Statin Drugs Are Now Available Over the Counter

August 12, 2004

Britain launched the first over-the-counter cholesterol-lowering drug called

simvastatin, which is considered a newer version of Zocor.

Millions of people have been prescribed statins to help reduce their chances

of having a heart attack. The extremely high number of people taking statins

has turned them into the biggest money making prescription in the world.

Supporters of the over-the-counter cholesterol medication argued that

offering the drug without requiring a prescription would increase the drug's

availability to people seeking ways to lower their risk of coronary artery

disease. Opponents to the over-the-counter drug stated that they weren't a

safe option due to the likelihood of being taken unnecessarily or in the

wrong doses.

The proposed measures for monitoring this over-the-counter medication is

having the pharmacists question customers about their health and then offer

a variety of health tests as a way to ensure the safety of the drug.

Some experts view these over-the-counter drugs as a way to slash the

expenses of statin drugs in Britain, which has already reached $1.28 billion

a year.

News July 29, 2004

--

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

I announced Britain's decision in a past newsletter article and am sorry to

see that they did not wait longer to authorize this switch. Statin drugs are

fraught with dangers, and what's worse is that there are only a very small

handful of people who benefit from them--far less than one in 100.

Drugs are rarely the solution for high cholesterol. Well over 99 percent of

people can normalize their cholesterol levels by restricting grains and

sugars. There are only a handful of people with genetic issues who require

statin drugs, and their cholesterol levels are typically 350 or higher.

In addition to restricting grains and sugars, which you can read more about

in my new book, TOTAL HEALTH Cookbook & Program, there are some simple

things you can do to normalize cholesterol levels.

You can take a high-quality fish oil that is chock full of beneficial

omega-3 fatty acids. It is important to find a fish oil that is

independently tested by a lab and found to conform to purity guidelines.

This will ensure that the oil is free of mercury and other toxins. One such

brand, which I have found to be of superior quality, is Carlson's fish and

cod liver oil, and I now offer this exceptional fish oil/cod liver oil to

you in my " Recommended Products " section. You may also be able to find it in

your local health food store.

Additionally, if you are a man, or a woman who is in menopause, you should

check your iron levels as elevated levels of iron can raise cholesterol

levels and cause major oxidative damage in the blood vessels, heart and

other organs. Excess iron is also one of the major contributing factors to

cancer risk.

Related Articles:

Crestor and Other Statins: Are They Really Worth the Risk?

More Insane Uses For Statin Drugs

Statins, Calcium a Deadly Mix

Statins - Is the Danger in the Dose?

Half of Population Will be Taking Statins

Lunatic Recommendations For Statin Drug Use

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