My elderly mother was given statins, they turned her into a zombie. She couldn't do every day things right and couldn't remember who her own daughter was. Would I ever take them NO WAY !
Hi Alicia - It sounds like your mother had a bad reaction to them, potentially in line with the cognitive side effects reviewed in this training. I'm glad we can recognize when people experience things like that to better inform consumers and providers. Feel free to let me know if you'd like more information on lifestyle changes that support health and wellness.
I have been taking statins intermittently for years. About a year ago, I started experiencing pain on my left arm, right under the shoulder, and now, the pain is on both arms on the same location. My primary doctor lowered the prescription of Rosuvastatin from 40mg to 10mg. Had X-Rays taken to rule out any bone issues and the results didn’t show anything remarkable. I’m still taking the Statins and still feel the bothersome arm pain.
love this woman!! (Finally, I came across a nutritionist on RUclips who knows what she is talking about. In France, we are about twenty years behind the times when it comes to lipidology...)
My husband was forced on them took them for 6 months he’s numbers went up and he felt terrible . He took himself off them and he’s cholesterol went down naturally on its own cutting out icecream ,bread .
There is always an alternative to chemical medicines. I prefer the natural way. Statins would never be allowed in my family. i have seen the damage they cause.
Yes,please Dr.Amy. I think if you do a video with the research and give us a list of specific foods to help balance the cholesterol it would benefit 100% of people that watch your videos. An apple ( or 2 ) , keeps the doctors and heart attacks away. Your videos are very informative and easy to follow and all the " big words " are quite understood . Thank you.
Very well presented video. Thank you! I have not suffered a heart attack but had a couple of stents implanted about 7 years ago. I was 57. I am what is termed a "skinny-fat" person. I was immediately put on a BP, blood-thinner and a statin meds. After about 2 weeks, I forgot my wife's name. I thought I was boarding the dementia train since no one told me that 25% of all statin users suffer cognitive problems. I understand why I wasn't informed because of the placebo effect so I don't blame my doctors. I could have read the side-effects insert. I did my own internet research and discovered the potential problem. I discontinued taking the statins and normal function returned within a week. Told my cardiologist and they switched me from Atorvastatin to Crestor. Same thing. My LDL cholesterol was about 140 which isn't too bad for someone without atherosclerosis but not good at all for me, I guess. Anyway, I was then put on a self-injectable PCSK9 Inhibitor and it did the job without the cognitive issues (at least from what I can tell... 🙂). Took my LDL down to 70 in three months and kept it there. After 18 months, no side effects so far though I'm a little concerned about the fact there are no studies on long-term effects. I'm getting twice yearly blood tests to monitor things and so far so good. I would agree that in the future you do a video on the alternatives. Not all docs are up-to-date on these they are so new and I'm guessing there are a bunch of people suffering with the "no alternative scenario" when it comes to statins and people already with heart disease.
Hi, my doctor prescribes statins rosuvastatin (Crestor) for cholesterol control.After a year I developed what could be similar to Alzheimer's symptoms.I had difficulty remembering things ( 15 minutes of memory ).I had been tested with the Montreal test and they said that I could have the beginning of Alzheimer's. Well after that I went to the internet google and RUclips and from there some RUclips doctors told in a video that statins were affecting cholesterol and that the brain made up 50% of it. Guest what I stopped taking those statins and 2 weeks after I didn't have any symptoms. A real miracle, I could have continue taking that medicine and have bad symptoms for the reste of my life. RUclips hadn't made me realize what could have been the source of my problem. No thanks to my doctor and his staff. I could be a lot less healthy today. LESSON : STATINE ARE NOT WITHOUT RISK!
No mention of metabolic disease? No mention of insulin resistance its impact on CVD? No mention of the studies that show no correlation between taking statins and reduced chance of CVD (other than for those who have already had a heart attack)? etc. However, I liked the party analogy!
Hi Molly! I'm glad you like the party conceptualization. And yes, there ARE a lot of factors that contribute to CVD - thank you for highlighting them! Your attention to secondary prevention (preventing further events in those who have already had a heart attack) is awesome. Numerous studies also support the use of statins for primary prevention in people who are at high risk of CVD, with reductions in risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular deaths and disability. I'd be happy to do more videos on this topic in general if that's useful to people!
very interesting. While you did state the fact that we do need cholesterol you should have also mentioned that we don't need dietary cholesterol as cells all over our body make cholesterol. Even without any dietary cholesterol many people still make too much either due to genetics, too much of the wrong fats in the diet, etc.
It is interesting that although, as you related, millions of worldly people are on statins, the heart attacks are still on the increase. Obviously, then, one would question if this medication is actually effective. Maybe this has something to do with inflammation, which I don’t recalled that you mentioned in this video. Thanks for a well presented and thought out video, will keep an eye on your channel.
Look at family history. If a relative ended up with adverse effects, avoid them. Statins have a propensity to cause multiple problems. My cholesterol is around 200, and has been at the same level as long as i remember, never having a physician advise me to take statins. I was prescribed a high dose of statin. I refused, after looking at data and discovering my grandmother developing both dementia and diabetes after starting them post MI. I decided to try taking additional fiber to try to take my cholesterol down. I dont have any results yet. But it really comes down to risk vs benefits with any medication a person takes. If my cholesterol was climbing or extremely elevated, I would attempt taking it.
'clogs' There is new information, may I suggest that you look into the vascular endothelial glycocalyx. We need to start by reducing the sugar, before we take drugs. The problem is not a statin deficiency. The problem is not high, or too many LDL particles. LDL remnants have to get past the glycocalyx (our shields) before getting into the endothelium. And I see donating blood a win-win situation, removing excess iron, LDL remnants, and glycated haemoglobin. Thank you for breaking down the various statins. As a 67 yr old, I can't see any reason to get statins into my brain.
J'adore cette femme !! (Enfin je suis tombé sur une nutritionniste sur RUclips qui sait de quoi elle parle. En France, nous avons un retard d'une vingtaine d'années, en ce qui concerne la lipidologie...) =
Dr. Amy, is there any way if you have the spare time to look into Xywav/Xyrem medication? I was prescribed it for narcolepsy and other sleeping disorders? It’s a scheduled drug and puts me to sleep every night with two doses, 4 hours apart. I wonder in what ways it affects my brain on a daily basis. I would greatly appreciate your expertise.
This is what concerns me, the ingredients and its history which I just found out about: “The discovery of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) over 40 years ago led to its immediate use as a general anesthetic agent. Subsequent research demonstrated that GHB is an endogenous compound in the mammalian brain and current research suggests that GHB is a probable neurotransmitter. In the United States, reports of anabolic effects lead to its misuse among body builders during the 1980's while the intoxicating properties of the drug lead to its popularization as a substance of abuse during the 1990's. GHB became associated with reports of drug-facilitated sexual assault and cases of physical dependence and withdrawal. Efforts to ban GHB caused increased use of GHB analogues and pro-drugs. Against this backdrop, GHB was being developed for the treatment of narcolepsy, leading to the approval of Xyrem (sodium oxybate) oral solution in 2002 for the treatment of cataplexy in patients with narcolepsy. A risk management program permits the safe handling and distribution of the approved product, minimizes the risk for diversion, provides professional and patient education about the risks and benefits of sodium oxybate, and includes physician and patient registries. Post-marketing surveillance indicates sodium oxybate has an acceptable safety profile and presents minimal risk for the development of physical dependence.”
My elderly mother was given statins, they turned her into a zombie. She couldn't do every day things right and couldn't remember who her own daughter was. Would I ever take them NO WAY !
Hi Alicia - It sounds like your mother had a bad reaction to them, potentially in line with the cognitive side effects reviewed in this training. I'm glad we can recognize when people experience things like that to better inform consumers and providers. Feel free to let me know if you'd like more information on lifestyle changes that support health and wellness.
I have been taking statins intermittently for years. About a year ago, I started experiencing pain on my left arm, right under the shoulder, and now, the pain is on both arms on the same location. My primary doctor lowered the prescription of Rosuvastatin from 40mg to 10mg. Had X-Rays taken to rule out any bone issues and the results didn’t show anything remarkable. I’m still taking the Statins and still feel the bothersome arm pain.
I'm so sorry that this ambiguous pain just appeared, and hope that you and your team can figure it out. Please keep asking and trying new things!
I have been taking statins for 15 years without any problems.
What went wrong?
love this woman!! (Finally, I came across a nutritionist on RUclips who knows what she is talking about. In France, we are about twenty years behind the times when it comes to lipidology...)
So glad it was helpful to you!
My husband was forced on them took them for 6 months he’s numbers went up and he felt terrible . He took himself off them and he’s cholesterol went down naturally on its own cutting out icecream ,bread .
yes, cutting carbohydrates is far more important.
There is always an alternative to chemical medicines. I prefer the natural way. Statins would never be allowed in my family. i have seen the damage they cause.
Yes,please Dr.Amy. I think if you do a video with the research and give us a list of specific foods to help balance the cholesterol it would benefit 100% of people that watch your videos. An apple ( or 2 ) , keeps the doctors and heart attacks away. Your videos are very informative and easy to follow and all the " big words " are quite understood . Thank you.
Thanks so much, Susy - my next video is on ways you can be healthier without or with fewer meds will be coming out this week!
Very well presented video. Thank you! I have not suffered a heart attack but had a couple of stents implanted about 7 years ago. I was 57. I am what is termed a "skinny-fat" person. I was immediately put on a BP, blood-thinner and a statin meds. After about 2 weeks, I forgot my wife's name. I thought I was boarding the dementia train since no one told me that 25% of all statin users suffer cognitive problems. I understand why I wasn't informed because of the placebo effect so I don't blame my doctors. I could have read the side-effects insert. I did my own internet research and discovered the potential problem. I discontinued taking the statins and normal function returned within a week. Told my cardiologist and they switched me from Atorvastatin to Crestor. Same thing. My LDL cholesterol was about 140 which isn't too bad for someone without atherosclerosis but not good at all for me, I guess. Anyway, I was then put on a self-injectable PCSK9 Inhibitor and it did the job without the cognitive issues (at least from what I can tell... 🙂). Took my LDL down to 70 in three months and kept it there. After 18 months, no side effects so far though I'm a little concerned about the fact there are no studies on long-term effects. I'm getting twice yearly blood tests to monitor things and so far so good. I would agree that in the future you do a video on the alternatives. Not all docs are up-to-date on these they are so new and I'm guessing there are a bunch of people suffering with the "no alternative scenario" when it comes to statins and people already with heart disease.
I'm glad it was helpful, and that you worked to figure out your situation!
Hi, my doctor prescribes statins rosuvastatin (Crestor) for cholesterol control.After a year I developed what could be similar to Alzheimer's symptoms.I had difficulty remembering things ( 15 minutes of memory ).I had been tested with the Montreal test and they said that I could have the beginning of Alzheimer's. Well after that I went to the internet google and RUclips and from there some RUclips doctors told in a video that statins were affecting cholesterol and that the brain made up 50% of it. Guest what I stopped taking those statins and 2 weeks after I didn't have any symptoms. A real miracle, I could have continue taking that medicine and have bad symptoms for the reste of my life. RUclips hadn't made me realize what could have been the source of my problem. No thanks to my doctor and his staff. I could be a lot less healthy today. LESSON : STATINE ARE NOT WITHOUT RISK!
My cardiologist took me off Rosuvastatin because of cognitive issues. 🙄
Glad you're working with your provider to figure it all out!
Great video Amy. Thank you!
You're so welcome, Anna!
No mention of metabolic disease? No mention of insulin resistance its impact on CVD? No mention of the studies that show no correlation between taking statins and reduced chance of CVD (other than for those who have already had a heart attack)? etc. However, I liked the party analogy!
Hi Molly! I'm glad you like the party conceptualization. And yes, there ARE a lot of factors that contribute to CVD - thank you for highlighting them! Your attention to secondary prevention (preventing further events in those who have already had a heart attack) is awesome. Numerous studies also support the use of statins for primary prevention in people who are at high risk of CVD, with reductions in risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular deaths and disability. I'd be happy to do more videos on this topic in general if that's useful to people!
very interesting.
While you did state the fact that we do need cholesterol you should have also mentioned that we don't need dietary cholesterol as cells all over our body make cholesterol.
Even without any dietary cholesterol many people still make too much either due to genetics, too much of the wrong fats in the diet, etc.
Totally true, our cells make it, and our liver makes extra. Thank you for highlighting this!
It is interesting that although, as you related, millions of worldly people are on statins, the heart attacks are still on the increase. Obviously, then, one would question if this medication is actually effective. Maybe this has something to do with inflammation, which I don’t recalled that you mentioned in this video. Thanks for a well presented and thought out video, will keep an eye on your channel.
Look at family history. If a relative ended up with adverse effects, avoid them. Statins have a propensity to cause multiple problems. My cholesterol is around 200, and has been at the same level as long as i remember, never having a physician advise me to take statins. I was prescribed a high dose of statin. I refused, after looking at data and discovering my grandmother developing both dementia and diabetes after starting them post MI. I decided to try taking additional fiber to try to take my cholesterol down. I dont have any results yet. But it really comes down to risk vs benefits with any medication a person takes. If my cholesterol was climbing or extremely elevated, I would attempt taking it.
I'm so glad you're using the data, looking at your numbers, and being proactive trying new things. Great work!
What about statins effect on mitochondrial function. Like shutting off the chain of processes that produce COQ10?
'clogs'
There is new information, may I suggest that you look into the vascular endothelial glycocalyx.
We need to start by reducing the sugar, before we take drugs. The problem is not a statin deficiency. The problem is not high, or too many LDL particles. LDL remnants have to get past the glycocalyx (our shields) before getting into the endothelium.
And I see donating blood a win-win situation, removing excess iron, LDL remnants, and glycated haemoglobin.
Thank you for breaking down the various statins. As a 67 yr old, I can't see any reason to get statins into my brain.
Thanks for watching and sharing more information with us, James!
Everyone I know on statins has behavioural problems.
I was prescribed them. I won't take them. It's normal for older women to have higher cholesterol.
J'adore cette femme !! (Enfin je suis tombé sur une nutritionniste sur RUclips qui sait de quoi elle parle. En France, nous avons un retard d'une vingtaine d'années, en ce qui concerne la lipidologie...)
=
Dr. Amy, is there any way if you have the spare time to look into Xywav/Xyrem medication? I was prescribed it for narcolepsy and other sleeping disorders? It’s a scheduled drug and puts me to sleep every night with two doses, 4 hours apart. I wonder in what ways it affects my brain on a daily basis. I would greatly appreciate your expertise.
This is what concerns me, the ingredients and its history which I just found out about:
“The discovery of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) over 40 years ago led to its immediate use as a general anesthetic agent. Subsequent research demonstrated that GHB is an endogenous compound in the mammalian brain and current research suggests that GHB is a probable neurotransmitter. In the United States, reports of anabolic effects lead to its misuse among body builders during the 1980's while the intoxicating properties of the drug lead to its popularization as a substance of abuse during the 1990's. GHB became associated with reports of drug-facilitated sexual assault and cases of physical dependence and withdrawal. Efforts to ban GHB caused increased use of GHB analogues and pro-drugs. Against this backdrop, GHB was being developed for the treatment of narcolepsy, leading to the approval of Xyrem (sodium oxybate) oral solution in 2002 for the treatment of cataplexy in patients with narcolepsy. A risk management program permits the safe handling and distribution of the approved product, minimizes the risk for diversion, provides professional and patient education about the risks and benefits of sodium oxybate, and includes physician and patient registries. Post-marketing surveillance indicates sodium oxybate has an acceptable safety profile and presents minimal risk for the development of physical dependence.”
Take as little meds as possible.