It seems that my cholesterol is high and my GP rooms phoned to ask me to meet with my doctor.
I've been trying to research whether I should take up any offer of a statin (if it is given) or stay away.
For every article that says Yes- statins work alongside dmd's to repair myelin, there's an equal and opposite article telling me No - statins cause more harm.

Does anyone have the latest answers please?

There is new information that Statins do not help with remyelination issues. (infact they can destroy myelin). This study is on the MS forum here.

We have many posts about statins on the forums. PN, Medications, Parkinson's etc. If you search each forum, you'll see what I mean. The evidence against them, is growing and showing daily that they are basically toxic. Many doctors now are embracing the new data on statins, and I think we will see their use decline in the future.

My GP wanted me on Lipitor. I was scared to take it and Betaseron because both can cause elevated liver enzymes. Not a risk I was willing to take. SO I waited and asked my neurologist about it. He like to have had a heart attack... until he realized I was NOT taking the Lipitor. He mentioned a study that showed that Lipitor may interfere with interferons and make them less effective. (I did not catch the name of the study.) He asked me to try Zetia instead... it is not a statin and works in the intestines to block cholesterol absorption. I'm waiting for the 3 month point to get bloodwork to see if it works for me.

I hate the thought of having to take another medication, but diet, exercise, and dietary supplements were not lowering my cholesterol to a healthier range.

While you are considering using the search functions on our other forums for "statins",

watch this short video..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8SSCNaaDcE

I just posted it to a new member on our Introductions thread.

I started eating oatmeal with every breakfast, and my good chol rose significantly, and my bad choles fell by 30 points in 30 days. I have stayed with the oatmeal for breakfast routine (instant of home cooked doesnt matter) and have stayed below the line of needing meds.

The statins have made the news on both sides of the street. one day they are awesome, and the next they are the enemy. This week they are good for your liver, and next week they destroy it. It appears as though the current thought is that it does more harm than good, and most are advocating for more natural remedies if you can make them work.

Hang in there.

If you stay away from flour, sugar, trans fats and high fructose corn syrup your cholesterol will drop dramatically.

gmi

Thank you people. I'm going to ring my neuro later and hear his side but I'm definately going to try diet first.
i must admit that recently I have eaten my fair share of junk. I don't know why, it just kinda happened. having been a healthy veggie for years, I started eating meat again 3 years ago.
Since april this year i have eaten LOTS of junk. i read ms'ers should stay away from fats etc and PING! something in my mind flips and off I go to McDonalds for the first time in my life !!!
Last month or two i've been craving liquorice (by the bagful)

I must sort it out.

Have been on Lipitor for almost 2 decades. Way before MS. My neuro (previous) and current MS specialist have never voiced concern.

Wish there was a way to check cholesterol OTC. Anybody know if there is? Would like to check more than once a yr, and see if things like oatmeal, exercise, etc. help.

~ Faith

I was placed on Lipator years ago but could not stay on it because it made my joints extremely stiff. My family doctor said they are all similar after I told him this. (My previous family doctor moved from the area).

I'm getting my blood tested this Friday. I have worked daily exercise in for the most part, lost 20 lbs. and quit smoking. For some reason when I quit smoking my cholesterol is lowered

I'm hoping this is enough because my diet is low in cholesterol; Zetia will not help me. This Fall I'll eat oatmeal daily.

I didn't realize this medication was no longer good for those with MS. Zocor they used to say was good for those with MS.

I took lipitor for a couple months, my cholesterol went down, but I started having sx. Can't say there's a link, but that's what happened, and my doc took me off the med, I never tried another.

My current pcp is a cardiologist. He says if I was to do one thing, to take fish oil supps. My cholesterol is high, but my good C is higher than my bad, so I do not need any meds. High C runs in the family, so diet alone is not going to cut it for me.



I have to wonder if it's worth living a few extra years if I have to eat oatmeal every day. I could maybe sign on for once a week, but that's my limit.