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HysteryDiagnosis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-07-10 07:33 AM
Original message
Supplements do nothing, which is why you will find this page
at www.clinicaltrials.gov


http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01140308?term=coenzyme+q10&rank=2

Purpose
Statins (such as simvastatin or Zocor) are the most effective and widely prescribed medications to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the frequency of heart attacks, cardiac deaths and strokes. Unfortunately, statins can cause muscle discomfort or pain called "myalgia" in patients treated with these drugs. These symptoms often cause patients who need these medications to stop taking the drug. The cause of statin muscle pain is not known, but it is thought that a reduction of a vitamin-like substance called Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) during statin treatment may play a role. CoQ10 is a vitamin like substance and is not a drug approved and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This study will look at the effects of CoQ10 supplements on individuals who develop muscle symptoms while on simvastatin.

The investigators hope to test the hypothesis that CoQ10 supplementation compared to placebo in patients with documented statin myalgia reduces the intensity of pain during statin treatment.


These other trials are also being done because the people who do them have nothing better on their agenda.


3 Recruiting The Effect of Co Enzyme Q10 Together With Fertility Drugs on Pregnancy Outcome of in Vitro Fertilization
Conditions: Aneuploidy; Pregnancy; Miscarriage
Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Coenzyme Q10 concomitant treatment; Dietary Supplement: Placebo

4 Recruiting Study in PRE-manifest Huntington's Disease of Coenzyme Q10 (UbiquinonE) Leading to Preventive Trials (PREQUEL)
Condition: Huntington's Disease
Intervention: Drug: CoQ10

5 Active, not recruiting Effects of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) in Parkinson Disease
Condition: Parkinson Disease
Interventions: Drug: Coenzyme Q10 with vitamin E; Drug: placebo with vitamin E

6 Terminated How Dose Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation During Infertility Treatment Effects Pregnancy Outcome
Condition: Poor Ovarian Response
Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Coenzyme Q10 co treatment; Other: Placebo Caps

7 Recruiting CoQ10 in Geriatric Bipolar Depression
Condition: Bipolar Depression
Intervention: Dietary Supplement: CoEnzyme Q10

8 Recruiting Benefit of CoQ-10 in Patients on Statins
Conditions: Pain; Soreness; Weakness; Fatigue
Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Co-enzyme Q-10; Dietary Supplement: Placebo

9 Recruiting Coenzyme Q10 in Older Athletes Treated With Statin Medications
Conditions: Muscle Weakness; Myalgia; Side Effects of Statins
Interventions: Drug: Coenzyme q 10; Drug: placebo

10 Recruiting Does Coenzyme Q 10 Supplementation Reduces Muscle Pain Caused by Statins? (Cholesterol Lowering Medications)
Condition: Statin Induced Myalgia
Interventions: Drug: Coenzyme Q 10; Drug: Placebo control

11 Completed Coenzyme Q10 in Adult-Onset Ataxia
Condition: Sporadic Ataxia
Interventions: Drug: Placebo (sugar pill); Drug: Coenzyme Q10

12 Recruiting Study of CoQ10 During One Cycle of Doxorubicin Treatment for Breast Cancer
Condition: Breast Cancer
Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Coenzyme Q10; Dietary Supplement: Coenzyme Q10 Placebo

13 Recruiting Effects of Coenzyme Q10 in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)
Conditions: Progressive Supranuclear Palsy; Atypical Parkinsonism
Intervention: Drug: Coenzyme Q10

14 Completed Coenzyme Q10 in Relieving Treatment-Related Fatigue in Women With Breast Cancer
Conditions: Breast Cancer; Fatigue
Interventions: Dietary Supplement: coenzyme Q10; Dietary Supplement: vitamin E

15 Recruiting Coenzyme Q10 in Huntington's Disease (HD)
Condition: Huntington's Disease
Interventions: Drug: coenzyme Q10; Other: placebo

16 Terminated Efficacy and Safety of Coenzyme Q10 in the Treatment of Statin-Associated Myalgia
Condition: Statin-associated Myalgia
Interventions: Dietary Supplement: coenzyme Q10; Dietary Supplement: matching placebo

17 Recruiting Clinical Trial of Coenzyme Q10 and Lisinopril in Muscular Dystrophies
Conditions: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy; Becker Muscular Dystrophy; Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy
Intervention: Drug: Coenzyme Q10 and Lisinopril

18 Completed A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Assessing the Effect of Fenofibrate, Coenzyme Q10 and Their co-Administration on Ventricular Diastolic Function in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Condition: Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Intervention: Drug: Fenofibrate/CoQ10
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yellerpup Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-07-10 08:32 AM
Response to Original message
1. My friend, an award-winning drug researcher
sent her husband out to buy supplements for me after I had lost 30 pounds in 2 years because of a rare condition of my esophagus. I was weak from starvation and couldn't walk a half block before needing to stop because of PVD (because eating too much ice cream raised my cholesterol and blood lipids) and exhaustion. My doctor prescribed statins but after 5 days I found myself thinking almost constantly of suicide and so refused to take them and within two weeks, I was back in the fight for my life again. The packet of supplements my researcher friend gave me included Coenzyme Q10, fish oil, D3 and aloe vera juice. She also recommended pomegranite juice for the PVD. I had to survive a year on these supplements until our health insurance would cover me and I did. The condition was surgically corrected and I now regularly walk a mile or two without having to slow down. I still take the supplements but get most of my nutrition from eating wholesome fresh foods. At 61, I continue to look good and feel good. I realize that this is anecdotal evidence but these supplements saved my life. Drug companies don't want the competition and admittedly not all supplements are equally effective, but we have many more options for better living than the prescriptions that drug companies would try to prescribe to lock us into a lifelong regimen.
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HysteryDiagnosis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-07-10 08:43 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. You are one of the lucky ones, and what if, just what if "supplements"
have reduced your overall healthcare costs which would mean a reduction in the nations overall all healthcare costs if applied on a grand scale with supplements PROVEN to favorably affect conditions xyz.
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yellerpup Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-07-10 09:27 AM
Response to Reply #2
5. Supplements have definitely reduced my healthcare costs.
Especially costs associated with treating side effects from prescription drugs. When I complained of depression after taking statins my doctor said that depression was not a side effect listed for statins and that he would be happy to prescribe an anti-depressant to help me cope. I explained that I would not take any drug that made me wish I was dead, and I came out stronger than before. I notice that recently depression IS listed as a side effect of taking statins. As a result of the illness I am now educated on nutrition and how to use food as medicine. By all means supplements should be tested independently and the public should be educated on the difference between food and food substitute (processed foods).
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HysteryDiagnosis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-07-10 09:32 AM
Response to Reply #5
6. Cholesterol is a necessary material in the body, oxidized cholesterol
not so much. Too little cholesterol and you can experience some rather nasty things.
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yellerpup Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-07-10 10:23 AM
Response to Reply #6
7. Yes, such as the weakening of cellular walls
for instance. During the year leading up to my surgery I spoke with and was examined by many doctors in the gastro-intestinal disciplines. Every single one of them took CoQ10 if they were also taking statins. I notice there seems to be an upswing in 'restless leg syndrome' (if advertising is any indication...) and wonder how that correlates with the across the board increase in statin use. Cholesterol is an insulator of nerve endings, isn't it? I'm no scientist (as you can tell) but became an educated consumer while I was sick.
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SheilaT Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-07-10 08:36 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. For those of you whose cholesterol levels
have dropped alarmingly, I have a chocolate cake recipe with lots of butter to resolve that problem. :)
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yellerpup Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-08-10 07:41 AM
Response to Reply #8
9. Mmmm..chocolate cake!
Good for mental health! :crazy:
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HereSince1628 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-07-10 08:54 AM
Response to Original message
3. Cholesterol and CoQ biosynthesis share mavelonate, statins effect mavelonate
Edited on Sun Nov-07-10 08:57 AM by HereSince1628
synthesis. The notion that statins could interfere with production of biomolecules (including CoQ) that require mavelonate as a substrate has been a part of the rational search for causes of statin side-effects.

The above isn't an endorsement of supplements in any way, rather a bit more background.

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NRaleighLiberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-07-10 09:10 AM
Response to Original message
4. I've experienced amazing results with a few herbs that have been used
for many, many years before pharma came up with what turn out to be pretty ineffective and dangerous medicines (the cox 2s - the doc essentially said Vioxx was my best bet). As someone with torn ACLs and menisci, the pain was making it difficult for me to garden, walk, etc. After hearing about Boswellia and Turmeric as natural analgesics/anti-inflammatory agents on a People's Pharmacy show (NPR radio), I've been taking a pill of each daily for 10 years - as well as a single Glucosamine Sulfate.

When I go to the orthopod for check ups, he looks at my Xrays and wonders how I can even walk (I am bone on bone with one knee) - but the daily herbs give me great relief. then again, as key parts of Ayurvedic medicine, I am not surprised - someone found many years ago that they work pretty well. (full disclosure - I am a PhD chemist that worked in Pharma for many years).

Last thing - if it is indeed a placebo effect, so be it - it still works (for me, anyway)

This is not to say that I am for all herbal and other supplements, and think they can be very dodgey for all of the usual reasons (no standards, little testing, unknown interactions)....but I think if someone does the research and takes personal responsibility, some of them at least offer an option, especially when one is frustrated by traditional pharma remedies.
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