Re: drugs that deplete coq10

From: Sharon Hope (shope_at_anet.net)
Date: 02/13/05 

Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2005 09:18:22 -0800

Alan,

A normal body can manufacture CoQ10. That manufacturing is done in what is
called the Mevalonate pathway.

A body on statin drugs, such as Lipitor, Pravachol, Zocor, Crestor, Mevacor,
Lescol, and the discontinued Baycol, is not a normal body.

The Mevalonate pathway has a step that deals with HMG CoA Reductase that is
inhibited or interrupted by statins (Thus the name: HMG CoA Reductase
Inhibitors). That step is upstream in the pathway from where the CoQ10, so
the process of producing the CoQ10 naturally is shut down before it starts.

Thus, the need for a CoQ10 supplementation for people who take statins.

For those who have already developed the side-effects, including
mitochondrial damage, muscle damage, wasting and pain, nerve damage, memory
loss, and many others, much larger doses of CoQ10 are advised. As with
people who have mitochondrial damage from other causes, the statin damaged
people are treated with 800 to 1,200mg per day (ideally taken in 2 doses) in
hopes of halting or reversing the damage.

"Alan S" <loralweightandcarbs@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:0e4u019aafmuurso3atmm44cihtjkfhknh@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 12 Feb 2005 23:03:38 -0600, "William C Biggs MD"
> <iiweulojrtom@spammotel.com> wrote:
>
> |Charly,
> |
> |Co-Q is readily available OTC. Even Sam's Warehouse Club carries it now.
> |
> |If a patient on a statin complains of any myalgia or muscle weakness, I
> |usually have them try 150mg a day.
> |
> |Depending on the severity of the complaints, I might check a CK level to
> |look for muscle inflammation. If the CK is high, I will stop the statin.
> |Statins can cause myalgias or muscle weakness even with a normal CK
> level.
> |In that scenario Co-Q is often very beneficial, and can relieve the
> muscle
> |complaints.
> |
> |I haven't heard of any adverse effects of Co-Q , other than some people
> have
> |found their BG was lower while taking it.
> |
> |BTW, one of my attendings from medical school , Michael Brown, and Merck
> |patented the concept of adding Co-Q to a statin back in 1990.
> |
> |Dr Brown shared the Nobel prize in Medicine with Joseph Goldstein for
> their
> |discovery of the statin drugs. Look at patent 4,933,165 at
> www.uspto.gov .
> |
> |IMHO, the incidence of myalgia while taking statins is WAY
> under-reported.
> |That's why I wrote the letter published in the Wall Street Journal
> |criticizing Pfizer for its plans to only market torcetrapib in
> combination
> |with atorvastatin (Lipitor). Those persons with muscle problems on
> statins
> |will not be able to get torcetrapib.
> |
> |This scenario reminds me of the mid 80's when patients were telling their
> |doctors that meds like Prozac reduced their libido, and the drug
> companies
> |claimed it was no different than placebo.
> |
> |
> |The concept of a combination Co-Q / statin drug makes a lot of sense to
> me.
> |It makes a lot more sense than "Caduet" which is combines Norvasc and
> |Lipitor, or the 2002 winner of "Stupidest Drug Marketing Idea of the Year
> |Award".... Pravagard , which was simply a package with Pravachol and an
> |aspirin tablet. Not in the same pill mind you, it was two separate
> tablets.
> |
> |Cheers,
> |
> |William C Biggs, MD
> |
> Hi Doctor Biggs
>
> I've just changed from lipitor20 to pravachol20 to see if I can stop
> my occasional night leg cramps. I found this answer of yours
> interesting, so I went searching a little to see if I could find some
> dietary sources to meet the need, rather than supplements.
>
> In that process I came across this page,
> http://www.catie.ca/tu.nsf/0/9C59AE93CAEE073285256A8C006A007A?opendocument&language=english
> or http://tinyurl.com/448q3
> on a site mainly related to AIDS/HIV. They reinforce what you said,
> but note:
>
> "Available forms and usage
> The body can make Q10 using the amino-acid tyrosine, B-complex
> vitamins and vitamin C. Foods that are good sources of Q10 are usually
> cholesterol-rich and include the following:
> pork
> beef
> chicken
> herring
> Bear in mind that it is almost impossible to obtain a high level ? 200
> mg ? of Q10 in one day from food sources alone."
>
> Are you aware of any other dietary sources that would help in meeting
> the daily need without exceeding other limits like saturated fats or
> cholesterol?
>
>
> Cheers Alan, T2, Australia.
> --
> Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.

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