Re: Cognitive problems with simvastatin?

(THIS IS A POST FROM ANOTHER TOPIC--THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR
THIS ALSO)

and perhaps sharon's mission is the same as mine: 1)a deep feeling of
responsibility to alert anyone else to the possibility of these adverse

side effects the pharmaceutical companies have not yet identified (or
admitted). If they or a loved one begins exhibiting any of the
symptoms of adverse reactions (not yet identified by the pharm cos) the

individual can determine whether to continue the drug or not,
preferably with physician advice (thus alerting physicians to the
possible adverse effect. and if there is a family history of
neurodegenerative diseases, the risk benefit ratio could be determined
with this information. 2) mandatory phase IV studies on all drugs to
determine long term side effects (if current reporting to FDA sufficed,

we would not be experiencing these difficulties--basically NO
ASSISTANCE) 3) if these effects are occurring (determined by the phase
IV studies), research into specific pathophysiological etiology could
be determined and therapy(ies) developed to address these
effects.4)testing could be developed to determine if one is
"susceptible" to these adverse effects
How does one approach a problem of potential drug adverse effect not
admitted by the scientific community or the commercial industry
responsible for creation of the drug? remain silent and hope?
neurodegenerative diseases are common in over 60's as is the use of
statins --how does one determine a causal effect when no one will look
for it? Oh, yes one could write to all the "responsible" persons
involved (to date, the answers to >75 letters I have sent are three-- 2

of which were completely non responsive! though i remain undeterred) I

applaud Sharon and Zee's zeal--it is only through efforts of
individuals such as these women that change will occur. How did the
current situation develop--pharmaceutical industry basically
determining what a physician prescribes thru untrustworthy published
reports(studies that only report the positive effects--in journals that

would vie for the priviledge to publish the studies because the reprint

requests of >1 million dollars was assured) free samples, incredible
sales pressure, etc.; the FDA supporting the industry well being over
public health; government representatives supporting the pharmaceutical

industry vs the public best interest (ie senator Frist's proposed bills

to completely protect the pharm industry from any litigation associted
with vaccines--and yes, i am aware how our litigious society has
changed the way medicine practices--and not in a positive way). and if

one converts the statistics of many of the statin studies from relative

risk benefit to absolute risk benefit, this class of drugs is not the
miracle it is touted. I have been a major supporter of traditional
medicine--I acknowledge the wonder of antibiotics, chemotherapeutic
agents, trauma care, cardiovascular interventions, etc. etc. But I am
incredibly saddened by the state of modern day traditional medicine.
Yes, our internist is bright, very hard working, incredibly caring, and

open minded enough to listen to our theory that lipitor is directly
implicated in my husband's development of parkinson's (61 yrs old)(and
my niece's 58 yr old husband's and a dear friend's 50 yr old husband),
but condescension, derision or pity are the responses our concern about

lipitor elicits. the cruel indifference from the medical,
pharmaceutical and government is both maddening and distressing. Just
what action would you suggest those of us who feel statins have
devastated our lives should take? I would gladly accept and act upon
any cogent suggestions. to date, we have asked for copies of all
lipitor studies in the FDA's possession--the request was made in Jan
05. No response has been received, except for 2 phone conversations in

which the person on the other end promised to "look into it". I am
completing a citizen's petition to the FDA. I have written the
FDA,Pfizer, the NIH,my representatives in congress, all members of the

advisory committee to determine mevacor's OTC status, numerous science
writters, newspapers, medical journals, individual physicians--mostly
neurologists--involved in current scientific studies of
neurodegenerative diseases, even a few statisticians who were part of
the statin studies. I am hopeful an awareness will result. Again,
Please offer any suggestions that may assist us. thanking you in
advance, madelyn


keep in mind the following: 1--all patients with Parkinson's who have
been tested have been found to be deficient in coenzyme Q10 (both
plasma and platelet levels) - the theory now is that depleted coenzyme

q10 is part of the process of this neurodegenerative disease 2)
megadoses of coenzyme q10 (albeit in a small study) showed a positive
effect of a decrease in progression of symptoms in early onset
parkinson's (the multicenter studies replicating this small one are to
be reported in 06) 3) MOST STUDIES (granted not all--though the testing

of and reporting of coq10 levels--whether oxidized or not, whether
platelet or plasma,etc-- is very confusing), but the preponderance of
them (I do have the #'s somewhere in my burgeoning files) have shown
the use of statins results in depleted coenzyme q10 plasma and platelet

levels--as would be expected since the mevalonate pathway that statins
block is the same pathway to production of coenzyme q10--
linear thinking, yes, though compelling science

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Cognitive problems with simvastatin?
    ... > responsibility to alert anyone else to the possibility of these adverse ... > admitted by the scientific community or the commercial industry ... > statins --how does one determine a causal effect when no one will look ... > megadoses of coenzyme q10 showed a positive ...
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    ... >> responsibility to alert anyone else to the possibility of these adverse ... >> How does one approach a problem of potential drug adverse effect not ... >> one converts the statistics of many of the statin studies from relative ... >> megadoses of coenzyme q10 showed a positive ...
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    ... > My assumption is that it is the FDA's responsibility to safeguard tne ... Once the drug is placed on the market then the cards are dealt. ... Did you find any flawed studies implicating statins and PD? ...
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