taper vytorin?

[jerrymize]

I have just recently discovered this forum and am in the process of tapering off of Vytorin. After reading many of the postings I see no mention of tapering and wonder if I may take Q10 and just stop the Vytorin.
I have had extreme muscle pain and also insomnia and would like to get off this med as quickly as possible but don't want to take any risks.
Another thing which I attribute to the statins is extreme nervousness which comes and goes but I haven't seen that mentioned so maybe no one else has this?
Thanks for any and all comments, I am in need of an education about the statins and am reading everything I can find. Would especially be interested in any comments about sleep problems and neck and arm pain.

[sos_group_owner]

Hi Jerry & Welcome to the Forum,

Stopping Statins

Statins are a potent anti-inflammatory and stopping abruptly can put you at risk.
Taper off over 3 weeks...

Cut pills in 1/2
wk 1: take that 1/2 pill every day
wk 2: take that 1/2 pill every other day
wk 3: take that 1/2 pill every 3rd day

http://www.spacedoc.net/stopping_statins.html

Re: Statins Alternatives
At the same time, start taking statin alternatives...

Buffered Aspirin - 81 mg (contains beneficial magnesium)
CoQ10 - 100 to 150 mg (gelcaps - NOT powdered) with some Vit E
* Folic Acid - 400-800 mcg
* B6 - 80-100mg
* B12 - 200-250mcg
* (all 3 of these B Vitamins control Homocysteine)
Omega 3 (Fish Oil or Cod Liver Oil) - There is no upper limit

Dr Graveline's Statin Alternatives reduce and prevent inflammation,
are anti-oxidants, reduce platelet stickiness, control (toxic)
homocysteine and have the same anti-inflammatory affect as 20 mg's of
Lipitor, without side effects.

"Statin Alternatives" are NOT intended to reduce cholesterol levels.
Statins (as do statin alternatives) reduce the type of inflammation
that leads to heart attacks and strokes. The fact that statins also
reduce cholesterol levels is "irrelevant".

Source: http://www.spacedoc.net/statin_alternatives.htm

From personal experience, I'm "aspirin sensitive" (tinnitus), so I
substitute low dose aspirin with grape seed extract (GSE) which is a
good alternative (reduces platelet stickiness/prevents blood clots).

And, additional info your doctor most likely won't tell you...

Elevated LDL & triglycerides, as the causation of heart disease, is
the primary reason most are prescribed statins. Most doctors also
recommend dietary changes, but the low fat - low cholesterol diet
is anything BUT healthy. LF - LC teaches us to eat a high carb diet.
A high carb diet (especially white foods) equals high triglycerides.

The problem is not elevated LDL cholesterol, it's when LDL becomes
oxidized. Excerpt from an article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick:

LDL (Oxidised LDL)
" This is a complex pathway. When platelets start to stick together,
they release free radicals. Free radicals oxidise LDL. Oxidised LDL
is a powerful blood clotting factor. LDL is also incorporated into the
blood clot as it forms, and provides a lipid surface (along with
VLDL) for the construction of fibrin. Fibrin is the hugely strong
protein strand that binds a clot together and makes it tough. "
Note: VLDL is total triglycerides divided by 5

When you get a chance, read the complete article titled,
"Is Heart Disease All Due to Blood Clots?"
[http://www.thincs.org/Malcolm.htm#clots]

Things that create free radicals and oxidized LDL...
* Smoking
* High blood sugar levels (diabetes)
* Stress

Risk factors that damage the endothelium include elevated levels
of:
* Homocysteine
* Blood sugar
* Insulin
* Cortisol (stress hormones)
* Triglycerides
Also smoking & deficiency in some vitamins, such as C and the B's.

Fran

[bucho]

I experienced all the symptoms you listed while on Zocor (20 mg per day, for 3.5 years). The first 3 years seemed okay. Then the symptoms erupted. I experienced severe insomnia for several months, usually not getting to sleep before 4 AM (while holding a full-time job to boot!). I was extremely nervous and seemed to have way too much adrenaline at night -- just lay there buzzing. Took several months to figure out the cause was Zocor. Also had a lot of neck and arm pain. Left arm tricep felt like a hot coal for 6 months! Back of neck would ache all night (lying prone seemed to aggravate it) and range of motion was less than normal. Shoulders also very prone to injury. Shoulders and triceps of both arms would take turns becoming injured for no apparent reason. I had about a dozen additional, alarming side-effects that you can see in my past posts under the Zocor topic.

I've been off the Zocor for over 7 months now and am about 80-percent back to normal. Very slow recovery. Still need meds to get to sleep, but now at least they work.

Your symptoms sound like a sure bet to be caused by a statin. Glad you have stopped. Be sure to give the recovery some time, as it does happen very slowly in many cases (like mine).

[jerrymize]

Your description sounds a lot like what I am experiencing except for the sleep. I usually fall asleep easily then wake up a half hour later with the nervous feeling and have to get up until things settle down again. Then the rest of the night will be broken up into one or two hours of sleep and periods of tossing and turning. I am glad to hear that you are 80 % recovered, I will be pleased if I reach that point.

Fran,
Thanks for your reply. I have been trying to find out all I can about vitamins and supplements and would like to find a source for information on benefits and side effects. Also the best place to buy these products. Any help you can provide would be appreciated.

Jerry

[sos_group_owner]

Hi Jerry,

Re: I have been trying to find out all I can about vitamins and supplements and would like to find a source for information on benefits and side effects. Also the best place to buy these products. Any help you can provide would be appreciated.

You can find any of the supplements below at Walmart, any drug store or online. Walmart has good quality, reasonably priced CoQ10 anywhere from 50 mg to 300 mg. Only caution with CoQ10 is it can lower BP, so if you are also taking BP meds, monitor your BP when starting CoQ10 and when increasing dosage.

CoQ10 - 100 to 150 mg (gelcaps - NOT powdered) with some Vit E

Buffered Aspirin - 81 mg (contains beneficial magnesium)
Grape seed extract (GSE)
Either of these reduces platelet stickiness/prevents blood clots

* Folic Acid - 400-800 mcg
* B6 - 80-100mg
* B12 - 200-250mcg
* (all 3 of these B Vitamins control Homocysteine)

Omega 3 (Fish Oil or Cod Liver Oil) - There is no upper limit

The combination of all the supplements above prevent inflammation,
are anti-oxidants, reduce platelet stickiness, control (toxic)
homocysteine and have the same anti-inflammatory affect as 20 mg's of
Lipitor, without side effects.

Preventing inflammation is the key... will write more later...

Fran

[jerrymize]

Thanks Fran,
I have been checking health food stores and drug stores, never thought about Walmart.
Jerry

[delmar]

[quote="jerrymize"]
Thanks for any and all comments, I am in need of an education about the statins and am reading everything I can find. Would especially be interested in any comments about sleep problems and neck and arm pain.[/quote]

Jerry: My sleep problem is getting to sleep and staying asleep. Also have itching which may be inflamation related.

Look forward to your findings.

[margie]

My doctor told me I should stop taking Vytorin IMMEDIATELY. Cold-turkey. Blessed news! Blood tests had shown I'd suffered liver damage and muscle damage. Besides unbearable muscle spasms and weakness, I'd also felt "fuzzy" in the head. Even climbing the stairs is difficult for me now. I used to have boundless energy; now I have to go straight to bed for a nap after work. I'm never taking Vytorin again! I am taking the recommended baby aspirin, fish oil, CoQ10 and B complex.