You’ve heard all the statin horror stories, but whatever you’ve heard, it’s not as bad as this…

Thick as thieves

I’m sure by now you’ve heard all the statin horror stories. In fact, you probably heard them here. But maybe you’re new to the train wreck of statin therapy. So I’ll recap just three of the most troubling statin adverse effects…

1) Statins may increase risk of type 2 diabetes

2) Statins may cause muscle damage

3) Statins may deplete CoQ10, the antioxidant that’s indispensible to heart health

Now, I could pile on and mention increased risk of cataracts and cognitive impairment. (Sorry. I couldn’t resist).

But as bad as all of that is, it’s not as bad as this…

The double threat

Those who believe statins are life saving wonder drugs expected Vytorin to be a huge breakthrough. That’s because Vytorin combines Zocor, a statin, with Zetia, a drug that blocks cholesterol absorption in the intestines.

That’s a devastating one-two punch.

Unfortunately, it’s swinging in the wrong direction.

Apparently, a major Vytorin study — currently underway — was recently in jeopardy. But we just found out it was given the green light to finish. That means that subjects in the study continue at potential risk. And all the people currently taking Vytorin may be at risk.

That’s a lot of people. Vytorin sales topped $1.5 billion last year.

Now, here’s where the risk comes in. And seriously, you won’t believe it.

A few years ago, Merck mounted a trial that compared Zocor and a placebo to Vytorin. LDL levels dropped in both groups. Success! BUT average carotid artery thickness increased in both groups.

Uh oh. That one landed on mainstream medicine’s chin like a massive sucker punch.

Of course, they’ve been telling us for years that the opposite is supposed to happen. When you lower LDL, arteries stay clear and unblocked. Right? Right! But with Zocor… Not so much.

And yet, The FDA treated this disaster like a success.

In a special report, the agency acknowledged the increase in artery thickness with both drugs. In fact, they expected it with Zocor. Because the same thing had happened in a previous Zocor study!

But then they noted that the difference between the two increases in thickness was not statistically significant. Nice. See what they did? That’s a cute way to make it sound like a plus instead of a glaring minus.

Then the agency delivered the good news. Vytorin reduced LDL more than Zocor. And they offered this up as if it were clearly more significant than the annoying little detail about narrowed arteries.

The FDA’s advice: Patients should not stop taking Vytorin or any other cholesterol lowering drugs. Including Zocor.

The willful ignorance of that is frightening.

Now, can you imagine what the FDA would do with a dietary supplement if researchers proved it increased artery thickness? Twice! Are you kidding? They would sweep every bottle from store shelves within 24 hours.

Like the previous study, the current one pits Zocor vs. Vytorin. But I have a strong hunch they aren’t making the mistake of comparing artery thickness this time.

Sources:
“Safety Board Clears Merck’s Vytorin Trial to Continue” Christopher Weaver, Saabira Chaudhuri, The Wall St. Journal, 3/12/13, wsj.com

“Simvastatin With or Without Ezetimibe in Familial Hypercholesterolemia” The New England Journal of Medicine, Published online ahead of print, 3/30/08, content.nejm.org

“Cholesterol Lowering and Ezetimibe” The New England Journal of Medicine, Published online ahead of print, 3/30/08, content.nejm.org