Getting off statins possible for some
Q: I have read about side effects of simvastatin and told my doctor about the muscle and joint pain I’ve been experiencing on this cholesterol-lowering drug. I even pointed out that this is listed in the info that comes with the prescription and asked if it could be from the pills.
He sent me for X-rays. The word came back that my pain is due to old age. I’m 65, and I don’t think that qualifies.
I’ve been on statins since I was 45 years old. I stopped taking them on my own once, but the next blood test showed my cholesterol was higher.
I would dearly love to get off this darn medication. I am hoping that would help me feel better. Is there anything natural that I can eat instead to keep my cholesterol where it should be?
A: Muscle pain and weakness are recognized as common side effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs such as atorvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin and simvastatin (European Journal of Internal Medicine, June 2012). Although joint pain is listed in the official prescribing information for such drugs, it is less well recognized as a statin side effect (British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, October 2008).
There are many nondrug approaches to reducing cholesterol. Several readers report that including avocados or nuts in their weekly diets helps.
A vegetarian “portfolio diet” lowers cholesterol about as well as a statin (Journal of the American Medical Association, July 23, 2003). This diet combines vegetables high in soluble fiber, such as okra and eggplant, with soy protein, almonds and plant sterols in cholesterol-lowering margarine.
A number of other diets also can be useful. We offer practical advice on the DASH diet, the Mediterranean diet and a healthy low-carb diet along with recipes in our book “The People’s Pharmacy Quick and Handy Home Remedies” (available in libraries, bookstores and online at www. PeoplesPharmacy.com).
Q: Ice-cream headaches cure my hangovers. I’ve read that it helps send more blood to the brain as a defense mechanism
to try to keep the brain warm. I’m assuming the increased circulation helps my brain recover from the effect of the alcohol.
A: When we first heard from readers that inducing “brain freeze” by eating ice cream quickly could stop a migraine headache, we were astonished.
Then a group of scientists reported on research in which they triggered brain freeze in volunteers by having them drink ice water. Sophisticated Doppler equipment measured blood flow within the subjects’ heads and found that the pain of brain freeze began when an artery just above the palate started to dilate, presumably to protect the brain from getting too cold.
It seems that this change in blood-vessel diameter might be related to the effect on migraine headaches. We don’t have any theories on why it might help a hangover headache, though.
Q: Where can I find out more about grapefruit interactions with medicines? I would like to know which prescription drugs are negatively affected. My pharmacist couldn’t tell me whether red yeast rice that I take to lower my cholesterol would be affected by grapefruit.
A: Grapefruit can raise blood levels of lovastatin, the ingredient in red yeast rice. This might increase the risk for side effects. Atorvastatin and simvastatin also are affected, as are some blood pressure drugs and sleeping pills.
We are sending you our Guide to Grapefruit Interactions with a list of problem drugs and frequently asked questions about such incompatibilities. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (65 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. J-91, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It also can be downloaded for $2 from our website: www. peoplespharmacy.com.