Originally Posted by GeorgeBMac

I do not accept anecdotal evidence at face value. But I recognize it as an example of experience. Sort of the school of hard knocks...

Conversely, I do not blindly accept medical style "evidence" either. It is often biased and incomplete.

My anecdotal evidence for that is:
In 1997 my doctor gave me a sales pitch about how I should be taking a statin called Baycol because it would save my life and they were "so safe they should be added to the drinking water". (And he was and is a pretty darn good physician who I trust). While he was giving me the sales pitch a drug rep was standing directly behind his chair listening...

6 months later I complained to him of muscle weakness and suggested it was the statin. He told me I was nuts.

12 months later he puzzled over why my CK levels were sky high...

18 months later they took that statin off of the market because it had killed 58 people from rhabdomyolysis.

But, at the same time, I am (still) taking a statin today -- and without any adverse side effects that I am aware of...

... I don't think we have ANY one source of reliable, dependable medical information.