Statins

Part 6: Conclusion

All statins carry the danger of side effects. Although they do lower cholesterol, this is an adverse side effect as their principal benefit is from their anti-inflammatory properties - in which respect, sunshine is a better.

But there is one other major consideration: There is no evidence that they actually do what they are supposed to do.

Consider these two questions:

• If you are taking statins, why are you taking them?
• If your doctor tells you that you should take statins, what is the reason for his advice?

The answer to both questions is: To prevent you having a heart attack, right?

But there is no evidence that they will. This is even admitted by the pharmaceutical companies that make statins - well they have to or you might sue them. For example, Pfizer, the makers of Lipitor (atorvastatin), the biggest selling drug of all time, admit, as you can see in this advertisement, that

"Lipitor has not been shown to prevent heart disease or heart attack."

It's the same for the newest drug on the block, Crestor (rosuvastatin). Up to 2009, Crestor's website, under "Important safety information about CRESTOR" at the bottom of the page, stated that

"CRESTOR . . . has not been determined to prevent heart disease, heart attacks or strokes."

They seem to have changed that page, but Crestor's TV advertising (see image on right) repeats this message:

All the other statins have the same side effects and the same lack of evidence that they will either prevent a heart attack or extend your life.

So, if the manufacturers of the statins admit that their statins don't do the only thing you really want them to do, why on earth should you be forced to take them?

And, the next question is: Why on earth do doctors prescribe them? Or don't doctors read the literature?

The answer is that this push by governments to get practically everyone, it seems, on statins is entirely led by the pharmaceutical companies. There is no evidence whatsoever that these drugs will add so much as one day to your life.

But their side effects could ruin your life as some of the adverse side effects are irreversible.