Cholesterol lowering drugs in the USA, known as statins, were the most widely sold pharmaceutical drugs in 2002. Accounting for 6.5% of the total market share, statins raked in 12.5 billion dollars! These drugs are dealt to the public by the masses with the rhetoric of preventing early death from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Yet, the absolute number of deaths from cardiovascular disease - 750,000 deaths per year - has not changed for the last 25 years.

Still though, drug companies make every effort to convince the public that cholesterol-lowering drugs are not only effective at preventing CVD but also safe. They even go as far as lying. For instance, Pfizer publicizes that rhabdomyolysis (i.e. muscle deterioration exhibited by muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness) and myopathy (muscular dystrophies) only occur with "other drugs" in the statin class, not Lipitor (see ads in Time, Readers Digest, Good Houskeeping, Womans Day and Health). However, in 2002, the FDA sent a letter to Pfizer stating that, based on Pfizer's own clinical trials, this was simply untrue. Consequently, they were in clear violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by making these false claims. More specifically, in their letter to Pfizer, the FDA stated that Pfizer's advertisements "fail to disclose that Lipitor has the same potential risk of rhabdomyolysis and myopathy as other lipid-lowering statin drugs." Despite Pfizer's non-compliance with the law, the FDA did not press charges.

Pfizer's false advertising isn't the only action taken to procure profits from cholesterol lowering drug sales. Clinical trials showed that Lipitor is effective at doses ranging from 2.5mg to 5mg. , , However, in a race for more money, Pfizer demands that Lipitor be prescribed starting at 10mg. This starting dose is approximately 300% higher than the effective dose! More astounding, doctors are now prescribing up to 80mgs! If this is not capitalistic drug dealing, What is?

If you are currently taking statins this fact elucidates why you are required to go in for regular liver testing, you are being overdosed. Fortunately, 50% of those who take cholesterol lowering drugs quit voluntarily due to experiencing negative side effects.

Considering that the absolute number of deaths from cardiovascular disease has not changed for the last 25 years, statin drug users may want reconsider their approach to prevention and their blind loyalty to statin drugs. USA Today reported, "Statins have killed and injured more people than the government has acknowledged".

Despite American Dogma, you don't have to be a drug addict to be healthy. Safe and effective natural medicines (nutraceuticals) that help to prevent both cardiovascular disease and the negative side effects from statins are abundant. Seek education rather than prescriptions.

Reference:

1. Alternative Medicine Review. Volume 6, Number 3, 2001
2. Food and Drug Administration. Letter sent by Joan Hankin to Christopher A. Graham of Pfizer Inc.
3. Cohen, S. Jay. Over Dose. 2001. ISBN 1-58542-123-5
4. Netherlands Journal of Medicine, April 1998, 52 (4):131-7
5. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 1995, 15:678-682
6. Sternberg, Steve. USA Today. 08/20/2001