California Researchers found that, among more than 1,000 adults, people taking statin drugs are more likely than non-users to experience decreased energy or fatigue upon exertion, or both.
Boston, MA (PRWEB) June 23, 2012
The Doctors Health Press, a publisher of various natural health newsletters, books, and reports, including the popular online Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin, supports a recent study on a hidden cause of illness that is found in your medicine cabinet.
As reported in Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin (http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/general-health-2/the-hidden-cause-of-your-fatigue), a new study shows that the world’s most commonly prescribed prescription medication may be the cause of fatigue.
California Researchers found that, among more than 1,000 adults, people taking statin drugs are more likely than non-users to experience decreased energy or fatigue upon exertion, or both. The researchers suggest that these findings should be taken into account by doctors when weighing risk versus benefit when prescribing statins.
The Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin article, “The Hidden Cause of Your Fatigue,” reports that statins, which are used to lower cholesterol levels, are among the most widely used pharmaceuticals on the market. Recently, increasing attention has focused on statins’ side effects, particularly their effects on exercise intolerance. To this point, studies had not yet addressed the occurrence of fatigue-with-exertion or impaired energy in patients on statins relative to placebo.
Side effects are significantly greater than might have been imagined, compared to the placebo. In this study, the targets were low-dose pravastatin (40 mg) and simvastatin (20 mg), levels that are expected to help reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Participants rated their energy level and fatigue with exertion relative to baseline on a five-point scale from “much worse” to “much better.”
Those placed on statins were significantly more likely to report worsening results in energy, fatigue-with-exertion, or both. Both statins contributed to the finding, though the effect appeared to be stronger in those on simvastatin.
The Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin also reports that researchers concluded that decreases in energy and increases in fatigue on statins represent important findings. They should be taken into account before beginning a regimen of these drugs. This is particularly true for certain groups of people, such as most patients without heart disease, women, and those over 70 years old even if heart disease is present.
(SOURCE: Golomb, B., et al., "Effects of Statins on Energy and Fatigue With Exertion: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial," Arch. Intern. Med., 2012: 1–2; doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2012.2171.)
Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin is a daily e-letter providing natural health news with a focus on natural healing through foods, herbs and other breakthrough health alternative treatments. For more information on Doctors Health Press, visit http://www.doctorshealthpress.com.
The Doctors Health Press believes in the healing properties of various superfoods, like pistachios, as well as the benefits of taking vitamins and supplements, Chinese herbal remedies and homeopathy. To see a video outlining the Doctors Health Press' views on homeopathic healing, visit http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/homeopathy.
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