Cholesterol Drugs . . . FDA adds warnings . . .

[Forever Sunshine]

WASHINGTON — Federal health officials are adding new safety warnings about risks of memory loss and elevated blood sugar to statins, the most widely prescribed group of cholesterol-lowering medications.

The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it is making labeling changes to medicines like Pfizer Inc.’s Lipitor, AstraZeneca’s Crestor and Merck & Co. Inc.’s Zocor. The drugs are used by tens of millions of U.S. patients to help prevent heart-related problems associated with cholesterol.

www.washingtonpost.com/business/fda-adds-warnings-about-memory-loss-and-blood-sugar-to-widely-used-class-of-cholesterol-drugs/2012/02/28/gIQADiiVgR_story.html

[janieshere]

This does not surprise me one bit! I have taken statins twice before..Vytorin and recently, Lipitor. Both have caused my body to ache like the flu! Never again. I am going to use more natural means to lower my triglycerides from now on. Oatmeal and psyllium husks.

[heart2heart]

I listened to the report about statin meds and know with certainty that I would never want to take any of them. I agree with trying natural methods of lowering cholesterol too..

Sigh.. The physicians still declare the good benefits of statin drugs outweigh the bad.. Really? When the meds are forgotten to be taken.. Then what?

Hello all.. My name is heart.

[janieshere]

Good morning, heart! Nice to meet you. I hope to chat with you later today. Welcome to the board!

[mtman]

I take statins (zocor). For me they are a life saver. I have always struggled with high cholesterol. Diet change helped me some, but some people are genetically predisposed to have higher cholesterol than others. I tried psyllium husk (Metamucil). It's good if you need a fiber supplement and maybe it will knock a couple of points off your lipid numbers, but for me, the help was very little at best. I wouldn't worry much about the warnings, the good far outweigh the bad.....If you need them, take them.

[Miss Who]

I was given statins when it was discovered I had high cholesterol. I don't feel any different to when I wasn't taking them Oh and I don't always remember to take them, I may miss one or two in a week.

[heart2heart]

Good morning, heart! Nice to meet you.

Nice to me you too, janie!

For me they are a life saver.

mtman.. Happy to hear the meds are helping you. I do agree, if one needs meds and does them no harm, taking medication(s) are best.. There is no shame in doing so. I take a daily med everyday for a low thyroid condition and it has made a great difference in my overall well-being..