Cher2005
08-27-2006, 03:47 PM
I have been on Vytorin for a little over a year. I have noticed that with vytorin (10/40) my blood pressure tends to rise (systolic).
Now I find my kidney finction numbers are high and indicate a severe problem with protein spilling and a high bun rate. I also have anemia, all signs of kidney impairment. I ahave an appointment with a renal specialist next week but after reading about vytorin, I think it may be to blame. I am also a diabetic but have that under control very well with just glucotrol once a day.
I wonder if the vytorin is causing me to loss muscle and it is spilling into my urine as protein? Sounds reasonable because I looked up my numbers before taking vytorin and I was normal.
Has anyone else had these problems? I had bypass surgery and have familiar high cholesterol. It is outrageously high without statins. I guess the pnly way to find out would be to quit the vytorin for a month and see the results? I wonder what else I could take? This is a toughie.
Thanks for any input.
Now I find my kidney finction numbers are high and indicate a severe problem with protein spilling and a high bun rate. I also have anemia, all signs of kidney impairment. I ahave an appointment with a renal specialist next week but after reading about vytorin, I think it may be to blame. I am also a diabetic but have that under control very well with just glucotrol once a day.
I wonder if the vytorin is causing me to loss muscle and it is spilling into my urine as protein? Sounds reasonable because I looked up my numbers before taking vytorin and I was normal.
Has anyone else had these problems? I had bypass surgery and have familiar high cholesterol. It is outrageously high without statins. I guess the pnly way to find out would be to quit the vytorin for a month and see the results? I wonder what else I could take? This is a toughie.
Thanks for any input.
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Dave-K
08-27-2006, 07:51 PM
Hi Cher,
I have been taking Vytorin for about a year (?) now. I was taking 10/20mg when I lived in NY then my doctor switched me to another statin that did absolutely nothing for me. When I moved to Indiana, I told my new doctor that I wanted to take Vytorin and he put me on 10/40mg. My last two blood tests my liver enzymes came out fine, the only thing I noticed I was a bit more gasious :-)
One the other hand, I took Lipitor which worked excellent and was well tolerated but it was the only Statin that has raised my liver enzymes.
I don't fit your scenario but wanted to share my experience with Vytorin.
Dave
I have been taking Vytorin for about a year (?) now. I was taking 10/20mg when I lived in NY then my doctor switched me to another statin that did absolutely nothing for me. When I moved to Indiana, I told my new doctor that I wanted to take Vytorin and he put me on 10/40mg. My last two blood tests my liver enzymes came out fine, the only thing I noticed I was a bit more gasious :-)
One the other hand, I took Lipitor which worked excellent and was well tolerated but it was the only Statin that has raised my liver enzymes.
I don't fit your scenario but wanted to share my experience with Vytorin.
Dave
Lenin
08-29-2006, 08:49 AM
Cher,
It is POSSIBLE that you have developed rhabdomyolysis which is the destruction of so much muscle that the kidneys are flooded with wastes and damaged. You would definitely see a characteristic brown urine and be in EXTREME pain.
Mor likely is that the diabetes is damaging your kidneys and causing protein leakage.
Let the nephrologist make the call, but I am almost certain it will be the diabetes.
Perhaps there is some renal artery blockage akin to your heart problems?
And of course ANY problem with the kidneys is apt to cause high blood pressure becasue the kidneys are the controllers of the body's salt and water.
I really think the odds are against the Vytorin having anything to do with it.
It is POSSIBLE that you have developed rhabdomyolysis which is the destruction of so much muscle that the kidneys are flooded with wastes and damaged. You would definitely see a characteristic brown urine and be in EXTREME pain.
Mor likely is that the diabetes is damaging your kidneys and causing protein leakage.
Let the nephrologist make the call, but I am almost certain it will be the diabetes.
Perhaps there is some renal artery blockage akin to your heart problems?
And of course ANY problem with the kidneys is apt to cause high blood pressure becasue the kidneys are the controllers of the body's salt and water.
I really think the odds are against the Vytorin having anything to do with it.
Cher2005
08-29-2006, 10:58 PM
Lenin I'm afraid to think there might be blockage to the kidney artery but it could be unfortunately. I suppose they will do an ultras
I will find out more on thursday when I see the renal specialist.
So far my urine is yellow, but not dark or brown. There is blood in urine though, a fair amount at plus 2. But I cannot see the blood in my urine. I also am anemic.
But I had read that the vytorin is contraindicated if there are kidney probkems.
I was thinking along the lines that the vytorin was breaking down muscle mass and spilling a lot of protein which is a high component of muscle tisssue. My kidney function numbers were fine before I started on Vytorin and when my glucose was very high. It is almost textbook perfect now w But my kidneys are now bad? It doesn't make sense.ith an a1c of 5.2.
I will find out more on thursday when I see the renal specialist.
So far my urine is yellow, but not dark or brown. There is blood in urine though, a fair amount at plus 2. But I cannot see the blood in my urine. I also am anemic.
But I had read that the vytorin is contraindicated if there are kidney probkems.
I was thinking along the lines that the vytorin was breaking down muscle mass and spilling a lot of protein which is a high component of muscle tisssue. My kidney function numbers were fine before I started on Vytorin and when my glucose was very high. It is almost textbook perfect now w But my kidneys are now bad? It doesn't make sense.ith an a1c of 5.2.
NHone
08-29-2006, 11:29 PM
It is the vytorin.
oldmom
08-29-2006, 11:43 PM
My husband started Vytorin last week. How soon do these side effects start to show up? He is 56, glucose 132 for first time, and doctor also put him on an ace inhibitor although his blood pressure has not been high. Anyone with experience with these two drugs?
NHone
08-30-2006, 04:01 PM
Side effects for cholesterol lowering medications can show up immediately or up to 7 years according to Washington University (st. louis) neurology.
Cher2005
08-30-2006, 10:06 PM
I wonder what the doctor would do if they find the vytorin or zocor is damaging your liver or kidneys? Especially when you have extremely high cholestorol due to genetic heridity.
The vytorin has done an excellent job of reducing my sky high (400's) cholesterol to near normal. My hdl used to be in low 30s and now it's in the high 50's. I won't even talk about my former LDL.
The vytorin has done an excellent job of reducing my sky high (400's) cholesterol to near normal. My hdl used to be in low 30s and now it's in the high 50's. I won't even talk about my former LDL.
Cher2005
09-23-2006, 11:01 PM
Well I finally have some backup. My internist agrees that the vytorin could be raising my blood pressure because every time I go off the vytorin my pressure goes to 130/60/ The systolic is sky high with the vytorin probably because the zetia portion is excreted by the kidneys. At last I found someone who agrees with me.
Lenin, you were right about the diabetes causing the kidney damage. Apparently it has been going on for years even though my A1c is 5.2 and has been for at least a year and a half. It is progressive because there is no cure for diabetes only control.
I still contend it was the zetis in the vytorin that screwed up my blood pressure. It is fine now that I have switched back to straight zocor.
But it was not the vytorin that caused any kidney damage, that was the diabetes.
Lenin, you were right about the diabetes causing the kidney damage. Apparently it has been going on for years even though my A1c is 5.2 and has been for at least a year and a half. It is progressive because there is no cure for diabetes only control.
I still contend it was the zetis in the vytorin that screwed up my blood pressure. It is fine now that I have switched back to straight zocor.
But it was not the vytorin that caused any kidney damage, that was the diabetes.
Lenin
09-24-2006, 10:58 AM
Cher,
Glad you got to the root of the problem.
My doctor ganve me 2 options to get my LDLs from the 80's to <70, either add zetia or up my Liipitor. I chose the latter (now 20 mg. Lipitor) and from your post, I think I made the right choice.
ONE drug is always less likely to cause problems than TWO, eh wot!:wave:
Glad you got to the root of the problem.
My doctor ganve me 2 options to get my LDLs from the 80's to <70, either add zetia or up my Liipitor. I chose the latter (now 20 mg. Lipitor) and from your post, I think I made the right choice.
ONE drug is always less likely to cause problems than TWO, eh wot!:wave:
Cher2005
09-24-2006, 03:14 PM
Lenin I envy your ldl level. Even the 80's sounds great to me. Why are your doctors so insistent on getting it lower? Have you had a heart attack?
I would take your 80's reading in a split second. I have familiar cholestorol problems. My children have it too and we just found out my oldest grandchild has inherited the condition. It never ends. Hateful. We need a cure.
Without statins I was in the high 400's TC and the high 300's LDL and in the 20's hdl, low 20's.
I would take your 80's reading in a split second. I have familiar cholestorol problems. My children have it too and we just found out my oldest grandchild has inherited the condition. It never ends. Hateful. We need a cure.
Without statins I was in the high 400's TC and the high 300's LDL and in the 20's hdl, low 20's.
Lenin
09-25-2006, 09:19 AM
Cher,
I have "only" one stent but many "smaller" blockages, confirmed on angiography, that I want to stay smaller. Both my GP and I agree that LDL control as tight as it can be is the way to insure this. The newest data is that it is LDL's BELOW 70 that actually REDUCE the size of existing plaque.
That is what I am going for and I consider myself lucky that I can get an LDL of 62 with 20 mg. Lipitor, 500 mg. niacin, pretty good weight control, and lower saturated fats...under 30% of my calories, JUST!
Of course if it took 80 mg. Lipitor and 3 grams of niacin for me to do this, I'd proabably find it impossible to comply.
I have "only" one stent but many "smaller" blockages, confirmed on angiography, that I want to stay smaller. Both my GP and I agree that LDL control as tight as it can be is the way to insure this. The newest data is that it is LDL's BELOW 70 that actually REDUCE the size of existing plaque.
That is what I am going for and I consider myself lucky that I can get an LDL of 62 with 20 mg. Lipitor, 500 mg. niacin, pretty good weight control, and lower saturated fats...under 30% of my calories, JUST!
Of course if it took 80 mg. Lipitor and 3 grams of niacin for me to do this, I'd proabably find it impossible to comply.