Zocor and plaque
Common Questions and Answers about Zocor and plaque
zocor
Vytorin does a remarkable job of reducing your Cholesterol, much better than Zocor (Simvastatin) alone. However, Zetia doesn't seem to add anything to the picture as far as preventing heart disease is concened. But read this about Zocor:
-"Zocor Users Not Warned of Risks:
The FDA's June 2011 safety alert is the most serious of many warnings regarding Zocor and associated risks of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Zocor manufacturer Merck & Co.
Recently I had a stent put into a branch and it was close to the main artery and the Dr said the plaque shifted. He ballooned the main artery and I felt fine. After a few days of being fine I had a sudden onset of chest pressure and jaw pain and it was relieved with 2 nitroglycerin. I've noticed chest pressure since then sometimes with jaw pain, sometimes without and burning at times under my sternum.
Mixed with the contrast injected into the coronary arteries surely a chemical could be developed which breaks the bonds of plaque. All this squashing plaque into artery walls and putting in mesh tubes seems a bit low tech for the 21st century. Surely there's a brain somewhere who can revert the artery to its natural condition. We could go in every 10 years for a flush.
Has anyone read how horrific the side effects really are to some of these statins and realized that either they or their loved ones had these very symtoms and becames seriously ill to the point that they ended up in ICU not knowing who they were, where they were, in so much pain they could not bear to be touched and had regressed to near infancy before anyone figured out that it was zocor or lipitor or another statin they were on that was causing these bizarre illnessess ?
I had no simtoms and passed every stress test with no problem.But i did have back pain for over 25 years and and a few other things my cardrologest recomended a scan that said plack then he said cath to be sure that said 2 secondery arteries 85 %clogged and a main 60% which took 2 stints Dr sad all went well and i should feel 20 years younger the first week i felt like walking death pain i never had, weak as a kitten ..
Cholesterol reducing agents (statins) do in fact moderate the serum cholesterol and to a degree moderate the HDL and LDL levels which have the effect of reducing arterial plaque. Most of the available information on Zocor, Lipitor, Crestor or other drugs in the "statin" class will bear this out in data from their clinical studies.
You need to speak with your doctor for clarification. Zocor and Crestor are both used to reduce LDL cholesterol and triglycercides not raise HDL levels. Also ask your doctor for an A1c [hemoglobin A1c] test to see how well you are controlling your glucose levels and whether your lifestyle has made you a candidate for diabetes.
In 2002 I was diagonised with 50% and 30% blockages. I have low cholesterol, both my hdl and ldl are low. I just had a 24 hour monitor, that was fine, and ultrasound with dopler, that was fine too. Stress tests in 07 were fine. However dr. wants me to start zocor 20 mg. I am so afraid of taking it as to the horror stories I've heard about taking statin drugs. What are your thoughts?
In the ZOCOR Survival Study, the number of patients with more than one liver enzyme level elevation to greater than 3 times the normal upper limit was no different between the ZOCOR and placebo groups. Only 8 patients on ZOCOR and 5 on placebo discontinued therapy due to elevated liver enzyme levels. Patients were started on 20 mg of ZOCOR, and one third had their dose raised to 40 mg.
My father has been having the same problem of muscle loss while taking zocor. He has been very fit his whole life and was a marathon swimmer - and at 84 years old he still exercises regularly. However, he finds his doctors are very UNsympathetic to his complaint that the cholesterol lowering medications are stripping his muscles away.
I've been on Zocor for the last 4 1/2 yrs and never had any sleep problems, but everybody is different. Tell your doctor about it and see what he says/thinks should be done.
I'm a 62-year old post menopausal woman, 5'2", 108 lbs. Meds are Lotrel 5/20, Spironolactone 25 mg, Synthroid 50 mcg, Simvastatin 20 mg, daily aspirin 81 mg. Family history of diabetes, digestive cancer, CAD. My last lipid test results: Total cholesterol 179, Tri 45, HDL 88, LDL (Direct) 92, LDL-P 926. Last year I cut out starchy foods and simple carbs because my A1c was 5.9, which brought it down to 5.5. However, my A1c was back up to 5.
Has anyone had problems with statins (in particular Zocor) causing an exacerbation of ocular and nasal allergy symptoms? I started Zocor 6 weeks ago, and after the first week, my eye allergy symptoms (conjunctivitis, scleritis, eyes watering, etc) got much worse. By the end of last week, my eyes were tearing to the point that tears were running down my face most of the day, and my vision was blurring. I had also developed constant sniffles. None of my allergy meds gave any relief.
Augmentin and Zocor have been known to be potentially hepatotoxic. Tylenol is safe, if it is taken as directed (less than 4,000 mg/daily). I imagine that those 3 drugs taken together can increase the potential for damage to the liver.
Have you talked with your doctor about possibly substituting another lipid lowering drug...and getting off the Zocor? Are you still taking Augmentin?
Remember to be careful about your tylenol intake...
I was on Zocor (Sinvastatin) for several years and then my doctor switched me to Vytorin, which has Zetia added to the Zocor, because my total Cholesterol hovered around 200 with the Zocor alone. The Vytorin brought it down to 160, but then you see studies that say, Vytorin and/or Zetia have no additional benificial effect as far as heart desease is concerned. In any event, I had to stop the Vytorin because of severe side effects and I mean severe.
I have also gained 30 pounds since my quintuple CABG back in September 2007. I am also on Zocor, Aspirin and Niaspam. Can Coreg cause any of these symptoms?
Also, my HDL has not improved since my surgery. I'm stuck in the high 20's. I feel a lack of motivation and rarely exercise. I'm worried about the HDL. Both of my brothers have low HDL and my father died of a heat attack at age 66.
I currently take 150mg of Zocor per day. Recently i have developed a cough, which I can deal with but when I cough I get pain shooting though my head. It takes a few minutes to go away and then things are find. Should I be worried.
great answer from Tony, all around. I especially like the parts about being persistent and also demonstrating the motivation to change.
To Lookingtochange, I'd add that the size of the blockage doesn't really tell you how likely you are to have a heart attack. That would more tend to tell you about the cause of chest/arm pains (angina).
I had minimal (3% plaque buildup 2 yrs ago and within a year cloed 1 artery and had a heart attack). Take that as a sign that he needs to get on this now. Then have his eyes checked with a good opthomologist who will dialate his eyes and check the vessels. I don't want to scare you but he is at this stage in the disease where issues start creeping up andthe way to avoid them is to be proactive and yes, get his a1c down to at least 7. I believe the new goal is 6.
The significance of high score is the risk of rupture of the soft plaque into the blood flow channel and cause a heart attack. The score may represent degree of plaque in the left anterior artery
Left main artery with 20-30% narrowing with hard plaque is not considered significant asnd should not be any problem. When the vessel is narrowed to 70% or higher, there could be chest pain and therapy would be necessary.
The non-calicified is soft plaque between the vessel lining.
My primary care physician told me there is damage and narrowing of the arteries; prescribed Zocor, diet, exercise and blood tests. I am 62-years old, a nonsmoker or drinker. I do take Lamictal/Klonopin for bipolar 2. My mother died of a stroke at age 69 (smoker). My maternal grandmother also had a stroke. I am very concerned.
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