Heart Failure

I would strongly urge him to take 400 - 1000 mg daily of CoQ10. The body manufactures this but as we get older we don't get enough for the optimum functioning of the electron chain in the mitochondria of the cells. Cardiologists in Japan and Europe use it for heart failure treatment but not much in this country because they don't know much about it, and they don't know much about it because of lack of research (as you know, most research here is funded by drug companies which of course have zero interest in CoQ10 because it is a natural substance which cannot be patented and therefore wouldn't make much money for them). CoQ is not a cure-all but it absolutely will not interact with your husband's drugs nor will it harm him in any way whatsoever. And if he is on statins, maybe he should reconsider their use; statins are fantastic but also very dangerous drugs which most cardiologists do not understand and therefore prescribe to people where the risk/benefit ratio is not in the patient's favor.Statins can kill.

i also have a defibrillater which i hope never goes off. i take a number of pills for my heart condition and i feel that plavix is the best of he bunch. it is very expensive but by ordering thru Canada ican get it for about $1 per day.

My husband is 75 and has heart failure and kidney disease. He had an ICD put in in March of this year. He is also having a hard time with his meds. (Coreg for strengthening the heart and Midodrine for keeping BP up) Off Coreg for now and keeping Midodrine so BP stays up. (about 107/74 during the day w/Midodrine!) This is so difficult for all concerned. If I could afford the Mayo Clinic, I would TOTALLY make an appointment!! Your husband is only 46. Lots of life to enjoy!

I wish Anonymous would identify him/herself. We really need all the knowledge and reliable contacts available...

hi sitting scribe1. Please always check with your dr before interacting anything. Many things even when natural can interact with other medications.I am on comaudin a blood thinner and have to be careful as many things interact. Many on this site also do prefer to go private or anonymous. Take care piglit

And let it be known that "Momentum" is amusing. He needs to know that "pier" is not spelled "peer." There is a difference.

I read your plea about using any information you can get. I did not respond right away because I don't like trying to use the tiny keys on my SmartPhone. As to using the internet, by the way: all drugs have side effects (and supplements, ditto) so take that into account, and be careful what internet sites you go to. Go to several and compare them.

If I am the "Anonymousj" you are referring to: I have a research background, I know scientific methodology, I have spent two years reading every available, worthwhile study of CoQ10, statins, cholesterol, lipid rafts, the electron chain, the mevalonate pathway and much more in the medical field and I will be spending the rest of my life on the same pursuit because a "fact" in medicine one day may turn out to be no such thing a week later: you can't just read the literature once and figure you are done.

Result of my keeping up-to-date: when I go in with my husband to see his cardiologist the doctor pumps me for info and immediately goes to the references I provide, and ditto for my doctor, who had never heard of acetyl L-carnitine which I am now taking and upon looking it up on the internet said "keep it up" - which I would have done anyway (it helps in the metabolism of fats). And when I see my own medical person at Mayo, we spend quite a bit of time discussing statin research because he has access to research I can't get at and I have read things that he didn't know about until I came in. We take a mutual pleasure in sharing information.

I am not a doctor, but I was studying on the doctoral level in Experimental Psychology at the U of Minnesota until I decided I would rather be doing something more interesting than chasing lab rats the rest of my life. Doctors are much too busy to keep current with research on drugs, so I make suggestions which you might follow up with your doctor (who may need to check them out, if he hasn't heard of this or that which I mention) or on the internet.

And of course nobody should stop statins "cold turkey": it's very dangerous. Talk with your doctor about your concerns and about coming off gradually, and if this bothers him, look up the subject of statins on the internet (Dr. Beatrice Golomb's work is a good place to start: not too technical) and the subject of statin rebound.

If your doctor is unhappy about the idea of quitting a statin, remember: a former FDA director said "People have to take care of their own selves." He knew the problems! I know a number of instances in which following "doctor's orders" resulted in a death which was clearly attributable to something the doctor prescribed. So look up every drug taken, don't let the list of side effects scare you off (the benefits may exceed the risks for any particular person), but if you have a gut feeling against a drug, let your doctor know right away that you want to discuss it with him before proceeding further. Maybe he has a better idea.

Anonymous,

I am using statins for the last 5 years with out any negative effect, you scared me
by saying that statins can kill, will be thankful if you elaborate on this point. How they are dangerous, please explain in detail.

Hi Nic have just read your post and myself am concerned that you have been scared by the posting of Anonymous. Please don't be alarmed if you have been seeing your own cardiologist or specialist I am sure that everything that you are taking is being monitored. I feel that this comment by Anonymous should not have been made as comments like this can cause undue stress to people. If you have any concerns please speak to your dr. Take care Piglit