Which Statin?

[novojohn1]

Just got a letter from my Doctor. He wants me to change my daily Atorvastatin 10mg tablets for 20mg Simvastatin. This is on the basis that Atorvastatin are 14 times dearer than Simvastatin.

He points out that when I was first prescribed Atorvastatin in 2004 my cholesterol was 4.4mmol and recently was 4.2 mmol (though I do recall the nurse telling me most of this was "good" cholesterol & she was therefore more than happy) and therefore he says I have been getting a small effect from the Atorvastatin.

He has effectively given me the choice on my next prescription, and I am all for "value for money" in the NHS but not sure what to do here.................... Any of you good folks any experience of these 2 statins?

I'm 56, a Type 1 (fairly stable) since aged 15.

 

[Marvin]

I was prescribed Atorvstatin some years ago... it had the desired effect. About four years back I was asked if I was willing to take Simvastatin instead, because of the cost implications. I made the switch, and the Simvastatin is doing just as good a job. Only difference is it should be taken at night, not in the morning, Its a different drug, so the dosage is different (I think I am on 40mg as against 10mg of the atorvastatin.) As far as I'm concerned its just as good, and is saving the NHS a packet. Provided it suits you (it doesn't suit everyone, but then nor does Atorvastatin) you might as well go for it.

 

[novojohn1]

Thanks Marvin,
Was thinking may as well - unless someone said there was a major difference. makes you wonder why some were prescribed in the first place if the price difference is so great !!
As a matter of interest my Atorvastatin has always been prescribed for taking at night - so hopefully no real change for me.

Thanks again for your reply.
Wishing you well.

 

[Hobs]

I was prescribed simvaststin at first but within a short time (about 12 weeks) I had developed muscle pain in both legs that would wake me up, so atorvastsin was substituted, and although the pain grew a little less it was still a problem. Rosuvastatin was next on the list and they suit me without any problems .. this is on my 8 weekly repeat card and it has been there for approximately 3yrs.

 

[brambles]

I was prescribed simvistatin and a further 3 others when first diagnosed they all gave me terrible tingling in my hands and feet (and also cramp in my toes) some gave me a rash.

I was changed to atorvastatin 10mg and had no side effects and still take them a year later (chol 3) so maybe you need to consider the possible side effects before making a decision

 

[novojohn1]

Hmmmm......thank you Hobs and Brambles.

Can't say Atorvastatin has been perfect for me - i'm a bad sleeper anyway and do get "achy" when I wake. Never been sure it's the Atorvastatin though...........or just me getting stressed and "tense up".

Suppose I could ask to change back if effects were worse. Could even be better (for me?).

Appreciate your advice.

 

[viviennem]

I had a bad experience with Simvastatin - muscle aches and weakness being the main problem - and now won't take statins at all.

If you Google 'Duane Graveline' (he's an ex-USAF/NASA doctor) or his site at spacedoc.net, you'll find all the statins listed and their potential side effects. He is very anti-statin, so be warned :wink:

Viv 8)

 

[Dougie22]

I've had bad experiences with several of the mainstream statins (very bad joint pain and forgetfulness) and so am now a refuser.

I don't advocate refusing (it's my personal choice) but keep an eye out for the side effects. If you are 56, you may be on these for 30 years or more!

 

[didie]

I've been taking 40 mgs of Simvastatin at night since the end of June and haven't had any problems. I was put straight on a Statin by the neurologist as soon as my stroke was diagnosed - it was subsequently found to be caused by undiagnosed diabetes. I want to keep all my risk factors as low as possible to avoid another stroke, so I'm quite happy to take a Statin along with an anti-clotting drug.

 

[davey b]

When I was first diagnosed diabetic a year ago, my doctor put me on Atorvastatin - "It's the most expensive one, but also the most effective for knocking the bad cholesterol on the head." I'd heard many stories about it causing stiffness and muscle pain, so I delayed taking it for a month because some of the side effects for Gliclazide were similar. A year later I have no problems with taking it. My health time are also very fanatical that Atorvastatin should be taken at night for it to be most effective!

 

[robphpps]

i started on simvastatin years ago but after being on them a considerable time they were not having any effect. so several years ago i was put atorvastatin and i am on 80mg (yes, very high dose)at night. over last 3 years i have been in hospital several times and each time the docs there have stopped the atorvastatin. then as soon as i see diabetic specialist and have bloods done i am straight back on them at the full 80mg dose.in the end i had to ignore the docs when i went into hospital and kept taking them. . the whole idea of statins worry some people,but we have to look at how serious the problem is before we make our mind up....

 

[anna29]

Hi.
Myself, and my older brother are both on simvastatin we take it nightly.
No problems at all on this statin from the both of us...
Hope this helps?
Anna.x

 

[novojohn1]

Thanks Anna - that's good to hear ...... and yes, it helps.
Thanks to all who responded. What is clear is that your experiences of various statins are varied........pretty much what I expected really.
Reckon I'll give Simvastatin a go - see what happens. I may be posting my experience again in due course - to another in this predicament.

 

[Daibell]

Hi

My surgery asked me to change from Atorvastatin to Simvastatin a good many years back to save money. I've had no side effects as a result and my cholesterol readings are still good. As others have said, watch out for muscle pains etc as Simvastatin can be worse in this respect. I remember a 2:1 change in tablet mg but can't remember which way.

 

[reidpj]

I've had bad experiences with several of the mainstream statins (very bad joint pain and forgetfulness) and so am now a refuser.

I don't advocate refusing (it's my personal choice) but keep an eye out for the side effects. If you are 56, you may be on these for 30 years or more!

I was offered statins on a 'just in case' basis (my total cholesterol was 4 :roll: ), I politely declined the well intentioned offer. Those interested in researching the cons further may be find the following of interest: www.drbriffa.com/2011/11/08/statins-app ... -they-help

 

[searley]

I've been on 20mg Simvastatin for about 8 months, without any side effect

Had a reduction from 5.9 to 5.1, doctor want me to have a higher dose but we have agreed to hold off until the new year and see what the level is first

 

[smoss9]

Hi I am type 2 and was told i should go on statins as a diabetic. Been on Simvastatin gave me really bad muscle pain. Then on Prevastatin, i have had the last few months, foggy brain and bad memory and bone pain. So decided that because the doctor said my cholestral was in the normal range anyway i would come off them. I cant keep putting my body through all this pain just because i am a diabetic and could get problems. If it goes up then i will try again. It is hard when we all take so many pills and potions to take more which cause us upset, some times we have no choice but at the moment i do. Dont know how long it will take for the pain to stop?

 

[Dougie22]

It seems to vary from individual to individual. In my case it took weeks or months before I felt I'd returned to normal but quite a few people here have reported much shorter timescales. I think the least I've seen was a week or so. Might depend how long you've been on them.

I too had foggy brain and memory problems as well as the joint pain. I thought I was going to need a hip replacement and didn't associate it with the statins at first. I didn't notice the memory/undececive thing but my wife did.

I'm refusing them even although my numbers are very high.

 

[LittleGreyCat]

I started out on 40Mg of Simavastatin but it turned me into a zombie.
I was having to have a nap at lunch time to make it through the day.
Stopping taking them made an enormous difference within a day - like a cloud lifting.

Switched to Pravastatin and no side effects so far after a couple of years.

If you go on statins, you need to be alert to possible side effects as I think some people assume that the fuzzy thinking and tiredness etc. are a side effect of the diabetes (as they sometimes can be) and don't associate them with the statins.

Cheers

LGC

 

[carolj185]

a few years ago i was on Atorvastatin 10mg my dr changed them didn't say anything to me just got them on my repeat percription simvastatin 10mg. i was on them for quite a while maybe 2 years they slowly increased then right up to 80mg that finally had it controlled, all of a sudden i started to get crippling pain in my arms i went to the dr's and he thought it was the simvastatin he took me straight off them within 2 days the pain had gone so for me they wasn't the same. he tried putting me back on them i told him i didn't want to i was scared of the pain coming back i reluctlantly went back on them my cholesterol started creeping up and he wanted to increase them again i was so upset i went to see a different dr he didn't argue with me he put me straight back on the Atorvastatin 10mg and thank god and that dr i have been fine since we are all different and unfortunately they didn't help me they caused me severe pain. sometimes cheaper isnt the same.