Statins! The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

What are Statins?

zocor (Simvastatin), Lipitor (Atorvastatin), Mevacor (Lovastatin), Pravacol (pravastatin), Lescol (fluvastatin), Crestor (Rosuvastatin) are all generic names for the statin brands(in brackets). They are the latest in Cholesterol lowering drugs that work by blocking the coenzyme A reductase that helps make cholesterol.

Why So Widely Prescribed?

Unsuspecting clients who go for a health check up, not necessarily because they feel ill but to make sure their bodies are ticking over properly, may be told that they have high cholesterol. It is not surprising that fear sets in and immediately patients feel vulnerable, so much so, that they are ready to follow whatever the doctor prescribes without a second thought. Their full trust is in the doctor and his ability to prescribe a magic pill that will make it all go away. Let’s face it! None of us want to develop high blood pressure and heart disease or if we already have high blood pressure, we sure want to bring it down by correcting the cause, which the doctor holds cholesterol responsible.

The drug started to become popular when several clinical trials revealed other positive benefits of statins, not connected with a decrease in cholesterol, that could help patients with heart disease and high blood pressure. Thromboxane, a blood clotting agent was also reduced using Fluvastatin, Atorvastatin, and Simvastatin, gaining the drugs popularity.

The Side Effects - Not to be taken lightly

Cerivastatin too was showing real promise when it was shown to increase dilation of the Bronchial Artery in only a short period of use, until lives were snuffed out in 2001 due to a breakdown in muscle fibre found to be statin induced.

The rest of the statin drugs don’t have such a sudden, severe, side effect as Cerivastatin had, but should we throw all caution to the wind? The answer is for you to determine. There are still complaints being voiced about the effects of statin drugs that we need to consider when deciding the pros and cons if we are thinking of taking them.

Coq10 is a vital coenzyme that helps produce an energy carrying molecule called ATP. Without ATP your heart couldn’t beat or your other muscles function. Statins inhibit coq10 so much that people are known to suffer heart palpitations and even heart failure. Information not for the "faint hearted"! One of the common classic complaints of statin side effects are muscle cramps, pain and weakness called rhabdomyolysis; that is, a degeneration of skeletal muscle. Ouch! Nasty!

So the ball is in your court. Statins may be the wonder drug of the second millennium in many ways, but is it not safer, even if harder, to choose a more natural way to health? The choice is yours and an informed one at that.

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