High Cholesterol Support Group

High cholesterol is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood. It is not a disease but a metabolic derangement that can be secondary to many diseases and can contribute to many forms of disease, most notably cardiovascular disease. If you have high cholesterol, join the community to find support and share your experience.

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MedLab1 07/15/2012

Its been a long time since I have been to this forum and much has happened since I last posted.

New rules are in place for cholesterol drug trials, making it harder for drug companies to hide unwanted data of perform selective reporting.

In the last few years there have been a string of cholesterol drug failures. Despite the drugs ability to improve cholesterol numbers, the drugs have failed to prevent heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.

To make matters worse, those who took the cholesterol drug did worse than those on the placebo.

One example would be the AIM HIGH trial with Niaspan. This gov't funded study showed no benefit from Niaspan, and only added risk of stroke. The study was halted early to prevent further damage to people taking Niaspan.

Another example would be the new class of HDL increasing drugs being tested. Although they increased HDL, the drugs failed to prevent heart attacks.

bstaykova2003 08/05/2012

Very interesting.I was just thinking to start taking Niaspan.

missd12932 08/05/2012

Thanks Medlab1, for thinking of us. We need all the info we can get on what the drug co's are doing about statins.

I myself can't take statins. I think they are just poisening our bodies
with them so they can get rich.

Molly9094 08/19/2012

Hi Med:: I was hoping you could direct me to the right board for help. I've gained 20 pounds over the last year and chaulked it up to inactivity even though I don't overeat. For the last month I've been monitoring calorie intake, about 1200 a day and 20 minutes light exercise. Also, my finger digits are popping constantly and my fingers and hands are feeling pain when touched. I've never had this .. ever. I'm wondering if the Crestor or Losartan could be causing this? Many thanks for any lead to the link.

MedLab1 08/21/2012

Molly,

Make sure Hypothyroidism isn't playing a role in the weight gain. Also, as thyroid function fails, cholesterol will go up.

Common side effects from statin drugs like Crestor is muscle tenderness and joint pain.

Molly9094 08/24/2012

For a good 8 months I've been gaining weight, and for the first time ever my gp told me I had to start losing and exercise. I could swear up and down that I don't each much, but it didn't help. I finally joined LiveStrong.com, counted calories (1100 a day at most), and tracked exercise, usually 35 minutes on the stationary bike. And I was gaining. I took myself off Crestor last week. My hands are healing and a little weight is finally coming off. I can't understand how doctors don't know the connection with Crestor. Or to at least offer up some guess work to help... it was all frustrating. I feel so bad for those having worse symptoms and damage to their bodies than I have. Thank you for all the great information you pass on to us, it helps so much tp understand and get better!

MedLab1 08/27/2012

Molly, I am happy for you that you figured it out.

Its true that statins have been shown to interfere with the process of converting T4 thyroid hormone into the active T3 form.

Depletion of active thyroid hormone can lead to weight gain.

deleted_user 09/11/2012

I have been on Niaspan for the last 6 months and my triglycerides have improved significantly....they ususally were around 2000 with all the other meds i was on and now they are in the 600s. The dr that put me on it is from the University of Penn Cardiology unit....I have nothing but trust and faith in this med. I have 2 stents in my heart that was placed there 2 years ago at a young age of 50. I would like to know where you read about the trial study of Niaspan. Thanks in advance:)
Diane

MedLab1 09/20/2012

Sure Diane,

The recent study was called the AIM -HIGH trial conducted by the National Institutes of Health, using Niaspan. You can google it, and there are multiple articles concerning the trial.

For starters and easy reading, here is the ABC news report when the trial flopped.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2011/11/15/niacin-statin-combo-offers-no-clinical-benefit-says-study/

MedLab1 09/20/2012

The bottom line:

We are learning taking a drug and artificially inducing a change in lipids doesn't necessarily translate into reduction of heart attacks and strokes.

deleted_user 09/21/2012

But in my case before i took it at age 50 i had 2 cardiac stents placed and one was the widow maker.....so lucky that was caught but if my triglycerides were lower i wouldnt have had all that plaque build up.

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