I have been on Symvastatin now for 8 years and I have never found the cramping problems. We measure differently over here but Untill I started taking them I was just above the level that they like to see Heart problem patients with- In other words- nothing to get worried about. It didn't help though and 1 Triple bypass Later!!!!!

8 years of the meds and I am comfortably within the limits and have no side effects.

My cholesterol is high, triglycerides also high...I won't bore you with the large numbers. However, I'm 5'5" and weigh 130 pounds....so it's mostly genetic and a bit of a drag.

I have tried ALL the statins with the same substantial muscle pains which start in my legs and then move to the rest of my body. Niaspan (1,000mg) has worked real well for me but even after several months the flushing is very bad and impossible to sleep through. Taking an aspirin an hour before the Niaspan helps some…but it’s not fool-proof. And, it’s hard to remember to take two pills every night at specific times. In my research I've come across several studies that indicate that non-prescription niacin can lead to other problems. Any one else know anything about this?

I am now trying Tricor for the second time...the first time I'm pretty sure I had the same flu-like symptoms the statins gave me, but I wasn't sure if maybe it coincided with a virus. So, I'm not trying it one more time to be sure.

It's odd that all cholesterol medicines have this effect on my.....even if all of them aren't statins? My doctor is running out of options.

Well, I guess you have to die of something.

I've also read that non-prescription Niacin actually causes less liver problems than Niaspan. I take 2000 mg of non-prescription time-relase Niacin every night before bedtime. There is flushing, but it is at tolerable levels and my doctor checks my liver functions regularly. Talk to your doctor (preferably an endocrinologist) about it.

Update: I've now been off the meds for four days and did 55 miles this weekend with only normal leg discomfort due to riding. We'll have to see what happens with the numbers after a few weeks off the meds.

I use a product called BiosLife. It is an all natural, patented, clinically proven fiber based alternative to statin drugs. You mix it in either water or juice and drink it 10-15 minutes before you eat. Do this twice a day. It comes in single dose packets. Last June 20th I had a MI :( . On the day of my discharge my cholesterol was 227. The Dr could not fix all he needed to during that trip. He got a wire through the clot and was able to balloon and stent that artery. There were two more that needed work, one 85% blocked the other one 90%. I went home and used the BiosLife 2 packs at a time three times a day. I have heard of people using up to 9 packs a day. 19 days later when I was discharged after getting 2 more stents my cholesterol was 114. The only side effect is that most people who need to experience some weight loss. So far I have lost about 40 lbs(255 > 215). It is in the PDR.

www.unicity.net/dixie
www.bioslife.com/dixie

BiosLife is BS. It's nothing more than simple soluble fiber, but put into handy packets and marketed by unscrupulous doctors who get a commission from Rexall Drugs (the company that produces BiosLife).

You can easily get the same amount of soluble fibers by adding 1/3 cup of oat bran to your morning cereal...and it will only cost you pennies per day.

FWIW, I tried BioSlime a few year's back. I'd had a moderately high cholesterol reading, so decided to try it when my doc recommended it. After 3 months taking it religiously, my cholesterol numbers were re-checked - they had not moved at all (and I was out over a hundred dollars for the BS).

My advice - get a different doc, and buy some oat bran and/or oatmeal instead.

Well I have had outstanding results with it. Now it also contains policosinol, phytosterols and chrysanthemum morifolium in addition to soluble fiber. I'll continue to take it because of the potential for side effects from statins. I can't stand oatmeal.

Interesting....perhaps they've changed their formulation since I tried it (about 6 years ago).

Did you have cholesterol tests done before and after going on it? And was your weight, diet, and activity level roughly the same before and after?

In my own "clinical trial" (n=1), the only variable was the BiosLife. And after 3 months usage, it was clear that it had had no effect whatsoever on my cholesterol levels or ratios.

I agree about oatmeal...but, it's really easy to get a big dose of soluble fiber by simply dumping some oat bran into your morning cereal (or, adding it to other things).

I take Lipitor and Zetia. No side effects that I've noticed.

It is now called BiosLife Complete, and yes the formula was changed last year I think.

My cholesterol on June 22nd was 227. That was the day I was discharged after the heart attack and a trip to the cath lab. I used 2 packs/meal three times a day until I went back to the hospital on July 10th. I was also very particular about what I ate as I was facing another trip to the hospital for another round of the same treatment. On July 11, the discharge day for the 2nd trip my cholesterol was 114. For that 19 day period I was forbidden to drive and could not lift over 5 lbs. I could not even leave the yard to walk the dogs.

My muscle aches are almost entirely gone now after more than a year off of the statin drugs I was on for 20 some years. During that time I was keeping my cholesterol where almost everyone seemed to think it should be or lower, I had 5 heart attacks, one single heart bypass, and three stents. Then I discovered there is another side of the story. The links below will indicate some of what I have found that has helped me and I sincerely believe it comes from credible sources. Now I'm into cycling and eating a better diet.

You're right about one thing - most of the Drs don't react positively to this view. But note: most of these sources are from medical journals and Drs. Worth looking into.

If you are concerned about cholesterol and have nothing else to do read these:

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/...S2&keytype=ref

http://www.jpands.org/vol10no3/colpo.pdf

http://qjmed.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/...9j66HOHg.Y&eaf

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...#StartComments


http://www.ravnskov.nu/myth1.htm

http://www.thegreatcholesterolcon.com/

http://www.spacedoc.net/

http://www.thincs.org/links.htm#about

Bill

Don't call the doc and ASK if you can just try diet &c. This gives him the option of saying no. Call the doc and TELL him that's what you are going to do. Leave it for him to talk you out of it.
My doc was talking about giving me the cholesterol meds after I had gotten the numbes down to 200. I told him I'd take them if my numbers get to the 280-300 range. He countered; 180 is the 'new' standard. I said; NO. That was the end of it. bk