Posted on 06/27/2008 1:19:00 PM PDT by TennesseeGirl
Reuters Health
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Use of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins rose by 156 percent between 2000 and 2005, with spending jumping from $7.7 billion to $19.7 billion, the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reported on Wednesday.
"The number of people purchasing statins nearly doubled when comparing 2000 and 2005, rising from 15.8 million people to 29.7 million people," the AHRQ report reads.
The total number of outpatient prescriptions for statins rose from about 90 million in 2000 to nearly 174 million in 2005. Each individual spent $484 a year on average on statins in 2000; this rose to $661 by 2005.
Statins are wildly popular drugs that lower the risk of heart attack or stroke by lowering levels of so-called fatty substances such as bad cholesterol and triglycerides, and raising levels of "good" cholesterol.
They include atorvastatin, made by Pfizer under the brand name Lipitor; pravastatin or Pravachol, made by Bristol Myers Squibb ; fluvastatin, made by Novartis under the brand name Lescol, and several others.
My doctor recommended red yeast rice. We'll see how that works out at my next check up.
Doesn’t Red Rice Yeast have the same side effects on the liver as statins do? If not, I’ll start taking it!
In fairness, he said he's never encountered a problem with those using the drugs, but if my liver is going to be punished, I'm gonna at least have fun doing it...
“.... rose by 156 percent between 2000 and 2005”
Really are current with their stats, aren’t they?
Statins are the biggest pharmaceutical scam ever perpetrated upon the American public.
Statins DO NOT prevent heart attacks. Just ask Tim Russert. OOPS! I forgot—he’s dead.
The biggest scam perpetrasted on the American public since Global warming.
Statins were recently recommended for diabetes patients to prevent further heart damage from the diabetes.
If so, I agree. He's as much a pragmatic nutritionist and thats what I'm looking for.
Looking at you subsequent post it seems you do not agree with red yeast rice approach. I’d appreciate hearing your opinion & why.
Got put on the statins 9 months ago. Liver functions have been fine. No side effects. Cholesterol went from 248 to 148 (yup, 100 points). Ratio is fine. Blood pressure is actually low normal. Thus far, I’d vote for it.
Quite right. Statins DO have some effects on cardio-vascular disease, but not because of reduction of cholesterol. Plus statins are poisonous (causing liver damage) and can cause birth defects.
What are the side effects of statins?
Statins have few important side effects. The most common side effects are headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, headache, rash, weakness, and muscle pain. The most serious (but fortunately rare) side effects are liver failure and rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis is a serious side effect in which there is damage to muscles. Rhabdomyolysis often begins as muscle pain and can progress to loss of muscle cells, kidney failure, and death. It occurs more often when statins are used in combination with other drugs that themselves cause rhabdomyolysis or with drugs that prevent the elimination of statins and raise the levels of statins in the blood. Since rhabdomyolysis may be fatal, unexplained joint or muscle pain that occurs while taking statins should be brought to the attention of a healthcare provider for evaluation.
Any reports of rhabdomyolysis with Red Rice Yeast?
http://www.spacedoc.net/red_yeast_rice.htm
Yup, just as I suspected. rhabdomyolysis and other statin side-effects can be expected at the same rate as statins if using red rice yeast which is really just another statin. I do take CCQ10 every day anyway.
Amazingly (sarcasm), they've lowered your acceptable cholesterol number to 80! From 200 just a year ago.
Statins are the biggest money making scam since illegal drugs.
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