Giving my body a break from statins

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Javier - 22 Jan 2006 22:01 GMT

Since I was put on Vytorin, Plavix, Toporol and Altace seven months ago
I haven't noticed any side effects. However, I'm always concerned
about how my organs will react to log term use of statin drugs. While I
know my cardiologist would say that "cycling" a stating would not give
the body a "break", I'm wondering if it is a good idea to give the
body some time off from the use of statin drugs for a week? Would
something like three weeks on one week off sky rocket my cholesterol
levels again?

Thanks,

Javier

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Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD - 22 Jan 2006 22:08 GMT

> Since I was put on Vytorin, Plavix, Toporol and Altace seven months ago
> I haven't noticed any side effects. However, I'm always concerned
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> something like three weeks on one week off sky rocket my cholesterol
> levels again?

You would be in uncharted territory.

Would be more than happy to "glow" and chat about this and other things
like cardiology, diabetes, cooking and nutrition that interest those
following this thread here during the next on-line chat (01/26/06) from
6 to 7 pm EST:

http://tinyurl.com/cpayh

For those who are put off by the signature, my advance apologies for
how the LORD has reshaped me:

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Prayerfully in Christ's love,

Andrew
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William Wagner - 22 Jan 2006 22:37 GMT

> Since I was put on Vytorin, Plavix, Toporol and Altace seven months ago
> I haven't noticed any side effects. However, I'm always concerned
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Javier

Measure your calfs and forearms. Consider alteratives if muscle loss
occurs. Hopefully no. Statins did not lower LDL for me so I try to
raise HDL. (Niacin)

My calf went from 18 to 14 inches under 80 mg Lipitor but it took a
few years to be cognizant of the damage. Pain in joints too.

Bill who biked 22 mile every day and wants to do it again.

PS Bitch if you encounter discomfort and if the response is a few lines
on your chart info.

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Javier - 23 Jan 2006 01:31 GMT

>Measure your calfs and forearms. Consider alteratives if muscle loss
>occurs. Hopefully no. Statins did not lower LDL for me so I try to
>raise HDL. (Niacin)

>My calf went from 18 to 14 inches under 80 mg Lipitor but it took a
>few years to be cognizant of the damage. Pain in joints too.

>Bill who biked 22 mile every day and wants to do it again.

>PS Bitch if you encounter discomfort and if the response is a few lines
>on your chart info.

Well, measuring my calfs and forearms may not be an accurate way for me
as I've dropped 41Lbs of bodyweight due to my intense cycling 6-7 days
per week. However, I have not joint or muscle pain. However, I did
notice something very interesting. I dind't take my usual dose of
Vytorin last night and I dind't feel my heart beating in my chest. This
usually only happens at night and in ceratin positions. I'm going to
skip another dose tonight and see what happens tommaorw. If I still
don't feel my heart beating in my chest then Vytorin is out.

As for any other side effects, everything has been normal.

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Bill - 23 Jan 2006 01:14 GMT

> Since I was put on Vytorin, Plavix, Toporol and Altace seven months ago
> I haven't noticed any side effects. However, I'm always concerned
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Javier

Most of the side effects of statins become apparent within a few months - you
feel them or they show up on blood tests. Also, as Andrew suggests, cycling
them sounds like a bad idea since I don't know of any documented cases. You
would probably be better off just cutting the dose - if that is what you want
to do. Also the benefits of statins are believed to go beyond lipid reduction
and perhaps have something to do with inflammation. So if you saw your lipids
did not change much of the week, that does not mean you were not losing the
benefit of the statin.

Bill

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Javier - 23 Jan 2006 01:32 GMT

My cholesterol level dropped big time when I went on Vytorin. I went
from 385 to 107 in 30 days.

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eml - 24 Jan 2006 04:32 GMT

> My cholesterol level dropped big time when I went on Vytorin. I went
> from 385 to 107 in 30 days.

Do you know what functions cholesterol is responsible for performing in
the body? How could a total cholesterol of 107 be beneficial for
anyone?

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Javier - 24 Jan 2006 14:34 GMT

It's back around 130 or so. It just happend to drop dramatically for
the first moth or so.

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Joe Doe - 24 Jan 2006 18:52 GMT

> It's back around 130 or so. It just happend to drop dramatically for
> the first moth or so.

Is your diet the same?

Roland

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Javier - 25 Jan 2006 14:27 GMT

Yup, but I was able to crank up my HDL's.

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