Tricor problem?

Bob wood said:

About 6 months ago, I took Tricor for about 2-3 weeks. I started to have muscle soreness, so I
stopped. I am still having muscle aches and pains that I never had before the Tricor. About a
month after I stopped the drug, I had a blood test to check for muscle damage, but nothing showed.
Could this drug still be causing problems for me?

Unlikely.

Would suggest you inform your doctor about your ongoing symptoms, however.

Quoted message said:

Thanks

You are welcome :-)

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

(Bob wood) said:

About 6 months ago, I took Tricor for about 2-3 weeks. I started to have muscle soreness, so I
stopped. I am still having muscle aches and pains that I never had before the Tricor. About a
month after I stopped the drug, I had a blood test to check for muscle damage, but nothing showed.
Could this drug still be causing problems for me?

Yes. It sounds like you have myositis. Have you had a sed rate performed? I have had a few cases of
myositis from fenofibrate that were terribly resistant to treatment. These cases responed nicely to
a short course of methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol, Medrol, Medrol dose pak).

Fibric acid derivatives (fibrates) are good agents for reducing TG and to a lesser degree LDL
cholesterol, while modestly increasing HDL cholesterol. They are useful in isolated
hypertriglyceridemia or in combined (mixed) hyperlipidemia, whether these are familial or secondary
to the metabolic syndrome or diabetes.

The most common side effects associated with fibrates include fatigue, headache, and
gastrointestinal symptoms.

--
Winning against heart attack and stroke sonoscore.comsonoscore.comOpen ↗

"Sonos" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

(Bob wood) said:

About 6 months ago, I took Tricor for about 2-3 weeks. I started to have muscle soreness, so I
stopped. I am still having muscle aches and pains that I never had before the Tricor. About a
month after I stopped the drug, I had a blood test to check for muscle damage, but nothing
showed. Could this drug still be causing problems for me?

Yes. It sounds like you have myositis. Have you had a sed rate performed? I have had a few cases
of myositis from fenofibrate that were terribly resistant to treatment. These cases responed
nicely to a short course of methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol, Medrol, Medrol dose pak).

Fibric acid derivatives (fibrates) are good agents for reducing TG and to a lesser degree LDL
cholesterol, while modestly increasing HDL cholesterol. They are useful in isolated
hypertriglyceridemia or in combined (mixed) hyperlipidemia, whether these are familial or
secondary to the metabolic syndrome or diabetes.

The most common side effects associated with fibrates include fatigue, headache, and
gastrointestinal symptoms.

Thanks for the reply. I may not have been clear on the fact that I did stop the Tricor 6 months ago.
Also, is the "sed rate" test different than the test that I had done to check for muscle damage
about a month after I stopped the Tricor?

Thanks

[email hidden] (Bob wood) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Sonos" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

(Bob wood) said:

About 6 months ago, I took Tricor for about 2-3 weeks. I started to have muscle soreness, so I
stopped. I am still having muscle aches and pains that I never had before the Tricor. About a
month after I stopped the drug, I had a blood test to check for muscle damage, but nothing
showed. Could this drug still be causing problems for me?

Yes. It sounds like you have myositis. Have you had a sed rate performed? I have had a few cases
of myositis from fenofibrate that were terribly resistant to treatment. These cases responed
nicely to a short course of methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol, Medrol, Medrol dose pak).

Fibric acid derivatives (fibrates) are good agents for reducing TG and to a lesser degree LDL
cholesterol, while modestly increasing HDL cholesterol. They are useful in isolated
hypertriglyceridemia or in combined (mixed) hyperlipidemia, whether these are familial or
secondary to the metabolic syndrome or diabetes.

The most common side effects associated with fibrates include fatigue, headache, and
gastrointestinal symptoms.

Thanks for the reply. I may not have been clear on the fact that I did stop the Tricor 6 months
ago. Also, is the "sed rate" test different than the test that I had done to check for muscle
damage about a month after I stopped the Tricor?

In my experience, Dr. Blanchard is wrong.

CPK (which is the test your doctor probably did) is a better screening test for muscle injury from
lipid lowering medications than "sed rate."

CPK is both more sensitive and more specific for muscle injury (as compared to "sed rate"😉. These
qualities are required for a test to have any value in screening.

Quoted message said:

Thanks

You are welcome :-)

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

[email hidden] (Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Bob wood) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Sonos" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

On 9-Jan-2004, [email hidden] (Bob wood) wrote:

> About 6 months ago, I took Tricor for about 2-3 weeks. I started to have muscle soreness, so
> I stopped. I am still having muscle aches and pains that I never had before the Tricor.
> About a month after I stopped the drug, I had a blood test to check for muscle damage, but
> nothing showed. Could this drug still be causing problems for me?

Yes. It sounds like you have myositis. Have you had a sed rate performed? I have had a few
cases of myositis from fenofibrate that were terribly resistant to treatment. These cases
responed nicely to a short course of methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol, Medrol, Medrol dose
pak).

Fibric acid derivatives (fibrates) are good agents for reducing TG and to a lesser degree LDL
cholesterol, while modestly increasing HDL cholesterol. They are useful in isolated
hypertriglyceridemia or in combined (mixed) hyperlipidemia, whether these are familial or
secondary to the metabolic syndrome or diabetes.

The most common side effects associated with fibrates include fatigue, headache, and
gastrointestinal symptoms.

Thanks for the reply. I may not have been clear on the fact that I did stop the Tricor 6 months
ago. Also, is the "sed rate" test different than the test that I had done to check for muscle
damage about a month after I stopped the Tricor?

In my experience, Dr. Blanchard is wrong.

CPK (which is the test your doctor probably did) is a better screening test for muscle injury from
lipid lowering medications than "sed rate."

CPK is both more sensitive and more specific for muscle injury (as compared to "sed rate"😉. These
qualities are required for a test to have any value in screening.

Quoted message said:

Thanks

You are welcome :-)

Humbly,

Andrew

Thanks. Would the CPK test show muscle injury a few weeks after you stopped the Tricor?

I have seen elevation of CK in only a small number of patients with myalgias following lipid
lowering therapy, whereas a sed rate tends to indicate a chronic low grade myositis. CK will
increase with muscle cell death, by which time any astute doctor should have identified the
medication problem anyway. Lipid lowering therapy can trigger a chronic low grade myositis,
persistent long after discontinuation of the drug. A normal sed rate will not exclude myositis, so
in my opinion may not even be needed for proper diagnosis.

Fetch'@sonoscore.com said:

I have seen elevation of CK in only a small number of patients with myalgias following lipid
lowering therapy, whereas a sed rate tends to indicate a chronic low grade myositis. CK will
increase with muscle cell death, by which time any astute doctor should have identified the
medication problem anyway. Lipid lowering therapy can trigger a chronic low grade myositis,
persistent long after discontinuation of the drug. A normal sed rate will not exclude myositis, so
in my opinion may not even be needed for proper diagnosis.

Then pray tell, why did you suggest checking the "sed rate" in the first place?

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

Bob wood said:

[email hidden] (Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Bob wood) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Sonos" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
> On 9-Jan-2004, [email hidden] (Bob wood) wrote:
>
> > About 6 months ago, I took Tricor for about 2-3 weeks. I started to have muscle soreness,
> > so I stopped. I am still having muscle aches and pains that I never had before the Tricor.
> > About a month after I stopped the drug, I had a blood test to check for muscle damage, but
> > nothing showed. Could this drug still be causing problems for me?
>
> Yes. It sounds like you have myositis. Have you had a sed rate performed? I have had a few
> cases of myositis from fenofibrate that were terribly resistant to treatment. These cases
> responed nicely to a short course of methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol, Medrol, Medrol dose
> pak).
>
> Fibric acid derivatives (fibrates) are good agents for reducing TG and to a lesser degree
> LDL cholesterol, while modestly increasing HDL cholesterol. They are useful in isolated
> hypertriglyceridemia or in combined (mixed) hyperlipidemia, whether these are familial or
> secondary to the metabolic syndrome or diabetes.
>
> The most common side effects associated with fibrates include fatigue, headache, and
> gastrointestinal symptoms.

Thanks for the reply. I may not have been clear on the fact that I did stop the Tricor 6
months ago. Also, is the "sed rate" test different than the test that I had done to check for
muscle damage about a month after I stopped the Tricor?

In my experience, Dr. Blanchard is wrong.

CPK (which is the test your doctor probably did) is a better screening test for muscle injury
from lipid lowering medications than "sed rate."

CPK is both more sensitive and more specific for muscle injury (as compared to "sed rate"😉.
These qualities are required for a test to have any value in screening.

Quoted message said:

Thanks

You are welcome :-)

Humbly,

Andrew

Thanks. Would the CPK test show muscle injury a few weeks after you stopped the Tricor?

If there is still muscle pain, it should.

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Fetch'@sonoscore.com said:

I have seen elevation of CK in only a small number of patients with myalgias following lipid
lowering therapy, whereas a sed rate tends to indicate a chronic low grade myositis. CK will
increase with muscle cell death, by which time any astute doctor should have identified the
medication problem anyway. Lipid lowering therapy can trigger a chronic low grade myositis,
persistent long after discontinuation of the drug. A normal sed rate will not exclude myositis,
so in my opinion may not even be needed for proper diagnosis.

Then pray tell, why did you suggest checking the "sed rate" in the first place?

Humbly,

Andrew

Thanks again, for the replies. Is there anything that I could take, instead of the Tricor? Any type
of drugs that would lower cholesterol?

Bob wood said:

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Fetch'@sonoscore.com said:

I have seen elevation of CK in only a small number of patients with myalgias following lipid
lowering therapy, whereas a sed rate tends to indicate a chronic low grade myositis. CK will
increase with muscle cell death, by which time any astute doctor should have identified the
medication problem anyway. Lipid lowering therapy can trigger a chronic low grade myositis,
persistent long after discontinuation of the drug. A normal sed rate will not exclude
myositis, so in my opinion may not even be needed for proper diagnosis.

Then pray tell, why did you suggest checking the "sed rate" in the first place?

Humbly,

Andrew

Thanks again, for the replies. Is there anything that I could take, instead of the Tricor?

Yes. However, you should discuss these options with your doctor.

Quoted message said:

Any type of drugs that would lower cholesterol?

Niacin and Statins are a couple of alternatives. Regular exercise should help.

Imho, losing weight if you are above ideal body weight (BMI=20) should be undertaken even on lipid
lowering medications. Over time, this will also lower cholesterol.

Ask your doctor about the 2PD approach if you are heavier than ideal:

heartmdphd.comwtloss.aspOpen ↗

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Bob wood said:

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Fetch"@sonoscore.com wrote:

> I have seen elevation of CK in only a small number of patients with myalgias following lipid
> lowering therapy, whereas a sed rate tends to indicate a chronic low grade myositis. CK will
> increase with muscle cell death, by which time any astute doctor should have identified the
> medication problem anyway. Lipid lowering therapy can trigger a chronic low grade myositis,
> persistent long after discontinuation of the drug. A normal sed rate will not exclude
> myositis, so in my opinion may not even be needed for proper diagnosis.

Then pray tell, why did you suggest checking the "sed rate" in the first place?

Humbly,

Andrew

Thanks again, for the replies. Is there anything that I could take, instead of the Tricor?

Yes. However, you should discuss these options with your doctor.

Quoted message said:

Any type of drugs that would lower cholesterol?

Niacin and Statins are a couple of alternatives. Regular exercise should help.

Imho, losing weight if you are above ideal body weight (BMI=20) should be undertaken even on lipid
lowering medications. Over time, this will also lower cholesterol.

Ask your doctor about the 2PD approach if you are heavier than ideal:

heartmdphd.comwtloss.aspOpen ↗

Humbly,

Andrew

Could my heart muscle have been damaged by 2-3 weeks of Tricor use?

Thanks

[email hidden] (Bob wood) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Bob wood said:

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...
> "Fetch"@sonoscore.com wrote:
>
> > I have seen elevation of CK in only a small number of patients with myalgias following
> > lipid lowering therapy, whereas a sed rate tends to indicate a chronic low grade myositis.
> > CK will increase with muscle cell death, by which time any astute doctor should have
> > identified the medication problem anyway. Lipid lowering therapy can trigger a chronic low
> > grade myositis, persistent long after discontinuation of the drug. A normal sed rate will
> > not exclude myositis, so in my opinion may not even be needed for proper diagnosis.
>
> Then pray tell, why did you suggest checking the "sed rate" in the first place?
>
> Humbly,
>
> Andrew

Thanks again, for the replies. Is there anything that I could take, instead of the Tricor?

Yes. However, you should discuss these options with your doctor.

Quoted message said:

Any type of drugs that would lower cholesterol?

Niacin and Statins are a couple of alternatives. Regular exercise should help.

Imho, losing weight if you are above ideal body weight (BMI=20) should be undertaken even on
lipid lowering medications. Over time, this will also lower cholesterol.

Ask your doctor about the 2PD approach if you are heavier than ideal:

heartmdphd.comwtloss.aspOpen ↗

Humbly,

Andrew

Could my heart muscle have been damaged by 2-3 weeks of Tricor use?

That would be very unusual.

Quoted message said:

Thanks

You are welcome.

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗