I finally feel validated!

[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.

[Laura's Babies]

Chantix, their other drug also have hidden side effects that they haven't mentioned. Those side effects are a lot like the statin drugs and those message boards are full of more complaints than praise. One poster said she would rather be a pack a day smoker for the rest of her life than feel like she is feeling.... if only she had known!

How I came to research that was Mike was acting so strange. I won't go into details but his personality changed to MEAN! He had not told me he was taking it so one day he came over complaining about a conversation with his doctors nurse and it was like they both were talking another language.. Anyway I asked him if he was on any medication and he said Chantix. I asked him "any side effects yet?" "Nope!" so I then told him how mean he has become, even to the point that he had screamed at me several times.. so we went to researching it on my computer. That was the last day he took any. He had been having horriable shoulder pain that kept him awake at night and guess what, that was one of the side effects. Joint pain is not listed as a side effect on that one either.

I know a lot of people who have used Chantix to quit with no side effects or problems, but I also know people who had problems and quit taking it. But here again, they have taken that choice out of our hands by hiding the side effects so people can not make and informed decision and make a choice that is right for them.

Grace, there are medicines I have refused to take after researching the side effects that have been disclosed with the insert. One drug I threw away after taking only 2 of them.

The scareist part is we do not know if we will ever get over thses effects and question every sudden ailment we have from now on and natural or statin induced.

Any NOW we find out that most of our drugs are made in CHINA and not here in the USA? The clock is ticking and it is only a matter of time before that has tragic consequences.

[moosmom]

I was put on Lipitor and had a bad reaction...pain in joints, achiness, abdominal pain. It was awful.

Speaking of doctors not listening...I had problems with my anti-depressant so my Nurse Practitioner changed it. I started having vertigo so I called him. He NEVER called me back. I was furious and going into panic modes. Not only did he take me off the new anti-depressant, but didn't prescribe anything else for a week!! What a friggin nightmare. I was walking into walls, walking around feeling like I was drunk.

I don't trust doctors. Especially after what they did to my daughter.

[Grace]

For those of you who have been on statins in the past, and for any still taking the drug, a question.

After you started taking the med, did your doctor order lab tests to be done in 2 months, 4 months and 6 months?

I had the initial series, and now get checked every year.

The tests are to check for the presence of chemicals released into the body if the statin is causing muscle breakdown.

Some of the tests are ALT, AST, CK. I can give you the long names if you want.

[moosmom]

He did an initial blood test. But I wasn't on it long enough for other ones.

[Grace]

So you were one of those that react badly from the beginning. My levels rose a bit, but never out of the normal range, and then went back down after my body got used to it.

[Laura's Babies]

My doc would only give me a 3 month supply and I had to see him to get another Rx and order for blood work. He'd walk in the room and ask what I was there for, I'd say blood work and another Rx. He'd say OK and leave... Cost? $100! The nurse would call the next day with the results.

My first doctor in Florida that put me on them gave me a years supply Rx, knowing I would show up for the blood work. I was to scared not to have that blood work done.