Comments on: Pfizer in hot water over Lipitor marketing http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/ A critical look at nutritional science and anything else that strikes my fancy. Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:02:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: gz http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-85333 gz Wed, 26 Dec 2007 22:01:25 +0000 http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/#comment-85333 Thanks for the additional info on EBT. I'm wondering, if I were to get two EBT scans, say six months apart, and they showed the same calcium score (supposing I do have some calcium, which wouldn't surprise me), would that be an indication that the plaque is stable? Is six months a reasonable interval? <em>If the calcium score is reasonably low, then a year would be a good interval. If there is no change in calcium score it would imply stable plaque. I forgot to link in the last answer to Dr. Davis' blog, which contains a wealth of information. <a href="http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Here it is</a>. Cheers-- MRE</em> Thanks for the additional info on EBT. I’m wondering, if I were to get two EBT scans, say six months apart, and they showed the same calcium score (supposing I do have some calcium, which wouldn’t surprise me), would that be an indication that the plaque is stable? Is six months a reasonable interval?

If the calcium score is reasonably low, then a year would be a good interval. If there is no change in calcium score it would imply stable plaque. I forgot to link in the last answer to Dr. Davis’ blog, which contains a wealth of information. Here it is.

Cheers–

MRE

]]> By: gz http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-85301 gz Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:08:41 +0000 http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/#comment-85301 Regarding EBT scans, I looked up the topic on Google and read an informative 5-page article: <a href="http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/cardiactests/a/EBT.htm" rel="nofollow">EBT (Ultrafast CT) Scans - Godsend, or Scam?</a> Dr. Fogoros says that false positives (where the EBT shows the presence of calcium, but the patient has little coronary artery blockage) occur about 50 percent of the time. The next step, if the EBT is positive, is to do a heart catherterization to find out whether there actually is coronary artery blockage. So the odds are that I'd have to worry! <em>The info you got from Google is one of the reasons one shouldn't get medical information online. As far as I'm concerned the EBT is the BEST way to determine the presence of plaque. If you have a positive calcium score, you have plaque, and there's an end on't (as Samuel Johnson would say). Now you may have a low calcium score for your age or you may have a calcium score that doesn't change, which means you have stable plaque, but if you have a positive calcium score, you have some amount of plaque in your coronary arteries. And whoever says that the next step to take if you receive a positive calcium score is a coronary artery cath is a real moron. That's probably the last thing you would want to do if you are asymptomatic. All the cath procedure does is shows whether or not you have a blockage - you can have huge amounts of plaque (which are a disaster waiting to happen) and have a normal cardiac cath. If you want to get a little more information on the validity of EBT than what you find on Google, take a look at Dr. Davis' blog or get a copy of his book: Track Your Plaque. I'm not crazy about all of Dr. Davis' dietary recommendations because he comes to diet from a different perspective than I, but the EBT info in his book is terrific. Cheers-- MRE</em> Regarding EBT scans, I looked up the topic on Google and read an informative 5-page article: EBT (Ultrafast CT) Scans – Godsend, or Scam? Dr. Fogoros says that false positives (where the EBT shows the presence of calcium, but the patient has little coronary artery blockage) occur about 50 percent of the time. The next step, if the EBT is positive, is to do a heart catherterization to find out whether there actually is coronary artery blockage. So the odds are that I’d have to worry!

The info you got from Google is one of the reasons one shouldn’t get medical information online. As far as I’m concerned the EBT is the BEST way to determine the presence of plaque. If you have a positive calcium score, you have plaque, and there’s an end on’t (as Samuel Johnson would say). Now you may have a low calcium score for your age or you may have a calcium score that doesn’t change, which means you have stable plaque, but if you have a positive calcium score, you have some amount of plaque in your coronary arteries.

And whoever says that the next step to take if you receive a positive calcium score is a coronary artery cath is a real moron. That’s probably the last thing you would want to do if you are asymptomatic. All the cath procedure does is shows whether or not you have a blockage – you can have huge amounts of plaque (which are a disaster waiting to happen) and have a normal cardiac cath.

If you want to get a little more information on the validity of EBT than what you find on Google, take a look at Dr. Davis’ blog or get a copy of his book: Track Your Plaque. I’m not crazy about all of Dr. Davis’ dietary recommendations because he comes to diet from a different perspective than I, but the EBT info in his book is terrific.

Cheers–

MRE

]]> By: Judy B. http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-85076 Judy B. Wed, 26 Dec 2007 04:25:10 +0000 http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/#comment-85076 (Note to beth: I think they want 100% of people over 50 on statins....) We have taken to referring to those obnoxious ads for Lipitor featuring "you-know-who" as being from the Lipi-whore. (Note to beth: I think they want 100% of people over 50 on statins….)

We have taken to referring to those obnoxious ads for Lipitor featuring “you-know-who” as being from the Lipi-whore.

]]> By: beth http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-84774 beth Tue, 25 Dec 2007 04:03:35 +0000 http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/#comment-84774 Just remember. Their goal is 50% of people over 50 on a statin. <em>I've never heard this stated as such, but I wouldn't be surprised. Cheers-- MRE</em> Just remember. Their goal is 50% of people over 50 on a statin.

I’ve never heard this stated as such, but I wouldn’t be surprised.

Cheers–

MRE

]]> By: gz http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-84748 gz Tue, 25 Dec 2007 02:34:10 +0000 http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/#comment-84748 I'm a 61 y.o. female who doesn't go to doctors very often. I have high cholesterol, normal tricglycerides, normal blood pressure, and normal weight. Early this year, I had a doctor (a DO) try to put me on Lipitor and tell me that if I refused, I would have to sign a release saying I wouldn't blame him if I had a heart attack. A few months later, I had extensive lab tests done through the wellness program sponsored by my health insurance plan. The tests were reviewed by another DO, who tried to scare me into thinking I was on the verge of a heart attack. He was sure I would have to take Vytorin 10/20 plus pharmaceutical-grade niacin for the rest of my life. I avoided that, and a few months later went to a third doctor (a homeopathic practitioner as well as an MD) who looked at the same lab results as the second DO, and, pointing out the very low C-reactive protein and good ankle-brachial index, told me I didn't have any more chance of having a heart attack than the average 61-year-old. I was glad to hear that, but this doctor had his own program (bio-identical hormones) and he wanted me to do about $800 worth of lab tests that my insurance plan wouldn't cover since he's not a preferred provider, so I haven't gone back. I'm not quite on the Protein Power diet, though I get close to the Hedonist level if I don't go overboard on chocolate. While I would just as soon have a regular doctor, I wouldn't have a lot of confidence in one who insists on statins. But I have a couple of recommendations to try the next time I decide to break down and get a checkup. <em>Hi gz-- If you really want to see what your cardiovascular status is from a plaque standpoint, spring for an EBT and get a calcium scan. If your calcium scan is a zero, then you don't have to worry. And these EBT scans are getting cheaper by the day. Cheers-- MRE</em> I’m a 61 y.o. female who doesn’t go to doctors very often. I have high cholesterol, normal tricglycerides, normal blood pressure, and normal weight. Early this year, I had a doctor (a DO) try to put me on Lipitor and tell me that if I refused, I would have to sign a release saying I wouldn’t blame him if I had a heart attack. A few months later, I had extensive lab tests done through the wellness program sponsored by my health insurance plan. The tests were reviewed by another DO, who tried to scare me into thinking I was on the verge of a heart attack. He was sure I would have to take Vytorin 10/20 plus pharmaceutical-grade niacin for the rest of my life. I avoided that, and a few months later went to a third doctor (a homeopathic practitioner as well as an MD) who looked at the same lab results as the second DO, and, pointing out the very low C-reactive protein and good ankle-brachial index, told me I didn’t have any more chance of having a heart attack than the average 61-year-old. I was glad to hear that, but this doctor had his own program (bio-identical hormones) and he wanted me to do about $800 worth of lab tests that my insurance plan wouldn’t cover since he’s not a preferred provider, so I haven’t gone back. I’m not quite on the Protein Power diet, though I get close to the Hedonist level if I don’t go overboard on chocolate. While I would just as soon have a regular doctor, I wouldn’t have a lot of confidence in one who insists on statins. But I have a couple of recommendations to try the next time I decide to break down and get a checkup.

Hi gz–

If you really want to see what your cardiovascular status is from a plaque standpoint, spring for an EBT and get a calcium scan. If your calcium scan is a zero, then you don’t have to worry. And these EBT scans are getting cheaper by the day.

Cheers–

MRE

]]> By: Gabi http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-84614 Gabi Mon, 24 Dec 2007 18:48:41 +0000 http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/#comment-84614 http://spacedoc.net/ Dr. Duane Gravelines comprehensive list of cholesterol lowering drugs and their side effects. Himself suffered amnesia from taking Lipitor. <em>Thanks for the link. I'm sure many will find it of interest. Best-- MRE</em> http://spacedoc.net/

Dr. Duane Gravelines comprehensive list of cholesterol lowering drugs and their side effects. Himself suffered amnesia from taking Lipitor.

Thanks for the link. I’m sure many will find it of interest.

Best–

MRE

]]> By: Brian http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-84539 Brian Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:32:00 +0000 http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/#comment-84539 Dr. Eades, feel free to delete this comment after reading it... You want to use "versus" in the last paragraph, not "verses." Also, thanks for writing a fantastic blog. I read every new post the day it surfaces. Thank you! <em>Hey Brian-- Thanks for the heads up. The correction is made. It was a slip of the finger, not a slip of the brain. I'm glad you enjoy the blog. And I'm glad that you proof read better than I do. Cheers-- MRE</em> Dr. Eades, feel free to delete this comment after reading it…

You want to use “versus” in the last paragraph, not “verses.”

Also, thanks for writing a fantastic blog. I read every new post the day it surfaces.

Thank you!

Hey Brian–

Thanks for the heads up. The correction is made. It was a slip of the finger, not a slip of the brain.

I’m glad you enjoy the blog. And I’m glad that you proof read better than I do.

Cheers–

MRE

]]> By: Moy P. http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-84373 Moy P. Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:33:02 +0000 http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/#comment-84373 Thank you for this. Always heartening to hear instances of what the pharma companies are up to. I've been gathering information now for 18 months, since my husband's short-term memory has been destroyed by our own doctor pushing Lipitor (and attempting to push Crestor). It seems to me, as memory is central to intelligence, that the gross over-prescribing of statins for greed and profit is tantamount to attempted manslaughter, and I cannot understand why families whose lives are being destroyed are not taking doctors through the Courts. <em>All they've got to do is find the right lawyer and they're in business. Problem is that most of the lawyers are probably on statins themselves. Best-- MRE</em> Thank you for this. Always heartening to hear instances of what the pharma companies are up to. I’ve been gathering information now for 18 months, since my husband’s short-term memory has been destroyed by our own doctor pushing Lipitor (and attempting to push Crestor).
It seems to me, as memory is central to intelligence, that the gross over-prescribing of statins for greed and profit is tantamount to attempted manslaughter, and I cannot understand why families whose lives are being destroyed are not taking doctors through the Courts.

All they’ve got to do is find the right lawyer and they’re in business. Problem is that most of the lawyers are probably on statins themselves.

Best–

MRE

]]> By: Ashley http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-84337 Ashley Mon, 24 Dec 2007 01:54:05 +0000 http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/#comment-84337 How much longer will the Cholesterol Theory go on before the mainstream catches on and realizes it has no scientific validity? <em>Probably for as long as there are $30 billion of statins sold per year. The drug companies would be loathe to lose out on that money, which they would do if the cholesterol theory were to be proven false. The pharmaceutical industry has a vested interest in keeping the cholesterol theory alive as long as possible. Cheers-- MRE</em> How much longer will the Cholesterol Theory go on before the mainstream catches on and realizes it has no scientific validity?

Probably for as long as there are $30 billion of statins sold per year. The drug companies would be loathe to lose out on that money, which they would do if the cholesterol theory were to be proven false. The pharmaceutical industry has a vested interest in keeping the cholesterol theory alive as long as possible.

Cheers–

MRE

]]> By: Lisa Ann Homic, M.Ed. D.C. http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-84319 Lisa Ann Homic, M.Ed. D.C. Mon, 24 Dec 2007 00:29:52 +0000 http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/pfizer-in-hot-water-over-lipitor-marketing/#comment-84319 I wish this information was more well known. Many people think this is the only choice for them when most cholesterol numbers are poorly interpreted and considered alone as the only important part of the picture. <em>How true, how true. Best-- MRE</em> I wish this information was more well known. Many people think this is the only choice for them when most cholesterol numbers are poorly interpreted and considered alone as the only important part of the picture.

How true, how true.

Best–

MRE

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