Q: I am a heart attack patient and hypertensive. I am on statins, ARB, blood thinners and anti-arrhythmia+ beta drug, Sotalol. Is it worthwhile to take supplements of Coenzyme Q10 and Omega3 acids?
A: With any drug or supplement you run the risk of side effects and interactions. The more things you take, the more likely you are to have an interaction. This is particularly true once you are on three medications. Supplements are controversial because they are not as well studied as prescription drugs. Why increase your risk of an interaction or side effect by taking an unproven supplement? Personally, I’d rather eat a handful of nuts or peanuts (actually a legume).
For information about nuts and heart disease go to this article on the Mayo Clinic site.
For more information about Coenzyme Q 10 go to this article on WebMD.com.
For more information on Omega 3 acids go to this article at the University of Maryland Medical Center page.
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So in essence you are telling this person that eating fish is out of the question and as far as CoQ10 is concerned, it is made in the liver and needed for the heart. Your nasty prescriptions that kill people on a regular basis are OK and are sutdied how. Have you listened to the commercials about drugs? A side effect being death. Gee I would love that. This world is butt backwards.. God made food and our bodies to heal itself… but the FDA and others won’t make money if people aren’t sick and stay sick. This is so wrong… I hope you can sleep at night.
I so agree Linda.This mindset tells you that they want you to be sick, as they don’t make money off of healthy people.I could not beleive this when I read it. Glad to see I am in the majority here.It is a well known FACT statin drugs deplete your CoQ10 levels.Your body makes less and less of it as you age, and if you do not replace it, look at all the side effects that happen.I knwo, as I lived through them, and for me, never another statin drug for me ever. Our country does not eat enough fish, and we need Omega Three’s, especially DHA for so many health benefits.I am baffled at a response like that from a Doctor.
Thank you Linda and Kathleen. You are both spot on!
I for one have had enough of this “good doctor’s” ridiculous assertions about tremendously helpful and healthy supplements which include COQ10, and her even worse insistence that the way to stay healthy is through medications the vast majority of which are toxic poisons to our bodies!
Isn’t it time that Resperate got a doctor on here who actually knows something about wholistic healing as well as toxic drugs? Enough bad advice is enough!!
Maybe if enough of us speak out, Resperate will finally replace the “good doctor” Rowena with someone interested enough in the state of the art in natural as well as medicinal treatment of hypertension to start doing people some good!
What do you say, Resperate?!?!?
Right you all are! There are hundreds of clinical papers and studies presented by hundreds of international specialists on the benefits of ubiquinone (aka Co-Q10) in heart/brain diseases. And these are published in highly respected journals like the European Journal of Cardiology, Archives of Neurology, American Journal of Cardiology, Cephalgia, etc. etc. It has demonstrated that the severity of heart or brain disease is directly commensurate to the severity of ubiquinone depletion in the body. And that ubiquinone supplementation – nay treatment – has proven effective and safe in managing these conditions! Unfortunately, ubiquinone is not and can never be a patented drug thus you do not have those pharmaceutical giants investing in large scale clinical researches. But the staggering number of small independent research published in these reputable journals only prove that yes, you should take ubiquinone – and the more severe your risk or your disease, the greater the dose! The expert apparently doesn’t give attention to the other side of the health management spectrum that is not provided by traditional pharmaceutical giants.
Go to a herb shop and feel the difference after you start living from what God put on earth.All animals eat from the earth and more humans should.I did for HP,and seizure and other health problem.Buy a herb book that tells you what each herb is for and start to feel better and make the Doctors lose money.Somethings we may need doctors for but others things God put plants on earth for and they know it.Hope u feel better
So. …. Existing on statins, warfarin, and beta blockers is totally safe, FDA approved, and most doctors will tell you so…. Because it’s all sanctioned by big pharma.
And …. Fish oil, that could thin your blood and you could die from bleeding in a pool of blood…. And Coenzyme Q, this could somehow be very risky and it has not been approved by the FDA.
A medical $$$$$ conspiracy ????
I couldn’t agree more Linda—BRAVO!!!
This doctor has finally proven herself to be a complete idiot.
The statins deplete COQ10 from your system. That’s a scientific fact. At older ages, we all make less of this important enzyme (also a scientific fact), and supplementation is very beneficial. When we are prescribed toxic medications which further depelete COQ10 from our bodies, as the statins clearly do, our liver, heart, and other organs and systems are susceptible to further damage.
One of the absolute best things humans can possibly put in their bodies are the omega 3 oils such as flax oil and purified fish oils. Nuts are good also, but you simply can’t eat enough of them without loading on lots of calories and fat, but peanuts are among the WORST of the options. She is at least correct in that peanuts are a legume, and not a nut, but they are highly prone to pesticides compared to other nuts, and they are way too acidic. Walnuts and almonds are much better for you, and if you want to add fiber to the mix, try pistachios, as well.
Seek the advice of informed physicians who know the benefits of appropriate supplements. One example would be Dr. Julian Whitaker at the Whitaker Wellness Clinic. There are many other qualified and knowledgeable nautural health physicians who will give you good answers based on medical science unlike what this “good doctor” typically spews!
For goodness sake, resperate, get a physician on here who is qualified to actually help these people!!!!
As they say in Thailand: Jing Jing. (truth)
Thank you for your post. I totally agree. You said what I was thinking. So many precription meds side effects have made me violently ill, worse than the condition I was treated for.One med,sent me into Anaphlactic shock, I almost died. CoQ10 & Omega Three’s are VITAL for optimal health.Why would supplements be overlooked, and these meds that have countless warnings of side effects and disclaimers embraced? You see it all the time with their commericals, to protect the drug companies, if somehting happens to you, and it has for me. THANK YOU for your post!
I agree entirely what a stupid statement from the DR!!!!!
well as fat as the two supplements you mentioned, the doctor couldn’t be more wrong! 1st of all, if you are on statins you should know they rob the body of coenzyme Q10, a heart protective antioxidant. It is advisable that you do take it. There wer even docs who recommended included COQ 10 as part of the statin pills but Big Pharma rejected the idea.
As far as Omega 3s go, a resounding yes! The best form to take it in is krill oil, which raises hdl among other things, something stains do not do. Don’t listen to these unfounded fears re interactions with these two particular supplements. They are perfectly safe to take, in fact advisable considering the pharmaceuticals you are taking.
Total rubbish. Statin Drugs cause more complications than Q10, fish oil, and vitamin supplements. Most people should try to use exercise, weight loss, diet, sodium intake and supplements. Many Doctors poo poo supplements because they are beholden to pharmaceutical companies. Read Dr. Blaylock and find a Doctor not a slave to the Drug companies.
I agree that Dr. Rowena is wildly misinformed. I have been told by
several extremely competent physicians that it is important to
take CoQ10 while on statins.
I have to agree with Mr Caresta, the Dr has shown herself to be completely ignorant about supplements and here has actually dispensed incorrect and potentially harmful advice.I think people should wake up and realize that most doctors are completely clueless when it comes to knowing anything whatsoever about nutrition. My personal GP has never once asked me about my diet in 35 years! (I go to him for themainstream medicine view-that’s all.) The doctor here is absolutely 108 degrees off. I can no longer take her advice very seriously after this snafu, at least as far as alternative methods of lowering BP go, or any other information regarding alternatives to pharmaceuticals for that matter. She has revealed herself to be a one trick pony, ie drugs are always the answer (exception-Resperate). When it comes to HBP there are effective alternatives. Of course not everyone can get off the drugs, but most people can at least lower their dosages while some may even get completely drug free with intelligent lifestyle choices and certain proven alternative treatments, therapies and yes, supplements.
I simply could not tolerate any bp meds until Cozaar which lowered my platelets. With supplements, CoQ10, Omega 3’s, & Magnesium I am off all meds. My husband has neuropathy from the Big Pharma Statin drugs because no doctor recommended CoQ10. We now see an integrative medical cardiologist who was trained by Dr. Weil. These replies have been right on target & I agree you were given dangerous advice. Buyer be ware..
What is the name and in what city is the integrative medical cardiologist? Am very interested.
Thank you Brian. People here who are in need deserve better answers. The well-intentioned people who run this blog are becoming disappointing and complicit, however, by continuing to endorse these absurd answers from “Dr.” Rowena.
A positive and helpful change is way overdue!
All the best!!
why do we have a Dr here that is so lacking in knowledge of anything other than pharmaceuticals? Btw walnuts or any other good nut would have been a good recommendation NOT peanuts!
The doctors answer is what you should expect, given that the vast majority of doctors receive monies ( an average of at least 60 thousand dollars per year) , perks, and other from of graft from the pharmaceutical industry. It would be interested if the consulting doctor would fully disclose her conflict of interests.
Good grief. Dr. Rowena is an accredited doctor. You are not. You are quacking yourselves.
Thank you, anneh! Maybe if enough of us speak up we can effect a positive change. I think the people who run this blog do care…….we will see.
All the best!!
Ennah, how can you reach that conclusion when you don’t know any of the qualifications or depth of knowledge that the people who have posted on this subject actually have? Would it surprise you to find that Resperate wanted me to debate the “good doctor” on natural cures versus AMA “treatments” for hypertension? Interestingly, the opportunity never came about. I wonder why?!?
I stand by everything I have said here, and I confirm the statements of others. Every one of us quite obviously knows volumes more about COQ10, the statins, and omega fatty acids than the “accredited doctor”. May I respectfully suggest you start doing your own research so that you can gain a better perspective, and some knowledge, before leaping to the erroneous conclusion you have advanced here today. You will find google repelet with solid information about the need for COQ10 if you are duped into taking the statins. For that matter, red yeast rice is a superior alternative without the negative side effects. You can confirm that for yourself, as well, if you are interested enough.
All the best to you!
The doctor made a reference to excellent articles that confirmed the importance and benefits of nuts, Coenzyme Q 10, and Omega 3. Hard to understand the negative responses. The doctor’s comment that it is best to get these things from natural sources seems completely reasonable, especially when you consider that supplement manufacture is so unregulated.
Here is the actual response:
“Supplements are controversial because they are not as well studied as prescription drugs. Why increase your risk of an interaction or side effect by taking an unproven supplement [i.e., CoQ10]? Personally, I’d rather eat a handful of nuts or peanuts (actually a legume).”
Please read “Dr. Rowena’s” actual words, and then the comments here and get back to us. Peanuts? Really?
Is it Hypocritic oath Hippocratic oath. If I read this persons articles before ordering resperate I would still have the money in my pocket and I wonder if she would have pointed out to me that there have been no studies on the long term effects of breathing.
Thanks Scott. Interesting. Apparently you missed the “good doctor’s” advice not to take “unproven supplenments”.
Even to the casual observer thisn suggests she doesn’t know anything about the proof surrounding COQ10 as just one example.
I am curious. Can you please enlighten us as to how to get therapeutic amounts of COQ10 into our systems with “nautural sources”?
Thanks, and all the best!!
Thank you v mayers……not only for the valid point, but also for the good laugh!
All the best!!
The doctor’s response is silly. What are her quailifications. Do we know if she is a real doctor? “She” may be a teenage “he”.
LOL…..thanks Gail!
There is an old saying………..take two doctors, both who have been doctors for 20 years.
One of the doctors has 20 years of experience. That doctor is well educated with lots of clinical experience, and has studied to stay on the forefront of the healing arts.
The other doctor has 1 year of experience 20 times.
The two “doctors” are very different!
🙂
All the best!!
I agree with Dr. Rowena. The writer is taking a significant number of complicated medications with side effects of their own. Adding supplements of any kind may have a negative reaction. This is not known. I would rather error on the side of caution, then approve something where the outcome is not known. He should discuss this with his own physician.
The body makes COQ10. Fish oil is natural food.
Please give examples of documented negative outcomes.
Thank you.
Peg
Even the printout on the statin drug facts now recommend you need CoQ10 if you take them. Drugs kill far more people than supplements.
I read the question/answer this morning before anyone had commented, and about fell off my chair!
Have been suspecting, and now believe it’s confirmed. “Dr. Rowena” is not one person, but any number of individuals. And I doubt that any of them are actually doctors. I’m sure I’ve read answers in the past about CoQ10 where the “doctor’s” response was much different and even pointed out how necessary CoQ10 is.
As far as I’m concerned, this site–at least re “Dr. Rowena”–has no credibility. But thanks to D. Carestia and many other commenters, I’ve learned a lot over time.
I’m now 6+ months into living without poisonous BP drugs. I can now walk up a lot of stairs without extreme pain and hauling myself up by the rail. Increased energy each month. No ecsema (sp?). Better mood stability. BP occasionally gets up over 150 for a reading or two–I can always trace it to eating badly and not getting enough sleep. 98% of the time my bedtime readings are in the 120/75 range.
I’m 72.
Interesting discussion,
I asked my GP about Q10 and his response was the only people that benefited from it where deficient to begin with. I have also read on Dr. Mercola’s website where he claims Heath Canada recommends Q10 with a statin, I have never seen or heard of this and neither has my GP. I have also never had a pharmacist recommend it or see it listed as beneficial in the product literature of the drug.
Despite that I took it while I was on a statin and continue to take it as there is evidence (recently discussed in this newsletter) that it can lower blood pressure. My Aunt has been taking Q10 for over 20 years after having a massive heart attack. She is still doing fine and very healthy and active for a 75 year old.
That’s enough prove for me 🙂
Don’t be to hard on the doctors please! Most of them don’t study alternative medicine,they went to school to learn about drugs. You don’t usualy go to an auto mechanic to ask about a plumbing problem. We have to do are own research and suffer the harm if there is an interaction with a supplement and a drug. The studies on COQ10 have all been good,however there are greedy companies out ther that don’t us true COQ10 and mix other ingerdients with it. Doctors have to be careful because if they endorse a natural supplement and the patient has an interreaction with their medication the doctor can be sued because they are trained in drugs.
I believe this to be true, my GP will only acknowledge Milk Thistle and only because it has been proven to his satisfaction that it is beneficial to the liver. He comes across that supplements are the modern day equivalent to snake oil that was peddled in the old west movies.
I think even if he really believed some supplements were beneficial he would not endorse them unless it was 100% proven it worked beyond a shadow of a doubt and there was no other medication that would have the same effect. If there is even a hint a supplement is controversial I don’t think most physicians would recommend it, their credibility and as was mentioned lawsuits could be at stake.
The evidence for the effectiveness of this device being sold here is no stronger than CoQ10 or Fish Oil. In the spirit of Dr. Rowena’s advice, why waste your money on an unproven device when you can have a tomato (actually a fruit).
Take the coq10 in fact ask your PHARMACIST IF there would a reaction I DOUBT IT
In fact I would lokk for another doctor and get all my prescriptions re-prescribed, I believe that you are on way to many, and PLEASE stop listening to this woman, I’m surprised she didn’t tell you to get resprete.
I have asked my Pharmacist about statinns and CoQ10, he highly recommends that anyone should take it on a statin, which I no longer take. They tried me on four of those poison meds, and they gave me side efects that brought on new ailments I had to deal with.No more statins for me ever. I take plant sterols now and watch my diet closely, among other things.
I also take CoQ10 and Omega Threes! 🙂
Someone stop this woman from commenting PLEASE she is so way off base. Fact is WALNUTScan interreact with these prescriptions, in fact most nuts will, you have to space what your taking like NUTS with your prescriptions. PLEASE PLEASE make her stop her comments and advice it is poor poor advice
NOW WHAT IS SO GOOD ABOUT THIS SITE? THIS DOCTOR MAKES ME LAUGH, IT IS NO WONDER THAT WE ARE ALL OVER PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS, WHY NOT JUST DUMP ALL THE THE MEDS AND USE A RESPRETE, IT IS HER ANSWER TO EVERYTHING
I SO agree with the above comments. I am exhausted from all of the advertisements for Rx Drugs – this Dr.’s answer to everything is either Resperate, Rx Medications, or the “talk with your Dr.” Most Dr.’s today are not up-to-date on natural supplements, food nutrition, etc. Their answer to everything is “write a script”. One of the reasons why our society is sicker today.
I agree – let’s get a more integrative medicine Dr. on this site!!
RESPERATE,
PLEASE HEED THE CALL TO CEASE YOUR ASSOCIATION WITH DR. ROWENA. I WOULD NOT DO A THING SHE RECOMMENDS INCLUDING BUYING ONE OF YOUR DEVICES. SHE OBVIOUSLY IS FULL OF MIS-INFORMATION AS THIS RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION SHOWS SO WELL SO WHY SHOULD I THINK SHE KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUR DEVICE. SHE IS A JOKE TO THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WITH HER ERRONEOUS ADVICE.
RETIRED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL
As a practicing Chiropractor for over 25 years, I can say with confidence that what Dr. Rowena comments are right on! However, as soon as our illustreous medical community can provide us the side effects and interactions of two or more drugs, then I will listen intently. HOGWASH. It will never happen!
So I pose two questions…1)What is so controversial about consuming nutritional supplements that our body requires and produces anyway from the foods we eat? And, 2)Are we really “increasing our risk” when we already know the many adverse (sometimes fatal) side effects and interactions of prescription drugs?
Of course medicine is a science Dr. Rowena. How arogant!
After reading this, I agree Dr. Rowena is dangerously uninformed. Statins deplete Co-Q10. See Dr. Andrew Weil’s website (he is the one I heard about Resperate from). You definitely should take Co-Q10 if you take statins. A more gentle source of natural statins is Red Yeast Rice, which has been consumed as a food for hundreds of years. I get good LDL control with it, and I still take Co-Q10 with it.
Fish oil is a natural blood thinner. You might not need the poison blood thinner if you take fish oil. Just get a good quality fish oil that has any toxins filtered out. If you have any licensed Naturopathic Physicians in your area, consult them about replacing your pharmaceuticals.
I also recommend eating Aronia berries every day. They are full of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, and support heart health, good blood pressure, blood sugar control, good circulation, healthy eyes, and good health in general. These berries are native to North America, but have been subject to much medical research in Eastern Europe, especially Poland, Russia, and Bulgaria. They are healing my diabetes and normalizing my blood pressure, in addition to my Resperate. They are easy to grow, look for “Viking” or “Nero” varieties. There are vendors who sell juice concentrate, as well as dried berries. I found a local farmer in WA state to buy 40 lbs from, and put in the freezer. They sweeten well with Stevia.
Surprisingly good thank you, I’m sure your trusty visitors could possibly want more items along these lines continue the great work.
thank you Walter K. for your comments about Aronia berries. Are they available in healthfood stores? I am interested since I have poor circulation and some family members have high blood sugar.
Do you have an article or any info on the Aronia berry?
Thanks
I have not found the berries in health food stores yet. Excellent juice concentrate from Nebraska is found at http://www.superberries.com , and this website also lists a lot of the scientific studies done in Eastern Europe. Unsweetened dried berries can be found at http://www.nutsonline.com . A less concentrated and less expensive juice concentrate from Poland, as well as dried berries sweetened with apple juice can be found at http://www.apriorifoods.com . Bushes can be found at raintreenursery.com and burntridgenursery.com . An annual aronia festival takes place in Iowa at Sawmill Hollow sawmillhollow.com . It is very cold tolerant and will grow in many places, so do some web searching for farmers in your area.
Please can someone give interaction between WARFARIN and suplements
Dr. Rowena is an informative resource and can answer some of your questions regarding Blood Pressure and RESPeRATE. Dr. Rowena Sobczyk is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She received her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina and completed her residency at the University of Minnesota, where she also received a Master’s Degree in Community Health. Besides her medical practice in Atlanta, she has published a number of books and articles encouraging individuals to take charge of their health.
Dr. Rowena has a longstanding interest in helping patients reduce their cardiac risk factors through diet, exercise and other non-drug lifestyle changes. As a result, she has been suggesting RESPeRATE use for years and has been an avid user herself
You might consider, then, requesting her to cease giving offhand, inaccurate and sometimes less than kind answers to the people who come here seriously seeking information and assistance. People who, I assume, you wish to make your customers.
Too often there is a decided lack of respect and attention given to Dr. Sobczyk’s responses here.
Love it. Thank you for posting that. I will return to this site to find out more and inform my people about this website