Off Vytorin for 30 Days

A message board to discuss personal experiences of Vytorin and its side effects.

Off Vytorin for 30 Days

Postby DW » Tue Mar 21, 2006 3:47 pm

I'm a 65 year old male, took Vytorin for one year, now off for a month. Just had blood work this morning: Total cholesterol 164, Total Cholesterol/HDL 6.3, Triglycerides 325, HDL 26, LDL 73, Blood Glucose 105, Blood pressure 133/83, pulse 68. What do you think?
DW
 
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Jan 22, 2006 11:08 am

Reply for DW

Postby sos_group_owner » Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:40 pm

Hi DW,

TC of 164 is well within guidelines,
BUT...
trigs of 325 should be lowered.
And HDL of 26 is too low.
Blood glucose of 105 is in the pre-diabetic range.

Let me guess...
You are on the typical low fat, low cholesterol diet
which means you are probably eating a "high carb" diet.

High carb, especially foods containing "sugar" send
triglycerides soaring. Most low fat foods are high in sugar.
Other foods to limit are the white foods:
bread, flour, rice, potato, pasta
Replace with whole grains.

Supplementing with cinnamon can also lower trigs and
control blood sugar. Cinnamon is available in 500 mg
capsules. Take one or two capsules daily, in addition to
decreasing simple carbs.

HDL is usually too low due to insufficient dietary fat. Saturated
fat actually raises HDL (butter, ghee, lard, coconut oil).
Yes, the very things we are told NOT to eat!

"All fatty acids elevated HDL cholesterol when substituted for
carbohydrates, but the effect diminished with increasing
unsaturation of the fatty acids."

Arteriosclerosis and Thrombosis, Vol 12, 911-919, Copyright © 1992
by American Heart Association

Effect of dietary fatty acids on serum lipids and lipoproteins. A meta- analysis of 27 trials
Source: http//saturated-fat-raises-HDL.notlong.com

Your BP is slightly elevated. CoQ10 is one of the supplements Dr
Graveline mentions in his article on "Statin Alternatives".
Statin alternative(s) to reduce/prevent inflammation:
(IE: anti-oxidant, reduce platelet stickiness, controls homocysteine)
1) buffered aspirin - 81 mg
2) CoQ10 - 100 to 150 mg
3) folic acid - 400-800 mcg
B6 - 80-100mg
B12 - 200-250mcg
4) Omega 3 (fish oil or cod liver oil) [ There is no upper limit.]

These four items/categories have the same anti-inflammatory affect as 20 mg's of Lipitor,
without side effects.

http://www.spacedoc.net/statin_alternatives.htm

From my research and personal experience, CoQ10 can lower BP.
One example is this article:
"Coenzyme Q10 Improves High Blood Pressure"
Source: http//CoQ10-lowers-BP.notlong.com

Hope you find this information useful.

Fran
sos_group_owner
 
Posts: 482
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:03 pm
Location: Connecticut

Thanks!

Postby DW » Thu Mar 23, 2006 9:32 am

Yes, your reply is very helpful and most appreciated. However, I must admit that being off a statin has made me paranoid as to a stroke or heart attack. Which statin has the least side effects? I'm not as concerned about the reduction in cholesterol as I am the reduction of inflammation. Thanks.
DW
 
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Jan 22, 2006 11:08 am

Postby sos_group_owner » Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:04 am

Hi DW,

All statins cause the same set of side effects.When someone experiences
side effects from statins, they will most likely have the same side effects
from ALL statins.

Since your primary concern is "inflammation", blood tests that check
for inflammation are:
* homocysteine (optimal is 6.2 or less)
* CRP (C-Reactive Protein)
* Lp(a) ~ Lipoprotein (a)

Dr Graveline's recommendations reduce and prevent inflammation.
(IE: anti-oxidant, reduce platelet stickiness, controls homocysteine)

1) buffered aspirin - 81 mg
2) CoQ10 - 100 to 150 mg
3) folic acid - 400-800 mcg
B6 - 80-100mg
B12 - 200-250mcg
4) Omega 3 (fish oil or cod liver oil) [ There is no upper limit.]

These four items/categories have the same anti-inflammatory affect as 20 mg's of Lipitor, without side effects.

Fran
sos_group_owner
 
Posts: 482
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:03 pm
Location: Connecticut


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