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And then you woke up a democrat. . .
Posted on 11/07/2007 10:03:13 PM PST by crazyshrink
American Heart Association meeting report ORLANDO, Nov. 7 — A cholesterol-lowering drug appears to disrupt sleep patterns of some patients, researchers reported at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2007.
“The findings are significant because sleep problems can affect quality of life and may have adverse health consequences, such as promoting weight gain and insulin resistance,” said Beatrice Golomb, M.D., lead author of the study and an associate professor of medicine and family and preventive medicine at the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine.
In the largest study of its kind, researchers compared two types of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins — simvastatin, which is lipophilic (soluble in fats), and pravastatin, which is hydrophilic (soluble in water).
Because simvastatin is fat soluble it can more readily penetrate cell membranes and cross the blood brain barrier into the brain. The brain controls sleep, and many of the brain’s nerve cells are wrapped in a fatty insulating sheath called myelin.
“The results showed that simvastain use was associated with significantly worse sleep quality. A significantly greater number of individuals taking simvastatin reported sleep problems than those taking either pravastain or the placebo,” Golomb said. “On average, the lipophilic statin had a greater adverse effect on sleep quality.”
In past studies and case reports, some people on statins reported having insomnia or nightmares.
“Several small studies were done early on, including those focused on lipophilic versus hydrophilic statins,” Golomb said. “Most (researchers) didn’t see a difference in sleep, but they had short durations of follow-up and enrolled just a handful of people — often fewer than 20, which was not enough to see a difference unless it was very large.
“One of these studies did report a significant difference between pravastatin and simvastatin. But without more and bigger studies, an effect was not considered to be established.”
In this study, researchers tested 1,016 healthy adult men and women for six months in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial using simvastatin, given at 20 milligrams (mg), pravastatin at 40 mg, or a placebo. They assessed outcomes with the Leeds sleep scale, a visual analog scale of sleep quality, and a rating scale of sleep problems. Both scales were measured before and during treatment.
“Those who reported developing much worse sleep on study medication also showed a significant adverse change in aggression scores compared to others,” Golomb said “We should also point out that although the average effect on sleep was detrimental on simvastatin, this does not mean that everyone on simvastatin will experience worse sleep.”
Researchers did not include patients with heart disease or diabetes due to concerns about assigning these people to placebos.
“Patients taking simvastatin who are having sleep problems should consult with their doctor,” Golomb said. “Sleep deprivation is a major problem in a minor number of people.”
I started taking simvastatin about 18 months ago. I sleep okay, but when I wake up I remember really weird dreams. And within this same 18 months, I’ve developed a gut.
Jaysus. Is there any pill out there that DOESN’T make you fat.
I switched to it about 18 mos. ago also. Haven’t had a good nite’s sleep since. Nasty dreams also. It isn’t common for a researcher to suggest action like this in their research. Off to the dr. I go.
bttt
I took pravastatin one night and that was it. Felt like I’d just finished a half-marathon all night and it was difficult to sleep. I’ll take the higher cholesterol.
I’ve been having weird nightmares since I started it myself too. Yessir, I wake up exhausted, sometimes with scratches on my face and torso, scraped knuckles, mysterious bloodstains in my car trunk, freshly-washed kitchen cutlery in the dishrack, signs of fresh digging in my backyard and crawl space...
What about Lovastatin? That’s what I take. Can anyone enlighten me?
I’ve been taking a statin now for about 3 months, and my sleep pattern has been severely disrupted. And I do seem to be remembering more of my dreams than usual too. I take Lipitor, 20mg at night. I never would have thought it had anything to do with Lipitor (and maybe it doesn’t, but it sure is a weird coincidence).
Of course, with vitamins or supplements, were there just ONE adverse "possible side effect", they'd be pulled off the shelves by Swat Teams ...
Also, a banana will help you sleep - it has L-Tryptophan in it, like turkey (which is why you feel sleepy after the Thanksgiving Day meal...
Another of my favorites is old fashioned cocoa made with cocoa powder, sugar, light cream, tiny pinch of salt and then, just before serving, stir in a good splash of pure vanilla ...imitation wont work
Lots of ways to get HEALTHY sleep = I tried Valerian for a bit - grows wild in the fields. It works, but it smells like dirty gym socks -
I took it for a while but developed the terrible muscle pains (couldn’t raise arms over shoulder high). The study doesn’t mention lovastatin but here is a link:
http://www.medicinenet.com/lovastatin-oral/page2.htm
Melatonin has made me slightly groggy the next morning.
Actually, turkey and the tryptophan inside is what gets turned into maltonin - that’s why you snooze after the thanksgiving meal!
I’m not gonna say much about it, but melatonin is very high on the list of anti-aging supplements - and from the studies I’ve read, very rightly so. In some cases, almost miraculous.
Thanks.
Speaking of chloresterol, you might be interested in researching homocystiene levels - that research is now pinpointing as the bad guy in heart problems over cholesterol...
Here's a Stanford study
http://www.stanford.edu/group/hopes/treatmts/antinflm/i7.html
excerpt: High homocysteine levels are associated with many health problems and may contribute to the progression of HD; consequently, it is important to keep homocystein levels low. In the first processing pathway, homocysteine becomes cysteine, which can become glutathione. The first pathway is important to people with HD because glutathione can help protect against oxidative damage. ... In the second processing pathway, homocysteine becomes methionine, whose creation depends on an enzyme that needs folic acid.
Also, scroll down to the "Folic Acid and HD"
Stanford's report is, of course, more technical that others,,,but a GOOGLE or an ASK.com can bring up gobs of info on homocysteine and HD - heart disease
YW. Just search lovastatin and there is lots of info. Just be careful what you read. I must urge you to talk to a DR. before changing anything. My professional ethics at work you know.
Ty Maine.....
What I post from EurekAlert are “press ready” articles due to be printed in specific journals. It is cheaper and easier than going thru the various “fee based” journal services.
Simvastatin is the generic name for Zocor which is the equivalent of Lipitor.
Anyway, I never connected the co-incidence until I read this article.
With my luck, the doctor will prescibe some sort of "normal dream-sleep" drug.
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And then you woke up a democrat. . .
Ask your Doc about Niacin and Omega-3.
I asked my Doc to take me off of statins (I was going nuts) so she started me on Niacin and Omega-3 with an EPA of 420 mg and DHA of 300 - this ratio is important - not the stuff in health food stores.
Blood work a month later showed me lower than while on the statin. The Niacin flush can be lessened or eliminated by taking it with food.
I take mine in the morning...that way it interupts my sleep at work.
Why do so many people take statins? Isn’t there new research out there that says heart attacks come from something other than high cholesterol now? I thought that connection was not still thought to be so causal.
Maybe Lipidil would be better for you, not that it doesn’t come with it’s own list of possible side effects. I’ve had some problems with it, but they’ve diminished.
Drs are sold on it and the drug cos give them free starter packs to give to patients for a free trial. Then most are hooked by the low blood readings and the fear of going off them.
I know, but it’s frustrating — people getting excited about blood levels going down for something that might not have harmed them at all.
My grandmother had high cholesterol (and so does my whole family) but she died peacefully at 96. We have no heart problems of any kind in the whole family but we simply tend to high cholesterol.
You can also mess yourself up real good self medicating with “natural” remedies, many of which can cause severe interactions with other “natural” remedies or prescription drugs.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t try them if you think they help you, but be very careful and look up what the active ingredient in them that is supposed to help your condition is, and make sure it doesn’t react with anything else you may be taking.
Sometimes you can find a herbal remedy that has the same active ingredient in it that the pharmaceutical does, and save yourself a pile of money.
You should never think however, that all pharmaceuticals are “bad” either. Many or most of them refine their active ingredients from plants as well, just in a more refined way.
Above all, don’t risk your life on something that is totaly unproven just because a couple of con artists promoting herbal remedies and “secrets from China”, (remember their life expectancy is well below ours in the west) there are a lot of snake oil salesmen out there.
Research, research and research some more before you try anything.
Depends on what type of cholesterols they are. LDL’s and triglycerides levels should not be too high, while HDL’s can be high, and may actually be a good thing.
I have taken Lipitor for several years and I sleep like a rock 95% of the time. I also have been gaining weight for years before, but I have been able to lose 40 pounds over the past 8 months.
You are correct. High cholesterol is only an easily measurable "proxy indicator" - it doesn't actually correlate to health and physical well-being.
Statins do nothing for you - and plenty that is quite bad for you.
Here’s the snope on Tryptophan.
http://www.snopes.com/food/ingredient/turkey.asp
There are several reason it is probably not what makes you sleepy after a Thanksgiving turkey.
ping
Pravastatin = Pravachol
FWIW, I take lipitor, and haven't noticed any problems.
1) I was put on Mevacor (lovastatin) over 20 years ago by my primary physician-an MD in Cardiology. At the time, he was a teaching professor at the University of Miami at Jackson Hospital. He said it was a miracle drug—like aspirin.
2) The effects have been the subject of Scandinavian studies for 30 years—all good.
3) Statins remove plaque from your arteries and veins—including those in your brain—delaying the onset of Alzheimer's.
4) Mevacor is available at WalMart for $3 per prescription, and should be double the dose of your Lipitor. Lipitor's patent runs out soon and should also be available at WalMart.
5) Once, when I selected Pravacol instead of Mevacor, I suffered with indigestion—which lead to antacids—which lead to kidney stones! No more antacids for me!
6) When I voluntarily switched to 20mg (from 10mg), my sleep pattern changed to only 5 or 6 hours duration; however, I get "instant sleep" at bedtime. Retired, I still get my eight hours through naps.
Check out Science Weekly articles.
I'm convinced it's good.
:)
This is correct. TOTAL cholesterol is only a general indicator--the culprit is "low-density lipoproteins", which is exactly what the statins reduce.
"Statins do nothing for you - and plenty that is quite bad for you."
Wrong. See above comment about LDL. Some few people have bad side affects, most of which can be avoided by supplementing with CoQ10 along with the statin. Once I started Lipitor, my LDL's dropped from around 180 to 65. I've had zero problems with it (I was already taking a CoQ10 supplement before starting the Lipitor).
Works for me, too.
“You’re so cool, Brewster!”
“Lots of ways to get HEALTHY sleep = I tried Valerian for a bit - grows wild in the fields. It works, but it smells like dirty gym socks -”
______________________________________________________________
An old friend recommended Valerian to me. I got some capsules, I guess it works, but I’m betting that if Animal Planet or the Discovery Channel ever does a “Most Extreme” episode on the natural world’s smelliest substances, lo’ Valerian’s name will outshine all the rest.
“Aimeeeeeee...!”
That's the one that causes all your lovas you were with during the night to disappear upon waking.
I take 1000mg with no flush. One asperin 45 min prior stops all nasty effects.
these drugs also cause liver damage. the better way is to eat right. garlic, olive oil, and more veggies less saturated fat.
Carolyn
Thanks much! Plus your FReep name helps too!
GNC sells a no flush niacin. I take that with Zocor/now a generic and the highest omega-3 I can find. I take breaks from the Zocor sometimes. But my cholesterol went fron 247 to the 160-180 range. However my bad cholesterol is still too high and the good still too low. And my triglycerides are too high.
Ditto on the CoQ10. First let me say, though, that I am no vitamin-freak and don't hold that vitamin supplements will cure whatever ailes you.
Anyway, my doctor put me on Crestor, which is one of the water-soluble statin drugs, because of high LDL cholesterol. After taking it I began feeling somewhat lethargic in body and mind. I did some reading and found out that statins not only inhibit cholesterol production in the liver, but also inhibit CoQ10 production. CoQ10 is required for cellular metabolism and as we get older, we produce less of it anyways, so the statins inhibit something I was already in short supply of (compared to when I was younger).
In any case, I started taking CoQ10 courtesy of finding a bottle of it at Costco and I have to say, the results have been completely positive. I feel normal again. TM
Your husband is on Zeta?? You need to keep an eye on him. Here's Zeta.
You need to get a blood test a couple times a years to rule it out.
not a risk I care to take. cholesterol, may or may not be a problem. I have read it is the homocysteine levels in the blood that carry more weight. there were two studies two different results. Not completely convinced that cholesterol is the key culprit.
Carolyn
Sounds more like you were on zolpidem (Ambien) than a statin drug...weird, unremembered stuff does happen to people on Ambien. I’m going to have to see about switching statins, myself.
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