In conclusion,
statins inhibit valve calcification in tissue culture via inhibition of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway
, independent of protein prenylation, but paradoxically stimu- late bone cell calcification in a population of cells similar to that present in ossified cardiac valves.
Does Lipitor help with aortic stenosis?
Statins have been found to be generally ineffective in delaying the progression of aortic stenosis
, although some cohort studies found improvements in valve hemodynamics. Aortic stenosis lesions are characterized by calcific and lipoproteinacous deposits and end-stage aortic stenosis results in valve ossification.
Does Lipitor affect the heart?
Statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol XL), lovastatin (Altoprev), pitavastatin (Livalo), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor, Ezallor) and simvastatin (Zocor, FloLipid).
Having too much cholesterol in your blood increases your risk of heart attacks and strokes
.
Do statins help aortic stenosis?
Statins and ACE inhibitors are two potential and promising treatments that may have beneficial effects in patients with aortic stenosis
. Statins are likely to reduce cardiovascular events rather than disease progression per se but may potentially be a valuable preventative treatment in these patients.
Does Lipitor unclog arteries?
A:
Yes. There have been several clinical studies — many of them done here at Cleveland Clinic — that show statins can reverse plaque buildup
. Two statins in particular, atorvastatin, which is sold under the brand name Lipitor, and rosuvastatin, which is sold under the brand name Crestor, are the strongest statins.
What can I take instead of Lipitor?
- Fibrates. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis. …
- Plant stanols and sterols. …
- Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins. …
- Niacin. …
- Policosanol. …
- Red yeast rice extract (RYRE) …
- Natural products.
What are the dangers of taking Lipitor?
- Cold-like symptoms.
- Joint pain.
- Diarrhea.
- Urinary tract infection.
- Stomach pain.
- Nausea.
- Muscle pain and spasms.
- Difficulty falling and staying asleep.
Can aortic stenosis be treated with medication?
No pill can cure or even improve your aortic stenosis. But
there are some medications that may help you control your symptoms and lower the chance of having certain complications
. Among the medicines your doctor might prescribe are: ACE inhibitors, which can open blood vessels more fully.
What does moderate to severe aortic stenosis mean?
If your aortic stenosis is severe, you may have the same symptoms as some people with moderate cases — such as
chest pain, tightness, shortness of breath when you’re active, and fainting
. These signs can also mean that the disease is starting to worsen more quickly.
Will an echocardiogram show aortic stenosis?
An echocardiogram can show your doctor how blood flows through your heart and heart valves.
It can help identify a weakened heart muscle and determine the severity of aortic valve stenosis
. If your doctor needs a closer look at your aortic valve, a transesophageal echocardiogram may be done.
Does aortic stenosis cause AFIB?
Atrial fibrillation is observed in up to one third of high-risk patients with symptomatic, severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation
.
Why is Lipitor been recalled?
Pfizer voluntarily recalled specific bottles of Lipitor (40 mg only)
due to reports of an unusual odor
. As medical tests have determined that the unusual odor was unlikely to cause an adverse reaction, the Lipitor recall doesn’t seem to have any serious consequences for patients.
Can Lipitor be taken every other day?
Conclusions: In hypercholesterolemia patients,
atorvastatin 10 mg every other day is safe and effective in lowering TC, TG, with LDL-c and a slight increase in HDL-c
.
Does Lipitor prevent heart attacks?
A study of more than 135,000 people at risk for a heart attack or stroke found that
those who took statins had a 25% lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke compared to those who did not take statins
. Statins are among the safest and most studied medications.
Is Crestor better than Lipitor?
The study concluded that
Crestor lowered LDL cholesterol by 8.2% more than Lipitor
, and Crestor lowered total cholesterol significantly more than all the other statins studied. Crestor also increased HDL cholesterol (the good kind of cholesterol) more than Lipitor did.
What is the safest cholesterol medication?
Still, all in all, the
statins
are the safest and best tolerated of all cholesterol-lowering medications.
Why was Crestor taken off the market?
Initial reports indicate the patient died of a muscle-damaging disease linked to Crestor and all other members of the family of cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins. The same side disease,
rhabdomyolysis, drove the cholesterol-lowering drug Baycol off the market
.
Why are doctors pushing statins?
A study published Monday is pushing back against the notion that up to 40 percent of Americans should be taking statin drugs
to reduce the risk of heart disease
. The study, in the Annals of Internal Medicine, argues that current medical guidelines haven’t adequately considered the risks from these widely used drugs.
Can you just stop taking Lipitor?
It’s possible for some people to stop taking statins safely, but it can be especially risky for others
. For instance, if you have a history of heart attack or stroke, it’s not recommended that you stop taking these drugs. This is because you’re more likely to have another such problem when you discontinue statins.
Does Lipitor cause dementia?
The researchers found that of 300 older adults with mildly impaired thinking and memory,
those using “lipophilic” statins were more likely to develop dementia over the next eight years
. Lipophilic statins include such widely used medications as simvastatin (Zocor), atorvastatin (Lipitor) and lovastatin (Altoprev).
