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This week, we will study some information regarding statin drugs, or cholesterol lowering drugs, and the inter-relationship with Co-Q-1 O. A deficiency of Co-Q-l 0 in the energy producing portion of muscle cells has been demonstrated to be an important factor in coronary disease and athlerosclerosis. Co-Q-IO has been demonstrated to be effective in prevention of the non-reversible effects of congestive heart failure and also with a new disorder for you, rhabdolmyolysis, which is a wasting of heart muscle due to drug toxicity from statin drugs. Drugs such as Lipitor, Zocor, Prevacol, and Mevacor, have all been extremely effective in lowering cholesterol levels; however, these drugs also have a secondary effect of depleting natural levels of Co-enzyme Q-IO throughout the body. |
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Since their approval in 2003, statin drugs have generated an estimated $16 billion for drug manufacturing companies. These extremely powerful drugs decreased natural CoQ-10 production in the body. In spite of the fact that these drugs have been shown to cause cognitive, muscular, cardiovascular, and other health-related problems, the FDA requires no warning label. Supplementation with Co-Q-10 can reduce the likelihood that these symptoms will be a major health issue for you in the future. |
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In Canada, statin drugs are required to carry a precautionary warning on their labels that this drug causes Co-Q-10 depletion and that depletion of Co-Q-1 0 can lead to impaired function and congestive heart failure. Soon, we will have a new generation of statin drugs called the "super statins." These include Orsuvastatin and Pitavastatin. Recently released, Zetia, produced by Schering-Plough has increased the dose of first generation statins by four times. |
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Another super statin drug recently approved by the FDA is Crestor. In an article published in November, 2003 in Smart Money magazine, contributing editor, Eleanor Laise, questioned Phizer drug manufacturing representatives about patients who suffered "memory loss, severe muscle pain, and other symptoms of acute Co-Q-1 0 depletion after taking the companies best selling statin, Lipitor. She makes note of the fact that Phizer representatives do not acknowledge any relationship between the statin drugs and Co-Q10 depletion. Merck, the manufacturer of Zocor in 1989 and 1990 applied for patents for statin drugs containing Co-Q-lO. In spite of the fact that the FDA and other drug companies have not acknowledged the relationship between statin drugs and Co-Q-10 depletion, Merck is attempting to compensate for the Co-Q-10 depletion problem with the statin drugs containing Co-Q-l 0 in spite of the fact that they have not exercised their option to utilize this drug nuetraceutical combination. |