"Before instituting therapy with atorvastatin, an attempt should be made to control hypercholesterolemia with appropriate diet, exercise, and weight reduction in obese patients, and to treat other underlying medical problems (see INDICATIONS AND USAGE)."

This quote was taken directly from Pfizer's Lipitor monograph. As a scientist and pharmacist as well as a patient dealing with high cholesterol levels and a personal decision whether or not to take Lipitor, I can say with certainty that the majority of physicians and scientists who develop, study, market, prescribe, and dispense these drugs only do it to help people. That's the bottom line. If the medicines cause harm and have to be taken off the market, everyone loses.

There may be some "suits" somewhere at these companies for whom profit is the bottom line, but most really want to help and are driven to work long hours in the hopes that they are helping people.

Put yourself in their shoes! I spent 13 years (that isn't a typo!) going to college full time to first get a Ph.D. in biochemistry and then a degree in pharmacy so I could help patients by explaining how medicines work, what kinds of questions to ask their prescribers, and suggesting alternatives to prescription medicines (a topic we did spend quite a bit of time on in pharmacy school!) when appropriate. I have no reason to push medicines on anyone - I get paid the same whether I fill 50 or 300 prescriptions per day. I am a "pleaser" type of personality as are most of my health care colleagues.

It can be hard for me to get my doctor to consider alternatives to Lipitor, but I believe that he wants to help and thinks prescription drugs are the best choice because so many patients fail to follow a good diet/exercise/ healthy living program.

There is no conspiracy! But there are individuals who may have ego problems or other reasons for not being helpful or greed in trying to overlook patients' best interest.

Bev

One of my biggest concerns with Lipitor is their ad. It says "LIPITOR has not been shown to prevent heart disease or heart attack." If I were a drug company I would do every test possible to prove that it does help. It seems that most people are under the opinion that this is why they take statins. My reason for asking about the blood brain barrier was that it has been proven the the brain produces its own supply of cholesterol independently from the liver. As cholesterol is used to produce myelin, I just wondered if the statin drugs "spill/leak" over into the brain and reduce this production? Just a thought, but I can't find any research on this. I understand your position on takiing Lipitor...Even with the research I've done on statins, sometimes I wonder if Maybe there is just a little truth to the lowering of cholesterol and they would be benificial. Then I have to slap myself and just read the Lipitor ad. Just exactly why would I want to lower cholesterol, if Lipitor makers say it hasn't been shown to prevent heart disease or heart attacks?....Other RX/Med Pharmaceutical information also says "Atorvastatin (Lipitor) thearpy should be temporarily withheld or discontinued in any patien with an acute serious conditioon SUGGESTIVE of a myopathy...". Most doctors out there assure you that pains , fatique..are not caused by statins, that statins are safe. As only lady put it " I know from my doctor that side effects from statins are rare, but how come all of those people who have side effects decided to live in my small town?"

Quote from finres:

One of my biggest concerns with Lipitor is their ad. It says "LIPITOR has not been shown to prevent heart disease or heart attack." If I were a drug company I would do every test possible to prove that it does help. It seems that most people are under the opinion that this is why they take statins. My reason for asking about the blood brain barrier was that it has been proven the the brain produces its own supply of cholesterol independently from the liver. As cholesterol is used to produce myelin, I just wondered if the statin drugs "spill/leak" over into the brain and reduce this production? Just a thought, but I can't find any research on this. I understand your position on takiing Lipitor...Even with the research I've done on statins, sometimes I wonder if Maybe there is just a little truth to the lowering of cholesterol and they would be benificial. Then I have to slap myself and just read the Lipitor ad. Just exactly why would I want to lower cholesterol, if Lipitor makers say it hasn't been shown to prevent heart disease or heart attacks?....Other RX/Med Pharmaceutical information also says "Atorvastatin (Lipitor) thearpy should be temporarily withheld or discontinued in any patien with an acute serious conditioon SUGGESTIVE of a myopathy...". Most doctors out there assure you that pains , fatique..are not caused by statins, that statins are safe. As only lady put it " I know from my doctor that side effects from statins are rare, but how come all of those people who have side effects decided to live in my small town?"

:wave: And my small town..starting with me. ;)