statin claims true?

[oldie]

I have CAD, one stent. I'm on Lipitor 20mcg daily. Three cardios tell me it not only helps  cholesterol but inflamation of the artery, the inner wall of the srtery , and to prevent clots. NONE of this information appears on Lipitor's website, nor on the information sheets with the medicine, nor on Pfizer's websites. If it's true why don't they broadcast it? Can we believe it? My cholesterol levels  are good but the doc says I should continue with the drug- Any info please

[oldie]

I often see the phrase ' aggressive use of statins' as a strongly advocated procedure.
What's it mean in terms of dose?. I have CAD, one stent five months ago. I was on 40 lipìtor now reduced to 20 .Am I an aggressive or a moderate .If age is a factor, I'm 82.

[ChatterAlly]

Thanks, Ed.  Yes, I will be talking to my doctor about the best choice for me considering my health concerns.  And, you are right, the cost is another big factor.  That's why I also posted the quesiton concerning the online pharmacies.  One doctor I use suggested I use one that is in India.  But my current doctor prefers that if I want to use the internet he suggested the Canadian pharmacies.  Thanks again, Ally

[ed34]

If you are going to choose a statin, I would ask your Doctor to consider Lipitor (atorvastatin). This is the only statin shown in trials to actually stop atherosclerosis progressing when used agressively. The best other statins have achieved is a 2.4% growth of the disease. The main concern with this powerful statin is the cost, but tests have given remarkable results. In the UK this is the first choice by professionals for patients who require a more aggressive approach, and the younger patients.

[ChatterAlly]

Thanks, Flyman.  I think about this all the time!  I know I have all the signs now that are telling me this is "For Real" and I need to make some serious changes.  I will be going to the doctor for my quarteryly check up in a couple of weeks and will be suggesting the statin.  He has wanted me to be on this for several years and I refused wanting to "save" my liver.  I had an infectious form of hepatitius when I was 8.  I caught it from my 5 year old brother.  We don't how he contracted it, but at any rate, this is one reason I have to watch my liver. I am not sure what damage that infection may have done to my liver.  Even though I was only 8, I still carry the risk. Thanks again, Ally.

PS:  In regards to the copy and paste from other sites, I always make sure it's known that I have "copied and pasted" from some other site.  Otherwise, it's called "plagiarism". Right?

[Flycaster305]

I would think that you absolutely should be taking a statin, regardless of what other drug you are taking.  I'd also strongly urge you to mix in 2000mg of fish oil as well.  I suggest this from personal experience.  I often have red wine after dinner, that is a tradition my wife and have enjoyed for 49 years, and certainly my liver is feeling just fine, and blood tests confirm that.  Take the statin and let the blood tests sort out the liver issue.  I refused taking statins until aggressive CAD caused all my stents.  Since taking a statin since 2007, I've had no problems.  

[erijon]

My understanding is that links need to be approved, I just didn't take the time.

[ed34]

"Links are not allowed or I would post a few"

I don't think there's a problem with internet protocols to actually post links, this is widely accepted because people generally appreciate the 'hits'. What is illegal, is to take cuts of texts from internet sites and paste them here. It still goes on with copyrighted material, I have copied and pasted several bits of posts into google and seen immediately, word for word, the web site it has been 'stolen' from. I know it doesn't seem like the crime of the century, but I wouldn't be happy if I spent hours/days/weeks preparing text on a web site and others were merrily using it at their leisure without my permission.
If the moderators of this site believe that pasting links should be forbidden, then I would be very surprised at such a strange decision. It's far more moral to link something to the source and see who gets credit rather than steal the work and get credit for yourself when you have really done nothing.
What do you think?

[ChatterAlly]

Thanks, Jon.  I am in serious trouble with my cholesterol and need any input I can get. Plaque in my arteries is going to effect my life, but then I wonder what the effects of a statin will do to my liver.  If my trigs are at the extreme level they have been, then what havoc is being presented in my liver.  I need to educate myself more on this. I will never hide the fact that I love to sip on my wine in the evenings, but if that has to go, then it will! I have 3 VERY good reasons to keep on going.  My grandchildren!!! Simvastatin is the one my family suggested I ask my doctor for.  Thanks again for reading and posting, Ally

[erijon]

Much depends on your other levels, primarily your LDL. I take both Tricor and a statin, Simvastatin. There are no issues taking a fenofibrate such as Tricor and a statin. The problem comes in when taking a fibrate and a statin. The combination have worked very well for me.

Good luck,

Jon

[ChatterAlly]

Because of my extremely high trigs I take Tricor, but wonder if I should also be taking a statin.  My cholesterol is out of whack all across the board.  I have heard that taking a statin with Tricor is not wise.  Any thoughts on this, Jon?

[oldie]

Thank you both. Lipitor is my last take at night  of my appalling set of five powerful pills and I go to bed mumbling about muscle pains, various tum and gut  malaises. hot sweats at night,
intermittent weariness, anxiety grips etc. You have reinforced the wigging I got this week from a charming head of a local lab. I grumped about  the above and asked about liver tests. She said :' Be thankful.. What's your trouble with a few symptoms if the pills are saving your heart?.'
Amen

[ed34]

I have been taking 40mg lipitor for years now, and apparently the latest statement is I'm much lower risk for certain cancers :)  The list grows monthly.

[erijon]

It is absolutely true. Links are not allowed or I would post a few, but Google "Statins and Surgery" and you'll see that many doctors are prescribing statins before and after many major surgeries due to their anti-inflammatory properties. Also, statins are being shown to help patients recover from pneumonia as well.

They are finding new benefits from statins just about everyday it seems. Again, google and read for yourself, interesting information.

Jon