Posted on 03/19/2017 8:30:36 PM PDT by steve86
Repatha cut by 20 percent the combined risk of having either a heart attack, stroke or a heart-related death. That happened to nearly 6 percent of people on Repatha versus more than 7 percent on the dummy drug. The benefit grew with longer use, and was 25 percent the second year, said Sabatine, who consults for Amgen and other drugmakers.
The drug cut by 15 percent a broader set of problems — the ones above plus hospitalization for chest pain or an artery-opening procedure. Nearly 10 percent of folks on Repatha had one versus more than 11 percent on the dummy drug
(Excerpt) Read more at seattlepi.com ...
Not a statin but is a cholesterol-lowering medication.
Many of the existing statin-based arguments against lipid-lowering therapy will apply.
I take a statin myself, as does my 100 YO mother (for the last decade and a half or more).
Anyone who is on maintenance drugs know the pricing scheme is confusing and unfair. There are more riddles to this complex maze that there should be.
What is still unknown is as to why the drugs work so well—there is something about an anti-inflammation benefit others have suggested for the reason.
Repatha cut by 20 percent the combined risk of having either a heart attack, stroke or a heart-related death. That happened to nearly 6 percent of people on Repatha versus more than 7 percent on the dummy drug.
So, placebo had a more widespread effect. ...and how was the cut in risk measured if not by number of people having an effect?
My wife and I both have taken all kinds of statins. Neither of us saw any benefits. The only results I saw was severe leg pain.
Seeing some results with fish oil. But the best results have been from exercise and dropping 40 lbs.
Seeing cardiologist on Tuesday. Will ask about repatha. My pharmacist, who handles my blood thinner treatment, mentioned repatha last week.
“Many of the existing statin-based arguments against lipid-lowering therapy will apply.”
What arguments are those? I ask because my cardiologist wants to double my Crestor dosage because he wants to lower my LDL. On the other hand my HDL is uncommonly high and my primary says I shouldn’t worry about it.
Ah...the 6% vs. 7% is the portion that had the heart attack or stroke, or heart-related death.
“!
For every 200 people treated with Repatha for roughly two years, three fewer people would suffer a heart attack, stroke or heart-related death. But looked at by themselves, deaths were not reduced by the drug.
“That’s a big benefit,” said Dr. Marc Sabatine, the study leader, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. For millions of people with heart disease or high risk for it like those in the study, “it’s worth it to be on this medicine.”
But Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, preventive medicine chief at Northwestern University and an American Heart Association spokesman, called the results modest and “not quite what we hoped or expected.”
I tried 3 different statins, never lasted more than a month. Changed doctors who would not listen. My current PCP, who is also a shooter, listens and she has me on red rice yeast and niacin from a place in Oregon. My HDL is crazy high too which elevates my total. I lost 20 pounds, exercise regularly, eat what I want, drink and I am around 200 with good BP. stress seems to increase my cholesterol more than any other single issue.
Dropping weight, exercising, taking good fish oil and eating a lot of fruits, veggies will definitely prolong your life. Good for you.
My doc is accustomed to having me turn down drugs….told me his mother won’t take them either. So he prescribes things like fish oil and even electrolytes to put in water while I exercise. Carrying water bottle around the gym is so common, I had to paint my name on it with nail polish.
My understanding is that the medication is HUGELY expensive. So some insurances may be reluctant to cover it.
I was on a a stain, a Crestor generic. Lots of muscle pain and aches. Happy I’m no longer taking it.
PS Like stories above, lost a lot of weight, exercise and eat right, lots of water
No riddles, a recent study showed Amazon natives had near perfect arteries. 100% compared to 20%. This says heart disease is 100% diet lifestyle not a magic pill.
Maybe it’s statistically “significant” but looks like not very, over the placebo, in real life.
Diet and lifestyle changes could have made HUGE improvements. Cholesterol is essential for our brains. We don’t need to remove it in order to lower heart problem risks.
Only 1.5% benefit vs 100% lifestyle benefit.
Have had a problem with LDL cholesterol since menopause. Have tried and failed one statin after the other, all for the same reason:muscle pain that reduces me to a motionless mass of pain. Have been taking flax seed oil (omega 3) since and my HDL level is in the 90s, very protective.
Primary doc keeps trying to tempt me with the latest statin kid on the block but the muscle pain problem always comes back, even with CoQ 10.
I was taking statins; developed an allergic reaction - my tongue swelled up. I had to stop taking it immediately.
However, many years later, I discovered another product which is not toxic to me: Citrus Bergamot. It’s made from the oranges grown in Southern Italy. I found the product at The Vitamin Shoppe.
A 60 day supply is only $38.00 - and I had a 146 point decrease in my LDL, and a small increase in my HDL, which had always been steadily over 60, after my doctor and I agreed to a 120 day test, and at the end of each 30 days, a new blood test to see what was happening.
My doctor was stunned at the results. I have both types of cholesterol - food, and genetically inherited.
It’s an easy test to do - one capsule daily for 120 days - followed by blood checks every 30 days.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.