PC and statins--suggestions

Howdy. I'll be seeing Dr. Lam today. My cholesterol has always been somewhat high, but controlled enough so that I've avoided meds. But it has gone up higher.

So???

I once tried zocor and had some problems. I'll be more alert this time.

Would generic lipitor work -- my concern is the S/E. But I think statins are good against PC as well as cholesterol.

(More specifically, in my situation, my LDL is way too high; my HDL is quite high, too, which is good).



Mel

Tommy:

I suspect my insurance will not cover some of the newer statins, until I've failed at the usual ones.

When I was on zocor, after a few weeks of muscle issues and terrible shortness of breath, I ended up in the ER. I figured it was the zocor, but got scared that it could be a heart issue. I was stuck there for a few days (stress tests, observation, the whole nine yards). No heart issues and the symptoms finally resolved after stopping the statin for a month.

If I get on it again, I'll know what to watch for, and stop immediately.

Mel

I've been on a generic - Lovistatin 20 Mg per day for a few years now and have had no SEs.
Jim

I'm on 10mg Crestor, no side effects. It's brought my total cholesterol down from 165 to 103, and my LDL from 75 to 42.

I just had the ckp blood test that tests muscle function and it was middle of the normal range

Dr. "Snuffy" Myers (I am not a patient of his but watch his videos) prefers Crestor over all the other statins since it has a more favorable pathway to coexist with PCa meds.

He also recommends Metformin even for non diabetics.

However Medicare tends to point one to Atorvastatin so I get my Crestor off shore same time as I order Viagra to leverage flat shipping charges.

Hi Mel,

I have been using statins for twenty years now. The best that I have found is Lipitor or it's generic equivalent. One word of caution. Do not start with the maximum dose. I had leg cramps and weakness for years on the 40 mg artorvastatin (sp) and finally told my doctor that I was willing to give up some of the cholesterol lowering benefit in order to relieve the symptom. Ran a trial of one for a few months on the 20 mg tablet and pain and weakness went away. I also started taking CoQ10 100mg. Supposedly replaces some enzyme that is depleted by statin. Have had no problem since and cholesterol remains below 200 total and 150 ldl with a 54 hdl. Ratio approximately 3. So I am happy.

I would also advise staying away from simvastatin especially the 80 mg dose. FDA warning on kidney damage caused by this one that was not covered in the SE's for the original drug. At the time of the FDA warning I was taking this drug and had been for two or more years and a renal function test revealed high creatine and low EfGr. I was pissed. Was using it because it was generic and insurance at time did not want pay for Lipitor. Google it to find out more.

For the most part I have had very few side effects from the use of the statins. Some of the earlier ones did not work at all for me Lipitor has been the best. Have not tried the crestor.

Good luck.
Don

statins make everything taste like metal spoons.
eat lots of strawberries instead.

Mel,

You may be interested in the following post:
Drug Repurposing for Advanced PC 7. Statins

I remembered correctly - only the lipid-soluble statins (e.g.,Lipitor, Zocor, Mevacor) are thought to have any efficacy with PC, if they do at all.

Hope you're enjoying all this hot, sunny weather.

- Allen

I have been taking Lipitor (Atorvastatin) 10mg for about 17 years. It has really lowered my cholesterol, and I have never noticed any side effects.

I've been taking 80Mg of Lipitor daily since last August when a cardiologist discovered I had a 80-85% blockage in my right coronary artery (had angioplasty plus stent implanted). I've suffered no side effects from that statin or dosage and it has been remarkably effective. My cholesterol has dropped from about 180 mg/dl to 91 mg/dl the last time it was checked. I'm working on getting my HDL up and LDL down. I also lost weight when I started the diet the cardiologist recommended and resumed my walking routine.

Mike

My father took statin for 4 months because of high triglycerides (but normal cholesterol). His PSA dropped (Started rising a bit after stopping the HT, then dropped during statin use, then started climbing again). He had to stop because he had some issues with leg edema. Whether this was due to statins - most likely not. Hope it works for you on both fronts.