Health Alert 227
Dear Subscriber:
You’ve heard me talk about it before. You know the story about doctors and their new miracle cure – statin drugs. They think these drugs help everyone from diabetics to perfectly healthy folks beat heart disease. You may have even heard your doctor joke about adding statins to our water.
But surprising evidence from a study on Zocor, the most prescribed statin in the country, could change their minds.
Read on to discover what researchers now know as fact about this $26 billion dollar industry.1 And learn about another so-called miracle drug that when mixed with Zocor increases your health risks even further.
Most doctors and experts agree that statins are remarkably safe.2 Many even want us to prescribe statins to anyone with high risk factors such as diabetes even if they don’t have high cholesterol.3
Yet surprising evidence from the University of Helsinki in Finland shows that Zocor showed no clear benefits for post-heart attack victims.4 That in fact, people on statins were just as likely to have another heart attack as someone who wasn’t taking these drugs.
Here’s the interesting part. This study came out right when Merck’s patent on Zocor is about to expire. But do you think any of this is stopping Merck from advertising and pushing their drug? No, instead they began to find new and innovative ways to market it.
Enter Zetia, a drug made by Schering-Plough. This drug is commended for keeping your digestive tract from absorbing cholesterol. Zocor, on the other hand, prevents the liver from creating cholesterol.5
Zetia sounds impressive, right? Merck was instantly attracted to the drug. It didn’t take them long to come up with the idea of combining the two drugs – Zocor and Zetia. The theory was that a combination drug would get unbeatable results. Plus they could apply for a new patent on the combination Zocor/Zetia drug.
A new patent would mean more money for Merck and Schering-Plough. It would also mean more money out of your pocket.
But another surprise was in store for Merck. Research is showing that Zetia doesn’t increase liver enzyme creation or muscle breakdown like Zocor does. But when it’s combined with Zocor, it has much the same effect as an increased dose of Zocor. It lowers your cholesterol about the same and it increases your risk of serious side-effects like toxicity and muscle weakness.
The popularity of statins all comes back to some basic principles. Cardiologists and doctors like these wonder drugs because it means they no longer have to rely on the patient to follow their advice about diet and exercise. They have a tool in their hands that seemingly cuts the risk of heart disease. All they have to do is write the prescription.
Drug companies like Merck like them because they’ve built their company on the revenues from them.
The public likes them because they can now go to the doctor and get a pill that seems to prevent one of their biggest fears – heart disease.
But preventing disease can’t be a lazy man’s fight. It takes active participation and daily action toward success. It takes doctors who are willing to take the time to help you and your loved ones sit down and find a diet and exercise regiment that works for you.
It takes planning and conviction. One easy-dose pill just won’t do it. Unfortunately, I could see some Congressman or Senator sit down one day and think… “What if we added statins to the water supply?”
If you think that’s absurd, consider the fact that a large percentage of the people in the United States pay to drink industrial waste.6 Don’t believe me – when was the last time you drank fluoridated water?
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears MD
Sources:
1. Forbes, Cholesterol Study Poses Danger For Merck by Matthew Herper, August 30, 2004
2. New York Times, Seeking a Fuller Picture of Statins by David Tuller, July 20, 2004
3. Family Practice News, Primary Prevention Of CVD in Type 2 Diabetes=Statins, July 1, 2004
4. Atherosclerosis, Ineffective decrease of serum cholesterol by simvastatin (ZOCOR) in a subgroup of hypercholesterolemic coronary patients. 2002 Sep, 164(1): 147-52
5. Forbes, Merck and Schering-Plough’s Next Hope Dims by Matthew Harper, 18 March, 2002
6. National Conference of State Legislatures, Systems Receiving Flouridated Water – 2000, see http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/flouride.htm