How do you get off Statins?
 

Hi. I'm putting this question here because I honestly don't know where to put it. My friend is a fit 73 year old woman with slightly elevated cholesterol and her doctor put her on lipitor. SHE HATES IT.

She went on the internet and she read all kinds of things and she doesn't know how to get off of it. She asked her doctor can she get off of it and he said 'NO"

So she would like to know what she could take INSTEAD of Lipitor that is a supplement and if she decides to do this, can she do it cold turkey?

Thanks much

Melody

i don't think there is any withdrawl, but checking a PDR or on line you shoud be able to find if there is, my main irritation here is that the doc has no right to say "no"! He/she is obligated to expain the reasons, but the patient rules. and over the age of 75 or so, there is reason to let the chol. run a little higher, for brain "maintainence" so to speak. good luck

I had problems with Lipitor and asked the pharmacist, the next time I saw the dr , I just told them I stopped taking it... :cool:
I suppose they (MDs) think I'm non compliant , but too bad, it's my life.

That pharmacist told me I could just stop, or taper, there's no "withdrawal" issues.

I had 2 weeks worth left so I broke them in half and semi tapered that way.

Thanks so much.

Melody

Medications & Treatments?

Extended/sustained release niacin (nicotinic acid). This should be investigated thoroughly; as with any meds, it is not without side effects/risks, and there are some people who should not take it.

http://www.healthcentral.com/cholest...40/myths-facts

The biggest side effect is niacin flushing. Flushing is purportedly less with extended/sustained release formulations than with immediate release. It is often recommended to take at bedtime, as flushing is less noticable for many people while they're asleep. Flushing can further be abated by taking 1 aspirin or 1 vitamin C (either ascorbic acid or Ester C) 1/2 hour before taking the niacin. Flushing often abates as the body assimilates.

Other forms of niacin are flush-free, but they do not have the cholesterol lowering effect.

My DW was prescribed a statin and had problems too. We researched niacin and our doctor was happy to work with us. He prescribed Niaspan - a prescription form of sustained release niacin. After checking online and at the local pharmacy, we found the exact same thing can be gotten OTC for 1/10 the price.

She started on the "prescription" dose - 500 mg/day. It worked SO well, that at her first re-test, she was able to cut that dose in half, which further reduced incidence of flushing and other side effects.

Doc

Hi Dr. Smith.

She is not the kind of person to do this. I know her very well. She just wrote to me that her doctor would put her on every drug known to man. Her blood pressure is 120/80. Her doctor wants to put her on blood pressure meds. She refuses. Her doctor insists that she cannot get off lipitor. She hasn't told me what her cholesterol is. Of course if it's high, then she needs to do something but I know her. Niacin is out of the question.

She doesn't want to be on ANYTHING.

And at 73, well, sometimes we need to take things, right?

She can walk 50 blocks every day. She walks everywhere. She's the fittest 73 year old I 've ever seen.

But she likes to EAT her food. I don't think she's going to give up cold cuts and whatever the else she puts in her body.

So she asked me what she could take instead of lipitor. She goes on the internet. She reads up on stuff. She doesn't want to TAKE ANYTHING.

lol

The mind works in mysterious ways. I think at her age she should be able to do what she wishes.

Melody

She wants to know what supplement she can take in lieu of a statin, but she won't take anything(?)

Is it me, or does that make as much sense as a screen door in a submarine? Sorry, I don't get it. Why ask the question?

FWIW, there are a lot of supplements that will help lower cholesterol -- a little -- but AFAIK, none lower it as much as niacin.

Red Yeast Rice can be dicey; see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_yea...y_restrictions

Doc

I should have added , she should speak with a pharmacist herself to get the info from the horse's mouth so to speak..:)

It's family trait in our family -high cholesterol #s - my brothers are on crestor, and parents on another statin...sister just got notice of cholesterol in 220s so her dr suggested a statin for her, don't know if she did it or not..


Personally from readings on it , I think high Triglyceride #s are more worrisome.
I haven't had a blood workup since we quit buying junk food, chips were the worst problem.
But I am not one to take many pills of any kind either.

She might want to visit a naturopathic dr for an individualized overview of what diet changes or possible supplements would fit for her. But most do try to sell some sort of product...as side income.

I liked this site when I found it back in 2004 - just remembered I had it in my saved bookmarks-
http://www.loweringcholesterol.net/s...olesterol-diet

Yeah I know what you mean. She went from telling me she doesnt want to be on any pills at all to saying...well I don't want any prescription drugs in my body... to. How the hell do I get off Lipitor? ? Lol. I think her doc wants to medicate her and she doesn't want this. I encouraged her to think about finding a doctor who will listen to her feelings. I have given her your suggestions.the rest is up to her Thanks much to you all.

Can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped; it must come from them first.

Doc

Any elderly person should read the sites with Dr. B Golomb's
work:

Here is a start:
https://www.statineffects.com/info/

Search also Dr. Beatrice Golomb MD on Google.

OOOH, thanks Mrs. D. My friend does email so I'll go there and send her the link.

Thanks much
Melody