july, when I was searching for information on heart disease, I came across so many people asking the same questions you, so I thought I'd have a look around to see if anyone had anything helpful to say about this problem...
What happens when you stop taking the drug?
Based on studies of actual muscle biopsies, muscles do not uniformly recover on their own. They need help. First and foremost, they need more coenzyme-Q10. Taking CoQ10 as a supplement will help reverse statin-induced mitochondrial damage. It also helps regulate normal cellular respiration.
But as I’ve said before, buyer beware.
Look for a CoQ10 supplement that says Ubiquinol on the bottle. Your body absorbs this chemically reduced form much more easily. If the bottle says “Coenzyme Q10” or “CoQ10,” it’s probably Ubiquinone–the less well-absorbed chemical form. I recommend taking 200 mg of Ubiquinol daily with a meal as part of a statin recovery plan. (For everyone else, I recommend just 50 mg a day.)
Also, strive to eat an apple every day. Or drink apple cider. Apples contain mevalonic acid. And CoQ10 is a byproduct of mevalonic acid. So, by boosting your mevalonic acid, you’ll naturally get more CoQ10 into your system, as well as other benefits.
You can also do a lot of good by taking a high-quality B complex vitamin. B vitamins can help reverse statin-induced neuropathy.
If you’ve been on a statin drug recently, you should also make sure to take some extra vitamin D. Statins deplete your levels of this critical nutrient. And a daily dose of 1,000 to 2,000 IU is safe for everyone.
Finally, after 12 years of research, I am convinced that South African red bush–like CoQ10–has a profound effect on supporting cellular respiration. It will help your body generate energy and water for proper hydration at the cellular level. And it should be part of any statin recovery plan.
In addition to these hydration benefits, new research shows that red bush directly benefits muscle tissue itself. This helps explain the plant’s amazing results when it comes to physical performance.
I personally helped develop a powdered red bush beverage called Red Joe. You can find it on this website.
Source:
1. “Statin adverse effects: a review of the literature and evidence for a mitochondrial mechanism,” Am J Cardiovasc Drugs 2008;8(6):373-418
The entire article can be read here...
http://www.drmicozzi.com/the-science-of-statin-recovery
Here's what cardiologist Stephen Sinatra, MD has to say...
How to Turn Back the Side Effects of Statins
1. Consider getting off your statin medication, unless you’re a middle-aged man with heart disease. But remember to always contact your physician before stopping your statin drugs.
2. Rebuild your muscles and your heart with four nutrientsI call them the “
awesome foursome.” You want to take the following:
- 200 mg of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) daily
- 200-600 mg of magnesium daily
- 2-3 grams of broad spectrum carnitine daily
- 5 grams of D-Ribose two to three times a day
3. If you’re suffering from polyneuropathy, which is nerve damage that affects the feet and hands causing weakness, loss of sensation or burning pain, I recommend taking 100-300 mg of alpha lipoic acid a day.
Finally, be very optimistic.I’ve seen this regimen work again and again over the years. Once you allow the statin drugs to clear from your system, and build up the mitochondrial function in your cells with the awesome foursome, you will not only reverse the side effects of statins—you’ll thrive!
Read entire article here...
http://www.drsinatra.com/undo-the-side-effects-of-statins
And here's an interesting book... Poisoned! Recovery From Statin "Side Effects" by James B. and Hannah Yoseph
Look at the table of contents and sample pages here...
http://www.amazon.com/Poisoned-Reco...l_formats&filterByStar=five_star&pageNumber=1
Tonight I learned that in addition to statins affecting CoQ10 levels, they also affect vitamin K2 levels...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/06/03/statins-inhibit-vitamin-k2.aspx
I've read that it takes time to recover from the damage caused by statins, and I've read numerous reports that people are helped by CoQ10, so that's encouraging. I'm familiar with Dr. Sinatra's work so trust what he has to say. I'm less familiar with Dr. Mercola's work, but he is well networked, so in that sense, he has access to a lot of health information. I do like his newest book. I'll add only that everyone needs adequate levels of magnesium and vitamin D3, so those supplements are important. Recently, I heard an interview with cardiologist Joel Kahn, M.D. who stated that his patients have also responded well to Dr. Sinatra's "awesome foursome" recommendation. If there's any neuropathy, alpha-lipoic acid is recommended everywhere I look.
I'll be interested in what you learn, what helps, what doesn't help.