I wrote the message below on March 9th, 2008, but I think it migh...

I wrote the message below on March 9th, 2008, but I think it might be useful if I repeat it. _________________________ It`s very disturbing to read all these stories. I really feel for you. My experience comes from seeing what happened to people close to me. They all took statins. I started to look for information on statins, and other medications in 2004 and it continues to this day although two of my relatives are dead. I have nothing to do with the health or pharmaceutical industry. I saw the suffering and it made me very angry. I am an ordinary lady in her sixties who live in Sweden. The situation is almost the same here as in the U.S. There is very little discussion about risks/benefits with this kind of medicatications - or others. I think it`s a good idea to turn to the Internet and books to get other views about the cholesterol issue. Is it really true that it`s the cholesterol that is causing heart disease? Are you sure? Please visit: www.thincs.org, www.ravnskov.nu, www.spacedoc.net, www.statinalert.org Also search articles etc on "Stopped our statins" and on the names of the different authors below. Also read: The Cholesterol Myths (Uffe Ravnskov) The Great Cholesterol Con (Antony Colpo) Book with the same title (Malcolm Kendrick) Overdosed America (John Abramson) The Truth about the Drug Companies (Marcia Agnell) Malignant Medical Myths (Joel M. Kauffman) There are many more. Please look on the Inernet for more information about each book. It´s good to have some other information than the one given by doctors because most of them have been "educated" by the pharmaceutical companies themselves - and why should they talk about risks, side effects etc. They are interested in profits. Finally - here are some side effects that I have seen: pains in legs, hands, elbows, shoulders, knees, hips, cracking noise in ribs, muscle weakness, loss of hair, head ache, burning, tingling sensations in hands and feet, numbness, difficulties to swallow, loss of taste, ringing noise in ears, cramps, insomnia, irritation, depression, difficulty with short-term memory and then advancing into more serious problems. These side effects - for 3 different people - all over 65 - did not come at once. All of them had taken statins for years (Zocor) It doesn´t matter which product -all statins have similar side effects. Search for "Stopped our statins" on Google. It´s a very informative site and under "print articles" there are som articles that you can take along to your doctor for discussion. I particularly like the one from Weston Price Foundation and explains the different statin studies and side effects. . My relatives also had some other medications which makes it even easier for doctors (and patients) to say that it`s just old age. I am happy for those who get problems right away because then there maybe a chance for the patient and the doctor to see that there is a connection. You really have to look out for yourself and the people around you! Good Luck.