Can you just stop taking statins and metformin

[Antje77]

I then get into an age bracket where statistics suggest I should be taking Statins.

Do you have access to your actual lab results on a full lipid panel?
Having reached a certain age wouldn't be a reason for me to take lifelong medication, lab results could be.

 

[Lupf]

Hi @richf welcome on the forum. You have asked a frequent question, but unfortunately the FAQ answers on this topic depend strongly on who writes these.

Statins are prescribed to lower heart disease, but also if you are diabetic, above certain age, ...
I don't know your medical history, so when considering statins, it will depend on it.

A few years ago, we had a long thread on Cholesterol and Statins this forum. I posted this long entry,
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/cholesterol-and-statins.156985/post-2553796.
If you are curious have a read of this and other posts. Spoiler: I decided against statins, despite my GP's advice.
Caveat: the original poster of the thread, @bulkbiker, is now banned.

While your GP can prescribe a medicine, it is up to us to decide to take these. Normally we follow their guidance, they are the experts after all. But it is always good to educate ourselves. Best wishes.

 

[Resurgam]

No I was referring to the reduction of carbohydrates to lower blood sugar, not statin intake. but very true it read wrongly and thank you I have now edited it!
That is a very fortunate result with your increase in saturated fat. I would be looking to increase my healthy fats from plant sources instead. But we all react differently!

I was prescribed Metformin and Atorvastatin at diagnosis. I was lucky to survive, as I became suicidal - and a lot of other unpleasant things too, but I stopped taking the tablets after 5 weeks, and 5 years later I decided that I was probably past the worst of the side effects.
I went back to a normal Human diet with saturated fat - the normal fats which come with the foods which control my blood glucose and keep my HbA1c just at the low end of prediabetic. My cholesterol levels reduced to below what they were when eating low fat and using margarine and seed oils. One of my wicked pleasures is watching those taking my blood pressure repeat the test and doubt their eyes and then their sphygmomanometer (thank you spellchecker).

 

[Melgar]

@Resurgam your extreme reaction to statin use is very unusual as studies have shown that certain types of statin can actually have a protective effect on depressive episodes. I'm in no way doubting you as drugs can throw up unusual reactions.

@richf by far the most common side effect of statin use reported is aching muscles.

See the link on "Associations between statin use and suicidality, depression, anxiety, and seizures: a Swedish total-population cohort study.

Associations between statin use and suicidality, depression, anxiety, and seizures: a Swedish total-population cohort study - PMC

Statins have shown both protective and adverse associations with neuropsychiatric outcomes. We aimed to examine the possible associations between statins and suicidality, depression, anxiety, and seizures. Using Swedish national registers, we linked ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Resurgam]

@Resurgam your extreme reaction to statin use is very unusual as studies have shown that certain types of statin can actually have a protective effect on depressive episodes. I'm in no way doubting you as drugs can throw up unusual reactions.

@richf by far the most common side effect of statin use reported is aching muscles.

See the link on "Associations between statin use and suicidality, depression, anxiety, and seizures: a Swedish total-population cohort study.

Associations between statin use and suicidality, depression, anxiety, and seizures: a Swedish total-population cohort study - PMC

Statins have shown both protective and adverse associations with neuropsychiatric outcomes. We aimed to examine the possible associations between statins and suicidality, depression, anxiety, and seizures. Using Swedish national registers, we linked ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

One thing I have realised in subsequent years is that there was nothing added to my notes when I reported my reasons for stopping taking the tablets, no thought of making a report about it. That could give the impression of a 'rare' reaction which is actually not all that rare.

 

[Melgar]

One thing I have realised in subsequent years is that there was nothing added to my notes when I reported my reasons for stopping taking the tablets, no thought of making a report about it. That could give the impression of a 'rare' reaction which is actually not all that rare.

I understanding there is a UK number you can report adverse drug reactions.
Although I would mention a drug reaction to my GP, just so it's on my medical record, I would not rely on that information making it's way onto the adverse drug site. I would go down the official report process, especially if it's serious. There is a adverse drug report system here in Canada. I found a similar system for the UK.

Suspect an adverse reaction? Yellow Card it!

Any healthcare professional can submit a Yellow Card, including students. When submitting a report about a medicine via the Yellow Card website, if your occupation is not available in our drop-down list, you can now select ‘Other healthcare professional’ from the drop-down list and provide more...

www.gov.uk

 

[TreboroughLiz]

Until this discussion I had not realised that statins included a risk of raising blood sugar levels but do now vaguely recall having my metformin dose upped when I was prescribed a statin. My cholesterol levels are now well within healthy ranges so I am thinking of asking my GP about coming off them at least for a trial period. Sometimes the way the side effects of one medication seem to require prescription of another make me feel like the woman who swallowed a fly ....

 

[Melgar]

Until this discussion I had not realised that statins included a risk of raising blood sugar levels but do now vaguely recall having my metformin dose upped when I was prescribed a statin. My cholesterol levels are now well within healthy ranges so I am thinking of asking my GP about coming off them at least for a trial period. Sometimes the way the side effects of one medication seem to require prescription of another make me feel like the woman who swallowed a fly ....

It has to do with medical risk @TreboroughLiz . The risk to the heart and vascular system outweighs the risk of elevated blood sugars.

 

[Resurgam]

I understanding there is a UK number you can report adverse drug reactions.
Although I would mention a drug reaction to my GP, just so it's on my medical record, I would not rely on that information making it's way onto the adverse drug site. I would go down the official report process, especially if it's serious. There is a adverse drug report system here in Canada. I found a similar system for the UK.

Suspect an adverse reaction? Yellow Card it!

Any healthcare professional can submit a Yellow Card, including students. When submitting a report about a medicine via the Yellow Card website, if your occupation is not available in our drop-down list, you can now select ‘Other healthcare professional’ from the drop-down list and provide more...

www.gov.uk

I was told that as I had taken two drugs at the same time there was no way to report my reaction, as it could not be ascribed to just one - perhaps I was still just a little too trusting - it has been detrimental to my well being for half a century but hope springs eternal.

 

[richf]

A few years ago, we had a long thread on Cholesterol and Statins this forum. I posted this long entry,
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/cholesterol-and-statins.156985/post-2553796.
If you are curious have a read of this and other posts. Spoiler: I decided against statins, despite my GP's advice.
Caveat: the original poster of the thread, @bulkbiker, is now banned.

Thanks for the reference to the above post. I found it very interesting, as I have with all the other comments here.
@Bcgirl commented on her use of Berberine, which I thought was very positive I had hoped there would have been more feed back from other users of it.
There is a lot of info out there, but I felt I had run in to a brick wall when the Pharmacist said - never heard of it.
When I have my review I feel I have to be more positive and proactive - I would like to try the Berberine for a few months without the statin and metformin and then have tests and reassess my levels.

 

[Bcgirl]

Thanks for the reference to the above post. I found it very interesting, as I have with all the other comments here.
@Bcgirl commented on her use of Berberine, which I thought was very positive I had hoped there would have been more feed back from other users of it.
There is a lot of info out there, but I felt I had run in to a brick wall when the Pharmacist said - never heard of it.
When I have my review I feel I have to be more positive and proactive - I would like to try the Berberine for a few months without the statin and metformin and then have tests and reassess my levels.

Good luck. My doctor was well versed about Berberine and had no issues with me trying it. It’s readily available at Costco here in Canada. I will tell you though that I took me several trials for my body to get used to the full dosage (three 500mg pills). It did irritate my intestines, if you choose to try it, dose up slowly.

 

[Magic Turtle]

After much research, I believe that the main thing to watch for is if a drug causes your blood sugar readings to rise. For whatever reason, that would not be a good sign. We constantly try to reduce blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides (body fat) and what gets in the way they say is insulin resistance. Anything which makes our blood sugars rise is not helping us. I believe this applies to sugars and carbohydrates also. And this to me proves the case for periodic fasting to give the body opportunities without the insulin. There must be a strategy to break the cycle of insulin resistance and this is what I am going with - just saying not trying to advise.

 

[Michael 1701]

Every time I go for a walk my leg muscles ache all the way. I manage a 2 mile slow walk before I'm exhausted. Plus getting readings in the low 4's, which my HCP noted as a 'concern'; my target range is 6-9.

Yesterday I walked 4 miles flat out, no fatigue at all. As a bonus I didn't take any Gliclazide that morning and my reading was 5.6 so I've got the handle on that too.

4 miles flat out is much better for my health than a 2 mile trudge.
I'll be out walking again tomorrow.

 

[Magic Turtle]

Yes, that is very good. My legs also ache because I did not use them enough. My reading was 6.0 this morning. After porridge at 05.30. I will fast now. but I am 77 years old. Here for my kids. I walk each day now but must also do more.

 

[Daphne917]

I was prescribed Statins when first diagnosed with a hba1c of 48. After 6 months my hba1c had increased to 54 and I was getting side effects from the statins. Not willing to put up with them any longer I spoke to my GP and told him I was going to stop taking them and within 6 months I had a non diabetic hba1c which I have maintained for approx 12 years. The only side effect to coming off them was a reduced hba1c!

 

[Magic Turtle]

I you took steps to rid yourself of the disease for 12 years without medication, that is good because you have done it without chemical intervention. What is more, you are cured naturally. There is the high likelihood that people would be very interested in what worked for you.

 

[PatsyB]

I wa son statins for years, I then started with muscle pains they were so bad I could hardly walk never mind climb the stairs, I stopped taking them and a GP took a blood test which showed my inflammation levels were sky
high and was put on steroids which eventually managed to get the inflammation down, Statins had given me Polymyalgia Rheumatica!!! the hospital told me stop taking the statins which I had , they have tried me on a few different statins since all set the Polymyalgia Rheumatica off again . I am now down to 1 steroid per day still have aches and pains but can not take statins so went to the health shop to see what I could take instead she gave me Lamberts Plant sterols which I am trying, has anyone else tried these with any success??

 

[Magic Turtle]

The target for any drug is to plan for stopping it after a limited time span. In the case of Metformin and Avorstatin there are known side effects. It is important to keep up with efforts to reverse the condition, through diet and exercise, so that reliance upon these drugs can be reduced at least periodically. This is not advice, everybody is different and in order to make informed decisions the whole aspect of the condition must be considered and the person at the centre is the one most well placed to decide. Obviously muscle pain should be correctly diagnosed as these symptoms cannot be tolerated. It is a constant battle, but fatty liverand insulin resistance as well as high blood fats and sugars, LDL cholesterol must be closely monitored and taken on. YOU SHOULD NOT take these drugs then sit back and expect everything to reverse itself with no further action. These drugs do not cure the condition but offer a window of opportunity in which to act to remove the inflammation.

 

[Magic Turtle]

I would also like to put this forward. As we age, our muscles can more easily deteriorate through lack of use. I have just come out of a period of high anxiety, which caused me to sit around shivering for weeks, The result is very weak legs and oedema in my feet. This I put down to the meds, but upon reflection it is from lack of use. There are many useful articles re the use of muscle nourishing foods, essential for triggering the healing process and reducing muscle pain. Useful to find these natural remedies which are part of the lives of people of healthy old age. You must be determined and not just sit there and put up with it but be confident in your body and its ability to heal.

 

[Antje77]

The target for any drug is to plan for stopping it after a limited time span.

While this is true for many drugs, it definitely isn't for all of them.
There are many chronic conditions that worsen if medication isn't taken, causing unneeded damage.
Or death. I would die pretty soon if I planned on stopping my insulin, I don't produce it myself.