Sqad - statins again

[smurfchops]

As you may remember Sqad, I am on simvastatin. There was an article in today's Mail which I have copied below. But the last paragraph on Statins (about being fat soluble) is to me just gobbledegook. Does it mean that simvastatins are harmful - or not ? I just can't understand it - perhaps you could explain this paragraph to me :

http://www.dailymail....lness-causes-fix.html

[Sqad]

\\The more fat-soluble the statin (which means it passes through cell membranes quickly and hangs around in the body’s fat continuing to have an effect), the greater propensity it has to cross the barrier that protects the brain from any poisons or toxins that may be in the blood. Simvastatin is the most fat-soluble of the statins.\\\

Honest smurfy......not a bloody clue.....I have read it a dozen times.

Lazygun or slaney will do a better job than me.

Bottom line......34,000 patients and "some" had problems....medical term for "maybe."

[Sqad]

Well, it seems that Simvastin takes a ride on the back of fat and crosses the blood brain/ barrier into the brain, protecting the brain from toxins which may cause memory loss and hence is a good thing.

BUT..how can bloody great fat globules filled with Simvastin cross the blood brain barrier?

This sort of reporting brings the medical profession into disrepute in my opinion.

Where are you LAZYGUN?

[237SJ]

Am I being dim? I read it the other way. I read that it`s a bad thing that it crosses the brain barrier which is why the article starts by saying recent tests have proved otherwise (regarding statins protecting against memory loss)

[shaneystar2]

What a load of old cobblers .I take Simvastatin .I also take thyroid medication and have taken several drugs in my time for arthritis .I've also had steroid injections ..I should be doolally by now according to this .
Typical Daily Wail scaremongering .Pay no attention to it .

[craft1948]

lol smurf I must wear my glasses......I thought it said "Sqad - stains again", and thought..........dirty boy!

[Sqad]

237SJ.........no idea who is correct here, but my money will happily go on you my love ;-)

[237SJ]

It`s probably just crap reporting Sqad. I can vouch for the long-haul flying doing the memory in bit though :-)

[smurfchops]

I'm glad I'm not the only one having a Senior Moment on here ..

[jno]

I got put on statins a few years ago.

After some months I got pains in my arms. A differnt doctor said "that'll be the statins, they often cause pains" and took me off them.

Last week I saw yet another doctor, who said "I think I'll put you on statins." (I did tell her what the last one said.)

Conclusion: if the doctors don't bleeping know, how am I supposed to?

[Caran]

I was on Simvastatin, memory problems were horrendous, worst part OH & I shopping in Gloucester, he stopped to talk to a man, they chatted and included me in conversation, I had not got a clue who he was. After a few moments I realised his voice was familiar, he was husband of my daughters best friend, they have been to our house on numerous occasions, we all spend Christmas Day together, their kids call me Nana. I found the whole thing so distressing I came off the statins. Still suffer losing words and what I did yesterday or 2 /3 days prior.

[slaney]

Simvastatin may or may not cross the blood brain barrier but this doesn't prove that it causes harm.
This is a link to the original Cochrane database article which was looking at primary prevention, that is, drugs given to prevent disease in those who have none.
I can't see anything about side effects or memory loss.
http://summaries.coch...ardiovascular-disease
It is further discussed here
http://www.nhs.uk/new...n-drugs-examined.aspx
Not my area of expertise, but I'm interested to read up about the subject as both sons think I should be on a statin for primary prevention because of family history, but I 'm resisting - they listen to cardiologists too much!

The moral is best not to rely on The Daily Mail for medical advice!

[Sqad]

slaney


/// I should be on a statin for primary prevention because of family history, but I 'm resisting - they listen to cardiologists too much! ///

Very sensible ;-)

[theprof]

smurfchops, ignore that paragraph. It's a load of cobblers without pharmacological foundation and I'd agree that it's scaremongering by the newspaper concerned.
MrsProf, now a prof herself, has been involved with the clinical and pharmacological usage of statins for many years and agrees with me.

[Chaffinch]

Ohhhhhhhh, Errrrrrrrrrrrrrr, If i was'nt under the influance of ....ethenol (alchohol , to us plebs), then I might be able to answer this !