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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.
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