A pharmaceutical "propaganda issue driven by money"....noooo it can't be!


judi

Looks like it may not be necessary after all; the nurse called yesterday with results of all the blood tests the doctor ordered. Everything was normal/negative except AST (lab messed up) but the doctor isn't going to re-order because all the other liver tests were fine (which I partially credit to NAC).

Doc

Ah yes, the accuracy of lab tests. Had a long talk about this with a nurse who did these tests (even "manually" in Poland before she moved)... let's say it's easy to mess up.

But indeed, if ALT/Gamma-GT etc are normal then there's nothing to worry about. (I sometimes wished I didn't know this. )

More on AST here:

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disor...ransferase-ast

This is a very good explanation from Cleveland Clinic:
http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/...n-liver-tests/

as is the case for most propaganda

the answer is simply "follow the money"

I hate to be so trite...but after 60 years on this planet, it is so evident

Lisinopril debacle??? I have not heard anything about this. I currently have cut down from 10mg's to 5 mg's since the Sprionlactone I take for my Edema has really brought my blood pressure reading to near perfect. At doctors office yesterday, my pressure was 128 over 68.

I am currently reading this thread because you had listed it on your response regarding my Cholesterol readings in today's post to you.

I am very confused??


Gerry

It's interesting that we all have 'hot buttons'.

I have genetically outrageous cholesterol. Identified when I was 37. I had arcus senilis which is a ring of lipid around my cornea. And I was thin, active and had cholesterol over 400.

At 57 I had severe coronary artery disease, the Left Anterior Descending Artery (called the Widow Maker for a reason) was 95% blocked and I had two other blocked arteries. Fortunately I had caught it before a heart attack, and angioplasties and stents cleared my arteries.

And I have taken 80 MG of Lipitor a day since 1999...so going on 15 years.

I had no problems with muscles or neuropathy until 2007-9 (I didn't even know I had severe PN until it was identified in 2009).

My PN is 'probably' the result of the Macrobid (Nitrofurantoin) I took daily for 3 months and then 10 days out of ever 60 for the next two years or more. Starting in 2007. I had chronic UTIs, and was terrified of another septic kidney infection with e-coli. I now never have a UTI because I take D-Mannose daily.

I know the power and influence of the drug industry (my husband taught in medical school for 25 years, and my son is a doctor). I know that little research is done on PN and statins, probably due to that power.

But knowing all of that, I take my statin horse pill every day. Thank goodness is it now available in generic.

For every person who suffers from the effects of a drug, there are others who benefit greatly. Generally speaking major clinical trials are aimed at finding the results and benefits of any drug for the majority of those taking the drug.

The world is what it is. Power and money corrupt everyone, and have in all places and in all times. Life is full of risk, and we don't get out alive.

I know many people on many forums feel compelled to crusade against something that has harmed them.

I have a more philosophical (or perhaps lazy?) approach. I feel that I have had more than 10 years of life due to the medical sciences advancements that have been made in my life time.

I have signed those forms before surgery, you know the ones that list everything that 'can happen'. I don't even read them.

We all do what we can, and I appreciate the efforts everyone makes to help the world be safer. It is a noble cause.

Hugs, Elaine

Everyone here really has to make their own decisions regarding drug therapies. I only provide information, that doctors might not know (or is being concealed by drug companies etc,)
As far as your personal experience, Elaine, I see several possibilities for you.

1) It is possible your PN was minor until you added the MacroBid.
All the papers I've see on nitrofurantoin as a PN trigger discuss a reversal with time, of the PN if it occurs. Yours has not done so.

2) Is is possible you have a additive effect or synergistic effect on the nerves with both high dose Lipitor and Macrobid. Typically the research is very thin and resolution from PN caused by statins is difficult to find anywhere. Dr. Graveline on his website does discuss his resolution of memory loss from Lipitor, but he was not on it as long as you.

3) You could try lowering your dose of Lipitor to see if you retain the numbers you want, at the lower doses. This is feasible. You could always go back on it if this fails with little if any harm done.
Both Dr. Graveline an Dr. Jay Cohen, suggest this treatment option for those with profound hereditary hyperlipidemia. Dr. Cohen has written a book discussing drug dosing in general and has suggested that drug companies arbitrarily choose a dose when lower doses may work. For example, Crestor now once or twice a week in a very low dose, does work for many patients.
There is a study on this.
http://www.jaycohenmd.com/safermedication.html

Two books by Dr. Cohen...
http://www.amazon.com/Over-Dose-Jay-...s=Jay+Cohen+MD
discusses medication overdosing

and:
http://www.amazon.com/about-Statin-D...s=Jay+Cohen+MD
Discusses alternative dosing for statins and other methods of approaching elevated cholesterol.

The statin drugs were designed initially for patients with familial hypercholesteremia (not for the general public). What we know today, about genetic variability in those who may potentially be damaged by them, is also fairly new. I think with all this new information, you could
try to lower that Lipitor dose. You will likely always need some statin, because of your genetic history but how much is a cloudier issue. These drugs were designed for you... but there may be wiggle room in the dosing which you won't know unless you try to find it.

The member olsen on PD forum knows much about the genetic variability and potential damage from statins. She works in the research field, and really is highly informed on these issues:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post1002533-6.html
You could be tested for that gene (SLCO1B1) she mentions in this post. And you could PM her and discuss things...she is very helpful and has access to more resources than I have.

4) you can accept your fate with your treatment as it is now. This is what you seem to be doing from what I read in your postings.
Keep in mind that the research does show, risk of hemorrhagic stroke is higher in statin users than those not taking it. And a bit lower for blood clot strokes. Also if one does not use CoQ-10...with time, statin users face a risk of heart failure due to heart muscle weakness/damage. And all the other negative potential effects also increase in patients 5+ yrs into treatment with statins. There is little if any evidence that CoQ-10 protects from nerve damage but it does help muscle side effects so far. It is possible with more time the CoQ-10 will show more
positive results. The new water soluble affordable forms, are going to take more time to show up in studies. CoQ-10 until very recently was poorly absorbed even in the oil gel caps.

Everyone is different and brings their own unique genetic profile
to the table where medicine is concerned. What one person needs will not necessarily be what the next person needs. It would be wonderful if medicine were more personally tailored, and perhaps soon, this will happen.

I took a statin for about 5 years..then developed Vulvodynia ( nerve damage ) and then Neuropathy in feet and lower legs. I quit the statin and then told my Dr. why. He said don't go back on them.

Is there a class action lawsuit going on and if so what is the website?

Suits of that type usually pertain to a specific medication rather than a whole class of medications in general.
You could try perusing class action statins but you may have better luck searching: class action [medication name]

Doc