You may have seen a recent headline that has generated plenty of questions to my office and to the staff of The Aerobics Center. It dealt with the recall of Baycol.

Baycol is one of several cholesterol lowering drugs known as "statins." Other statin medications include Lipitor, Zocor, Mevacor, and Pravachol. The statin drugs have had great success in controlling the cholesterol of millions of Americans, and have also been shown to provide other benefits including reducing the incidence of stroke, osteoporosis and even Alzheimer's disease.

When lifestyle changes (i.e. diet and exercise) are not enough to effectively lower cholesterol I do not hesitate to prescribe a statin drug to my patients. One potential side effect of a statin drug however is the possibility of acute muscle pain or discomfort known as rhabdomyolysis. This usually occurs in the legs.

There have been at least 40 deaths (31 in the USA and 9 internationally) linked to rhabdomyolysis in patients using Baycol. That is why it was pulled off the market in mid August. The problem was most likely to occur when Baycol was given in high doses or when combined with Lopid (gemfibrozil), which is used to lower triglycerides.

The main message here is NOT to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Baycol accounted for about 8% of the statin prescriptions in this country. It only received FDA approval in 1997 and as a result did not have nearly as much research behind it as do some of the other, more commonly prescribed, statins. I feel that statin drugs are of tremendous benefit to many people. In fact, a national panel of experts, under the leadership of Dr. Scott Grundy from UT Southwestern Medical Center, recently recommended that the number of Americans on statin medication should be tripled, from 13 million to 36 million!

If you go on a statin drug make sure that you have a liver profile (a simple blood test) done at 3 and 6 months. This profile should include transaminase, the SGOT, and the CPK. It's also important to have your lipid profile checked (including your total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, homocysteine, and C-reactive protein if possible). Side effects, like rhabdomyolysis, are not common but you should definitely be aware of the possibilities. Be proactive and take charge of your health.

If you would like more information on how to treat cholesterol please refer to my latest book, "Controlling Cholesterol the Natural Way."

Sincerely,
Dr. Ken Cooper

Recognized through his writings and research as the leader of the international physical fitness movement, Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., has been credited with motivating more people to exercise in pursuit of good health than any other person.

From the time of his first book, Aerobics (1968), Dr. Cooper has advocated revolutionizing the field of medicine away from disease treatment to disease prevention through aerobic exercise. Dr. Cooper has educated millions of people through his 18 books, which have been translated into 41 languages and Braille. His message is direct: "It is easier to maintain good health through proper exercise, diet and emotional balance than it is to regain it once it is lost."