PHILADELPHIA – Are statin drugs leading to more problems than just diabetes and memory loss as the FDA says? Following on the heels of the FDA announcing changes to the safety information on statin labels (e.g. Pfizer Inc's Lipitor, AstraZeneca's Crestor and Merck & Co's Zocor) concerning blood sugar and memory problems, a collection of consumer health groups, such as Natural Society, are raising public awareness about the hundreds of additional adverse health effects associated with their use as indicated by the published research from the National Library of Medicine.
A growing body of clinical research now indicates that this cholesterol-lowering class of drugs is associated with an alarming number of serious medical conditions -- research boldly flying in the face of national health policy, medical insurance premium guidelines, statin drug manufacturer advertising claims, and the general sentiment of the public, with approximately 1 in every 4 adult Americans over 45 currently using these drugs to "prevent heart disease."
Fundamentally, the research indicates that statin drugs damage the muscles and nerves in the body. There are well over 100 studies demonstrating the myotoxic, or muscle-harming effects of these drugs, and over 80 demonstrating the nerve-damaging effects. Since the heart is such a vital muscle innervated by a complex network of nerves, many healthcare providers now seriously question whether the unintended, unwanted side effects of statins are worse than the purported "cardiovascular" benefits they provide. Therefore, these peer reviewed research studies may also explain why rates of heart failure may be increasing in the general population who are given these drugs.
While the discovery that statin drugs, instead of preventing heart disease likely contributes to it, might be surprising; it should not distract from the more disturbing discovery that they contribute to over 300 disease and/or adverse health effects. Fortunately research has found that many of the statin-linked diseases, like diabetes, can be combated with natural substances like vitamin D.
In light of these findings many health professionals are now asking: Are those who are party to the manufacture, promotion, administration and/or prescribing of this chemical class of drugs, in violation of the medical ethical principle of informed consent?
