( Canadian health officials have warned t...)Statin Drugs Doing More Harm than Good,Health

Canadian health officials have warned that Statin drugs used to reduce the levels of LDL cholesterol in the body and improve the levels of HDL can cause serious muscle// damage.

Health Canada has now insisted that statin drug manufacturers such as Lipitor, Pravachol, Zocor, Crestor and Mevacor to include warnings and information about the potential for muscle damage on patient safety information sheets.

Statin drug users usually experience a side effect of general muscle pain. The drugs can even lead to a potentially fatal muscle-wasting disease called rhabdomyolysis in patients with certain pre-existing medical conditions. Rhabdomyolysis involves destruction of muscle cells, which are released into the bloodstream leading to kidney problems and subsequently its failure.

Health Canada spokesperson Jirina Vlk stated that the warnings need to be included as a precautionary measure. He said, "There's a high number of Canadians prescribed statins, so we want them to be aware of the risks associated with that".

In the United States too, millions of people are prescribed statin drugs. It was found that in 2001, Americans filled over 57 million prescriptions for Lipitor. Some of the other possible side effects of statin drugs include nausea, constipation, diarrhea and even severe memory and mental awareness problems.

Recent studies have showed that cholesterol levels can be improved naturally by making changes to the diet and exercise regime. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has shown that including foods like almonds, cereal fibers, tofu, plant sterols and soy products can lower total cholesterol more effectively than statin drugs.


'"/>




Page: 1
Related medicine news :

1. Statins reduce heart attacks
2. Statins reduce risks for angioplasty patients
3. Statins Found To Be Helpful For Patients With Arthritis
4. Long-Term Benefits Of Statins Questioned
5. Higher Statin Dose Safely Reduces Stroke and Cardiac Arrest
6. Use of Statin can help in recovery from stroke
7. Statins Not Effective In Treating Calcific Aortic Stenosis
8. Statins Gives New Hope for Increased Survival Rate of Heart Failure Patients
9. The Effects of Statins Questioned
10. Statins Taken For Reducing Cholesterol Found To Reduce Death Rate Associated With Heart Attack As Well
11. Study Finds No Link Between Statins And Breast Cancer Risk