Re: FW: Important Statin Drug Information

July 7, 2004

Does mito often cause high cholesterol? Mine is high, but I

haven't wanted to take statins (for the very reason listed below).

When I mentioned alternatives (red yeast rice, etc) the doctor said

they are just as bad as the drugs with regard to side effects. I'm

not sure if the herbs would cause the depletion of CoQ10 - and I

haven't seen any studies regarding this.

Anybody have any insight on this?

Maggie

> For those of you who did not receive this from Tishcon

(Epic4Health), it is

> something I think we all need to be aware of.

>

> laurie

>

> Statin Drugs and CoQ10

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

> STATIN-INDUCED CARDIOMYOPATHY

>

> 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:

>

> 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:

>

> 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.

July 7, 2004

I take omega-3 to keep mine in check. I don't know what kind of bad

side effect fish oil would have.

whoewe2002 wrote:

>Does mito often cause high cholesterol? Mine is high, but I

>haven't wanted to take statins (for the very reason listed below).

>When I mentioned alternatives (red yeast rice, etc) the doctor said

>they are just as bad as the drugs with regard to side effects. I'm

>not sure if the herbs would cause the depletion of CoQ10 - and I

>haven't seen any studies regarding this.

>

>Anybody have any insight on this?

>

>Maggie

>

>>For those of you who did not receive this from Tishcon

>>

>(Epic4Health), it is

>

>>something I think we all need to be aware of.

>>

>>laurie

>>

>>Statin Drugs and CoQ10

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

>>STATIN-INDUCED CARDIOMYOPATHY

>>

>>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:

>>

>> 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:

>>

>>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.

>

>Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein are

not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail is

entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their

responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with their

physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

>

>Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is

automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack.

>

July 7, 2004

Thanks . Fish oil does sound like a pretty safe alternative

to me also. I think I'll look into that.

Maggie

> >

> >>For those of you who did not receive this from Tishcon

> >>

> >(Epic4Health), it is

> >

> >>something I think we all need to be aware of.

> >>

> >>laurie

> >>

> >>Statin Drugs and CoQ10

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

> >>STATIN-INDUCED CARDIOMYOPATHY

> >>

> >>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:

> >>

> >> 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:

> >>

> >>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.

> >

> >Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements

contained herein are not necessarily those of the list moderators.

The author of this e mail is entirely responsible for its content.

List members are reminded of their responsibility to evaluate the

content of the postings and consult with their physicians regarding

changes in their own treatment.

> >

> >Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who

sends one is automatically moderated or removed depending on the

severity of the attack.

> >

July 7, 2004

Maggie

I, like , use the essential oils and this has worked better for me

than the statins did when I took them. There is a list on the web

site under files that tells of some of the meds and what they deplete.

It is a list put out by my health insurance which really comes from Mayo

Clinic.

laurie

>

> Reply-To:

> Date: Wed, 07 Jul 2004 23:39:41 -0000

> To:

> Subject: Re: FW: Important Statin Drug Information

>

> Does mito often cause high cholesterol? Mine is high, but I

> haven't wanted to take statins (for the very reason listed below).

> When I mentioned alternatives (red yeast rice, etc) the doctor said

> they are just as bad as the drugs with regard to side effects. I'm

> not sure if the herbs would cause the depletion of CoQ10 - and I

> haven't seen any studies regarding this.

>

> Anybody have any insight on this?

>

> Maggie

>

>> For those of you who did not receive this from Tishcon

> (Epic4Health), it is

>> something I think we all need to be aware of.

>>

>> laurie

>>

>> Statin Drugs and CoQ10

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

>> STATIN-INDUCED CARDIOMYOPATHY

>>

>> 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:

>>

>> 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:

>>

>> 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.

>

> Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein

> are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail is

> entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their

> responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with their

> physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

>

> Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is

> automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack.

>

July 8, 2004

-Dear Maggie, i take questan (cholinestramine) for my high

cholesterol- it was a suggestion I received from this group- although

my doc really didn't understand why I didn't want to take a statin. I'

m having my first blood test next week to see if the questran is

working. Good luck to you, Celia-

- In , " whoewe2002 " wrote:

> Does mito often cause high cholesterol? Mine is high, but I

> haven't wanted to take statins (for the very reason listed below).

> When I mentioned alternatives (red yeast rice, etc) the doctor said

> they are just as bad as the drugs with regard to side effects. I'm

> not sure if the herbs would cause the depletion of CoQ10 - and I

> haven't seen any studies regarding this.

>

> Anybody have any insight on this?

>

> Maggie

>

> > For those of you who did not receive this from Tishcon

> (Epic4Health), it is

> > something I think we all need to be aware of.

> >

> > laurie

> >

> > Statin Drugs and CoQ10

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

> > STATIN-INDUCED CARDIOMYOPATHY

> >

> > 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:

> >

> > 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:

> >

> > 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.

July 8, 2004

This is what I suggested after it was suggested to me by Dr Cohen.

Alice

-Dear Maggie, i take questan (cholinestramine) for my high

cholesterol- it was a suggestion I received from this group- although

my doc really didn't understand why I didn't want to take a statin. I'

m having my first blood test next week to see if the questran is

working. Good luck to you, Celia-

- In >, " whoewe2002 "

...> wrote:

> Does mito often cause high cholesterol? Mine is high, but I

> haven't wanted to take statins (for the very reason listed below).

> When I mentioned alternatives (red yeast rice, etc) the doctor said

> they are just as bad as the drugs with regard to side effects. I'm

> not sure if the herbs would cause the depletion of CoQ10 - and I

> haven't seen any studies regarding this.

>

> Anybody have any insight on this?

>

> Maggie

>

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