I am no longer taking Zocor to manage high cholesterol. The main component of managing my heart health is exercise. I've raised my HDL (the good cholesterol) by 33% over the past 2 months, by being very regular with my time on the treadmill and lifting weights. Two months ago the HDL was 39, and last week it tested at 52. To help ensure that the HDL continues to rise, the LDL continues to decline, and the triglycerides diminish, I am also taking Niacin (500 mg, twice daily ...this is niacin, NOT niacinamide ...niacinamide is what's commonly included for vitamin B3 in vitamin supplements, but niacinamide does not yield the cholesterol-management benefits of niacin), Vitamin C (1000 mg, 3 x day), Omega 3 fish oil (1200 mg, 2 x day), and CoQ10 (60 mg, 2 x day). I took Zocor for 2 months (40mg / day). No more. There were several mild side effects, and that was bad enough. After learning that Niacin is typically more effective than the statin drugs anyway and has fewer (if ANY) side effects, and after learning that statin drugs cause cancer in lab animals, and after learning that statin drugs have been known to lead to Transient Global Amnesia, loss of mental acuity, insomnia, depression ...DUH! It was a no-brainer to find another solution to managing cholesterol. There's certainly plenty of debate about whether high cholesterol is even the cause of clogged arteries, but regardless, I know that I feel a lot better getting very regular exercise. And it is a bit comforting to know that niacin has been in use for managing cholesterol for over 50 years. That has yielded a pretty nice body of knowledge.

Disclaimer / warning: Some folks DO have reactions to niacin. Most common is temporary vasodilation, which can manifest as a red flush of the extremities. The first time I took niacin, within 15 minutes my face was flushed, my ears were hot, my fingers were itching mildly, and my forearms were covered with a mild red rash. These symptoms subsided within 30 minutes or so, and have not reappeared with subsequent doses. I'm just relaying my own experiences here. You're an idiot if you try to blindly do exactly what I'm doing. Work with a licensed physician to discuss the options and monitor your progress.

This morning I had an appointment with my doctor. I wanted to tell him that I was stopping the Zocor, tell him why, and ask if he'd be willing to help me monitor progress while exploring alternative therapies (exercise, niacin, and other supplements). I was prepared to have to walk out and find a different physician. Much to my surprise, he was quite happy to have a patient who, in his words, "gets it". We in the USA often tend to be a lazy people, not very eager to change our lifestyles. Well it turns out that my doc has high total cholesterol, but by spending an hour a day on the treadmill, he maintains the HDL at 75, and so has no need for drugs to manage the cholesterol. In fact, he said of his siblings and other relatives, he is the only one who is not on a statin drug.

Zocor sales were US$4.4 billion last year. The patent just expired, but to keep the profits coming, Merck is now combining Zocor with another drug for a new product (CNN article). Lipitor sales were over US$10 billion in 2004, and Deutsche Bank predicts the sales could exceed US$14 billion in 2007 if Pfizer can hold onto the patents (CNN article). With profits like these, it's no wonder we are inundated with advertising about statin products. I am happy that I will no longer be contributing to those profits. The Niacin (brand name Endur-acin, but there are many options) will cost me US$4.80 per month ...total cost. Insurance isn't paying it. It's that inexpensive ...and no prescription needed. And more effective as per the research I've read so far ...and safer, in my own not-a-doctor opinion. :)