2007, at 15:54:53
In reply to Re: Statins, posted by rvanson on June 11, 2007, at 3:55:51
According to "The Great Cholesterol Con" by Kendrick, statins can cause birth defects worse than Thalidomide did. Mind you it's a highly contentious book. All the studies done on the benefits of statins seem to contradict each other
Posted by rvanson on June 11, 2007, at 18:29:10
In reply to Re: Statins, posted by FredPotter on June 11, 2007, at 15:54:53
> According to "The Great Cholesterol Con" by Kendrick, statins can cause birth defects worse than Thalidomide did. Mind you it's a highly contentious book. All the studies done on the benefits of statins seem to contradict each other<
Thanks for posting this. I am going to read that book.
These statins are causing a lot of harm, yet no one in the medical profession seems to know it or even care.
In the US, I guess its all about the bottom line and to h$$l with the patients medical history.
Then again, more then a few doctors lost thier practices when the Vioxx scandle hit the news and thier patients sued thier white coats off.
Unbeliveable !!
Posted by Phillipa on June 11, 2007, at 19:19:51
In reply to Re: Statins, posted by rvanson on June 11, 2007, at 18:29:10
And now it's drugs like zyprexa and diabetes. Love Phillipa isn't there a lawsuit on this?
Posted by FredPotter on June 11, 2007, at 22:57:05
In reply to Re: Statins » rvanson, posted by Phillipa on June 11, 2007, at 19:19:51
yes I think there might be an impending lawsuit over Zyprexa precipitating diabetes. But I'm definitely not anti drugs. However the way drug reps use bribes and sweeteners for them to use their products has caused some doctors to refuse to see drug reps. Or perhaps it's drugs like Vioxx that has made so many of them litigation conscious. Just to be on the safe side use an old drug I say - Nardil is about 50 years old! And Aspirin is probably the most useful drug of all time Fred
Posted by Sigismund on June 12, 2007, at 19:51:52
In reply to Re: Statins, posted by FredPotter on June 10, 2007, at 15:57:19
When I mentioned CoQ10 to a straight talking MD I know, and how it could do this and that and was being prescribed by some doctors, he smiled and said 'not real doctors'.
Posted by FredPotter on June 12, 2007, at 23:59:04
In reply to Re: Statins » FredPotter, posted by Sigismund on June 12, 2007, at 19:51:52
I'd be interested to know what he means by that. Either he's being elitist or really does know something others don't.
Posted by rvanson on June 13, 2007, at 4:00:23
In reply to Re: Statins, posted by FredPotter on June 12, 2007, at 23:59:04
> I'd be interested to know what he means by that. Either he's being elitist or really does know something others don't. <<
I believe that I once read that one of the
earlier statins (Mevacor, perhaps?) was to contain CoQ-10 to offset the some of the side-effects of the statin on the reduction of same, but it was not approved.Nice, huh?
The pharmaceutical companies really care about our health. <barf>
Posted by Sigismund on June 13, 2007, at 16:06:51
In reply to Re: Statins, posted by FredPotter on June 12, 2007, at 23:59:04
Nothing special Fred, just that it's in the same boat as homeopathy.
How many lectures in nutrition and biochem do doctors get?
Not too many.
When you come across one who *does* know their stuff (because they have a degree in nutritional medicine or biochem) it's quite obvious.
This is the end of the thread.
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