Statins

[robert551069]

Doctors are recommending that everyone over 50 should take a daily statin tablet to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

[daisya]

My philosophy is the same as Lottie's, I never take tablets unless absolutely necessary and then I question and read up on them first. All medicines have side effects for certain people so why take something that you may not need and may cause you illness without doing you any good. Blanket cover seems unnecessary to me when you aren't ill in the first place. Just my opinion on the subject.

[Sqad]

mike........I think that Simvastatin is fine (my mistake) and that the main culprit is Atorvastatin.
Pravastatin is fine with grapefruit or grapefruit juice.

In the case of Atorvastatin.....the odd grapefruit or glass of grapefruit juice would be fine..........just not gallons of the stuff.

[Bazile]

thanks

When you say - //...causing the need to reduce the dose to counteract the exaggerated drop in BP which MAY ensue. //

Do you mean that the BP would fall to a dangerously , low level?

[Sqad]

Bazile........no.....not dangerously low, but just to make you feel "light headed when standing from the sitting or lying position.

[Bazile]

Understood .

It's odd though that grapefruit juice will actually increase the level of verapamamil hydrochloride in the body resulting from taking the the verapamil hydrochloride medication - if you see what I mean .

I suppose the reason why that happens is due to some complex chemical explanation ?

[Sqad]

Bazile.....I do see what you mean......where does the extra Verapamil come from.....the grapefruit LOL.

I can only assume that rather than increasing the levels it delay or blocks the breakdown of Verapamil thus potentiating it's activity.

That may be bullsh1t but that is all i can come up with..;-)

[sandyRoe]

Would we all not be better off without grapefruit juice? Terrible tasting stuff.

[Bazile]

Sqad - I think this could be the basis of a thesis :-)

[Sqad]

Bazile......LOL.....too bloody right.......but not by me........plenty of "boffins" out there.

[petal54]

I'm on ramapril,as have high B/P & irregular heart beat

[daisya]

Petal do you suffer the dreadful cough whilst on that drug?