Re: Tricor and side effects

From: Ed Mathes (emathes_at_rochester.rr.com)
Date: 11/14/04 

Date: Sun, 14 Nov 2004 16:01:15 GMT

> > Zee, fibrates aren't statins.
> > All the studies you list below are statin studies.
> Statins were suggested as an option by Dr. Harris. I think the OP may
> want to consider the studies I posted, given his medical history.
>
> Dr. Harris also implied statins do not cause cancer. They do:
> http://www.cspinet.org/integrity/press/200409281.html

John Abramson, a clinical instructor in primary care at the Harvard Medical
School:
"Furthermore, we are concerned about the findings from one of the five cited
studies
showing that statin therapy significantly increases the risk of cancer in
the elderly."

Great...which study? How significant? What cancers? What age group? blah,
blah, blah.

> Would niacin and cholestyramine be an option for the OP?

Sure...but talk about side effects......

> > However, benefits continue to outweigh risk.
>
> Proven for a very small minority.
> http://www.ti.ubc.ca

How small....your link didn't point to anything relevant.

Across the board....statins reduce cardiovascular morbidity by 1/3...not a
small minority. And I am on record as stating we can do better.

> > One thing I think prescribers can do is start statins at low doses and
> > increase incrementally and slowly.
> > If side effects occur, back off the dose, stop or switch.
>
>
> Good thinking. Here's what Dr. Jay Cohen has to say on that:

Who or What Dr. Cohen is or said means nothing to me.
However, I do agree, in general:

> Excessive Doses = More Side Effects
>
> One of my basic principles is: The best dose of any medication is the
> least amount that works. Medical science agrees.

As do I.

You go on to discuss Crestor...but ask yourself...why hasn't Crestor come
close to market share projections?
Because few people are writing for it.

I have written a total of 3 Crestor prescriptions.....I use primarily Zocor
and now Vytorin, Pravachol and some Lipitor.
All 3 have outcomes data. Mevacor/Lovastatin work for mild reductions.
Crestor has data showing it lowers T-Chol and LDL but no outcome data.

You avoided my reference to Red Yeast Rice.....

Ed

Relevant Pages

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