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I was taking Simvastin since I had my heart attack in July 2008. I told my doctor that I am not happy with all the muscle spasms I am getting in the calves of my legs so I asked him if I have to continue taking a statin.....then he said, "well, you can take Welchol instead 3 tablets twice a day with food....well, it's like a miracle cause I get no more muscle spasms and my cholestrol level is at 170. I am quite happy with these results....
Mevacor High cholesterol Lovastatin Lipitor Zetia Weakness Pain Crestor Heart attack Vytorin Lescol
Hi! I've never heard of Welchol, I was on statins but I couldn't handle the side effects so I don't take anything now, no alternatives were suggested, thanks for the information, I will check it out. Nice to know you're doing okay on this med!
Lidia xx
Hello Grace...By all means ask your doctor....I am so very happy that I don't get those agonizing pains in my calves anymore where I can't get out of bed in the morning....let me know what your dr. says......
I had a LOT of leg pain - was taking Crestor, Zetia AND Welchol - my cholesterol was down to total 191 - however, I had to stop it ALL until the leg side effects go away, and I am on a time-released muscle relaxer - AMRIX. It took two weeks even with the muscle relaxer to get relief. Anyone taking Red Yeast Rice? I am thinking of trying that and going to a holistic medicine place to try other herbs. Will let my doctor know whatever I do - I also take Omega 3 and Lecithin.
Ellen, this is a little bit of information for you, I know the side effects were the same as conventional statins, but since the FDA got involved it seems Red Yeast Rice doesn't do anything to lower cholesterol. I don't take statins either, I had exactly the same problem as you did.
Red yeast rice contains naturally-occurring substances called monacolins. Monocolins, particularly one called lovastatin, is believed to be converted in the body to a substance that inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that triggers cholesterol production. This is the way the popular statin drugs work.
Because of this action, red yeast rice products containing a higher concentration of monocolins have been developed and marketed as a natural product to lower cholesterol.
The problem is that the primary ingredient in these supplements, lovastatin, is also the active pharmaceutical ingredient in prescription drugs for high cholesterol such as Mevacor. In fact, lovastatin was originally derived from another type of red yeast called Monascus ruber.
When the FDA discovered that red yeast rice contained a substance found in prescription drugs, it banned red yeast rice products containing lovastatin. In August, 2007, the FDA issued a warning that several red yeast rice products still contained lovastatin. The manufacturers of these products have since recalled these products.
Regulation
Red yeast rice is classified as a dietary supplement by the FDA. Because of its similarity to the statin drugs, there is an ongoing legal debate about whether red yeast rice should be reclassified as a prescription drug rather than a dietary supplement.
Why People Use Red Yeast Rice
To Lower Cholesterol and Triglycerides
Since red yeast rice products can no longer contain lovastatin, it's unclear whether red yeast products currently on the market would have any effect on cholesterol levels
Lidia xx
Since I suffered badly from the side effects caused by statins I've been reading as much as I can about cholesterol, this is an interesting article, the other side of the coin so to speak. I still don't know what to believe but you might like to read it and see what you think.
http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/low-chol.html
Lidia xx
Hello Grace....Wow...you hear so much information today about this and that, it makes your head spin. I have a new cardiologist now for awhile and he cut down lots of my medicine I was taking. I can think clearly now and have quicker reflexes too.
Before I was walking around with *brain fog* all day and let me tell you..."this sucks"
Sounds like you have a good cardio. I know where you're coming from, I just want to feel 'normal' too. (Whatever that means!)
lidia xx
Hi Grace....some doctor's think all they have to do is write out a prescription and everything will be fine...well, sometimes we don't feel fine and then
need to find another doctor....I did and am happy
to say that sometimes *LESS* is better....
I am wondering whether that is worth a try! How much did the welchol lower your cholesterol?
to 180 from what previous number? thanks!
Hi Ellen...my cholestrol before was 220....
Hi Ellen...my cholestrol before was 220....
I am going on Welchol - 3 per day, then up to 6 per day - but my doc wants me to try Lescol also - not too happy about that. Hoping the Welchol will help.
Dear Sisters,
Co-Enzyme Q10 combats statin related muscle pains and spasms. (And, maybe coronary artery spasms.) The muscle spasms are caused by a depletion of Co-Enzyme Q10 in cell mitochondria as a consquence of metabolizing statin medications. This has been scienifically proven and doctors are now prescibing it.
May the Blessings Be!
Sherrie
Sisters,
I think CoQ10 saved my life. I was on Lipitor for two years and was able to walk -- and do -- less and less. I had to give up one of the courses I was teaching because I just didn't have the stamina, and felt I would be in a wheel chair by September. I quit the statins in May, when it became difficult to walk even a few hundred feet to my class, but the weakness continued to spread over more muscles.
I did the doctor round robin only to get no answers -- no one could say what my problem was, but, they added, I should discontinue the statins. No doctor could give me anything to relieve the muscle fatigue; most suggested sleeping pills or pain pills for the muscle aches.
Thankfully, a great number of Sisters suggested trying the CoQ10. A co-worker from China told me that she knows many relatives and friends who take it without any problem. I started taking it (liquid formula), and within a week I started to feel more positive and able to walk up the stairs in my house feeling less exhausted and sore.
I started taking CoQ10 in July. I am still limited in what I can do, but I actually went shopping over Labor Day and lasted for two hours.
So thank you to the Sisters who recommended CoQ10, and may I suggest you try it. Last time I looked, the National Institutes of Health has half a dozen studies on CoQ10 and its effect on the muscle damage caused by statins.
Best wishes
I started on Welchol one month ago - same dosage as you. I am getting my lipid panel blood work next week - I hope I did as well as you. I am really happy that you found success with this.
Hi Petunabia...I wish you the best...let me know your results....
Is the CoQ10 an over the counter item?
Yes it's otc. I took it for awhile and my liver enzymes went crazy. I had to stop taking CQ10 permanently. I'm now on Vytorin 10/40 for cholesterol and Antara 130 mgs for triglycerides.
I had a triple bypass in 2001, quit smoking, drinking wine and kind of (somewhat) eat better foods. I drink diet drinks because my blood sugar runs on the high side.
Welchol didn't do a thing for my cholesterol. :(
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