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Suggest Treatment For Withdrawal Symptoms After Discontinuing Lipitor
Question: I take several supplements for an mi I had back in 2010. I was also prescribed 40 mg Lipitor. I quit the Lipitor a couple of weeks ago due to muscle pain. I did some research on the risks of quitting the statins...-I upped my intake of time released niacin and still take a baby aspirin daily. I feel fine, but want to ask if there are any studies that support this action?
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I went through your question carefully and understand your concern.
Regarding niacin, there is a study, published on New England Journal of Medicine on 17.07.2014 the effects of niacin on the cardiovascular risk.
In this study it has been concluded that niacin not only was inferior to the statins regarding their effect on lowering the cardiovascular risk, but also showed a higher rate of adverse effects similar to those related to the statins (muscular pain, flushing, etc.).
It is usually indicated in extreme cases with very high risk of cardio vascular disease and when other drugs are not tolerated or counterindicated.
For the above reasons, I would discourage you to continue niacin and would recommend modifying your diet (reduce sugar and fat and increase omega 3 rich food) and also perform a lot of physical exercise which is very helpful in lowering LDL and increasing HDL cholesterol.
From the other hand, there are several studies which have shown that even if statins may cause adverse effects like muscular pain, when they are stopped for a couple of months and restarted slowly with low doses, they don't cause these adverse effects any more.
So, I would advise you to discuss with your attending physician the possibility of restarting after some weeks again Lipitor in low doses (10mg initially) and then increase slowly the dose.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Best wishes!
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I went through your question carefully and understand your concern.
Regarding niacin, there is a study, published on New England Journal of Medicine on 17.07.2014 the effects of niacin on the cardiovascular risk.
In this study it has been concluded that niacin not only was inferior to the statins regarding their effect on lowering the cardiovascular risk, but also showed a higher rate of adverse effects similar to those related to the statins (muscular pain, flushing, etc.).
It is usually indicated in extreme cases with very high risk of cardio vascular disease and when other drugs are not tolerated or counterindicated.
For the above reasons, I would discourage you to continue niacin and would recommend modifying your diet (reduce sugar and fat and increase omega 3 rich food) and also perform a lot of physical exercise which is very helpful in lowering LDL and increasing HDL cholesterol.
From the other hand, there are several studies which have shown that even if statins may cause adverse effects like muscular pain, when they are stopped for a couple of months and restarted slowly with low doses, they don't cause these adverse effects any more.
So, I would advise you to discuss with your attending physician the possibility of restarting after some weeks again Lipitor in low doses (10mg initially) and then increase slowly the dose.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Best wishes!
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Dr. Sharka. I will do as you recommend. I have a call into my doctor as I write this. One follow up question...I take several supplements and would like your opinion on their efficacy given what you know of my condition. These supplements include;
Arginine
Ubiquinol
Milk Thistle
Bioastin
French maritime pine tree extract
Can you tell me if these are helpful? Also, you mention a diet high in Omega 3's. Is there a resource or book you can recommend?
Because of your answer, can I request you on other cardio matters?
Thank you in advance and this will be the last I write on this matter.
Arginine
Ubiquinol
Milk Thistle
Bioastin
French maritime pine tree extract
Can you tell me if these are helpful? Also, you mention a diet high in Omega 3's. Is there a resource or book you can recommend?
Because of your answer, can I request you on other cardio matters?
Thank you in advance and this will be the last I write on this matter.
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the additional information provided!
Regarding the supplements that you are taking I would explain that they all help reduce your cardiovascular risk, by their antioxidant and protecting effect.
Arginine relaxes blood vessels,and it might have cardiovascular benefits for some people. But most of the individuals have enough arginine in their diet, and the supplements do not make any difference to them.
Ubiquinol also called Coenzyme Q-10 is an important vitamin-like substance required for the proper function of many organs and chemical reactions in the body. It helps provide energy to cells. Coenzyme Q-10 also seems to have antioxidant activity. People with certain diseases, such as congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, periodontal disease, Parkinson’s disease, certain muscular diseases, and AIDS, might have lower levels of coenzyme Q-10, but in normal individuals its levels are supposed to be normal, as it is taken with daily food.
Bioastin, French maritime pine tree extract an antioxidant too, which helps reduce your cardiovascular risk by neutralizing the toxic radicales.
Milk Thistle contains Silymarin, which is its main active ingredient. Silymarin is both an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It’s unclear what benefits, if any, this may have in the body, but it is thought to reduce cholesterol levels and also help in liver disorders.
So all these supplements are beneficial and help reduce your cardiovascular risk, but do not have many effects on your cholesterol levels.
Regarding omega 3 rich food, you can find a lot of information on the internet, in many sites on well nutrition.
I would mention some of the richest food in omega 3 : walnuts and its oil, olive oil, fish and seefood, flaxseed oil, spinach, milk, etc.
You can also take supplements with omega 3 or fish oil, which help reduce cholesterol levels.
Hope to have been helpful!
Please, feel free to ask me directly at any time for any other questions or cardio matters at the link below:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=69765
Best regards!
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the additional information provided!
Regarding the supplements that you are taking I would explain that they all help reduce your cardiovascular risk, by their antioxidant and protecting effect.
Arginine relaxes blood vessels,and it might have cardiovascular benefits for some people. But most of the individuals have enough arginine in their diet, and the supplements do not make any difference to them.
Ubiquinol also called Coenzyme Q-10 is an important vitamin-like substance required for the proper function of many organs and chemical reactions in the body. It helps provide energy to cells. Coenzyme Q-10 also seems to have antioxidant activity. People with certain diseases, such as congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, periodontal disease, Parkinson’s disease, certain muscular diseases, and AIDS, might have lower levels of coenzyme Q-10, but in normal individuals its levels are supposed to be normal, as it is taken with daily food.
Bioastin, French maritime pine tree extract an antioxidant too, which helps reduce your cardiovascular risk by neutralizing the toxic radicales.
Milk Thistle contains Silymarin, which is its main active ingredient. Silymarin is both an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It’s unclear what benefits, if any, this may have in the body, but it is thought to reduce cholesterol levels and also help in liver disorders.
So all these supplements are beneficial and help reduce your cardiovascular risk, but do not have many effects on your cholesterol levels.
Regarding omega 3 rich food, you can find a lot of information on the internet, in many sites on well nutrition.
I would mention some of the richest food in omega 3 : walnuts and its oil, olive oil, fish and seefood, flaxseed oil, spinach, milk, etc.
You can also take supplements with omega 3 or fish oil, which help reduce cholesterol levels.
Hope to have been helpful!
Please, feel free to ask me directly at any time for any other questions or cardio matters at the link below:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=69765
Best regards!
Dr. Iliri
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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