Important Statin Drug Information

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Well, I just KNOW all of you are taking Statins <G> but I thought you all

might find this interesting ...

-- Heidi Jean

>Statin Drug Information from: <http://www.epic4health.com>www.epic4health.com

Contents

>Statin Drugs and CoQ10

> H. Langsjoen, M.D., F.A.C.C.

>STATIN-INDUCED CARDIOMYOPATHY

>

>

>July 7, 2004

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>Statin Drugs and CoQ10

>NOTE: we originally sent the information contained in this email out two years

ago on July 11, 2002 -- not much has changed since then except that evidence

keeps mounting that Statin Drugs decrease levels of CoQ10. A very recent study

published in June 2004 is titled Atorvastatin Decreases the Coenzyme Q10 Level

in the Blood of Patients at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke. This

study was published in Arch Neurol / Vol. 61, June 2004 and was conducted by

Doctors at the Department of Neurology, Columbia University, College of

Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY. The published conclusion of this study was:

" Even brief exposure to atorvastatin " , (Lipitor), " causes a marked decrease in

blood CoQ10 concentration. Widespread inhibition of CoQ10 synthesis could

explain the most commonly reported adverse effects of statins, especially

exercise intolerance, myalgia, and myoglobinuria. " The original July 2002 email

is repeated below:

>

>This entire email is devoted to statin drugs, (Zocor, Lipitor and other brands)

I hope that you'll take the time to read it. Why? Because 25 Million people take

statin drugs, so, even if you are NOT on a statin drug at the present time,

chances are good that you know somebody who is or that you will be placed on

statin drug in the future. The information here could save you a lot of needless

fatigue, muscle weakness, soreness and even heart failure.

>

>On May 24, 2002, Dr. n M. Whitaker, M.D. filed a Citizen Petition with the

Department of Health and Human Service Food and Drug Administration in

Washington, D.C. requesting that the FDA act immediately to require that the

labeling for all HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors (statins), include the following

warning statement:

>

>Warning: HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors block the endogenous biosynthesis of an

essential co-factor, coenzyme Q10, required for energy production. A deficiency

of coenzyme Q10 is associated with impairment of myocardial function, with liver

dysfunction and with myopathies (including cardiomyopathy and congestive heart

failure). All patients taking HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors should therefore be

advised to take 100 to 200 mg per day of supplemental coenzyme Q10.

>

>Q-Gel Dosage Note: I am NOT an MD so really can not advise any particular

individual in this area. However, I can let you know what some of the MD's who

buy from us tell their patients on a statin drug -- they suggest 60 to 100mg

Q-Gel CoQ10 per day. The lower dosage is due to Q-Gel's higher absorption rate.

>

>The Statin drugs to be covered under this warning are: Mevacor (lovastatin),

Lescol (fluvastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Lipitor

(atorvastatin), and Advicor (lovastatin).

>

>The complete Petition can be found on the fda.gov web site. The file is in a

PDF format so you will need Adobe Acrobat to view it. Here is the complete link:

>

><http://postsnet.com/r.html?c=337949 & r=337390 & t=201691437 & l=1 & d=85344598 & u=http\

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ts/dailys/02/May02/052902/02p-0244-cp00001-01-vol1.pdf

> H. Langsjoen, M.D., F.A.C.C.

>An attached 20 page report to the petition was written by H. Langsjoen,

M.D., F.A.C.C. and can also be found on the fda.gov web site (also in PDF

format). Here is the complete link:

>

><http://postsnet.com/r.html?c=337949 & r=337390 & t=201691437 & l=1 & d=85344599 & u=http\

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ov/ohrms/dockets/dailys/02/May02/052902/02p-0244-cp00001-02-Exhibit_A-vol1.pdf

>

>Before going to the FDA web site, you may want to read the introduction to the

petition, (below), which was also written by H. Langsjoen, M.D., F.A.C.C.

It is a very clear explanation of the situation. I hope you will find it

informative.

>STATIN-INDUCED CARDIOMYOPATHY

>

>INTRODUCTION TO THE CITIZEN’S PETITION ON STATINS

>

>By H. Langsjoen, MD

>

>The medical profession has, after more than 30 years of excellent propaganda,

successfully created the wholly iatrogenic - " pseudo-disease " dubbed

" hypercholesterolemia " and the associated malady " cholesterol neurosis " . After

decades of dismal failure to cure this " disease " of numbers with low fat diets

and a host of cholesterol lowering drugs, the medical profession stumbled upon

the magic bullet, the cure for this dreaded artificial disease - statins

(HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors). First released on the US market in 1987, statins

have rapidly grown into one of the most widely prescribed class of drugs in

history. Statins do three things:

>

>1. They block the body's ability to make cholesterol, thus lowering the blood

level of cholesterol, thereby curing cholesterol neurosis. Doctors and patients

equally neurotic have immediate gratification. The " evil " high cholesterol has

been dramatically lowered and the future is bright and promising. So far...so

good.

>

>2. Unrelated to their cholesterol lowering, statins have been found to have

anti-inflammatory, plaque-stabilizing properties which have a slight benefit in

coronary heart disease.

>

>3. Statins kill people - lots of people - and they wound many, many more. All

patients taking statins become depleted in Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), eventually -

those patients who start with a relatively low CoQ10 levels (the elderly and

patients with heart failure) begin to manifest signs/symptoms of CoQ10

deficiency relatively rapidly - in 6 to 12 months. Younger, healthier people

who's only " illness " is the non-illness " hypercholesterolemia " can tolerate

statins for several years before getting into trouble with fatigue, muscle

weakness and soreness (usually with normal muscle enzyme CPK tests) and most

ominously - heart failure.

>

>In my practice of 17 years in Tyler, Texas, I have seen a frightening increase

in heart failure secondary to statin usage, " statin cardiomyopathy " . Over the

past five years, statins have become more potent, are being prescribed in higher

doses, and are being used with reckless abandon in the elderly and in patients

with " normal " cholesterol levels. We are in the midst of a CHF epidemic in the

US with a dramatic increase over the past decade. Are we causing this epidemic

through our zealous use of statins? In large part I think the answer is yes. We

are now in a position to witness the unfolding of the greatest medical tragedy

of all time - never before in history has the medical establishment knowingly

(Merck & Co., Inc. has two 1990 patents combining CoQ10 with statins to prevent

CoQ10 depletion and attendant side effects) created a life threatening nutrient

deficiency in millions of otherwise healthy people, only to then sit back with

arrogance and horrific irresponsibility and watch to see what happens - as I see

two to three new statin cardiomyopathies per week in my practice, I cannot help

but view my once great profession with a mixture of sorrow and contempt.

>

>Statin-induced CoQ10 depletion is the topic of a recent petition to the FDA

requesting that this drug/nutrient interaction be identified in a black box

warning as part of statin package insert information. A comprehensive review of

animal and human trials addressing this issue has been submitted to the FDA as a

supporting document. We, of course, do not expect any response from the FDA, but

10 years from now when the full extent of statin toxicity becomes painfully

evident, at least we can, in good conscience, know that we tried and who knows,

sometimes small sparks may spread in dry grass.

>epic4health: Your Best Source for Q-Gel and MORE

>Phone: 1-800-866-0978 / FAX: 1-631-265-4737

>po box 1336, smithtown, ny 11787

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