Vytorin and Peripheral Neuropathy

[JJ]

Originally Posted by ARIZONA73

Many doctors have a tendency to frighten patients into taking statins by making it sound as though they would be in grave danger if they didn't. But the truth is, predicting who will and who will not develop heart disease based on cholesterol numbers is far from an exact science. It's more like a crapshoot, if anything. To prescribe these drugs to patients with existing heart disease is one thing, but I can't help but feel that there is something unethical about prescribing them to basically healthy people who have not been diagnosed with heart disease. I believe that there are more practical, natural, and far safer alternatives for those who wish to reduce their risk.

Yup, he told me that having high numbers would probably cause me, or anyone else who didn't meet the guidelines, to be in a nursing home having my diapers changed. I told him fine, I changed plenty in my day with 3 kids, so let someone change mine. Needless to say I got a REAL dirty look, but really didn't care as I knew I wasn't going to him anymore. He was the one that told me to take Zetia, and I would never have to buy any, cause he got an unlimited supply every 2 weeks. Geez, ya think maybe he was on their payroll???

Like I said, I do the best I can to lower my numbers, sometimes, as U have seen my results, they look ok, other times not so ok, but at least I am trying. If I was just coping an attitude, then I would say I was being unreasonable, but I'm not. Life is not black and white, what some folks can tolerate, others can't, and I'm in that gray area. Oh well, I know I am trying, and that is the best I can do...TRY!!

Suppose to get some relief here by thursday, man I will be glad to have an open window, today was totally brutal as I am sure U know. Have yourself a good one, and CYL.....

[ARIZONA73]

JJ,

Certainly doctors gain financially whenever they prescribe these drugs. The drug companies made sure of that, with all their perks they dole out. In a way, it encourages many doctors to engage in some rather unethical behavior. They really don't care about you or me, or whether we live or die, or if we become incapacitated by drugs. They just care about the money, and how much of it they can stuff into their wallets. You know, doctors and veterinarians are quite different, at least ethically. People become veterinarians because they love animals, and want to help them. People become doctors because they love money.

[pettewayjean]

I am a retired registered nurse. My doctor put me on lipitor about 5 years ago. After taking it for about 6 months, I began to feel 100 years old, developed a dry cough, and toes began to feel numb. (neuropathy). Had a friend, who had same doctor, who also put her on lipitor. She developed the same symptoms. Both of us decided to stop taking it (and by the way, you should not stop abruptly, do it slowly). Within two weeks, the fatigue and cough went away, but here it is 5 years later, and I still have numb toes. Went to a neurologist, who agreed that I had developed neuropathy, but said lipitor could not have caused it. My internal medicine doctor said the same thing. I did not agree with them. I KNOW that the lipitor caused my symptoms and that of my friend. I have talked to many people, who complain of symptoms after taking the statin drugs, such as lipitor, zocor, provochol, baycol (which has now been taken off the market as being dangerous), and in almost every case, none of their doctors would agree that the statins caused their problems. The pharmacology drug companies have brain washed the doctors, just as they did when they were pushing the hormone replacement drugs, years ago. THese ended up being dangerous. I am sure that in years to come, it will be decided that the statin drugs are also dangerous.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by ARIZONA73

JJ,

Certainly doctors gain financially whenever they prescribe these drugs. The drug companies made sure of that, with all their perks they dole out. In a way, it encourages many doctors to engage in some rather unethical behavior. They really don't care about you or me, or whether we live or die, or if we become incapacitated by drugs. They just care about the money, and how much of it they can stuff into their wallets. You know, doctors and veterinarians are quite different, at least ethically. People become veterinarians because they love animals, and want to help them. People become doctors because they love money.

Well other drs. I have been to have sometimes given me a trial sample of something, but for him to say I could get it whenever really shot a red flag up for me. I wasn't fond of him to begin with, but that cinched it. Even hubby's cardio guy, who we really like alot, will give U a small sample of something, but not an everlasting supply.

Up until recently I was very lucky with drs., always seem to get real nice ones who actually took an interest in you, but the last 2 were to me a bit weird, and definitely pill pushers. God help the next generation, as with these new guidelines, I fear more and more drs. will be shoving pills down their throats for everything, and at much younger ages. Just keeping my fingers crossed this new one I have stays nice. God I miss my old dr. of 34 yrs., he was one in a million, and sharp as a tack.

[TNWalz]

Originally Posted by JJ

If U had such nasty side effects from Pravachol, I don't think the Vytorin is going to be much better. It is a Statin mixed with Zetia, so U just might get the same nasty affect U did on the other statin. As U said, there are some folks who can take these drugs with lil or no side effects, but there are many of us who just can't handle them. I hear ya about losing 18 months of your life, I was a disaster case for at least 9 after 3 months of Lipitor and 3 of Baycol, then it took another 6 months for the pains and aches to really be almost gone. My biggest problem was GI things, then it led into the aches and pains.

Best wishes....

Thanks!

I'm repeating myself here from another thread, but feel it's noteworthy here as well.

Just to show you what meds can do to some people: (1) my statins gave me muscle pain, so my doctor put me on Cliniril, an arthritis med. (2) Then I developed severe reflux symptoms, and was put on Protonix. (3) Then I began experiencing severe fluid retention (and I mean SER-I-OUS fluid retention). (4) So, now I'm a total mess.

I was taken off the statins in early January '05, and (1) the pain finally subsided to where I felt I no longer needed the Cliniril (2) After discontinuing the Cliniril, the reflux started clearing up, so I felt I longer needed the Protonix, and (3) after another 30 days or so of not taking Protonix, the fluid retention slowly but miraculously went away. (I had been sleeping on 2 and 3 pillows at night because when I reclined, fluid moved from my feet and legs up into my body and I couldn't breathe. Lasix 20 mg twice a day had been of little help.) So, like falling dominoes, as I eliminated each med, I eliminated another problem.

My doctor actually said, "You're doing great since I stopped trying to kill you." That's what I like about him - his great sense of humor.

I am not inferring that my particular doctor falls into this category, because I don't believe that he does, BUT....I live in the Chattanooga area and can tell you that EVERYDAY in this town, the pharmaceutical companies are having lunch catered to many, many doctor's offices for their entire staffs. The caterers' vans are fighting for parking space outside the professional buildings every day around noon. The pharmaceutical companies aren't shelling out that kind of dough without getting a return on their money. It just wouldn't be 'good' business.

As one employee in one of those medical facilities so aptly put it, "I hardly ever have to pay for lunch. We get lunch brought in almost every day by one of the pharmaceutical companies."

I don't delude myself into thinking this happens only in my fair city. Is it any wonder that consumer prescription costs continue to soar?

Gee...how did I get off on this? Maybe it's just the late hour or maybe it's just the writer in me...