Are Your Prescription Drugs Slowly Killing You?

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Over the weekend I visited a close friend who’s nearing her 60th birthday. In the past few months, she’s been complaining of increased fatigue, worsening of arthritis pain and fu-like symptoms.

As a matter of interest, I asked her how many prescription medications she is taking. She replied: “Not more than anyone else my age is taking... you know as you grow older, things start falling apart.”

In fact, the drawer next to her bed was filled to the top with boxes of prescription medicine for almost every imaginable ailment: Propranolol (a beta-blocker used to treat angina and irregular heartbeat), Simvastatin (for lowering cholesterol), Fluoxetine (for depression), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (for treating arthritis pain) and numerous painkillers as well as aspirin, which she's taking daily as advised by her doctor...

I was gobsmacked! Imagine the numerous possible side effects this potent cocktail of drugs may be causing... I’m thinking fatigue, muscle pain, depression, memory loss, kidney failure and flu-like symptoms, to mention just a few... and these are just from taking statins alone!

The great statin push picks up speed or Statins for all…

As our bodies age, it’s only natural that we won’t perform at the same levels as we did when we were younger... and sometimes disease sets in and gets the better of us... That’s Nature taking its course.

However, the more I read about Big Pharma’s attempts to dominate the market with their side effect ridden drugs, the more I’m beginning to think that those over the age of 50, are being targeted in particular... Simply because they are more vulnerable and are beginning to see the signs of ageing.

In 2009, Professor Malcolm Law, a so-called 'medical expert', wrote in the British Medical Journal that everyone over 55 should be given statins (in the same way that everyone would be offered a vaccine against swine flu)… Now, if memory serves me right, this has never been implemented as a definite ‘gold standard’ guideline for dishing out these harmful drugs!

However, certain doctors surgeries, in the UK, have started to enforce a ‘statins for all over the age of 55’ protocol. (We’ve highlighted this previously on The Cholesterol Truth, click here to read this post.) It’s worthwhile reiterating again that this is NOT within the National Health Service (NHS) Guidelines.

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Growing old gracefully

Saying good-bye to my friend on Sunday — lying in her bed fatigued, with a runny nose and husky voice — I asked her if she had high cholesterol. Her reply didn't surprise me in the least, "No, it’s just above 5, but the doctor said that I am in danger of possibly having complications later if I don’t lower my cholesterol now. I should probably listen to him, because he knows best."

I couldn’t help but wonder if her doctor had ever discussed possible drug interactions with her (since she is on such a potent cocktail of prescription drugs!), or alerted her to the fact that she may suffer a certain amount of side effects... OR, most importantly, advised her to take Co-enzyme Q10 to counteract the effects of statins (which deplete your body’s levels of this heart critical nutrient).

Her doctor could also have recommended nutritional supplements to help improve her health... like omega-3s to help keep her arthritis pain under control... From what I saw and heard, she never had this discussion with her doctor.

Considering a recent comment, left on The Cholesterol Truth, by one of our regular readers, I can only imagine how many doctors may respond when patients start questioning the safety of their prescription medicine.

Here’s what Pauline wrote:

“I am a 71 year old female with a high cholesterol level of 8.3. At the first test a couple of years ago it was 10.5 to the shock/horror/awe of my then GP... And it was the BAD CHOLESTEROL. I was given a course of statins and within weeks my arthritis was much worse - after three months I politely told my G.P. I didn't intend taking satins any more. She said "Oh so you want to die." I ignored that remark.

I manage the maintenance of my home, walk my dog for one and a half hours exercise a day. Am told I look around 50 years old. The majority of seniors in my area are on 17 tablets of medication a day - walking zombies. No way. If my number is called, I am gone - every additional year for me is now a blessing.

I would not take statins or any other medication other than a natural anti-inflammatory based on the "yukka" root and hops. They work.

So thank you Dr. Briffa - your reports are very interesting and I will continue to review your comments and medical literature generally.

Pauline”
Comment posted on The Cholesterol Truth – 31/07/2011.

“Oh so you want to die...” These are hardly the words you would expect from a doctor that is supposed to listen to her patients’ concerns. Fair enough, Pauline's cholesterol levels were very high, but again, what about discussing alternative options with her to keep her heart healthy?

I thought the mainstream’s approach to treating patients and applying medicine was to first do no harm... Clearly, I was wrong.

If you want to find out how to take better care of your heart health and read Dr. John Briffa’s latest post on The Cholesterol Truth, click here:

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