Statin Related Myopathy

[HysteryDiagnosis]

Mayo Clinic says it's not a big problem, unless of course you have this problem.

http://weeksmd.com/2009/08/the-patent-for-statin-drugs-included-co-q-10/

Low Muscle CoQ10 in Statin-Related Myopathy

While statin drugs such as Lipitor®, Zocor® and Lovastatin® are beneficial to lower high blood cholesterol, they also have the effect of blocking the body’s natural production of Coenzyme Q10. Supplementation with CoQ10 is necessary to avoid the very heart disease that Lipitor®, Zocor® and Lovastatin® seek to avoid by reducing cholesterol. In a small number of other cases, the statin drugs depletion of CoenzymeQ10 led to liver disease.

Statin Drug Overview

Statin drugs such as Zocor®, Lipitor® and Lovastatin® block cholesterol production in the body by inhibiting the enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase in the early steps of its synthesis in the mevalonate pathway. This same biosynthetic pathway is also shared by CoQ10. Therefore, one unfortunate consequence of statin drugs is the unintentional inhibition of CoQ10 synthesis. Thus, in the long run, Lovastatin®, Zocor® and Lipitor® could predispose the patients to heart disease by lowering their Coenzyme Q10 status, the very condition that these drugs are intended to prevent.

The most common statin drugs include:

Lescol Fluvastatin (FLOO-va-sta-tin)
Lipitor Atorvastatin (a-TOR-va-sta-tin)
Mevacor Lovastatin (LOE-va-sta-tin)
Pravachol Pravastatin (PRA-va-stat-in)
Zocor Simvastatin (SIM-va-stat-in)

Coenzyme Q10 Use in Conjunction with Statin Drugs

Reporting in the Italian Journal of Respiratory Science in 1999, researchers said that the reduction of CoenzymeQ10 levels is associated with myopathy, an infrequent adverse effect associated with statin drugs. This metabolic myopathy is related to Coenzyme Q10 deficiency in muscle cell mitochondria, disturbing normal cellular respiration and causing adverse effects such as rhabdomyolysis, exercise intolerance, and recurrent myoglobinuria.1


http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coenzyme-q10/AN01541
Some researchers think that taking a coenzyme Q10 supplement may reduce the risk of serious muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis). And some small reports suggest that troubling side effects — muscle and joint aches — from statins might be reduced if you take coenzyme Q10 along with a statin. However, no large studies have confirmed this theory, so current guidelines don't recommend routine use of coenzyme Q10 in people taking statins.

Coenzyme Q10 doesn't cause side effects for most people. However, as with other herbal and dietary supplements, it's not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

[gblady]

1. thanks for sharing this........

do believe this applies to me...
will definitely add some COQ10.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

6. Please do read all of the article....

http://weeksmd.com/2009/08/the-patent-for-statin-drugs-included-co-q-10/

It is important to note that Coenzyme Q10 supplementation does not interfere with the very important cholesterol-lowering effect of statin drugs such as Lovastatin®, Lipitor® and Zocor®. Therefore, if you are taking a statin drug, (especially for an extended period of time), you may want to consider discussing CoQ10 supplementation with your health care professional.

Common supplementation of Coenzyme Q10 is 50 mg to 100 mg per day for someone who is not taking statin drugs. A dosage of 100 mg to 200 mg per day may be considered for a person taking Lipitor® or Zocor® or other statins based on the recommendation of Dr. Julian Whitaker, M.D.8

In his 2002 petition to the FDA to mandate a warning be included in the package inserts of all statin drugs, Dr. Whitaker recommended the following text: “Warning: HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statin drugs) block the endogenous biosynthesis of an essential cofactor, coenzyme Q10, required for energy production. A deficiency of coenzyme Q10 is associated with impairment of myocardial function, with liver dysfunction and with myopathies (including cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure). All patients taking HMG CoA reductase inhibitors should therefore be advised to take 100 to 200 mg per day of supplemental coenzyme Q10.“8

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Raster]

14. Thank you for sharing this information. my sarcastic observation was

deleted. I had observed that generally when you post what some may consider "alternate" health information, IT SEEMS a certain group of persons follow you around heaping scorn on your posts. That is not me. I am a long-standing member of LEF, and recognize they have been at the forefront of alternate medical paths for years. In fact, it was LEF that brought news of CoQ10 to the U.S. and it's use in Japan. I appreciate your posts. I don't appreciate the naysayers.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

15. Thanks for the encouragement... much appreciated, I feel that unnecessary suffering

is the fare of the day for the lack of knowledge that persists regarding this nutritional science that takes a back seat to all things pharmaceutical.

[Raster]

16. American medicine is geared to treat illness, and generally only with the assistance of

the American pharmaceutical machine. This is NOT the case in other countries, who have much healthier citizens and whom do not allow the pharmaceutical industry to write legislation.

[Peace Patriot]

2. Thanks for spreading the word. Personal experience: if you take a statin, take a CoQ10 supplement!

nt

[Celebration]

3. true story

A few years ago I told a friend to consider taking COQ10 because she was taking Lipotor. She asked her local doctor who said fine. When she went back to the Mayo clinic her lipoprotein (a) levels had been reduced from a very high level to ZERO. (She had had several mild strokes prior to the COQ10.) The Mayo Clinic doctor asked her what she was doing different. Guess what? The Mayo Clinic doctor had never heard of COQ10, and just dropped the subject.

At least now Mayo Clinic has heard of the stuff. :eyes:

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. Yes, they've heard of it and just look at how they are raving about its benefits!! Not. This

book should be on every cardiologists must read to pass med school thingy.

http://www.amazon.com/Coenzyme-Phenomenon-Stephen-M-D-Sinatra/dp/0879839570/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318171263&sr=8-1

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lWH0ZIIfL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

Coenzyme Q10 (often abbreviated as CoQ10) is essential for human life. It catalyzes the formation and utilization of energy in every human cell. Fortunately, our bodies manufacture CoQ10. Unfortunately, some people do not manufacture enough CoQ10 to keep them healthy, especially as they grow older. Research has shown that deficiency of CoQ10 is the major cause of cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure and these diseases can often be cured by CoQ10 supplementation. Even many heart transplant candidates have no longer needed a heart transplant after supplementation with CoQ10. Now it has been found that CoQ10 can also prevent -- and, sometimes, even cure -- cancer, as well a variety of other diseases. Dr. Stephen Sinatra -- a board-certified cardiologist -- is a world-renowned expert on CoQ10 and its health benefits. I beg your to buy and read this book and heed Dr. Sinatra's information and advice.

[grasswire]

17. not only has Dr. Sinatra's advice changed my life, but it bought my kitty two extra years!

I was already on coQ10 thanks to reading Dr. Sinatra's recommendations for heart health when my dear orange tabby was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. I started giving him coQ10 in an appropriate dose, and he outlived his prognosis by two good, hearty years.

I urge everyone to read Dr. Sinatra's web site, articles, books, etc. The addition of coQ10 and magnesium supplement made a huge difference in my life, and I've added more of his recommendations as I could afford them.

[Celebration]

4. Coenzyme Q10 The Essential Nutrient

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3178961/?tool=pubmed

The potential use of coenzyme Q10 supplements alone or in combination with other drug therapies and nutritional supplements may help prevent or treat some of the following conditions: cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, cancer, periodontal diseases, mitochondrial disorders, radiation injury, obesity, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), gastric ulcers, allergy, migraine headaches, kidney failure, muscular dystrophy, and aging. CoQ10 plays a significant role in boosting the immune system and physical performance, as tissues and cells involved with immune function are highly energy-dependent and therefore require an adequate supply of CoQ10 for optimal function.

[Eddie Haskell]

7. I was on Lipitor for years before suffering serious muscle pain.

When I mentioned the pain to my Doc, he showed me my CPK test results which were always normal. My treatment continued until I cried uncle. It turns out, the CPK test is not always reliable. The drug companies will tell you that only a small percentage of statin users have muscle problems. In fact, nearly all statin users exhibit some evidence of muscle damage. This has been confirmed by biopsy in European studies.

In researching my own problem, I came upon an interesting statistic. The percentage of patients who complain of muscle pain is much higher than that reported by the drug companies. It seems the doctors don't report the complaints unless verified by test results. Bottom line, listen to your body.

Even a good doctor has trouble hearing his patients when the drug company has his ear.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. Eddie Haskell.... dayammmm that takes me back, way back.... and just to be fair to the

Mayo Clinic....

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol/CL00002/NSECTIONGROUP=2

4. Olive oil

Olive oil contains a potent mix of antioxidants that can lower your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol but leave your "good" (HDL) cholesterol untouched.

The Food and Drug Administration recommends using about 2 tablespoons (23 grams) of olive oil a day in place of other fats in your diet to get its heart-healthy benefits. To add olive oil to your diet, you can saute vegetables in it, add it to a marinade, or mix it with vinegar as a salad dressing. You can also use olive oil as a substitute for butter when basting meat or as a dip for bread. Olive oil is high in calories, so don't eat more than the recommended amount.

The cholesterol-lowering effects of olive oil are even greater if you choose extra-virgin olive oil, meaning the oil is less processed and contains more heart-healthy antioxidants. But keep in mind that "light" olive oils are usually more processed than extra-virgin or virgin olive oils and are lighter in color, not fat or calories.

5. Foods with added plant sterols or stanols

Foods are now available that have been fortified with sterols or stanols — substances found in plants that help block the absorption of cholesterol.

Margarines, orange juice and yogurt drinks with added plant sterols can help reduce LDL cholesterol by more than 10 percent. The amount of daily plant sterols needed for results is at least 2 grams — which equals about two 8-ounce (237-milliliter) servings of plant sterol-fortified orange juice a day.

Plant sterols or stanols in fortified foods don't appear to affect levels of triglycerides or of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good" cholesterol.

[cutlassmama]

9. Tried tell my doc that I had muscle pain when taking statin and he replied

that the meds "just don't do that". Oh really???

[pecwae]

10. Happened to me as well.

I was having to crawl up stairs because of the muscle pain Zocor caused. Told the MD and he said I must be doing something else to cause my trouble, that Zocor did not have that side effect. Took myself off the damn statin and onto red yeast rice.

[arikara]

11. Do statin drugs do any good?

snip

the drugs can be life-saving in patients who already have suffered heart attacks, somewhat reducing the chances of a recurrence that could lead to an early death. But Wright had a surprise when he looked at the data for the majority of patients, like Winn, who don't have heart disease. He found no benefit in people over the age of 65, no matter how much their cholesterol declines, and no benefit in women of any age. He did see a small reduction in the number of heart attacks for middle-aged men taking statins in clinical trials. But even for these men, there was no overall reduction in total deaths or illnesses requiring hospitalization—despite big reductions in "bad" cholesterol. "Most people are taking something with no chance of benefit and a risk of harm," says Wright.

snip

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_04/b4068052092994.htm?chan=rss_topStories_ssi_5

The Mr is one of these heart attack patients that doctors want to keep on statins. He only takes a low dose of pravachor which is the least harsh of the bunch. They had him on a high dose of lipitor and he got the terrible muscle pain, of course they denied it was the cause and keep wanting him to up his dose. What we have noticed is that if his blood sugars run high, then his cholesterol levels are high too which of course has nothing to do with a bloody pill.

And any doctor nowadays that prescribes a statin without telling patient to take coQ10 is negligent pure and simple. Too many people are put on these pills and there is and never has been any evidence that they do any good except for a very small number of men.

[grasswire]

18. I saw a doctor this week who was one in a series who wanted me to take a statin

Nope.

Na ga da.

Not going there.

[azul]

12. Memory effects as well by Co Q10 depletion?

And perhaps also memory effects by statins' limiting cholesterol access and its synthesis in learning brains?


"Cholesterol is vital to brain function, and is abundant in the sheaths that insulate nerve cells. And the enzyme that statins interrupt is involved in the synthesis of coenzyme Q10, a vitamin-like substance that the cell's mitochondria need to convert food and oxygen into energy.

"Converging evidence," Golomb wrote in 2008, supports the theory that mitochondrial disruption underlies muscle problems linked to statins, and possibly also cognitive impairment."

http://articles.philly.com/2011-04-15/news/29421666_1_statins-lipitor-memory-loss

[sense]

19. Statins are poison

There are zero studies showing that statins in any way lessen heart disease in women and zero studies that show they lessen heart disease in men who don't already have heart disease. Plus, all studies show that men over the age of 60 derive no heart disease benefit from taking a statin drug. Statins do lower cholesterol, but that is not the cause of heart disease, and cholesterol is vital to the function of all of our organs especially our brains. If you actually read the studies, not just the ghost written, supposed results of the studies, you can find the truth, but since most people don't know that they get away with murder.

We've been sold yet another "miracle cure" that is simply a way for pharma to profit at the expense of our health. I was on statins for 25 years! I felt horrible, weak and depressed. Once I quit the statins my depression lifted and then I quit the anti-depressants and became a completely different person. I feel healthy for the first time in forever and feel like there's hope! Greed is an ugly thing. It seems to have taken over in so many areas. We've been told to eat in a way that's very unhealthy, to take a pill for this and a pill for that. We've even been told to exercise in ways that do more harm than good.

Just as in so many other areas, we've been deceived and fed the wrong information, so that the few can profit.

[Mz Pip]

20. I had a bad reaction to Zocor

Bad upset stomach, diahrea, broke out in a rash, all after 3 weeks of being on it. Dr.then had me take slo-niacin but I could never get the dosage up to an amount that might make a difference. Then Red Yeast Rice. My cholesterol went up and my triglycerides doubled.SO much for that. :shrug:

I'm not overweight and eat healthy but seem to be fighting genetics. Now I'm taking gemfribrozol, not a statin drug, which has been around for a long time. I take COQ10 also. BUt if I get a reaction to this, it's back to square one.