High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Stroke, Heart Attack, 
Zocor, Crestor, Lipitor, Provochol, Symptoms, Side Effects, 
Best Alternative Treatment: Cholestasys 

ALWAYS first consult with your doctor or health care professional before you make any changes in how you manage your cholesterol. 

If you have any questions about your condition, or if you would like more information about Statin drugs or cholesterol, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. 

After you have read all these articles, you will find a powerful corrective for high cholesterol / High Blood Pressure. Click here. 

Because of the nature of this subject, this page is very long. There is a lot of material. If you don't readily find what you're looking for, just drop me a note.

Multiple Articles on Cholesterol

Thank you Dr McCullough for putting together and commenting on these multiple articles on Cholesterol, they are quite worrisome. Be sure and read them all. They certainly put a few things into perspective.

Cholesterol...who is right?

After reading this email please do not get me wrong...yes it is important to maintain a healthy cholesterol level. The question is how do you want to lower it. Before you make your decision you might what to do some home work.

How many long term studies have been done on all of the cholesterol lowering drugs? Doesn't it make more sense to try the alternative natural approaches first or with the statin cholesterol drugs initially? Without question! Anyone who thinks that all they have to do is take a single product will not be successful. It is a lifestyle change. 

If you are already on a cholesterol lowering drug... include these products. As your cholesterol levels lower suggest to your doctor that you would like to decrease the dose of the cholesterol drug until your cholesterol lowers to the point that you may not need it.

But if you want to take cholesterol drugs, that is your choice...but consider the potential side-effects. For those of you who read the "New study" that touts the new more powerful cholesterol lower ring drugs and that getting your cholesterol even lower... ask yourself this question, "who is guarding the hen house...could it be the fox?" 

The pharmaceutical companies did the studies! 

Pfizer and Bristol Myers-Squibb and they make Lipitor and Provochol! There couldn't be any bias or financial interests in those studies. If taking a cholesterol drug reduces your stress level over this situation...take it, but I will pass.

As in ALL cases there are two sides to every story, issue or product study. One side is money and the other side is your health! Oh yes don't forget the profit for the stockholders you have to keep them happy! The following report is from Inteliheath...which is Johns Hopkins newsletter. Keep reading the entire article if you want your eyes opened.

Michael , DC

Cholesterol and How You Want to Lower it!

Cholesterol Drugs (Statins) Under Fire as Ineffective and Possibly Dangerous

Several recent articles call into question the safety and effectiveness of the group of drugs designed to lower cholesterol known as Statins. 

Statin drugs are a class of drugs that that are supposed to lower cholesterol levels by blocking enzymes that are essential to cholesterol production. 

Among the statin drugs are: Lipitor (atorvastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Mevacor (lovastatin), Lescol (fluvastatin), Baycol (Cerivastatin) (This drug has been recalled).

From the Canadian publication First Word, the September 9, 2003 issue starts off by saying, "A group of Canadian researchers from the University of British Columbia warns that statins may do as much harm as good." 

Dr. Jim  Wright , said that there appears to be almost no preventive benefit. The data showed that there was a 1.4 percent reduction in the risk of heart attack and stroke over a three- to five-year period, a news source reports. 

This would translate, Wright said, into a doctor having to treat 71 patients until one benefits. Side effects of the statins were the main concern among the Canadian researchers. These side effects can include, Fever, Muscle Cramps, Stomach Pain, Fatigue, Constipation, Diarrhea, Dizziness, Gas, Skin rash, Nausea.

On the heals of the Canadian study a British study reported on October 5, 2003 in the British Reuters, that states, "Half of British heart disease patients failed to get their cholesterol down to recommended levels after taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs." Dr. Adrian  Brady , consultant cardiologist at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, told a meeting of the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society in Dublin that only 48 percent of 14,000 patients evaluated in a UK study reached national cholesterol goals. 

One of these drugs, Lipitor, produced by Pfizer Inc's , is now the world's top-selling medicine with annual sales of $8 billion.

How Effective are Cholesterol Lowering Drugs?

WESTPORT, Feb 28, 2000 (Reuters Health) - Fewer than 40% of patients on lipid-lowering therapy achieve the LDL-cholesterol targets established by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) in 1988, according to a report in the February 28th issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

Drug therapy was more successful than nondrug therapy in achieving target levels, the authors observe, but the difference was far less than ideal: 39% for drug therapy versus 34% for nondrug therapy. Among cholesterol-reducing drugs, statins were associated with higher success rates than other single-drug approaches.

Low cholesterol may raise risk of death in elderly

August 06, 2001

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Elderly people with very low cholesterol levels may be at increased risk of death, according to results of a new study.

The findings seem to contradict recommendations to maintain low blood levels of cholesterol to decrease the risk of heart disease. However, those recommendations are based on studies in people under 65 and may have less relevance to older people, write the authors of the study in the August 4th issue of The Lancet.

Dr. Irwin  Schatz , of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and colleagues measured blood cholesterol levels of more than 3,500 Japanese-American men aged 71-93 years and compared readings taken from the same group of men 20 years earlier. The study volunteers were divided into four groups according to their cholesterol levels.

Compared with men with the lowest cholesterol levels 81-167 mg/dl, those with the highest levels 210-382 mg/dl were 35% less likely to die of all causes. Those men in the group with the lowest cholesterol at both points were significantly more likely to die than others, report researchers.

In an interview with Reuters Health, Schatz said it is not clear why very low cholesterol levels would be associated with an increased risk of death, and that a properly designed study of the causes would be needed.

"In the meantime, prudence dictates that we be less aggressive in lowering cholesterol in the elderly," he said.

Further, it is not clear whether low cholesterol achieved and maintained naturally has a different effect than low cholesterol achieved through medication

Cholesterol Levels Not Always Indicative Of Cardiac Health,
Study Shows

CHAMPAIGN, IL -- March 3, 2000 -- Cholesterol levels may reflect a person's diet, but they say little about cardiac health, researchers say. In a new study, cholesterol levels were found to be under "so-called" danger levels for 750 men and women who were diagnosed with serious blockage of coronary arteries and had bypass surgery after complaining of chest pains and undergoing cardiac catheterization. 

They conclude that plasma cholesterol levels should not be relied on as a measure for potential heart disease. Their findings appear in two studies in the March 2,000 issue of the journal Atherosclerosis.

"Preventing the oxidation of the LDL cholesterol is of utmost importance and antioxidants are critical. If you can get the required amount of antioxidants from your diet by eating five to seven servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day that are fresh, then you may not need to supplement! Good luck. Most of the fruit you eat was harvested before the sun had a chance to ripen it, most likely the fruit you buy at the grocery store was picked green."

"After cholesterol, the most important cause of heart attacks is the killer that Paul Ridker identified."

Time Magazine August 20, 2001…The Researchers and Doctors who are Changing Our World by Alice Park.

Dr. Paul Ridker is a cardiologist at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and of the world’s leading experts on arterial inflammation, an immune-system reaction that is a powerful contributor to heart attacks. 

Inflammation in the arteries turns out to be as dangerous for the heart as high cholesterol levels in the blood. "Inflammation has really changed our whole outlook on heart disease," says Dr. Eric Topol , a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic. The idea that heart attacks are caused by arteries gummed up with cholesterol was clearly inadequate; half of all heart attacks occurred in people with normal cholesterol levels.

"Dr. Ridker’s team found that those with low cholesterol but high levels of the inflammatory marker CRP were just as likely to have a heart attack as those with high cholesterol and low levels of CRP."

These findings have given doctors a new and very different model of heart disease. Inflammation and cholesterol combine, they now believe, to create a particularly unstable type of plaque that builds within blood-vessel walls. It’s the rupture of these plaques, spewing debris into heart arteries, that causes clots to form and leads to heart attacks.

Cholesterol-lowering drug use does not meet guidelines
January 08, 2001

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Overuse and under use of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins may be widespread, risking side effects in some people and failing to stop heart disease in others, researchers report.

Fewer than one in three people taking the drugs to prevent heart disease met National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines for who should take the drugs, the study authors write.

Depending on the specific statin, side effects may include hepatitis, jaundice, other liver problems, gastrointestinal upsets, and a variety of blood complications such as reduced platelet levels and anemia. Periodic testing to monitor liver function should be performed.

Unfortunately many people assume that all they have to do is take Lipitor or some other cholesterol-lowering drug to prevent heart disease. Other risk factors of heart disease are:

High Blood Pressure

Obesity

Smoking

Diabetes

Poor Diet

Lack of Antioxidants

Failure to consume 5 to 7 servings of fresh fruits and Vegetables

Increased consumption of processed and fast foods

Excess consumption of saturated fats and carbohydrates

Lack of Exercise combined with excess stress in our lifestyles.

Michael

Lipitor

BEWARE THE DANGERS'
"Smart Money" magazine, dated

November 2003.

"There's little doubt that the best selling prescription medicine saves lives. But as more patients link the cholesterol pill to memory loss and crippling muscle pain, some doctors are starting to ask: Is America overdosing on Pfizer's wonder drug?"

Mike & Sharon Hope "Since starting on Lipitor in 1998, Mike has significantly reduced his bad cholesterol. But in the process he has been hampered by extreme muscle pain, frustrating memory lapses - and the loss of his business"

Dr. Beatrice Golomb "In researching patients taking statins, Dr.Golomb has discovered that 'people experience significant adverse effects from these drugs. Among the most common: muscle pain and cognitive problems."

Brenda H. "After taking Lipitor for three months, Brenda experienced such severe heart irregularities that she worried her heart would 'just quit'. It scared me enough to send me to the emergency room."

"When Kathleen S. started taking Lipitor, she suffered such severe muscle pain that she barely left her home for weeks. The doctor 'was thrilled with how much my cholesterol came down' she says, but the drug was going to kill me'.'

"Pfizer denies a link between Lipitor and memory loss. 'We think that lowering cholesterol may have some serious benefit in terms of recognition,’ says Dr. Gary Palmer , head of Pfizer's cardiovascular medical group. 'That's not to say the odd case hasn't been reported'."

"Families like the Mortins and Hopes would like to see Pfizer in court. But lawyers tell them the drug must be recalled before they'll take the case.
'Fighting Pfizer is like fighting God,' Mari M fumes. 'They can exhaust everything we have'."

You will find a powerful alternative for high cholesterol / High Blood Pressure. Click here. 

Provochol

RE: Subject: Provocol statin drug side effects

Follow-Up posted by Donald C. Kraatz  on 13:8:21 8/31/2001

Follow-Up:

I am a 70 year old man in reasonably good health. Started taking Provocol about 9 months ago. The following are my symptoms: Severe back and leg pain & declining strength; General weakness throughout whole body; dramatic increase in allergy problems; Loss of memory; Heavy sweating; Pain in left abdomen: Increased nervousness and depression; Numbness in legs and feet; Light headed; Difficulty falling asleep. All of this occurred rapidly. Tests taken by my M.D. show no conclusive results. I stopped taking Pravocol about 3 weeks ago and am very gradually regaining some strength. I am, needless to say, eager to learn anything I can about the long term effects of these risky drugs. Donald C. Kraatz

Another common occurrence of negative side effects of Provochol "I am experiencing more bowel movements which is leading to irritation of hemmorhoids". We have similar reports from users of Lipitor. That only makes sense as they are basically one and the same product in that they are statin drugs with all the same effects and negative side effects. 

When you have a chance, type in the words "provochol side effects" into your google.com browser. Look at the mess that comes up. Baycol, Lipitor, Provochol, Crestor. They are horrible drugs with devastating side effects. 

From Jerry Black:
What you have read above is consistent with the reports we have found throughout the net about this and all other statin-type drugs. Be sure to read this entire page on Provochol and all the other statin drugs. This is serious stuff. I cannot recommend any of them for any reason. I am convinced that the cure may well be more dangerous than the condition or disease.

You will find a powerful alternative for high cholesterol / High Blood Pressure. This is all about taking back your life! Click here. 

Crestor

Group Wants to Ban Cholesterol Drug

March 5, 2004

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A 39-year-old woman has died of a muscle-destroying condition linked to the controversial new anti-cholesterol drug Crestor, a consumer advocate said Thursday, citing 16 cases of serious side effects in urging a ban of the drug.

Crestor is in the popular family of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins.

It won Food and Drug Administration approval in August, after a delay because of safety concerns: Seven cases of the potentially fatal, muscle-destroying condition called rhabdomyolysis occurred during studies involving patients on an 80-milligram dose. 

For that rare condition to pop up in clinical trials was unusual — and particularly worrisome since another statin, Baycol, had been pulled off the market in 2001, linked to dozens of rhabdomyolysis-caused deaths worldwide.

In studies, Crestor also was linked to some cases of kidney abnormalities not seen with other statins.

Still, FDA ultimately decided to approve Crestor, saying it appeared to be slightly more potent than other statins and thus may be important for some patients. To lower the risk of side effects, FDA recommended starting doses of 5 mg. to 10 mg, and said patients should never exceed 40 mg.

But records from the FDA and health agencies in Canada and Britain show life-threatening side effects occur even at those lower doses, said Dr. Sidney Wolfe of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, in a petition filed with FDA Thursday seeking a ban.

Among the records:

--Seven patients with rhabdomyolysis, including the 39-year-old American who died after using a 20-mg dose, and a second death from an unspecified country.

--Four patients with acute kidney failure, including a 79-year-old U.S. man who died.

--Five additional patients with less severe kidney damage.

Also, among six patients, Crestor interacted dangerously with the blood-thinner Coumadin, commonly used by heart-disease patients. One had a hemorrhage, Wolfe said.

Crestor maker AstraZeneca wouldn't comment on the deaths or other serious side effects except to say "the safety profile is totally comparable" to what pre-marketing studies had predicted, said spokesman Gary  Bruell .

"We're very pleased with the performance of the drug thus far," he said, noting that 1 million patients worldwide have tried Crestor, including 600,000 in the United States. The company is about to begin major television advertising for the drug.

But Wolfe contended that Crestor "has no unique advantage, but some unique risks" over other statins. He told the FDA there is growing concern about the drug, citing two major U.S. insurers who refuse to pay for it because of the muscle risk and a recent recommendation against use by Sweden's drug advisers.

The FDA will evaluate the petition, said spokeswoman Laura  Bradbard

"Rhabdomyolysis is a disorder that harms the kidneys. The disease results from the toxicity of destroyed muscle cells. An pigment that contains Iron, called myoglobin that exists in skeletal muscle enters the bloodstream after the muscle suffers damage. This muscle damage has many causes, being the result of a traumatic injury, viral infections or may result from a toxic reaction to prescription and nonprescription medications.

The kidneys have difficulty filtering the myoglobin out of the bloodstream, because it blocks the structures within the kidney, which can result in serious kidney damage or kidney failure.

Borrowed from http://www.rhabdomyolysis.org/ "

"The cholesterol lowering drug Crestor (rosuvastatin) is reported by the consumer group Public Citizen to be implicated in cases of kidney damage and rhabdomyolysis, an adverse reaction involving the destruction of muscle tissue that can lead to kidney failure. Public Citizen is Ralph Nader's public health watchdog organization.

The manufacturer of Crestor, AstraZeneca, originally filed its application with the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the drug in June 2001. The application was delayed following reports of kidney damage and muscle weakness in patients taking daily doses of 80 milligrams. Thereafter, Crestor was approved for doses not to exceed 40 milligrams. Public Citizen charges, however, that these FDA-approved dosage restrictions will not adequately protect patients. As a result, Public Citizen issued a "Do Not Use!" warning about Crestor in its October 2003 issue.

Crestor Side Effects - Rhabdomyolysis

Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include:

• muscle pain
• muscle weakness or tenderness
• malaise
• fever
• dark urine
• nausea
• vomiting

Borrowed from http://www.crestor-lawyers.com/ . You will notice that this link is to a legal site. That is not a good sign!

If you or a loved one has used Crestor, promptly consult your doctor for an evaluation. You will find a powerful alternative for high cholesterol / High Blood Pressure. Click here. 

Zocor

What are the Zocor side effects?

In addition to the side effects common to most prescription medications such as headaches, nausea and fever, other side effects of Zocor can be much more serious.

FACT: An FDA approved statin called Baycol was recently pulled off the market due to serious side effects and even deaths.

The most troubling potential Zocor side effects include extreme muscle pain and serious liver problems.

Take a look at following excerpts taken directly from the official Zocor web site:

"Zocor is a prescription medicine and isn't right for everyone, including...anyone with liver problems" and "Your doctor may do blood tests before and during treatment with Zocor to check for liver problems."

"Unexplained muscle pain or weakness could be a sign of a rare but serious side effect and should be reported to your doctor right away."

Other potential side effects of Zocor:

In addition to serious muscle and liver problems much research has shown that Zocor side effects could include sexual dysfunction and performance problems, as well as memory loss, personality changes and irritability.

Additional concerns regarding prescription cholesterol lowering drugs:
1) While cholesterol lowering drugs do lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, they have limited effect on HDL (good) cholesterol, and no effect on triglycerides (fats), an equally important heart disease risk indicator.

2) Statin medications decrease your body's supply of CoEnzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which is an essential nutrient for heart strength and function.

3) There are natural cholesterol lowering ingredients, some of which have been shown to outperform statins in lowering cholesterol, without the possible side effects.

You will find a powerful alternative for high cholesterol / High Blood Pressure. Click here. 

My Best Recommendation

There is no way in hell that I or anyone I love or care about, including you, will ever hear me suggest you take a statin drug of the like above. That's just criminal!!!

Is there a better way? Yes! Absolutely! So, let's get started right! What follows is an integrated approach to successfully fighting high cholesterol. This approach is not rocket science. Your health at whatever level it is at is a result of how you've integrated all aspects of your lifestyle to date. This is just a more effective, more intelligent approach. 

a) Get your blood work updated. You are going to begin measuring properly. And, you are going to really love the results.

b) Stay on your medications for now. If they are any of the statin drugs above, our objective will be to get you off of them as quickly as possible before they do you some irreparable harm.

c) Now... get this non-prescription, very powerful, all natural proven cholesterol-lowering product --- absolutely 100% guaranteed with no fine print or disqualifiers -- . You will love it because it works! 
Please, do read the entire write up. There is nothing better... not even the best prescription drug. And, there are virtually no adverse side effects. 
Click here to view Cholestasys. You'll thank me. 

I hope this page has given you the starting blocks you need for a healthier, more comfortable life. If you didn't readily find what you're looking for, just drop me a note.

This page: High Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, Stroke, 
Heart Attack