Antidepressants, Beta-Blockers, Statin drugs for cholesterol & leg cramps

[Guest guest]

I have to share an experience that my father had with Zocor, a statin

drug for high cholesterol. Research has been coming out that a side

effect of statin drugs is depletion of coenzyme Q-10.

Patients using Beta-blockers and antidepressants also may have lower

levels of Q-10.

Q-10 is naturally made by the body and is very important to our cells

for cell growth and maintenance as well as increasing our resistance

to disease by modulating immunity. Found primarily in fish and meat,

Q-10 is responsible for energy at the cellular level. Found in most

body tissues, it is most abundant in our hearts, kidneys, liver and

pancreas. The high concentration in our heart muscle gives it the

energy to beat over 100,000 times a day. It is being studied as a

treatment for heart failure.

Deficiencies have been found in many types of cancer, and it's been

thought to be valuable as a potential treatment.

My father has been having severe leg cramps that have kept him up a

lot during the night. When I told him that these leg cramps can be a

side effect of Q-10 depletion caused by his cholesterol medication, he

started taking the Q-10. Within 5 days, the cramps were completely

gone. I know many people in our group suffer from leg cramps and are

on the meds that can deplete Q-10. It may be something you want to

discuss with your doctors. There have been several specials on

television about these side effects which prompted me to do some

reading.

There is a wealth of information on this at RX List:

COENZYME Q10 (UBIQUINONE) DEFICIENCY CAUSED BY STATINS

http://www.rxlist.com/rxboard/lipitor.pl?read=4002

INTRODUCTION TO COENZYME Q10

http://faculty.washington.edu/~ely/coenzq10.html

a