Re: Pravachol verses Lipitor ?

From: Bill (xxx_at_yy.zz)
Date: 09/12/04 

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 2004 05:54:39 GMT

"Caploc" <caploc30@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:2GQ0d.27657$D7.1057@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> Bill wrote:
>> "Caploc" <caploc30@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:WXN0d.27460$D7.8988@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>
>>>Steve Marcus wrote:
>>>
>>>>"Zee" <fresh~horses@despammed.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:chv929$iqv@odak26.prod.google.com...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Steve
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>NIH, ICMJE, Cochrane Collaboration--all have said pharmas (with FDA
>>>>>collusion) have withheld vital (no pun intended) information from the
>>>>>public.
>>>>>
>>>>>I believe in the public right to know.
>>>>>
>>>>>Zee
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Indeed. Yet for every article that you post that casts medical
>>>>professionals and/or the pharmaceutical industry in a bad light,there are
>>>>at least a hundred that cast them in a good light. If you wish to
>>>>facilitate the public's right to know, one would expect you to post a more
>>>>balanced spectrum of information.
>>>>
>>>>Again, for every person who cannot tolerate statins, there are literally
>>>>tens of thousands who can, do and benefit from statins.
>>>>
>>>>Steve
>>>
>>>So stuff those that can't..... eh Steve, majority rules and all that.
>>>
>>>Problem is as I see it, there is no back door, no way out, no fix once
>>>damaged, that's what makes taking this drug like a game of Russian
>>>Roulette.
>>>
>>>And to those that are damaged, who cares, certainly not the Doctors,
>>>Pharmo's,....if the light is a bit bad for some of those professionals
>>>maybe by removing their blinkers would allow them to see outside their
>>>consulting rooms and into the lounge rooms of those who have been damaged.
>>>
>>>Zee is bringing informed (by experience) and documented information to
>>>those contemplating taking this drug, and I hope she continues to do so.
>>>
>>>Ahem,
>>>Cappy
>>>(Still trying to out run the death grip clutches of Statin therapy)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> Could you elaborate on what those death grip clutches are and how you know
>> they are attribuatibe to statins. Perhaps someone here can help you.
>>
>> Bill
> Hi Bill
> (ok the "death grip" was a bit much, at least for me anyway).
> It's a very long story but here's the short of it.
> Heart attack 1998, put on usual drug regime, ace, beta, aspirin, statin.
> Stent fitted LAD 1999.
> I was 49 years old.
> Multiple trips to ER complaining about everything from not feeling well to
> aches and pains in what felt like every muscle in my body had cramped.
> Incredible fatigue and shortness of breath, low exercise tolerance,
> dizziness.
> Sent home from ER every time after test revealed not having heart attack.
> My own doctor put it down to stress and anxiety, who was I to disagree?
> Woke up one morning with a rash and hives from the top of my head to the
> soles of my feet, my face had swelled and my eye's closed up, couldn't get
> my glasses on, calf muscles cramping and bad back ache and throat closing
> up.
> ER treated me with Steroids and some other drug (can't remember the name)
> made me very ill, short stay in hospital.
> Referred to Immunologist who suspected ACE but later confirmed Statin as the
> problem (some sort of blood test I think).
> He stopped Statin.
> Within a short period of time I started to feel a little better and improved
> as time went by.
> The rash and hives took approx 6 months to go away.
> Not once during this 3 year period did anyone alter or change any of my
> drugs until the rash appeared.
>
> What I am left with now is:
> Fits of tiredness,
> Calf muscles cramping with the slightest stretching and painful when
> walking,
> Back pain, can be severe at times, (statin's or coincidence?)
> Anxiety (probably due to not being able to work)
> I am also told that I repeat myself quite often,
> I am also told that I repeat myself quite often, lol
>
> I have just turned 55 and a CABG last year has left me feeling a lot better
> and if it was not for the above I reckon I could climb Everest, (well maybe
> not Everest).
>
> Drugs at the moment:
> Beta 25mg twice a day
> Plavix 75mg / day
> Nexium (gastro)
> Vioxx prn
>
>
> Cappy
> Cappy
> Damn there I go again.....
>
>
> As the sun pulls away from the shore and the boat sinks slowly in the east.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

OK. Death grip does seem a little strong, but it does seem like you may have
had some kind of reaction. Some Drs. do not see the problems early enough, as
may be the situation in your case.

As to the present situation, one red flag is the Vioxx. There was a recent
study showing people on Vioxx are more likely to have a heart attack than
those on Celebrex and I don't see any advantage to it vs. Celebrex. So you
might wish to talk to your Dr. about that.

Have you tried physical therapy the leg? On the very very long shot that it
has something to do with low potassium levels, you might try eating a couple
of bananas and see if that helps.

Of course there are lots of possibilities for tiredness including lack of
sleep and sleep apena.

The two common therapies for anxiety are talk therapy and drugs. From what
I've read, they work best in combination.

Maybe someone else has more suggestions.

Bill - not a Dr.

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