Statins may not slash the risk of dying
from heart disease: Controversial study
claims the cheap cholesterol-busting
pills offer no 'consistent benefit'
Daily Mail (UK),
by
Eleanor Hayward
Original Article
Posted By: Ribicon,
8/4/2020 5:09:22 PM
Statins are not particularly effective at reducing the risk of dying from heart disease, a study claims. Scientists analysed 35 studies into the effects of the drugs which lower 'bad' LDL cholesterol and found the pills have no consistent benefit. The research, published in the British Medical Journal, found three quarters of all trials reported no reduction in mortality among those who took the drugs. And half of all studies suggested that cholesterol-busting pills did not prevent heart attacks or strokes.(Snip) The researchers systematically reviewed all published clinical trials comparing treatment with one of three types of cholesterol lowering drugs—statins, ezetimibe and PCSK9.
Reply 1 - Posted by:
earlybird 8/4/2020 5:16:41 PM (No. 499954)
Quitting the med after longterm use can be problematic, but reducing the dose considerably is believed to be quite safe. Our family member did that and is just fine.
14 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
earlybird 8/4/2020 5:17:37 PM (No. 499955)
Re #1, his internist okayed the reduction. Don’t get medical advice from anyone but your doctor.
8 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
NHChemist 8/4/2020 5:21:42 PM (No. 499959)
Did Trump just endorse statins?
19 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
TXknitter 8/4/2020 5:22:50 PM (No. 499962)
Our cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic told my husband that four years ago, went over the latest studies to prove it. I know other cardiac patients who were taken off statins gradually and with diet and other things to address inflammation, they have done better than great ever since.
11 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
raspberry 8/4/2020 5:29:20 PM (No. 499968)
Did they look for kidney damage? Statins damaged my friend's kidneys and they are now at 50%,
8 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
franq 8/4/2020 5:44:39 PM (No. 499983)
Those pills aren't for me.
2 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
kgjj 8/4/2020 5:57:22 PM (No. 500001)
My quadriceps became paralyzed about ten years age due to "statin induced myopathy". I stopped taking statins and after about six weeks I regained use of my legs. After quite a bit of research I concluded that the cholesterol panic is probably one of the biggest con jobs of all time. Have to reassert my unwillingness to take statins to my doctor every visit.
18 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
Jethro bo 8/4/2020 6:08:03 PM (No. 500013)
Statins have never been shown to reduce heart attacks. Lipitor was shown to reduce the incidence of a 2nd heart attack if taken after the first heart attacks. Statins were shown to lower cholesterol and nothing more. No clincial benefit was ever determined. This has been known for decades and Europe has extensively studied statins and shown they are useless in heart disease for decades. However, we in the US cling to our superstitions with a religious fervor. Its like the cult of Facemaks without the violence. Stains can cause fibrosis of the lung as well as many other severe side effects. I have refused cholesterol measurements for years cause the doctors I see all have drank the statin Kool-aid. No statins for me. Others are ree to do as they want until the Health Nazis start beating us up.
7 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
Kate318 8/4/2020 6:10:07 PM (No. 500015)
This research has been around from different sources for many years. Good to see the more “respected” sources finally catching up with it.
6 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
coyote 8/4/2020 6:11:55 PM (No. 500017)
Knew this long ago.
6 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
udanja99 8/4/2020 7:23:11 PM (No. 500072)
I’ve been taking Lipitor for over 20 years with no side effects and my levels went from 340 to 211. I did cut my dose in half a year ago and all is still well. An ultrasound when I was first diagnosed showed plaque buildup in my arteries but my calcium heart scan last year showed that the plaque was gone. So, don’t tell me that it doesn’t work.
All of this is hereditary - my mother died of heart failure at 66 due to almost completely blocked arteries and I’m now older than she was at her death. With my lifestyle and eating habits the doctors say I shouldn’t have high cholesterol at all. If not for statins I might not be alive.
9 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
davew 8/4/2020 8:04:57 PM (No. 500101)
Physicians are just now getting information on using Vacepa from Amarin Pharma to reduce CV risk for patients on statins. This drug was shown to be very effective in both reducing triglyceride levels and reducing CV events based on the recent REDUCE-IT study.
3 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
chumley 8/4/2020 8:25:48 PM (No. 500119)
The doctor has been pushing those things on me for years. Apparently the witch's brew of pharmaceuticals he already has me on isn't enough. I did my research and said no. The side effects far outweigh the benefits in my case. He'll have to get his kickbacks elsewhere.
5 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
Vaquero45 8/4/2020 9:43:08 PM (No. 500171)
I've been on statins for 25 years - first Pravachol, then Lipitor - with no side effects. Cholesterol went from 260 to 170. I turned 70 last year. Talk to your doctor.
3 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
TulsaTowner 8/4/2020 10:19:52 PM (No. 500190)
FAR more dangerous drugs than hydroxychloroquine, even though prescribed "on-label", yet the FDA does nothing to restrict their use. Way overprescribed -
5 people like this.
Reply 16 - Posted by:
Ashley Brenton 8/4/2020 11:10:51 PM (No. 500221)
When can we get comprehensive proof as to whether or not masks work at stopping covid-19?
Because I suspect there are elements in America who pointedly do not want to know one way or the other.
4 people like this.
Reply 17 - Posted by:
Heartdoc 8/4/2020 11:27:37 PM (No. 500239)
I am a cardiologist. There are multiple randomized, double blinded, controlled trials showing that statins reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, and death both in primary prevention in high risk patient (before a first event) and secondary prevention (after you have had a heart attack or stroke). The evidence is indisputable. The drugs are mostly all generic and cheap and there is no current financial incentive to us them. Limping a bunch of different studies together with various kind s of patients is junk science. The FDA has approved these drugs to decrease the risk of heart attack, stoke, and death and they are quite effective in my experience and the experience of every cardiologist that I know.
5 people like this.
I can't take statins or almost any drug. Last week while visiting my cardiologist, he said I needed two tests and was told the insurer won't pay for one, but the research company will. The research was nothing more than clinical trials with a twist. Part of the testing included aspirin that I can't take either, and periodic blood tests.Then my PCP refused to authorize the heart scan. Do not think you are going to force me into the 'research' because they don't want to pay. The woman with forms for the 'research' backed up and started ti walk away when I said I can't take statins.
The other thing is if you do clinical trials and something goes wrong, most insurers will not pay for your medical care.
As a senior I feel like a walking dollar sign.
3 people like this.
Reply 19 - Posted by:
Trigger2 8/5/2020 1:07:18 AM (No. 500306)
Statins are good if you love pain numbing leg cramps. I finally cut myself off from taking them after the doctor wouldn't listen to me.
1 person likes this.
Reply 20 - Posted by:
JHHolliday 8/5/2020 1:29:24 AM (No. 500317)
I am one of those who can’t take statins. The make me deathly sick. Most are what’s called calcium channel blockers. Some bp medicines are designed to work the same way. My cholesterol is basically ok. My doc wants to drive it down further but I am pushing 80 so I told him no way. Most are just cya so they can say they went by the book.
2 people like this.
Reply 21 - Posted by:
paral04 8/5/2020 9:16:12 AM (No. 500522)
These drugs aren't cheap. I got off by taking OMega-3 and CoQ 10.
1 person likes this.
Reply 22 - Posted by:
TXknitter 8/5/2020 12:35:46 PM (No. 500803)
Yup, #21, my cardiologist okays that as part of my husband’s regimen too. I am happy for anyone who has had marvelous results from the statins, too. Its all about doing your own research and working with a great cardiologist. I just wish those who like the drugs could be equally glad for those who had severe cardiovascular disease and have experienced outstanding & long lasting results with other cardiologist-approved regimens.
0 people like this.
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Statins have gone generic, so now that drugmaker profits are negligible, in comes word that they don't do much at all. They remain profitable on the provider end, though, with regular doctor visits, blood tests, and treating the many side effects caused by statins.