Statins and Booze

[Speedbag]

So I just went in for my second-ever cholesterol screen and the results were semi-positive. The total cholesterol number was just under the point where the docs get all freaked out. Trigs were around 230, however. So, they want me on a low-dose statin and we'll see where things go since there is a history of heart disease in my family.

I'm a little freaked after reading the pros and cons of this stuff, particularly the parts regarding possible effects on the liver - and that apparently you shouldn't drink much while taking it. The problem, you see, is I like beer. Sometimes, like on Friday and/or Saturday nights, for example, lots of beer. I have no intention of ridding my life of beer, since it keeps me sane to some degree. I'm having a beer as I type this. Although I'm healthy, I'm having visions of killing myself off with the combination of statins and beer, thus defeating the purpose of the meds altogether.

Should I worry about frying my liver before the year is out? Anybody got any FHE or valuable insight?

[fastwin]

No first hand knowledge but I will watch this thread because $20 says I will have to be on some cholesterol meds soon too. Already on high blood pressure meds. Last blood test I had my numbers were elevated. But I wasn't fasting. Hope that helps next time. I already have been on meds in the past for other things that are hard on your liver and kidney. They checked those functions regularly when I was on them. I'm off them now. And I do like high end sipping tequila and margaritas a lot. My wife says too much.

Good luck with your delima. I'm sure some others on here have been in that same situation. I like my kidney and liver, I want to to be with me for a while longer. I like a good drink too.

[RAT900]

I was given lipitor and one other one a few maybe 2 or so years back age 56

and my liver started aching like it hadn't since I was 35 years old

Rewind...I was 33 when my doctor told me to change my lifestyle or start putting my affairs in order

as my liver was getting pretty close to failure...so I thought it over for 2 more years and cleaned up my circus act

Fast forward 20 years or so and I like everyone else on earth was being toid my cholesterol was high

So I listened and thought what the hell and after a few weeks was saying what the make the beast with two backsing hell? 

I think the pounding my liver took in my earlier years did not lend it well to these new meds

I just stopped using them...I don't have high blood pressure but my cholesterol readings were high

I don't trust any of this shit anymore...there are way too many incentives for Doctors these days in their relationships with Big Pharma

So maybe my heart will explode...oh gee whizz like I'll be the first make the beast with two backsing human to die outside an actuarial table spread

It is a make the beast with two backsing miracle to begin with that I am even alive now to type this

without delving in deeper about myself,, the last 24 years have been a freebie I neither earned nor deserved

so I am pretty okay about going whatever distance I am scheduled to go

Be careful mixing statins and a lot of alcohol...neither does the liver any favors....

and someday when they cut your jaundiced bright yellow carcass open they can say...

"he has the heart of a 20 year-old but his liver looks like a homeless man's shoe"   

[WarrenJ]

5 years ago, I hit the trifecta - Diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.  I have dropped 63 lbs to date, quit caffine and have eliminated my high blood pressure without meds.  My blood sugar is in good control mostly due to a very tightly controlled diet and a good amount of exersize.  Cholesterol and triglicerides are now pretty good due to diet and statins.  There are a pile of horror stories about statins, some of them probably have some truth in them depending on the individual.  My doc said that if you have a compromised liver to start with, you may do yourself some damage with statins.  They do tests every 6 months to make sure you are not endangering your liver function.

That being said, the Doc has obviously checked your liver function when he did your blood panel and will continue to monitor both your cholesterol level and liver function so you should be alright.  Beer is probably not the ideal food for "metabolic" diseases.  Beer rates in the mid 200's on the glycemic scale with white bread rated 100.  It will keep pounding on your pancreas.  If you have good genes and a tough pancreas, you may be able to put off diabetes until late in life especially if you don't have many of the other risk factors like being overweight and sedentary.

I didn't drink much prior to my diagnosis so quitting beer was not hard for me but french fries and home made bread, etc was tough.

I feel the best I have felt in 15 years.  It was worth what I gave up to get here.

Realize though, everyone's body is different and the rules are not set in stone.  

[Speedbag]

and someday when they cut your jaundiced bright yellow carcass open they can say...

"he has the heart of a 20 year-old but his liver looks like a homeless man's shoe"   

More or less my exact line of thinking....

[Rob Hilding]

My Dr. wants me on statins for high triglycerides - but I'm not playing along.

I'll lower mine with diet and exercise, or not.

There is too much reliance on prescription meds these days - IMHO

[WarrenJ]

Depends on the individual.  I dropped a pile of weight and do a good amount of exersize and got off statins for about a year.  My triglycerides and cholesterol went right back to their previously high levels.  Got back on the damn things and my numbers are back where they are supposed to be.  I hate the drugs too and believe it is a scam on the American people on a colossal scale but in my case, they have helped after I have done all I can with diet and exersize. 

[lauramonster]

they put me on statins also.  you've got to decide which is better.  

I chose to drop some weight and exercise (although I've backslidden somewhat). My cholesterol was just over the line and wavered under/over, so I felt I could manage it on my own terms.  The medicine made me feel lousy.

I checked out the health stores, and they had 2 kinds of treatment.  Their version of statins and a non-statin forluma that would moderately lower my cholesterol.  Since my numbers weren't that high, the latter has been working for me.  

How do statins work?  Can a low dose help you?  Can you take regular doses when not drinking and lower doses for the beer nights?  Yeah, the doctor is going to talk about giving up all liquor.  Talk reality to them.  

best of luck.  

[Speedbag]

From what they said, they start with a low dose to see if it has the desired effect within a couple of months. If not, they bump the dose.

I told the doc it's typical to have 2-3 beers a night after work during the week, maybe a six or so max over a weekend evening. That's about all I drink, unless it's a special occasion (and even then I'm not big on hangovers, so I rarely get carried away).

That amount of swillage didn't seem to be a huge issue, although the docs will tell you they'd prefer to see you have 1-2 and call it quits....

The horror stories about the statins are what has me freaked out. Probably not a huge thing to worry about. But if they make me feel like hell, screw it.

[WarrenJ]

You may get a couple of weeks of muscle and joint aches.  I did when i went on them and when i restarted taking them.  In my case, it faded after about 3 weeks, but I did feel like hammered shit a few times.  From what I understand, an over the counter product called CoEnzyme Q10 is supposed to help with the muscle aches and replace some of the good things that the statins remove.  Some Docs prescribe them to all their statin patients.  I am thinking about adding it to my daily suppliments.  Do a bit of research on the net and draw your own conclusions on the stuff.  Might help.

[RAT900]

What I find annoying is "the rush to the prescription pad"

No dialogue about trying dietary modification,

lifestyle changes or

exercise regimen coupled with diet etc

and "lets give that a month or 3 and see if you can bring these numbers down"



nope....bang right to the pad.....



you get banged up??? ....well just try getting a doctor to write you a non-narcotic pain script...

nope...right to the Oxy's, Perc's, Vike's etc


Now we all know there are laws preventing Big Pharma from putting MD's on outright commission....

but believe me they have "marketing incentive" programs for MD's

to ensure that their products "remain competitive" in the marketplace

[WarrenJ]

I've heard that some clinics give a bonus to doctors for every case of diabetes they diagnose.  This was several years ago but at the time, the average diabetic patient was worth about 250K in billings to a clinic over their lifespan.  Metabolic syndrome is a cashcow to the medical and pharma industries.

[abby normal]

statins don't directly damage the liver.  in the very rare but dangerous side effect, they will
cause rapid breakdown of muscle tissue ... which then floods the liver. 

given the way we eat here in the west, any male >30 not susceptible to the muscle damage
reaction should be taking a low dose of one of the older statins (lova- or simva-).

[Triple J]

You guys need to find new doctors. My family doctor views medication as a last resort, and we actually talk about the various options. 

[cyrus buelton]

You guys need to find new doctors. My family doctor views medication as a last resort, and we actually talk about the various options. 

+1

Are you guys going to General Practice doctors or Internal Medicine?

If you are having heart conditions, go find a good cardiologist, but as many have said above.....lots are quick to hit the script pad.

A good doctor will recommend a dietary and lifestyle change first. If that does not help, then medication should be applied.

I'll send you a PM Speedbag.