Statin Drug Warning

I just read this and wanted all of you to know.  I was taking a statin drug but stopped several months ago.  My doctor wants me to start it up again because he says it helps protect against heart attack and stroke.  I do not, and never had a cholesterol problem!  Guess I'll have to rethink about taking this again.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/high-cholesterol/0228/fda-adds-diabetes-warning-to-statin-label.aspx?xid=aol_eh-chol_2_20110227_&aolcat=ESR&icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl12%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D139470

 

Sherrine

This is my sad story. I took lipitor for five years and did not recognize the signs of reaction (heart palpitations, shortness of breathe and muscle pain) that I had been having until I broke out in hives that lasted for months after I stopped the drug. That was in 2005. Flash forward to 2011 when I do have some carotid plaque that the doctors want me to take a statin to control. I even went to a research clinic that does tests on prevention of vascular disease. They recommended I start lipitor (since it is one of the milder statins) 5 mg and gradually build to 10 mg. I have been on lipitor 5 mg for three months. Last night I had a reaction. My chest was so tight it felt like I had bronchitis and I had to breathe deeply to get enough air. There were many other symptoms I had ignored because I was trying so hard to do "what was good for me". I began taking benadryl every two hours until my blood pressure and blood sugar began to go down and I could breathe normally. As of this morning, I will not take statins again. I have tried lipitor twice, crestor and pravachol that cause major muscle pain in my thighs and a couple of others that were supposed to be "different". I am currently taking a baby aspirin and 1800mg of fish oil daily and will know something in about three months when I go in for my A1C and lipid blood panel. (I also take glucophage.)

BTW.....My glucose readings were normal my entire life until after the huge reaction I had in 2005 to lipitor. That is the year I was diagnosed as a type II. I have a bet with my sister that the statins also cause cataracts since she and I both had ours removed in both eyes before we were 55. I found a very early little-known study when statins first came on the market that had the patient doing an eye exam every year for cataracts. However, that was dropped years later because "the benefits outweigh the risks".

I cannot approve or disapprove of statins because they may be a wonder drug for some people. As for me, my blood sugar has been harder to control (had to eat even less carbs) and it took longer to come down to normal after eating for the months I have been taking lipitor. If you are the type who can pop a pill and you are not allergic, go for it. I cannot do that and will not be talked into it again.

I am currently on a hunt to find some natural remedies - not red rice yeast which is the source of pravachol to begin with - and am looking at lecithin to add to the omega 3 fish oils. As usual, we diabetics are constantly testing new ideas as well as our blood glucose! So why did I think it would be any easier?