topic Re: Successes in declining statins?? in Wellness

Successes in using/declining statins?

1Professor — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 23:58:55 GMT

I have been a fan of a plant-based diet since watching the Forks & Knives DVD years ago.

I am not on any medications now, but a new doctor has prescribed Lipitor, a statin.

As a researcher and scientist, I've now spent time reading everything about Livotor/statins and it appears that once you start it is expected that you continue for life.

Many tales of side effects.

My doctor is not a fan of plant-based supplement-based interventions. (I am not overweight, do not smoke, do not drink alcohol. So going with plants/supplements seemed a great intervention, to me ALONG WITH AN EXERCISE PROGRAM, including cardio, core, strength, resistance bands.)

The Wellness threads have offered so many useful, relevant, helpful stories.

Has anyone decided NOT to take a recommended statin? Discontinued taking a statin for something else?

Had successes?

I have read and found useful these books by top doctors:

Re: Successes in declining statins??

qvcaddition — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 16:56:08 GMT

@1Professor

@1Professor wrote:

I have been a fan of a plant-based diet since watching the Forks & Knives DVD years ago.

I am not on any medications now, but a new doctor has prescribed Livotor, a statin.
As a researcher and scientist, I've now spent time reading everything about Livotor/statins and it appears that once you start it is expected that you continue for life.
Many tales of side effects.
My doctor is not a fan of plant-based supplement-based interventions. (I am not overweight, do not smoke, do not drink alcohol. So going with plants/supplements seemed a great intervention, to me ALONG WITH AN EXERCISE PROGRAM, including cardio, core, strength, resistance bands.)

The Wellness threads have offered so many useful, relevant, helpful stories.
Has anyone decided NOT to take a recommended statin? Discontinued taking a statin for something else?
Had successes?

I have read and found useful these books by top doctors:

I have tried many diff. statiins and non do not give side effects, which are pain in my bones after being on them for a week.

The last one made my knee hurt very much.

Another I found, I had trouble walking after two weeks. So I am not a fan of them.

Re: Successes in declining statins??

SilleeMee — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 16:59:14 GMT

I was given a Rx for statins when my blood test showed I had a high LDL cholesterol. Took if for a few years then that caused my A1c to go up and my doc told me I might need another Rx for that. That was the breaking point for me and I went on to find a way out of taking more Rxs.

I have been taking berberine for several years, blood tests are normal and I no longer need any Rx drugs at all. My doctor is impressed that at my age, 68, I have a good blood profile w/o the need for intervention or anywhere close to that.

Re: Successes in declining statins??

RetRN — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 17:01:30 GMT

There is no one answer. Results and side effects vary for each individual.

Re: Successes in declining statins??

kze — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 17:36:59 GMT

My brother could not take statins. His doctor had him start using cinnamon which was very successful. He had cinnamon toast every morning until he got tired of it. Then switched to supplements. There’s a certain kind to use so you'll need to research that.

Re: Successes in declining statins??

ThinkingOutLoud — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 17:38:34 GMT

You wrote: "My doctor is not a fan of plant-based supplement-based interventions."

I'd be hearing alarm bells with this and would find a new doctor that is more open. There are so many natural remedies available, it's nonsense to think rx is the only way to go especially with all the possible side effects.

Re: Successes in declining statins??

kate2357 — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 18:02:28 GMT

@1Professor

I kept resisting taking a statin because I eat healthy and exercise 6 days a week. I weigh around 115 lbs, ran a marathon last May and my cholesterol actually increased from previous year. I was sure it would have gone down. I apparently have a genetic predisposition for high cholesterol. Ugh.

My PCP said Kate, sometimes you can't outrun genetics. So in consultation with my PCP I took 1/2 dose of generic statin and took 2-3 Berberine a day. We retested my blood work after 3 or 4 months and my cholesterol levels went down a huge amount and my blood sugar went down too. PCP said keep up the good work and see you next year.

So yes, I am taking 10 mg of statin along with berberine and will continue to take a low dose and get my blood work done on an annual basis. My advice...talk to your doctor about your concerns.

Re: Successes in declining statins??

Trinity11 — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 17:39:22 GMT

@1Professor , are you speaking of Lipitor?

Every study I acquainted myself with told me the right decision for myself was to take Lipitor. My results were stellar so I took a vacation from them. Everything once again escalated so I went back on them. Diet alone does not work for me, nor do supplements.

My risk factors are Type 1 diabetes, two heart attacks and subsequent heart failure. I can't afford to fool around with unproven diets.

Re: Successes in declining statins??

SeaMaiden — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 17:54:07 GMT

@kze wrote:
My brother could not take statins. His doctor had him start using cinnamon which was very successful. He had cinnamon toast every morning until he got tired of it. Then switched to supplements. There’s a certain kind to use so you'll need to research that.

@kze ceylon cinnamon is what you want to take supplementally

Re: Successes in declining statins??

kze — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 17:57:37 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
@kze wrote:
My brother could not take statins. His doctor had him start using cinnamon which was very successful. He had cinnamon toast every morning until he got tired of it. Then switched to supplements. There’s a certain kind to use so you'll need to research that.
@kze ceylon cinnamon is what you want to take supplementally

@SeaMaiden

Thanks. I was just looking that up. Sounds like it can lower blood sugar too.

Re: Successes in declining statins??

SeaMaiden — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 18:01:15 GMT

@kze Yes!

Re: Successes in declining statins??

1Professor — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 18:01:57 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
I was given a Rx for statins when my blood test showed I had a high LDL cholesterol. Took if for a few years then that caused my A1c to go up and my doc told me I might need another Rx for that. That was the breaking point for me and I went on to find a way out of taking more Rxs.

I have been taking berberine for several years, blood tests are normal and I no longer need any Rx drugs at all. My doctor is impressed that at my age, 68, I have a good blood profile w/o the need for intervention or anywhere close to that.

@SilleeMee So specific, encouraging, and useful as always. I appreciate you.

**** Off to check out reliable sources for berberine . . .

Re: Successes in declining statins??

1Professor — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 18:04:40 GMT

@kze wrote:
My brother could not take statins. His doctor had him start using cinnamon which was very successful. He had cinnamon toast every morning until he got tired of it. Then switched to supplements. There’s a certain kind to use so you'll need to research that.

@kze

Cinnamon is getting lots of press.

Special kind is CEYLON CINNAMON.

Found it a few weeks ago (Amazon) and am taking now (no side effects known). Capsules.

Thanks!

Re: Successes in declining statins??

1Professor — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 18:08:35 GMT

@qvcaddition Thanks! That is what happened to my sister (younger), who had such painful joints as a result of the statin even her doctor took her off and on to a beta blocker instead.

Re: Successes in declining statins??

1Professor — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 18:09:55 GMT

@kate2357 Wow, sending you energies, Kate.

Genetics, from my reading, do, in fact, play a significant role.

Re: Successes in declining statins??

1Professor — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 18:12:56 GMT

@Trinity11 wrote:
@1Professor , are you speaking of Lipitor?

Every study I acquainted myself with told me the right decision for myself was to take Lipitor. My results were stellar so I took a vacation from them. Everything once again escalated so I went back on them. Diet alone does not work for me, nor do supplements.

My risk factors are Type 1 diabetes, two heart attacks and subsequent heart failure. I can't afford to fool around with unproven diets.

@Trinity11 It is evidentally totally right for you. Studies do report, as you found, that results are almost immediate.

I'm just doing some thoughtful checking before starting the Lipitor (which is at 10 mg to start (giving your body a chance to get used to it before upping the dosage).

Re: Successes in declining statins??

Ainhisg — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 18:14:04 GMT

@kate2357 wrote:
@1Professor
I kept resisting taking a statin because I eat healthy and exercise 6 days a week. I weigh around 115 lbs, ran a marathon last May and my cholesterol actually increased from previous year. I was sure it would have gone down. I apparently have a genetic predisposition for high cholesterol. Ugh.

My PCP said Kate, sometimes you can't outrun genetics. So in consultation with my PCP I took 1/2 dose of generic statin and took 2-3 Berberine a day. We retested my blood work after 3 or 4 months and my cholesterol levels went down a huge amount and my blood sugar went down too. PCP said keep up the good work and see you next year.

So yes, I am taking 10 mg of statin along with berberine and will continue to take a low dose and get my blood work done on an annual basis. My advice...talk to your doctor about your concerns.

I could have written this post, as I can tell a very similar story. I even took Andrew lessman's cholesterol product, ate almonds, flaxseed, apples, etc. Nothing helped. If I were to go totally vegetarian, that might have done the trick, but that's something I wasn't willing to do. I take 10mg of atorvastin along with CoQ10, and everything has been controlled with no side effects for years.

Re: Successes in declining statins??

Trinity11 — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 18:14:16 GMT

@1Professor , if you are a researcher have you read the rebuttals to Esselstyns dietary advice and lack of science? Anecdotal evidence is not science. Same with Fuhrman. Diets that extreme with no double blind studies that they remove or prevent plaque from arteries nor do the diets necessarily prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Re: Successes in declining statins??

paixmcdao — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 18:31:31 GMT

Joel Fuhrman's website sells books, supplements, meal delivery services, apparel, skincare, and more! And, he can cure pretty much anything!

Re: Successes in declining statins??

SilleeMee — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 18:35:13 GMT

@1Professor

The NIH has published many articles about berberine. Also, and I can't remember where, I read that the FDA is and has been considering the use of berberine as a heart health drug which includes cholesterol and glucose monitoring. Berberine also lowers A1c. So it's use as a drug is a two-prong approach to managing cardiovascular health.