Fishing for cholesterol remedies? Don't get hooked by Vytorin
If you were (or still are) taking Vytorin, here are the only possible things you got for your money: headaches, colds and flu, increased liver enzymes and trouble breathing—not to mention the increase in arterial plaque we saw in this study.
In House Calls back in February, I wrote about the newly released study results on Vytorin that offers no benefit to anyone who's prescribed it. Just as Merck was trying to shake off the dust from Vioxx blowing up in its face, it's now dealing with its latest self-created debacle.
But don't feel too sorry for the folks at Merck—they sold $5 billion worth of Vytorin and Zetia in 2007 alone. That's one heck of a payday for a product that's a complete failure. And Vytorin sales have only dropped 10 percent since the release of the study—a testament to how brainwashed many docs—and patients—are, no matter what the science says.
The failure of this so-called cholesterol-lowering drug isn't surprising. In my experience, simply lowering cholesterol in most people—without, for example, reducing inflammation—boils down to a meaningless numbers game.
The fact is, there's a vast array of natural remedies that won't promote plaque in your arteries and will help reduce overall systemic inflammation.
My favorite natural remedy is the omega-3s from fatty fish, which have been proven to reduce chronic inflammation. Salmon, mackerel and tuna—all rich in omega 3s—should all be making an appearance in your menu plans throughout the week.
And if you can't stomach fish, then please take a fish oil supplement. I recommend 2 to 3 grams total EPA and DHA (check the figures on the label— you may need to add them up yourself).
Meanwhile, don't assume you've heard the last of Vytorin. Researchers seem to want to prolong the drug's certain death by expanding the study to include 18,000 people and dragging the whole mess out to 2012. In the end, they'll find what you and I already know—it's useless.
