To My Readers,
I received a lot of comments from my patients and my blog readers on “The Great Statin Debate” blog post (May 15, 2015). I have been thinking about Dr. C’s arguments since I posted them. I would like to share a few of my thoughts with you.
Dr. C stated, “I agree for primary prevention…” I take this to mean that he agrees with me that statins have little or no use in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Primary prevention refers to the use of statins to prevent cardiovascular disease in someone who has not had a cardiovascular event such as a stroke or a heart attack. Dr. C made that statement (IMHO) because the best of the statin studies have failed to show a significant benefit for statins when they are used for primary prevention. But, that is not how they are prescribed today. Statins are prescribed to nearly a third of our adult population with the majority of the prescriptions written to patients for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
After I presented a table showing the poor results of the statin drugs in the largest statin trials, Dr. C replied that statins were not expensive. He stated, “Most {patients} are on free or cheap generic {statin drugs}.” That is simply not true. Just because insurance pays for a drug does not mean it is cheap. In the ranking of the 100 best-selling prescription drugs, Crestor ranked number three.(1) Crestor was reported to have 21,478,776 sales during a 12-month time period from April 2014 through March 2015. A quick call to CVS found that Crestor costs $8.90 per pill! That comes to a whopping $266.99 per month. How did Crestor achieve the number three ranking? That is a direct result of the successful Big Pharma marketing plan that occurred after the JUPITER study was released. Recall the JUPITER study was what I debated Dr. C about. JUPITER, in my humble opinion (IMHO) was another in a long line of failed statin studies. The JUPITER data showed that statin treatment (with Crestor) failed over 99% who took them. If the FDA was working for us, JUPITER should have been the trigger for the FDA to ban the use of statins for primary prevention. But, that is not how things work. More information about JUPITER can be found in my book, “The Statin Disaster.”
Dr. C stated, at the end of the debate, that he was satisfied using a drug that helped one in thirty who took it. Keep in mind that a benefit for one in thirty means that the drug failed the remaining 29 out of thirty—a 97% failure rate!! How can anyone promote the use of a drug that fails 97% who take it? Keep in mind those statistics are for secondary prevention of heart disease –those that have already had a cardiac incident. The numbers are worse for primary prevention! And, factor in that the drug is associated with horrific side effects such as muscle weakness, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and memory decline. I still can’t fathom why statin drugs continue to be prescribed.
Folks, conventional medicine is broken to the core. We (Americans) spend the most money on health care than any other people on the planet—nearly 20% of our GNP. Do we live longer than people in other Western countries? No. We have the honor of dying earlier than people in every other Western country. On every health indicator we finish last or next to last when compared to every other Western country. We need a better way. Clearly, taking drugs that poison enzymes or block receptors is not in our best interest.
Albert Einstein wrote, “Insanity can be defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.”
Dr. C’s arguments (IMHO) were lacking merit. Unless we change our ways, we will bankrupt our economy paying for therapies—like statin medications—that are associated with too many adverse effects and have little efficacy.
What can you do? Educate yourself about how drugs work in the body and how effective they really are. My books, newsletters and blogs are written to educate you about these items.
A drug that is associated with serious adverse effects that treats one in thirty? I say, “Fugetaboutit.”
I welcome your comments.
DrB
(1). 100 Best-Selling Most Prescribed Branded Drugs Through March. Medscape. May 06, 2015
Thank you for holding the line on this Dr.! My husband took statins for a year as required after a heart event. He was tired and had memory problems, bruised easily, and was losing confidence in his ability to continue a reasonably normal life. We had been making a transition into a more healthy lifestyle so when he decided to go off the statins we paid attention to all health issues. He’s been off for 2 yrs now. He is also not eating ice cream before bedtime, and drinking soda pop with all that corn syrup. He’s lost weight, has more stamina and feels better than he has ever felt. We both had a few extra pounds on us. My doctor wanted to start me on statins, and a compounded drug for weight loss with nasty side effects, not to mention the out of pocket hundreds of dollars per month that insurance would not pay. In that time, I had an occasion to have my arteries, veins, and valves checked out and I had no buildup of cholesterol anywhere in them. All valves were strong. I also had my bones evaluated and have the bones of a 30 something woman. I’m 63. I decided not to go on the statins make other changes, and build on what I have left. I also got another doctor to help with the weight loss in a natural way. I’m almost at a 30 pound loss for this spring. I’m excited and very glad I researched alternative methods. Very grateful for doctors like you are still love treating people and not patient charts.
I’m just a nurse, right now. At some point, I hope to be a doctor or nurse practitioner. But I can tell you I have become so disenfranchised with a lot of conventional medicine because of the side effects many of my patients experience. Many feel used and manipulated and confused about their meds, especially with the disclaimers about potentially life – threatening side effects. They’re concerned, and so am I. When I was growing up overseas, many European doctors were (and still are) breaking ranks with Americans over the medications and diet recommendations that we still utilize here. I don’t have cholesterol issues, but I do have hormone issues, including thyroid, that conventional treatment has not rectified. We’re a pharmaceutical industry addicted nation. I have no doubt that many of the researchers and scientists working for them probably do mean well, but that industry has become another “too big to fail” business with too much political clout.
Great article. My husband’s family is rife with extremely high cholesterol starting at early ages….hereditary hyperlipidemia. Even the extremely healthy Yoga teacher has high cholesterol…over 300. Unfortunately, several members of the family are long-term smokers, and, of course they need to quit. Do you recommend that those with hereditary hyperlipidemia (especially those who smoke and won’t quit) NOT take statins as well?
Thanks!
Jennifer
Jennifer,
There are no good studies showing the benefits of statin therapy, hereditary hyperlipidemia included.
DrB
Oh yes….the Lipitor people are presently scrambling to maintain their multi – million dollar biz,…the latest buzz is that the deadly drug MAY have some value in LARGE one time dose to do ‘something’, for inflammation. HUMM, how ’bout carrying a garlic clove in your pocket, or sitting with your feet in a bucket of ice water….just as likely….beware of the ingenious minds trying to maintain their corporate bottom line using the great gullible human guinea pig pool….”… oh save us doctor god…”, do they already have a planet in mind when they have finished messing up this one?, sorry I digress.
Katherine,
Will do.
DrB
I have been on Lovastatin 40 mg one daily since 2005. I have not experienced the symptoms mentioned.
I am 72 and feel great. I di get leg/foot/toe cramps. Use to get then very frequently (only in the middle of the night)
Started taking Vitamine E -10000 nightly in march of 2014. The cramps have ALMOST disappeared!
recent LIPID Panel Triclycerides=169. Total Cholesterol 139 HDL=37 Non HDL=102, LDL=68.
Mary,
Statins do not reduce heart disease by 30% unless you are referring to the inaccurate relative risk estimate. Statins, in the best of the studies, reduce heart disease risk by 1% in primary prevention and 1-3% in secondary prevention.
DrB
Dr. Brownstein, I would appreciate a more complete opinion regarding ALS and statins. A much loved cousin–a brilliant IT specialist–died recently from a rapidly progressive bulbar form of ALS. His doctors, as might be expected, told him to continue taking his statins-which he had been on since 1989–so as to avoid the belief he was “giving up”. He had been on a very low fat diet, high dosage statins, and only on my suggestion had begun supplementing with CoQ10, D3, and Fish oil. I was suspicious of potential neurologic dysfunction from statins, so I suggested he discontinue to see if, perhaps there might be a slim chance that he might slow the progression of his ALS. If the statins were doing such wonderful things for his CAD, we would be asking him to possibly live longer and need to undergo heart surgery, or continue on the rapid track he was on and be gone within a year. He discontinued the statins. I wish I could say it helped, but his ALS swept through him very rapidly and he died 2 years after the diagnosis was made.
His physicians, of course, said statins cause muscle issues, but never nerve damage. I have read Cochrane gives them the green light. I think they are in the bag for Big Pharma, but that’s just MHO.
my partner went to an internist in February because he needed a referral to have a hernia repaired. They ran very basic labs and the doctor called him on the weekend in a panic. His cholesterol was very high, they wanted to see him ASAP. When we went back, the doctor gave him a big box of free Crestor and sent him on his way. We asked about diet or other lifestyle changes and there was no advice. What about side effects? The doctor could hardly be bothered to tell us about them. I read the insert later and it is very scary. Needless to say he never took the statins. Aside from high cholesterol (the first result ever this high) he has no cardiac factors to speak of. If anything he’s on the pre diabetic spectrum. Since we see a naturopath here in California for our primary care we went to her. She checked his testosterone, thyroid etc. and basically he’s very low testosterone. He’s been taking a bio identical since then and will be going in soon for his follow up lab results. I really hope it proves these statin pushers wrong. I’m glad I’ve learned so much from you Dr. Brownstein. Signed your former patient in Los Angeles.
In reference to Julie Graham’s blog I would like to say my husband was on Lipitor for 3 years. His joints ached so bad after the 3 years the doctor had to take him off. When he got up in the morning he was at the point he could not lift
his arms up over his head. It very painful for him. The doctor switched his medications and the joint pain was better. I could never talk him into going alternative.
Good piece and follow up doctor. Although giving Einstein credit for the often misquoted “definition of insanity” is not correct. At this point after exhaustive research by many it appears to be unattributeable.
Thanks for your great work,
Ralph
Dr C has fallen into the trap, similar to oncology, where he is dealing with a nasty disease for which there is no good medical treatment. He feels compelled to “do something” whether it is right or wrong.
MD,
Perhaps there is something to do about cardiovascular disease. My father is a perfect example. I treated him with two items: natural testosterone and desiccated thyroid hormone. Within 7 days, his 20 year history of angina went away and did not return. He looked better and acted better as well.
I have written about many natural therapies–diet, balancing hormones, iodine, vitamins and minerals, etc., that may reverse/treat cardiovascular disease.
DrB
I wholeheartedly agree. I got my husband off those awful drugs and always work with health coaching clients to use natural means as their first course always. One client had such great results using natural supplements and dietary changes her doctor told her she could cut her drugs in half and only take them every other day until her next bloodwork. Another client’s doctor was so thrilled with his results he told him he could stop taking the statins and and also blood pressure meds which are also very bad for you.
I am soooo glad to see you address this issue “even further.” How refreshing to have a doctor do this! I would like to reference you and your articles in my upcoming blog – do I have your permission?
Elaine,
Of course you can reference any article I have ever written,
DrB
Excellent piece, Dr. B. I work in alternative medicine several days a week now (evaluating patients for medical cannabis use) and spend most of my time reviewing some of the simple natural health care issues that you cover so well and encouraging patients to be their own physicians. One of my pet peeves is statins… You are correct. There is no reason for a person to be on these things. Period. They increase cancer risks (of all kings) 2.5 times, stroke rates 2 times, congestive heart failure 2 times, deplete CoQ-10 (leading to congestive heart failure), decrease testosterone levels 40-80%, lead to dementia and cause cataracts. In addition, they deplete K2 and this actually results in increased coronary artery calcification! IMO, no one has ever died from NOT taking statins. I left mainstream medicine after 40 years because I simply could not stand another day in the matrix. Over my career, our once-vaunted medical system has become one that is focused on “disease creation and maintenance”. Learn to care for yourself and your family! Dr. Brownstein is tops for helping you do this!
About 10 years ago I think my physician might want to order a statin because of cholesterol levels.
I had already researched and found out I did not want to take any.
I directly asked him to please not order a statin drug because of side effects and he didn’t order one or try to convince me to take one either.
My husband is 68 years old. He has been taking Lipitor 80 mg since February 2005. He has two stents
inserted in December of 2013. I am very concerned that he has been on Lipitor too long. Can he just quit taking it all at once? I would love your opinion on this.
Thank you Dr. Brownstein with your continuing efforts in this regard. I am amazad at how much mainstream doctors push not just statins but numeorus drugs (of course, today’s doctors are puppets of the pharmaceutical industry … pharmaceutical threats (to children in particular) is a topic I have personally studied for 20 years).
It breaks my heart to watch my father in law deteoriate as a result of taking statins. He is the epitome of health in every other regard … meticulous about the food he consumes, extremely active, etc. but he has been brainwashed by his doctor that statins are necessary. He is also of the generation that would not dare question a doctor’s authority so anything we say to him is dismissed.