I finally feel validated!

[Laura's Babies]

My grudge with them are that they have hidden and ignored the side effects and doctor after doctor brushes us off when we complain about the new mysteriuos ailments we suddenly have out of the blue. Then when you take yourself off of them they tell you "if you have quit taking it and still have that pain, then it was not the drug causing it". I saw 4 different doctors for the odd painful swelling on my feet and not a one of them offered and explanation on what it was or how to stop it from spreading. One just brushed me off with 'OH, that is a old injury!". I asked him "Don't you think I would remember injuring myself on both feet in the same places?"... You should see the look they give me when they ask me how I hurt my shoulder and I tell them " I took statin drugs!". They have been so brainwashed that they will not believe anything negative about these so called miracle drugs.

My grudge is that they were trying to put the whole world on them and even wanting to put children on them. The were putting people who's numbers were not that much higher than this "one size fits all" numbers on them. They were telling people "If you don't take this you are going to have a heart attack and DIE!". The makers of the drug admit that these drugs will NOT prevent heart attack or strokes. Crestor had that on their own TV commercials and Lipitor had it on their own web sight for awhile.

PLEASE go watch this that was on the CBS news in Jan 2007.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...mpid=1732#ccmm

[Grace]

Doctors do not listen when you complain about the side effects and brush you off and mine sure thought I was crazy when I took myself off of it and brushed me off yet again when I reminded him of complaining about these sudden ailments I started having to him. They all say "talk to your doctor" and then they brush you off when you try.

WHEN are those doctors going to quit believeing the people who profit from the sale of those drugs and believe the people who are experiencing the effects of these drugs.

It strikes me that your big complaint is with the doctors, more than the drug itself. Yes, statins may have caused some/all of your physical troubles, but it was your doctor who refused to listen to you.

I’m not sure how many meds you are on, nor whether you began taking others around the same time as the statin. The best way to have handled this would have been to take you off all your meds; then start you back on them one at a time – over months – to see which was the culprit.

If we were to cancel/stop producing every drug that has caused problems, there would be no drugs out there for anyone to take. Every med has the potential for side effects.

As for the statins, I was never promised a rose garden – never told it would prevent an MI. It was prescribed only to lower my cholesterol, which it has done, and done well.

As it said in the article for which you provided the link (Thanks!), Statins do one thing extremely well. They lower cholesterol - especially bad cholesterol - and the science tells us there's one group of people who definitely should be taking it.

"In people with known heart disease, this has become a standard of care, that you really need to be on a statin," said Chris Cannon.

[Catty1]

Grace, I recall that part of the letter, and of course that is correct.

In reading much of the other material (eg the PDF), it is plain that this drug, so essential for some, has been wrongly prescribed by many doctors to MANY people - and the manufacturer has not been forthcoming about side effects.

If several individuals tell their doctors, that is great - but it won't cause anyone to confront, address and correct the situation.

[Grace]

Grace, I recall that part of the letter, and of course that is correct.

In reading much of the other material (eg the PDF), it is plain that this drug, so essential for some, has been wrongly prescribed by many doctors to MANY people - and the manufacturer has not been forthcoming about side effects.

If several individuals tell their doctors, that is great - but it won't cause anyone to confront, address and correct the situation.

Okay then, what is your solution - take it out of circulation? I can name you, off the top of my head, at least 10 other drugs that should then be removed from the marketplace - because of their adverse reactions.

The Family Practice Clinic we use does not allow drug reps to talk to the docs. Perhaps if more clinics and individual docs would refuse to be courted with lunches and the like by these drug reps, some of these problems would disappear. Until then, all we, as consumers, can do is raise our voices if we see mismanagement.

[Laura's Babies]

Grace, when I started on statin drugs, I was not taking any other medications and I only took OTC stuff for the side effects since every Rx's he gave me (for the side effects of the statin) had even worse side effects listed than what the problem was(They were thrown away without taking a one of them). Let me make it clear that most of the statin drug side effects went away when I quit the drug.

My complaint is that the side effects were NOT admitted to, by anybody The many, many side effects some of us have had, they were not and are not listed on the inserts... if they had been, it would have saved me and a lot of others many years of misery. I am talking about crippleling pain that effects your life and livelyhood.

Grace, I really have to thank you here! Without knowing what you were doing, you have helped me figure out exactly what it is that I am the maddest about.. I knew it was the side effect thing they hid and lied about and now I know why.. That is MY choice to make about taking a drug and making my own choice about the benifits and risks, not someone elses to make for me. That is what has been sticking in my craw but I couldn't put my fingers on it. There are to many lies so how in the world can a person even make an informed decision.

Health wise Grace, I have always been a healthy person and when I was put on the drug, I was healthy and only saw the doctor for yearly check ups. Since being on them (and off) I am constantly seeing some doctor about something, always something related to the statin drugs.

[Grace]

Grace, I really have to thank you here! Without knowing what you were doing, you have helped me figure out exactly what it is that I am the maddest about.. I knew it was the side effect thing they hid and lied about and now I know why.. That is MY choice to make about taking a drug and making my own choice about the benifits and risks, not someone elses to make for me. That is what has been sticking in my craw but I couldn't put my fingers on it. There are to many lies so how in the world can a person even make an informed decision.

I'm really glad I was able to help you - without even realizing it. You're so right - ultimately, it is our choice, and only ours, to take or reject treatment or meds. And we should be told all the risks and/or benefits - without prejudice. There are doctors out there who think they are God, that they alone know all the answers. Fortunately I don't have one of them.

I'll keep you in my prayers - that all the side effects subside with time - and you get back to your original state of good health.

[Catty1]

And yes, there are drugs out there that are needed by people, so no, they don't go out of circulation.

But as Laura mentioned, the side effects are not even listed in the med insert at the pharmacies.

Some folks like Laura and others here, are proactive and say "It is my choice to take that or not," and act accordingly.

I am concerned about the thousands of people who would never question their doctors, and believe the drug companies - all well and good. However, as has been noted by CBC and other networks, pharma companies are spending a large percentage more on marketing the drugs than on research and development. And the one that manufactures Lipitor is under fire for not advising of side effects.

I think a 'public' outcry would do much to help those who need to take a stand...those who are less proactive than others.

HUGS and good health to all.