It is amazing at the rapidity that Big Pharm gets some of its drugs on the market, then drugs for orphan diseases don't get approved or get cut.

I am not a big fan of Big Pharm, the insurance industry etc.

When you are on the inside of the health care system, you see some stuff you would rather not see.

My doc jokes about what 'poisons' I have tried....he really isn't kidding, it is just sarcastic truth.

I can see if weight loss and exercise do not do the trick or are for some reason contraindcated, or you have familial hypercholesteremia, then you don't have options....I think that is what pharmaceuticals are supposed to be for, when you do not have other options and you need, absolutely NEED to take a drug.

I also do not like the algorithms the insurance companies set up before you can get a specific medication....first you have to try this, than that, then this...then you can have what really works...until your doc leaves and you can start all over again...or until your insurance plan changes and you need a new doc....

Who made things this complex?

I have to laugh at the OTC pain med commercials....the faces on the actors, when they are in such humungous pain as they bend over and a simple OTC pill solves their problem, geez, how bad can it be??

The other thing I totally do not understand is prescription drug commercials.

The newest confusing commercial is for Celebrex...IMO

(sorry I am enjoying the yikes icon this week)

You made me laugh too!! I got a real chuckle out of that post. But it is a serious problem. I see a new pill shoved at my Dad (80) and my step-Mom (72) on almost every doctor trip. I had a doctor's appt. right before noon this week and my doctor is always running late. I can't tell you how many thin, attractive young females with short skirts or tight pants I saw sitting in the doctor's waiting room (several doctors in one practice) all dragging a suitcase on wheels with drug supplies sticking out of it. I think they deliberately pick the girls, tell them how to dress and send them out to tantalize the doctors with drugs. And what's with this screen in the waiting room? silence, then it suddenly comes on with blaring music, tells you what drug and for what, then silence, then repeat of the whole cycle.

Am I cynical? Yes. It pays to be.
Billye

I was started on Lipitor at nearly the same time as acquiring RSI- repetitive strain injury/s -ongoing upper body muscle pain.

After a year of not much progress with the RSI {evolved into TOS?}
and various other odd symptoms -I looked up info about statins on many alternative and wellness websites.

A few things happened at about the same time frame- I decide to go off Lipitor as I was going to have to pay 129.00 a month, I wondered if some of my muscle pain and odd sx were caused by the Lipitor, my gramma had 300+ cholesterol and lived to be 93.
But on the flip side she did have total Alzheimer's for many yrs before she died. But no heart problems!
So one of my questions is - can high cholesterol have an effect in the brain - ie Alzheimer's??

So anyway about the same time of going off Lipitor I also had found a very good chiropractor and an advanced PT guy- both were of great help for my RSI/TOS as I call it now.

I began to have much less pain and sx and also the odd sx faded away- so I can't say for sure if it was just from going off the statin or from the better PT and chiro care. Most likely a combination of both.

High cholesterol can cause athersclerotic plaques to develop in the brain resulting in dementia. It is difficult to tell dementia from Alzheimer's symptomatically....Age 93 is not half bad!

--a number of us believe that statins may be the next big drug scandal, with poorly reported deleterious side effects that might dwarf those of the COX-2 inhibitors.

The sad part of this is that a good deal of evidence has accumulated over the years that no-flush niacin (and some fiber and fish oil) can be just as effective in controlling blood lipids:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/en...&dopt=Citation

http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/con...act/160/8/1177

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/en...&dopt=Abstract

http://jama.highwire.org/cgi/content...ct/284/10/1263

There's a lot more out there, but a lot of it dates from 10-15 years ago; with the advent of a new generation of statins, a lot of this clinical info has been shoved into the background--I imagine it's because companies can't make the money off of niacin that they can off statins . . .

My parotid glands on both sides have been swelling, and I had the doctor look at them too. She said with age, the saliva gets thick/sluggish and can't come out well. Treatment? Something SOUR twice a day--- like Jolly Ranchers!
A very sweet and doable treatment! LOL And it is working too LOL

There are studies out there that correlate longevity to higher cholesterol levels.
I have posted them countless times.

those interested can check:
http://www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol.htm

Dr. Graveline's experience and resultant book: Liptor, Thief of Memory:
http://www.spacedoc.net/lipitor.htm
check out his whole website...it is a real eye opener!

And this geriatric paper:
http://www.cmellc.com/geriatrictimes/g040618.html

Keep in mind that most of the studies that hit the media are paid for by the drug companies. It parallels the misleading studies done with HRT therapy.
Wyeth had doctors believing estrogen prevented Alzheimer's, but the HERS study (which was terminated early because of horrible events) actually showed double incidence with HRT.

European studies are usually the first to come up with truthful data. The PN connection came from Denmark or Netherlands I believe.

The bottom line? Data is massaged to make statins look good. As time passes we are beginning to get trickles of the truth and I expect more to be forthcoming.

I started to get peripheral neuropathy prior to my chemotherapy. After chemo it was so bad we kind of forgot that I had it a little bit (big toe only) BEFORE the chemo. When I questioned whether the high dose of statins I was on could have played a role in the pre-chemo PN, my doctor told me that all the studies showing a link between statins and PN were highly questionable and did not have much credibility
My question to the group is..what do you think about that statement and can anyone point me to credible studies showing this link?
Thanks for your help
John

First fish oil was recommeded in the late 60's early 70's it what very in,
as we said in those days. Then same thing happened like the b12 deal.
Drs. oh you don't need that,but they sure had you taking B12 for years .
Fish oil didn't go over and last like B12. Why because of overpriced
Miracle Drugs. You now can get a script for Fish oil,over a hundred dollars
and honest the young Drs. will say what do you mean they recommeded
fish oil in the 60's and 70's like it never happened. My Pharmacist when
your insurance turns it down will hand you a bottle of inexpensive,but
same thing boy Cyclclops is so right you see it all.

My cousin was one of those attractive girls Billlye was talking about. She
told me all about the PN,and horribal muscular side effects of Stanints.
She married a Dr. and on the wedding invitations they requested no presents
I just had to call her mom,huh i said did i read that right NO PRESENTS.
She just said he has 2 homes and she has a Condo the Pharmacutical
companies,well let's say have perks. Just how many appliances does one
need.

Just one more thing,if you are in a nursing home and are told these meds
are good for you,unless you have a caring family watching over you,you
just might take them. Not asking Why? This is a bummer post for me to
to be posting. My son's best friend stoppped being a nurse a month ago.
He just got tired of reporting these things and the world lost anonther
good nurse,he was taking the frustation home to his family. As for the
the answer no Cathie i couldn't take them or those TV commercials. Sue