of the opinion that you do what you can to avoid using any long-term meds for as long as are able. I do exercise daily and watch my cholesterol intake but as I got older (now almost 68) it became more difficult to maintain acceptable levels and now I am on simvastatin. My levels for several years have been great and fortunately I have not had to deal with the aches that some people develop on statins.
carbs and endogenous, self-made cholesterol than I am about cholesterol injestion. I eat 2 eggs for breakfast most days. Used to be 3, but I just don't eat as much of anything anymore. Statins have a great benefit as an anti-inflammatory. but they also deplete CoQ10, so you should probably be taking a supplement. Link - ( New Window )
I'm in my late 40s, and the only issue with blood work @6 months ago was a high cholesterol number (hereditary). I'm in shape/relatively trim, and my doctor advised that in my case a stricter diet may only lower my cholesterol 20 points or so. I started taking 10mg of Atorvastatin, and I don't remember the exact number, but my doctor said the tests last month had reduced my cholesterol to the perfect level. He said it's a "wonder drug."
Are there some harmful long-term risks associated with this drug?
Musculoskeletal: arthralgia - I know 3 people that have experienced this and it went away when they went off the med and decided to change their diet rather than take a med.
Pain in the extremities- I have a friend experiencing this now and he was placed on prednisone which caused, in him, cushings syndrome and diabetes II.
now he's having a nightmare of a time trying to balance everything out. This has been going on 2 years
Renal: Urinary tract infection
Respiratory: naspharryngitis
It also increases liver enzymes which can lead to live failure, dermatomyositis, can ccause autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus; rhabdomyolsis (my friend mentioned above, has high PK numbers which, if not fixed - well, he's on his way to this; tendon rupture, and hemorrhagic cerebral infarction.
Red Yeast Rice to try and avoid the next step of a statin drug.
Be careful there, since what I've read is that it's basically a statin drug (plenty of statins have their basis in nature), and the lack of quality controls on products labeled as supplements could result in harmful side effects. When you get started on a statin, your doctor should be monitoring your liver function via blood test, something you wouldn't get here.
Atorvastatin is Lipotor. It truly is a wonder drug. There are some increased risks of diabetes and liver disease, but not massive ones. A few people dont tolerate it well, and develop memory loss and muscle weakness, which reverse on cessation of treatment. These risks are really low for men in their 40s.
Every drug has risks. Lipotor is a low risk drug though.
but what I am typing here is COMMON and adverse. I've known three people to have these adverse effects in the past two years, and that doesn't count the patients I've seen in the hospital. I didn't give you the basic side effects.
Red Yeast Rice to try and avoid the next step of a statin drug.
Be careful there, since what I've read is that it's basically a statin drug (plenty of statins have their basis in nature), and the lack of quality controls on products labeled as supplements could result in harmful side effects. When you get started on a statin, your doctor should be monitoring your liver function via blood test, something you wouldn't get here.
I will ask me doctor about that. However, he is the one who recommended Red Yeast Rice without any prompting from me.
but what I am typing here is COMMON and adverse. I've known three people to have these adverse effects in the past two years, and that doesn't count the patients I've seen in the hospital. I didn't give you the basic side effects.
You must have the rarest of friends. True outliers. The vast overwhelming majority do not have side effects. And yes there are doctors thinking that younger people should take statins like vitamins.
local farm outdoor pasture raised eggs from our sister farm. Layers that spend time in the sun and eating out of doors have high Omega 3 ratings and better Omega 3 - Omega 6 ratios
My cholesterol levels are consistently in the low range of good
most notably liver damage, muscle pain and an increase in diabetes, especially in women. So they are not a panacea. If you have had a heart incident or a strong family history along with high cholesterol, then they may be warranted. But otherwise they should not be taken.
Doctors are still finding out about cholesterol, they thought for years that fat in the diet was the culprit and now that has been changed. And cholesterol in food does not equal your blood cholesterol. Plus eggs are good for you.
2 of those three people I mentioned were men. NO it's NOT a good drug to use as a staple for anyone.
And buford is correct... they study on eggs and cholesterol is not conclusive right now. New research is being done. but it's always being done.
As with most diseases... put down the cheeseburger and go for a walk. Best way to reduce/ reverse the reversible.
I should add that I no longer eat eggs that much Â
when I gave up grains, I had them everyday for breakfast, but then did an AIP (auto-immune protocol) diet and they are a no-no on that. Five days in, the awful pain in my elbow was gone! In some people eggs (the whites usually) can cause joint pain. I can have them once in awhile and they don't bother me.
Fortunately, side effects with statins are not common, occurring in only in up to 3% of people individuals in randomized clinical trials on statins and most are not serious The most common side effects of statins include:
Gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation, nausea, or indigestion.
Headache.
Upper respiratory type symptoms.
Muscle side effects:
Myalgia or soreness or aching without associated injury (occurs in 1.5-3.5% of patients taking statins in clinical trials. However observational studies suggest that this may be present to some degree and up to 10% of individuals).
Myopathy or muscle soreness associated with muscle injury (occurs in less than 1/10th of a half of percent of patients taking statins).
Rhabdomyolysis, the most severe form of myopathy, is very infrequent (occurs 5 in very 10,000 patients taking statin drugs).
Liver abnormalities (occur in less than 1 percent of people taking statins); found during blood testing and are in most cases reversible with stopping the medication; may even improve with continuing to take the statin drug at the same dose or a reduced dose.
Diabetes – some patients who are at risk for diabetes have a moderate risk of developing diabetes after starting a statin. Benefits and risks of statin use in these patients should be discussed with the patient. In general it is felt that the benefits of statin therapy in high-risk patients outweigh the risk of diabetes development.
Statin Intolerance
Patients are considered statin intolerant if they develop side effects and are unable to continue to use a statin medication or able to only tolerate lower doses.
Who is at risk for statin intolerance?
The elderly, over 75 to 80 years
Having a small body frame or being frail
Having other medical conditions such as kidney disease or liver disease
Large amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice consumption
Taking some medications like certain types of drugs used to treat fungal infection, some antibiotics, and some heart medications
These risk factors may increase the levels of stain in the blood and therefore be associated with a higher risk of side effects, so it’s important to let your doctors know any other medications or supplements you are taking.
I was eating about 2 dozen a week (3-4 per day). I had picture perfect cholesterol at the time. I slowly cut down (at the insistence of my wife) and now don't really eat more than a helping of eggs with breakfast on Sunday. Now I have very good cholesterol, but not quite as good as when I was eating 2 dozen eggs per week.
I don't eat a lot of eggs, and it varies week to week. I would say a month's average would be 9 or 10 eggs. Not counting any eggs in recipes.
Eggs are not the problem....I didn't move to Charleston SC only to start worrying about my cholesterol. The local shellfish population should be worried about me !!!
Saw a sign is a local restaurant that says "If you're worried about Cholesterol, Alcohol or Protocol -- you're in the wrong place"
10-12 eggs a week and my cholesterol level has not changed. I've always been bw 160-180. Each person reacts differently so do what I did and experiment with it.
A large container of egg beaters that's equivalent to two and one half dozen. If I run out by midweek, I pick up a dozen eggs, using only the whites. So in all, roughly 42 eggs a week. That's my main source for protien.
A few years ago my wife added more fat to her diet Â
a couple hard boiled eggs a day? Scrambled eggs in the morning? breakfast for dinner?
I think I might realistically have a couple eggs once a month (not including eggs in other things).
no time in the morning and at night never feel like eggs.
In college many weekend nights we'd hit the diner late night for the 2 eggs home fries an toast special for $1.95 (mid-90's), but that was the total egg consumption I'd have.
a couple hard boiled eggs a day? Scrambled eggs in the morning? breakfast for dinner?
I think I might realistically have a couple eggs once a month (not including eggs in other things).
no time in the morning and at night never feel like eggs.
In college many weekend nights we'd hit the diner late night for the 2 eggs home fries an toast special for $1.95 (mid-90's), but that was the total egg consumption I'd have.
Scrambled or over easy with bacon, ham or sausage, or in an omelet. I'd like to eat more egg salad for lunch, but I rarely think about in far enough in advance to hardboil and cool the eggs.
careful with causation when saying eating or not eating changes this or that without looking at all factors of ones diet in and around those changes, including exercise, stress, drugs, alcohol and other external influences.
I then spent 3 months trying to lower the number naturally so I wouldn't have to start taking statins. I exercised more, cut out fried foods, ate more fiber and omega-3s and limited saturated fats, but I did NOT reduce my consumption of eggs (about 10 a week) or shrimp. After 3 months, my cholesterol number came down by almost 120 points.
Anecdotal and not scientific, but at least for me, the dietary cholesterol did not seem to have any negative effect.
That's awesome! Thanks for sharing your experience, that's very helpful info for a lot of us who share the OP's concern.
Link - ( New Window )
I'm in my late 40s, and the only issue with blood work @6 months ago was a high cholesterol number (hereditary). I'm in shape/relatively trim, and my doctor advised that in my case a stricter diet may only lower my cholesterol 20 points or so. I started taking 10mg of Atorvastatin, and I don't remember the exact number, but my doctor said the tests last month had reduced my cholesterol to the perfect level. He said it's a "wonder drug."
Are there some harmful long-term risks associated with this drug?
- Fish
Link - ( New Window )
Musculoskeletal: arthralgia - I know 3 people that have experienced this and it went away when they went off the med and decided to change their diet rather than take a med.
Pain in the extremities- I have a friend experiencing this now and he was placed on prednisone which caused, in him, cushings syndrome and diabetes II.
now he's having a nightmare of a time trying to balance everything out. This has been going on 2 years
Renal: Urinary tract infection
Respiratory: naspharryngitis
It also increases liver enzymes which can lead to live failure, dermatomyositis, can ccause autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus; rhabdomyolsis (my friend mentioned above, has high PK numbers which, if not fixed - well, he's on his way to this; tendon rupture, and hemorrhagic cerebral infarction.
Be careful there, since what I've read is that it's basically a statin drug (plenty of statins have their basis in nature), and the lack of quality controls on products labeled as supplements could result in harmful side effects. When you get started on a statin, your doctor should be monitoring your liver function via blood test, something you wouldn't get here.
Every drug has risks. Lipotor is a low risk drug though.
Quote:
Red Yeast Rice to try and avoid the next step of a statin drug.
Be careful there, since what I've read is that it's basically a statin drug (plenty of statins have their basis in nature), and the lack of quality controls on products labeled as supplements could result in harmful side effects. When you get started on a statin, your doctor should be monitoring your liver function via blood test, something you wouldn't get here.
I will ask me doctor about that. However, he is the one who recommended Red Yeast Rice without any prompting from me.
You must have the rarest of friends. True outliers. The vast overwhelming majority do not have side effects. And yes there are doctors thinking that younger people should take statins like vitamins.
My cholesterol levels are consistently in the low range of good
Doctors are still finding out about cholesterol, they thought for years that fat in the diet was the culprit and now that has been changed. And cholesterol in food does not equal your blood cholesterol. Plus eggs are good for you.
And buford is correct... they study on eggs and cholesterol is not conclusive right now. New research is being done. but it's always being done.
As with most diseases... put down the cheeseburger and go for a walk. Best way to reduce/ reverse the reversible.
Gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation, nausea, or indigestion.
Headache.
Upper respiratory type symptoms.
Muscle side effects:
Myalgia or soreness or aching without associated injury (occurs in 1.5-3.5% of patients taking statins in clinical trials. However observational studies suggest that this may be present to some degree and up to 10% of individuals).
Myopathy or muscle soreness associated with muscle injury (occurs in less than 1/10th of a half of percent of patients taking statins).
Rhabdomyolysis, the most severe form of myopathy, is very infrequent (occurs 5 in very 10,000 patients taking statin drugs).
Liver abnormalities (occur in less than 1 percent of people taking statins); found during blood testing and are in most cases reversible with stopping the medication; may even improve with continuing to take the statin drug at the same dose or a reduced dose.
Diabetes – some patients who are at risk for diabetes have a moderate risk of developing diabetes after starting a statin. Benefits and risks of statin use in these patients should be discussed with the patient. In general it is felt that the benefits of statin therapy in high-risk patients outweigh the risk of diabetes development.
Statin Intolerance
Patients are considered statin intolerant if they develop side effects and are unable to continue to use a statin medication or able to only tolerate lower doses.
Who is at risk for statin intolerance?
The elderly, over 75 to 80 years
Having a small body frame or being frail
Having other medical conditions such as kidney disease or liver disease
Large amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice consumption
Taking some medications like certain types of drugs used to treat fungal infection, some antibiotics, and some heart medications
These risk factors may increase the levels of stain in the blood and therefore be associated with a higher risk of side effects, so it’s important to let your doctors know any other medications or supplements you are taking.
Link - ( New Window )
Not claiming its cause and effect, but go figure.
Eggs are not the problem....I didn't move to Charleston SC only to start worrying about my cholesterol. The local shellfish population should be worried about me !!!
Saw a sign is a local restaurant that says "If you're worried about Cholesterol, Alcohol or Protocol -- you're in the wrong place"
Saw a sign is a local restaurant that says "If you're worried about Cholesterol, Alcohol or Protocol -- you're in the wrong place"
lol, great sign
a couple hard boiled eggs a day? Scrambled eggs in the morning? breakfast for dinner?
I think I might realistically have a couple eggs once a month (not including eggs in other things).
no time in the morning and at night never feel like eggs.
In college many weekend nights we'd hit the diner late night for the 2 eggs home fries an toast special for $1.95 (mid-90's), but that was the total egg consumption I'd have.
a couple hard boiled eggs a day? Scrambled eggs in the morning? breakfast for dinner?
I think I might realistically have a couple eggs once a month (not including eggs in other things).
no time in the morning and at night never feel like eggs.
In college many weekend nights we'd hit the diner late night for the 2 eggs home fries an toast special for $1.95 (mid-90's), but that was the total egg consumption I'd have.
Scrambled or over easy with bacon, ham or sausage, or in an omelet. I'd like to eat more egg salad for lunch, but I rarely think about in far enough in advance to hardboil and cool the eggs.
Anecdotal and not scientific, but at least for me, the dietary cholesterol did not seem to have any negative effect.
That's awesome! Thanks for sharing your experience, that's very helpful info for a lot of us who share the OP's concern.