Boomer Coalition -- Another Pfizer Marketing Ploy

Good report BL. If people what to try an over the counter supplement that is said to lower cholesterol, they can try Hawthorne tincture (6 drops in their mouth twice a day). Most health food stores will sell this. Try it for two months and then re-test your cholesterol to see if there is any improvement. Stop if any negative side effects are experienced.

ADVERSE REACTIONS TO LIPITOR

This is a summary of information taken from Pfizerís Lipitor advertisements, translated where necessary into laymenís terms. It describes the adverse reactions (i.e. side effects) noted in controlled clinical studies of 2,502 patients. The side effects are grouped by systems within the body. The side effects marked with a ** occurred in 2% or more of the patients. The side effects without a ** occurred in less than 2% of the patients. Where needed, definitions of the medical terms were taken from Dorlandís Illustrated Medical Dictionary. Any errors are unintentional and our own. We hope you find this information helpful!

BODY AS A WHOLE:

** Chest pain
Face edema: Swelling of the face
Fever
Neck rigidity: Stiffness of the neck
Malaise: A vague feeling of body discomfort
Photosensitivity reaction: Sensitivity to light
Generalized edema: Swelling of the body

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM:

** Nausea
Gastroenteritis: Inflammation of the stomach and intestines
Abnormal liver function tests
Colitis: Inflammation of the colon or large intestine
Vomiting
Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach
Dry mouth
Rectal hemorrhage: Heavy bleeding from the rectum
Esophagitis: Inflammation of the esophagus
Eructation: Belching, burping
Glossitis: Inflammation of the tongue
Mouth ulceration: Ulcers of the mouth
Anorexia: Lack of appetite for food
Increased appetite
Stomatitis: Inflammation of the lining of the mouth
Biliary pain: Gallbladder pain
Cheilitis: Inflammation on the lips
Duodenal ulcer
Dysphagia: Impaired speech
Enteritis: Inflammation of the small intestine
Melena: Bloody stools or vomit
Gum hemorrhage: Heavy bleeding of the gums
Stomach ulcer
Tenesmus: Staining during bowel movements or urination
Ulcerative stomatitis: Ulcers within the lining of the mouth
Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver
Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas
Cholestatic jaundice: Yellowing of the skin due to a stoppage in the flow of bile

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM:

** Bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchial tubes of the lungs
** Rhinitis: Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose
Pneumonia: Inflammation of the lungs
Dyspnea: Difficulty breathing
Asthma: Wheezing or coughing attacks
Epistaxis: Nosebleeds

NERVOUS SYSTEM:

** Insomnia
** Dizziness
Paresthesia: Burning or prickling sensations
Somnolence: Sleepiness, unnatural drowsiness
Amnesia
Abnormal dreams
Decreased libido
Emotional lability: Emotional instability
Incoordination
Peripheral neuropathy: Disturbances in the peripheral nervous system
Torticollis: Twisting of the neck
Facial paralysis
Hyperkinesia: Abnormally increased muscle activity
Depression
Hypesthesia: Decreased sensitivity of the skin or senses
Hypertonia: Excessive tone, tension or activity; high blood pressure

MUSCLES AND SKELETAL SYSTEM:

** Arthritis
Leg cramps
Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa (fluid filled sacs throughout the body)
Tenosynovitis: Inflammation of a tendon sheath
Myasthenia: Muscle fatigue, weakness, loss of muscle tone
Tendinous contracture: Contraction of tendons
Myositis: Inflammation of a voluntary muscle

SKIN, ARMS AND LEGS:

Pruritus: Itching
Contact dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin caused by an allergic reaction to contact with a chemical, animal or vegetable substance
Alopecia: Hair loss
Dry skin
Sweating
Acne
Urticaria: Rash with severe itching
Eczema: Inflammation, itching, scabbing and burning of the skin
Seborrhea: White discharge from the sebaceous glands
Skin ulcer

UROGENITAL SYSTEM:

** Urinary tract infection
Urinary frequency
Cystitis: Inflammation of the bladder
Hematuria: Blood in the urine
Impotence
Dysuria: Painful or difficult urination
Kidney calculus: Kidney stones
Nocturia: Excessive urination at night
Epididymitis: Inflammation within the testicles
Fibrocystic breast: Fibrous lumps in the breast
Vaginal hemorrhage
Albuminuria: Albumin (a protein) in the urine
Breast enlargement
Metrorrhagia: Intermittent uterine bleeding throughout the month
Nephritis: Inflammation and degeneration of the kidneys
Urinary incontinence
Urinary retention
Urinary urgency
Abnormal ejaculation
Uterine hemorrhage

SPECIAL SENSES:
Amblyopia: Dimness of vision
Tinnitus: Ringing or buzzing in the ears
Dry eyes
Refraction disorder
Eye hemorrhage: Bleeding within the eye
Deafness
Glaucoma: Elevated pressure within the eye
Parosmia: Changes in the sense of smell
Loss of taste
Taste perversion: Changes in the sense of taste

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM:

Palpitation: Rapid heartbeats that you can feel
Vasodilatation: Dilation of the blood vessels
Syncope: Sudden loss of strength or fainting
Migraine
Postural hypotension: Low blood pressure caused by changing position too quickly
Phlebitis: Inflammation of the veins
Arrhythmia: Abnormal heart rhythm
Angina Pectoris: Chest pain and a feeling of suffocation and impending death
Hypertension: High blood pressure

METABOLIC AND NUTRITIONAL DISORDERS:

** Peripheral edema: Swelling in the hands and feet
Hyperglycemia: High blood sugar levels
Increased Creatine Phosphokinase: Enzyme released due to damage of the muscles of the heart, body and brain
Gout: Excessive amounts of uric acid in the blood causing painful joints
Weight gain
Hypoglycemia: Low blood sugar levels

BLOOD AND LYMPHATIC SYSTEMS:

Ecchymosis: Abnormal bruising
Anemia: Reduction in the number of red blood cells
Lymphadenopathy: Disease of the lymph nodes
Thrombocytopenia: Reduction in the number of blood platelets
Petechia: A small, round, purplish red spot on the skin, caused by bleeding under the skin, which later turns blue or yellow

ADVERSE EVENTS REPORTED AFTER LIPITOR WAS FIRST INTRODUCED:

Anaphylaxis: An unusual reaction to a foreign substance in the body; an antigen-antibody reaction
Angioneurotic edema: Swelling in the deep layers of the skin, including swelling of the lips, eyelids and tongue
Bullous rashes: A rash with blisters
Erythema Multiforme: Vivid red lesions on the skin
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome: A disorder of the skin, with fever and lesions of the mucous membranes of the mouth, anus, penis, etc.
Toxic Epidermal Necrosis: Poisoning of the skin, leading to tissue death
Rhabdomyolysis: Disintegration of muscles, leading to excretion of myoglobin in the urine; severe cases can lead to kidney failure