Atorvastatin, marketed under the name Lipitor, is used to reduce cholesterol. Atorvastatin inhibits the enzyme located in hepatic tissue that produces mevalonate, a small molecule used in the synthesis of cholesterol. This reduces the amount of cholesterol produced which reduces the amount of LDL (low density) cholesterol. In 2005, Sales of Lipitor totaled $ 12.2 billion, making it the largest selling drugs in the world at the time.
Atorvastatin is indicated as an adjunct to diet for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. In a clinical trial, after 2 years, a relative risk reduction of 16% in the first item rate (death, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, coronary revascularization or stroke) was observed in patients receiving treatment with the drug. The benefit of intensive treatment has appeared, in some cases, within 30 days.
If you have high cholesterol, chances are your doctor has already Talked About Lipitor. Physicians to prescribe, because it acts quickly and easily. However, you must understand the risks associated with taking these types of medications because there is a potential danger, and sometimes side effects. Some patients have suffered serious health consequences and are not adequately warned by their doctors.
Among the best known side effects associated with drugs called statins (statins is the scientific classification for drugs such as Lipitor) include liver damage, sexual dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy. But there have been other studies that have revealed other subtle problems that develop in the patient, which may have consequences for patient health until later in life.
In a study performed by Finnish doctors, doctors assessed the effects of the statin drug Zocor on 120 men aged 35 to 64. All men have high cholesterol, ranging from 232 to 309. A group of men was said to maintain their diet, while the other group was required to reduce their daily intake of saturated fat to less than 10 percent of total daily calories, and maintain their daily intake of cholesterol below 250 mg.
Then, each of the 2 groups was divided into 2 subgroups. A sub-group to take 20 mg of Zocor daily, while the other group received a placebo. This was continued for 12 weeks, at which point each subgroup has changed so that the subgroup who had received placebo will receive the Zocor for the next 12 weeks, and vice versa. At the beginning of the trial, and after the first 12 weeks, and at the end of the second 12 weeks, cholesterol, blood pressure, insulin, and weight of each patient were measured.
The Zocor worked well, because the cholesterol fell by 20.8 per cent, while diet alone only decreased by 7.6 per cent cholesterol. However, there was a surprising conclusion. It was found that the drug increased the serum levels of fasting insulin by 13 per cent and a decrease in serum antioxidant vitamins for more than 22 percent. It was a huge revelation.
Decreased insulin sensitivity can lead to a series of problems on the road, such as blindness, diabetes and kidney disease. And antioxidants protect us from a variety of problems, such as organic brain disease, cancer and atherosclerosis. Thus, cholesterol levels, although these drugs perform a function (reduction of cholesterol), they can cause a host of other problems and diseases that can make a patient severely ill later in life.
We need to think long and hard before using cholesterol-lowering drugs. The side effects listed above May not be as severe in all people who take the drug. However, May you be better off working closely with your doctor to develop a program of diet and exercise before using drugs like Zocor or Lipitor to lower your cholesterol.
