Lipid Lowering Medication Puns

TL;DR: people who take statins (to lower cholesterol) think they get a free pass to eating unhealthy and not exercising. Statin takers are 82% more likely to become obese.

The way you lower your cholesterol matters. Take a pill if you need to but don't forget a healthy diet + exercise.

Link to original publication

Abstract

>Background
>
>Lifestyle modification is a key component of cardiovascular disease prevention before and concurrently with pharmacologic interventions. We evaluated whether lifestyle factors change in relation to the initiation of antihypertensive or lipid‐lowering medication (statins).
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>Methods and Results
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>The study population comprised 41 225 participants of the FPS (Finnish Public Sector) study aged ≥40 years who were free of cardiovascular disease at baseline and responded to ≥2 consecutive surveys administered in 4‐year intervals in 2000–2013. Medication use was ascertained through pharmacy‐claims data. Using a series of pre–post data sets, we compared changes in body mass index, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking between 8837 initiators and 46 021 noninitiators of antihypertensive medications or statins. In participants who initiated medication use, body mass index increased more (difference in change 0.19; 95% CI, 0.16–0.22) and physical activity declined (−0.09 metabolic equivalent of task hour/day; 95% CI, −0.16 to −0.02) compared with noninitiators. The likelihood of becoming obese (odds ratio: 1.82; 95% CI, 1.63–2.03) and physically inactive (odds ratio: 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01–1.17) was higher in initiators. However, medication initiation was associated with greater decline in average alcohol consumption (−1.85 g/week; 95% CI, −3.67 to −0.14) and higher odds of quitting smoking (odds ratio for current smoking in the second survey: 0.74; 95% CI, 0.64–0.85).
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>Conclusions
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>These findings suggest that initiation of antihypertensive and statin medication is associated with lifestyle changes, some favorable and others unfavorable. Weight management and physical activity should be encouraged in individuals prescribed these medications.

Article Open Access Published: 20 October 2021

Triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol predict coronary heart disease risk in patients with stable angina

Chiara Caselli, Raffaele De Caterina, […]EVINCI and SMARTool Scientific Reports volume 11, Article number: 20714 (2021) Cite this article

Metrics details Abstract We assessed whether high triglycerides (TG) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, expressed by an increased TG/HDL-C ratio, predict coronary atherosclerotic disease (CAD) outcomes in patients with stable angina. We studied 355 patients (60 ± 9 years, 211 males) with stable angina who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA), were managed clinically and followed for 4.5 ± 0.9 years. The primary composite outcome was all-cause mortality and non-fatal myocardial infarction. At baseline, the proportion of males, patients with metabolic syndrome, diabetes and obstructive CAD increased across TG/HDL-C ratio quartiles, together with markers of insulin resistance, hepatic and adipose tissue dysfunction and myocardial damage, with no difference in total cholesterol or LDL-C. At follow-up, the global CTA risk score (HR 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.09, P = 0.001) and the IV quartile of the TG/HDL-C ratio (HR 2.85, 95% CI 1.30–6.26, P < 0.01) were the only independent predictors of the primary outcome. The TG/HDL-C ratio and the CTA risk score progressed over time despite increased use of lipid-lowering drugs and reduction in LDL-C. In patients with stable angina, high TG and low HDL-C levels are associated with CAD related outcomes independently of LDL-C and treatments.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-00020-3

Statin Island.

I am lowering my levothyroxine after being extremely over medicated on naturethroid (3 grains which is equivalent to 300mcg in Levo).

I’m now at 100mcg and noticing some side effects and also pretty tired. Does this mean the dose is too low or does the body just take time adjusting? I’m coming down from 125 before and still had heart palpitations among other hyper-like symptoms. Thanks

Does anyone know of any quality studies on antiandrogen or other hormone therapy for female hypersexuality, or even better, have first hand experience?

I’m a 25 year old woman and I’ve struggled with paraphilic interests and compulsive sexual behaviour for years. I’m currently seeing a forensic psychiatrist and a sexual therapist because of this, but talk therapy hasn’t helped much and my situation only seems to be getting worse as time goes by.

I’ve been on fluoxetine for a year to try and control my sex drive but it hasn’t helped at all and I’m now desperate enough to try hormone therapy. It works for men, so there must be something for women too. I’m so sick and tired of this that I just want to get rid of my sexuality altogether, it brings me nothing but pain and grief.

My psychiatrist is currently trying to consult his colleagues and will get back to me ASAP, but meanwhile, I want to do as much research as possible.

Hi all,

I’ve had hypercortisolism for 4 years+ now, though it was only diagnosed at the end of last year. It’s been a train wreck, I’ve had several infections I’ve almost died from and that have led to serious neurological damage, and my muscle weakness is so bad I can‘t leave the house on many days.

I had trans-sphenoidal surgery 4 weeks ago - theoretically there was a tumor that they could see on the MRI, but it turns out that it was just a natural spot that my pituitary has. They checked the pituitary every few milimeters for a tumor and were unable to find it. However, the surgery did confirm the diagnosis - my pituitary looked quite abnormal, and had a series of cells (Crooke’s hyaline) that are only present when the pituitary is exposed to hypercortisolism for long periods of time.

I had follow-up labwork, and unfortunately, my cortisol levels are still extremely high (UFCs in the 680+ range, normal should be under 80). There was a 40% chance the surgery would be curative according to the surgeon, even without finding the tumor explicitly, since they removed some of the abnormal tissue, and the tumor could have been tiny enough to not have been seen, but still have been removed.

I’m looking for an endo who I can work with who will get me on cortisol-lowering medication ASAP. The endo who works with my surgeon has been extremely non-responsive for months now, and I need to get this cortisol situation under control - I am about to lose my job if I do not go back to work, and I cannot work while I am this weak. Particularly interested in some of the newer drugs, such as Isturisa. Does anyone have experience with an endo who they can recommend (especially someone who does telehealth appointments)? I have family in both the US and Europe, and this is currently my top priority, so am willing to travel to see someone if necessary. Which endo can you recommend? How responsive have they been throughout your treatment process? What medication have you found success with to lower your cortisol? Happy to take recommendations via DM as well, if that is easier.

Thanks!

Hey all 🌻 I struggle with constant hyperarousal/vigilance to a point where I’m constantly agitated & overstimulated & I don’t register light sleep/sleep as sleep. I have a lot of vivid dreams where I can open my eyes and also be awake. I also can only sleep for about 4-5 hours with dozens of times where I’m checking the clock. I’m too aware/my brain is too active. I’m suffering a lot- I also have treatment resistant depression.

I’ve trie buspar and had a weird reaction where I had 12 hours of panic attack symptoms - couldn’t breathe, loud heartbeat.

Benzos make my depression to a point of suicidality & also eventually cause extreme agitation.

I have low blood pressure so clonidine didn’t work for me.

SSRIs stopped working for me & also cause insomnia (I’m sleep drug resistant. They just sedate my body if anything at all)

🥺 is there anyone else out there who struggles with any of this?

https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/news-posts/2021/12/23/results-trial-simvastatin-spms-expected-2025/

edit: and related article https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/people/it-would-end-this-nightmare-yorkshire-woman-one-of-nearly-1000-people-in-ground-breaking-ms-trial-3504658

It's just affecting my life and relationship, I don't want to be horny anymore, it makes me way too unproductive.

Edit I'm a man

i feel like it’s so hard to convince my psychiatrist to start weaning me off the medication (i take pristiq 100mg). i just don’t want to take them anymore because i don’t like taking pills every morning or when i happen to forget to take them, i feel so horrible. i hate that my psychiatrist makes me feel like that’s not a good enough reason because she keeps asking why whenever i explain it. like i’ll say exactly what i said and then she keeps asking why to break down the reason why i don’t want them anymore i guess? but i feel like my answer is good enough and the fact that i just don’t want to take them is enough. it’s just annoying and i always just end up staying with the same prescription or sometimes go higher because she makes it so difficult for me. i’m so bad at advocating for myself 😩 does anyone else have a story like this?

The effect of ketogenic diet on serum lipid concentrations in children with medication resistant epilepsy

Ünsal Yılmaz 1, Selvinaz Edizer 2, Melis Köse 3, Zeynep Akışin 4, Yiğithan Güzin 2, Serdar Pekuz 2, Hatice Hilal Kırkgöz 2, Merve Yavuz 2, Aycan Ünalp 5Affiliations expand

• PMID: 34147890
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2021.06.008

Abstract

Background: Ketogenic diet (KD) is a valuable treatment option for patients with medication-resistant epilepsy. It is associated with a number of side effects. However limited data are available for the long-term effects of KD on serum lipid levels.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of KD on serum lipid concentrations in children with medication-resistant epilepsy in daily clinical practice.

Method: A total of 73 children (40 girls) aged 3 to 193 months (median, 53 months) with medication-resistant epilepsy who received a KD treatment for at least 12 months between 201

First off I don’t want this to read as anti medication, but just wanted to share my experience. I was first put on medication (Adderall) a year ago, and started at 10mg twice a day. Over time I worked my way up to 60mg a day (I tried both XR and 20mg 3 times a day).

At the psych appointments, he would ask me if I’m still getting distracted as a way to gauge my success on the meds. I would always say yes, so my dose kept going up. Well, I had kept feeling like medication just wasn’t great for me. It would give me a kick to get going, but then it was like I didn’t know what to do with the energy. It wasn’t horrible, but I just felt a bit off on this high dose and it didn’t improve my symptoms the way I wanted it to.

Well, I had forgotten to pick my meds up and decided to use some old 10mg pills I had leftover and I feel a world of a difference. I don’t really get the kick or burst of energy, but I can kind of get lost in doing things and realize afterwards I actually focused (woohoo!!). It’s been a little over a week now of taking 10mg twice a day and I feel so much better. While I actually really like my psychiatrist, I think the question “do you still get distracted” isn’t a great measure of a medications success.

I know medication is completely different for everyone, so I hope this doesn’t sound preachy. I just wanted to share my experience.

I've been on 20mg of Lisinopril daily AM since May, and I honestly can't say that I've noticed it lowering my BP. It seems to me that I've I had more success immediately lowering my BP, by changing my diet, (more fresh fruits and veg, beet juice, reducing salt, increasing daily water intake), than anything else.

I've also tried adding both over the counter Nattokinase and Hawthorn Berry, and again I can't say I noticed a drop after taking those. I do still take 4 capsules, (2 twice daily), of Nattokinase, in between meals because my general doctor recommends it. I also read in this subreddit a post advocating for Lemon Balm as a daily supplement to lower BP.

1. Please feel free to share your experiences with either prescription medication or over the counter supplements that you use to lower your BP, both pro and con.
2. Lastly when your BP spikes, are there any methods or medications/supplements, that help reduce your BP.

I've read that Viagra was originally intended to reduce blood pressure, and I'm thinking about asking my doctor for a prescription for it, just in case I want to reduce my BP when it spikes. So far when my BP spikes, I typically don't take anything additional, and just tough it out, but if there's something to take that can lower a BP spike, that may be helpful too.

TIA..

Want to be more proactive in reducing BP and lipid damage on my next cycle, do we have anything reliable, aside from eating a very clean diet?