A mainstream doc has serious concerns about overprescribing of statin drugs

Do you hear that? That’s the sound of the tide turning against statins. It’s a little faint right now, but just wait…

You know things are changing when a mainstream doctor expresses serious doubts about this former “miracle drug” on network television.

But I’m not talking about some random doctor tossing off an opinion – this is Richard Besser, M.D., the Senior Health and Medical Editor for ABC News.

On a recent segment of Good Morning America, Dr. Besser told George Stephanopoulos about a new statin study in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Researchers reviewed 11 large statin trials and concluded that the drug doesn’t prevent death in patients who don’t have heart disease.

Surprised? Not a bit. You — and anyone else who’s followed statin research — could have guessed those results before they were published. But for many mainstreamers this is a little shocking. For years, they’ve wildly exaggerated statin benefits while downplaying side effects.

For instance: the side effect of muscle weakness is almost always referred to as “rare.”

And yet here’s Dr. Besser telling millions of GMA viewers, “We do know that many people on these drugs – a fairly high percentage – will have problems with muscle weakness, some people will have confusion. There are DEFINITELY side effects.”

A fairly high percentage? So much for rare!

Too bad he didn’t mention that this NOT-rare side effect is actually a symptom of muscle damage. But maybe he’ll get around to that in a future broadcast.

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson

Sources:
“Statins and All-Cause Mortality in High-Risk Primary Prevention” Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 170, No. 12, 6/28/10, archinte.ama-assn.org
“Are Statins Overprescribed” Dr. Richard Besser, Good Morning America, 6/29/10, abcnews.go.com