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What You Must Know about Statin Drugs & Their Natural Alternatives: A Consumer's Guide to Safely Using Lipitor, Zocor, Mevacor, Crestor, Pravachol, or Natural Alternatives

by Jay S. Cohen MD (Author)
25 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0757002571
ISBN-10: 0757002579
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jay S. Cohen, MD, is an Associate Professor (Voluntary) of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Cohen is a widely recognized expert on prescription drugs and their natural alternatives. He has published scientific papers in leading medical journals and has written articles for Newsweek, Bottom Line Health, and Life Extension Magazine. A highly sought-after speaker, Dr. Cohen is also the founder of the Center for the Prevention of Medication Side Effects, which offers commentary on current issues in medical care.

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Product Details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Square One (2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0757002579
  • ISBN-13: 978-0757002571
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #910,519 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

87 of 90 people found the following review helpful
Helps sort out the confusing information out there...
By Meri Levy on February 10, 2006
Format: Paperback
I just got this book today, and I am amazed at how much I have learned already. Dr. Cohen provides crucial information about how your doctor may prescribe far too high a dose of statins, and how to recognize and deal with drug side effects.

The book also provides easy-to-understand information about natural alternatives (or complements) to statins, including Co-Q10, Red Yeast Rice, Plant Sterols, Policosanol, Niacin and others. I think this book will help me reduce my statin use and be able to control my cholesterol through other natural alternatives. There are a lot of products out there claiming to lower your cholesterol, and Dr. Cohen provides objective information and study data regarding many of those products, independent of commercial propaganda.

Update six months later - with the advice of this book, I was able to lower my cholesterol from 310 to 192 in two months, using a combination of very low-dose statins, Policosanol (from sugar cane), Co-Q10, Fish Oil and plant sterols, as well as regular exercise. My Ldl is considered "optimal" now, after being "extremely high" just weeks ago. My doctor wanted to give me 40mg of Zocor, and I achieved my ideal Ldl with only 10mg. So, needless to say, I think this book is worth reading if you are considering statin therapy or just trying to get your cholesterol down.

Thanks, Dr. Cohen!
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87 of 99 people found the following review helpful
Good on "What You Must Know" - Skimpy on "Natural Alternatives"
By jay1000 on August 2, 2005
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
This is a tough subject. Some people consider statins as the ultimate wonder drug...others consider statins to be the ultimate evil drug. Lots and lots of BS in the newsgroups.

Cohen does an excellent job in explaining how to use statins while minimizing the possibility of adverse side-effects. His approach makes a lot of sense.

Unfortunately, there is no natural alternative "magic bullet". So don't expect to find any natural alternative even close to statins in effectiveness. He does weed out a couple of ineffective natural alternatives.
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37 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Excellent guidance re: statins; only Fair re: alternatives
By EBG87 on September 16, 2006
Format: Paperback
This book provides very useful information regarding the average cholesterol reductions based upon specific statin and dose being taken. It also provides interesting information regarding how beginning doses are arrived at and how the drug companies may be encouraging doctors to prescribe dosages that are actually in excess of a patient's needs. Provides both pros and cons and, if one assumes that the information is factual, provides an excellent base for the reader to develop own decisions.

As to alternative treatments, the book does not add a lot of valuable information but that is not why I purchased it anyway. I was most interested in the pros and cons of using statin drugs. For such purpose, it is an excellent source for information.
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Jay Cohen tell the statin story the way you should!!
By Guy F. Airey on October 18, 2008
Format: Paperback
The statin group of drugs began use in the US in the 1980s, the first one being lovastatin or, as it used to be known "Mevacor". Jay Cohen, the book's author is up to task covering almost every angle the statin era opened to patients with cholesterol problems. The "great statin experiment" is explained quite well, although some information is a little outdated (such as drug costs) and some studies were not mentioned. Overall this is a great book. The fact is that we still do NOT know all of the details of their use in humans. The author is very good in advising you about the "truths we hold self evident" about these wonder of wonders--the statins. There is no doubt the statins lower cholesterol, the problem is the other things they do, don't do, or inhibit. The point is, as humans, we MUST have cholesterol in our bodies to live. At the same time, we know too much cholesterol certainly cannot be good. Do statins, by lowering cholesterol, actually lower the number of heart attacks and the amount of arterial calcified plague in our bodies? Has the average American's age now (he states Lipitor is the #1 drug in America) --that most of us take statins--exceed that of citizens of every other country in the world? No. What about the lowering CoQ 10 and its affect on our hearts and the decreased amount of serotonin? Dr. Cohen does this for you in an acceptable format. His information is accurate and easily found and he tells you the way it is for the most part in only about 170 pages. Basically he rattles you with the details, explains the script, and advises you to make an informed decision considering all the factors presented. Another detail of the book is that Cohen is very good about explaining how doctors are influenced by the drug industry.Read more ›
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
this information should be publicized
By Dulcineigha on July 29, 2007
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
This book is a no-nonsense presentation of the facts about cholesterol. Finally I have seen something that actually tells the truth instead of twisting everything into a self-serving set of misleading statements designed to sell a product.

This book is a refreshing change. Dr. Cohen gives both sides of the research and carefully explains what the different studies actually mean.

He makes no broad sweeping generalizations about statin drugs. Some people can benefit; others can use alternatives.

He explains all the options and why.

Very important. Very informative.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
best book I have read on this subject
By rwk on December 11, 2007
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I liked this book because the author effectively bridges the gap between mainstream and alternative medicine for cholesterol management. He is more accepting of statins than I like, but he rates them as a last choice after lifestyle and supplements. That's good. He also advocates a "start low, go slow" prescription plan which makes sense. Some information is totally obsolete, especially the parts about the costs of statins. Red yeast rice that is available in the USA no longer contains any lovastatin in most cases.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Great read - I hope i never have to take ...

Great read - I hope i never have to take a Statin. Nor would I hopefully have after reading this. And If I'm ever prescribed one I'll be better armed when speaking with the doc!!

Published 2 months ago by brian mcclure
A lot of good information.

This book contains a lot of good information regarding different ways to treat cholesterol He gives his sources, so you are able to check for yourself.

Published 2 months ago by Laney
Five Stars

Good Book !

Published 4 months ago by peter beauchemin
Alternatives to Statins

I cannot tolerate the Statin Drugs. This has alternative information to deal with physical conditions that need similar treatment. Recommended as a helpful resource.

Published 17 months ago by Nancy L. Stahl
A MUST READ for anyone considering Statins

I have read several books on the subject of treating high cholesterol. This book is by far The most comprehensive. Read more

Published 23 months ago by Kirk Taylor
Statin Drugs and their alternatives

Have read it twice and still learn the down sides of statin drugs. Will never take them after reading the truth about the affects on the body. Read more

Published on August 9, 2013 by Lew Harrison
Great book

Even it is a little outdated (published in 2004), the reading is very interesting. It opens our eyes as public and as doctors (I'm an MD) and gives good information.

Published on May 10, 2013 by Kindle Customer
Great book, based on great research

This MD breaks the mold of obedient robots pushing doses regardless of efficacy. So many drugs are great, but the dose need not be so high. Read more

Published on April 3, 2013 by Patrick J Sullivan
A Must Read for Everyone

Fact filled discussion of prescription, homeopathic, and diet approach to managing high cholesterol. Read before visiting your physician, take notes, and ask questions.

Published on March 12, 2013 by Tee Cee
Big Kick

Statins have been causing me extreme pain for several years, as I have been put on one after another, which I have quit each the time the muscle pain got unbearable. Read more

Published on March 11, 2013 by Ruth Ann Hammer

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