EFTA01069456.pdf

IESIOSIERONE For many that gamble is the If the adverts arc to be believed. testosteron possibility of side effeCtS. A study supplements are a cure-all for men facings and subsequent article in the BMJ unfortunate effects of middle age.lhe questioned the data behind the NICE hormone is claimed to improve muscle strength, energy and sex drive. However, not recommendations, warning that some trials included in the analysis were only is there little evidence for this, several funded by statin manufacturers and studies have found a link with heart disease. TradI t lonally, testosterone was prescribed that data on side effects was lacking. Patients taking statins often to men with abnormally low levels due to a congenital condition or damage to the testes anecdotally report muscle pain. although this has not been seen in the from chemotherapy. Now, though, middle- major, placebo-controlled trials. The aged men are being prescribed "testosterone BM] article said that one in five people replacement therapy" (T 'l') to make up for t on statins experiences a side effect of natural decline that often comes with age. some kind, altnough It later withdrew In the US, the number of men being this claim after Rory Collins at the prescribed testosterone rose from 1.3 million University of Oxford, a leading statin 2.3 million in the five years up to 2013, and the researcher. spoke out against the accuracy of the statistics. fat EVEI? heart attack prevented, UK has seen a similar trend, although the numbers are far lower (see graph, below right): Yet the anecdotal reports continue to surface. -Some doctors say they mote people .will „ betoil statics But in March. the US Food and Drug Administration cautioned that testosterone should only be prescribed to men with low keep seeing patients with the same complaint and they feel its due to the RO hBOCIII levels caused by medical conditions, rather stabn: says David Preiss of the than general ageing, and confirmed by a lab University 01 Glasgow. It doesn't look test. The European Medicines Agency has What they popped issued a similar statement. that way from the trials. but we need The percentage of adults taking the commonest The health bodies also asked manufacturers a better answer." types of prescription drugs is rising, according to and prescribers of testosterone products to There does seem to be a link to a US Survey diabetes. Preiss has studied the warn users about a possible risk of heart ■ 1994.1798 MI 2007.2010 attacks and strokes after a number of studies connection between statins and type 2 diabetes. He says taking a 18.64 years showed an association. One trial was even term inated early due to an `excess of medium-dose statin raises your risk by 10 per cent. and the risk continues to Antidepressants cardiovascular events" among participants. rase in line with dosage. These are Worryingly, a 2013 analysis found that the level Analgesics of cardiovascular risk reported varied. modest changes - people who are I probably already on the trajectory I depending on whether the study was funded Anticoaglants to diabetes, and the stain pushes by the pharmaceutical industry. them over the threshold." In light of all the concerns. Collins's. Arthdiabetics I One possible mechanism for testosterone's effect on the heart could be through raising undertaking a major renew of the Anti-acid reflux the number of red blood cells. which thickens data on side effects, which he hopes the blood and can lead to dangerous dotting. Cholesterol-Icnsering Another worry is prostate cancer, which will reassure people. That's important, he says, because fears over statins are Cardiovascular feeds on testosterone: drugs blocking I. testosterone are sometimes used to stop the discouraging people from taking them. to the detnrnent of their health. 65 years and over cancer spreading. A meta-analysis published The results should be out later this in 2014 found no link with Tat In the short year. In the meantime. if you've ever antidepreSSants 6 term. but called for more long-term data. "There's anabsence of data on the use of had a heart attack or stroke, you should AnalgeSics be on a stain it possible, says Preiss. testosterone outside its key clinical application "And if you haven't, but you've been Anticoagulants and yet someclinicianenthusiasts, be moderately or markedly particularly private practitioners In the US. shown to at risk of having a heart attack, the Antidiabelics LB have just exploded testosterone prescribing to the point where it's almost become benefits of a statin considerably outweigh any risks." Anti-acid reflux 116 mainstream." says Richard Qu inton. an endocrinologist at Newcastle University, UK. No one should pin all their hopes on Cholesterol-lowering a pill in any case. Taking stators should 16.6 Pan of the problem. at least in the US, is that be accompanied by lifestyle changes Cardiovascular men are not being properly tested before such as taking exercise and giving up 0 23 4.0 E3 80 startIng treatment, says Sander Greenland all smoking. Per cent epidemiologist at the University of California, 321NewSPentist 116 stay 2015 EFTA01069456