Millions of Americans take statin drugs to help lower their cholesterol, making it one of the most popular classes of prescription drugs on the market today, but like most prescription medications, these drugs are often unnecessary, as most Americans could lower their LDL (bad) cholesterol levels simply by changing their diet and lifestyle. However, we live in a world where people are looking for a quick fix, and doctors are eager to recommend "magic pills" to patients with any and all health concerns. The problem with these so-called "magic pills" is that they often end up doing more harm than good. Such is the case with Lipitor, the most popular of the five statin drugs available today.
In 2001, patients filled more than 57 million prescriptions for Lipitor, a drug that promises to reduce high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol while increasing levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. Proponents of Lipitor and other statin drugs claim that they, in addition to normalizing cholesterol levels, can reduce inflammation and reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart-related deaths in general. What doctors and pharmacists are less likely to explain in full to patients, however, are the potential side effects of drugs like Lipitor -- side effects that can outweigh any potential good the drugs might purport to do.
Undoubtedly, the huge number of prescriptions filled for Lipitor and other statin drugs in recent years correlates with the numerous direct-to-consumer advertisements screaming the benefits of these drugs over television and radio airwaves. But what about the list of possible side effects rattled off at the end of these ads -- usually at an auctioneer's pace or in a lulling, comforting voice that makes them sound insignificant compared to the drug's power to improve your health? As it turns out, the side effects mentioned by the ads' unseen spokesperson are just the tip of the iceberg.
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Pharmanex's Cholestin Information Download cholestin.pdf
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