and now statins

[Bluetit1802]

At my last review my doctor put me on statins. Artovastatin. Low dose. Since going on them my muscle pain is terrible. My joints in my hands and feet feel like I've been hit with a sledge hammer, My arms are weak as are my legs when walking. I am also suffering from no sleep, and fuzzy brain. I couldn't even remember how to use my mobile to make a call. I had tests done for low testosterone etc. All my bloods came back fine, liver function the works. I have to go from a head scan tonight at the hospital...It seems to me that all this started when I was put on statins. Yes my feed get sore from time to time and i take ALA for that. Now on statins it's not working and my blood sugars are creeping up....I think I'm going to stop taking them. What's the point of having a so called extended life if that life is a half life in daily pain with no sleep and forgetting things.

You could try stopping them as an experiment for a period to see if the problems go away - you could always go back to them.
You need to tell your doctor, of course.

 

[ringi]

@bluejeans98 If I had these side effect I would have stopped taking Satins without waiting to see my GP! It can take weeks or longer for the side effects to clear up once someone sotps the Satins.

The research that was done into Satins was setup in such a way as to hide most cases of side effects........ (People who stopped taking the drugs in the first few weeks were excluded from the resaerch.)

 

[bluejeans98]

Going to give the statins a miss see how I feel and if I improve. Going to take some painkillers now see if that relieves the symptoms.. As it's getting unbearable.

 

[AloeSvea]

Also @bluejeans98 - you are assuming that taking the statins is going to extend your life. Did your doctor actually say that? Or did you just assume? From what I have read, statins increase time alive to middleaged men who have had a MI or CVD previously (and they think it is the anti inflammatory effect that does this) - everyone else - they lower your cholesterol. Lowered cholesterol, I gather, is not associated with increased lifespan. But ask your doctor - you might be surprised what they reply.

 

[bluejeans98]

Been off the statins 10 days now and feel better. Have had better sleeps for 7 of those days, Brain not as foggy. Feet still sore.

 

[JMK1954]

It took about a fortnight without statins before I started to feel more like myself. I had completely lost my appetite -not a good thing for a type 1 who has to take insulin. This was the first thing to return to normal. I actually felt hungry again. Joint/muscle pain lifted gradually over days and weeks. The effect on my memory and thinking processes took a lot longer to wear off. I suspect it was two or three years before I realised I was thinking quite clearly again, able to remember details and put forward a coherent argument. Of course, this had put me at a big disadvantage when trying to explain the side-effects I was experiencing to disbelieving doctors. Not everything is reversed quickly, but you should notice gradual change over a period of time. Best wishes, bluejeans98. As you start to feel better, you can up your exercise level. Good luck!

 

[goose64]

I had problems with atorvostatin, simvastin etc I'm currently on Creator and it's working fine, no side effects and my cholesterol has dropped. Mine you through no choice of my own I'm having to follow a very low fat diet so that might have had a lot to do with it

 

[Mike d]

Who dictated the diet?

 

[macabee]

They asked me to take statins. I refused. They have many side effects and have no benefit unless you have actually had a heart attack.

I have to correct you hen you state that statins have no beneficial effects unless you have had a heart attack. People with FH [Familial Hypercholesterolmia]a genetic condition where the liver produces too much cholesterol, require statins to stay alive! I have FH and have been on statins since 1995, thankfully for statins I am still here now I have the double whammy of being T2, hey ho that's life.

 

[Slalom]

At my last review my doctor put me on statins. Artovastatin. Low dose. Since going on them my muscle pain is terrible. My joints in my hands and feet feel like I've been hit with a sledge hammer, My arms are weak as are my legs when walking. I am also suffering from no sleep, and fuzzy brain. I couldn't even remember how to use my mobile to make a call. I had tests done for low testosterone etc. All my bloods came back fine, liver function the works. I have to go from a head scan tonight at the hospital...It seems to me that all this started when I was put on statins. Yes my feed get sore from time to time and i take ALA for that. Now on statins it's not working and my blood sugars are creeping up....I think I'm going to stop taking them. What's the point of having a so called extended life if that life is a half life in daily pain with no sleep and forgetting things.

I had taken 12 20mg Artovastatin and was feeling terrible so went back to Simvastatin 40mg which I seem to tolerate, and the problems went away just as quickly, thank goodness.

Just asked to revert at the next appointment, now have to keep the levels steady oh joy!

 

[Mike d]

It's taken years to recover from this stuff .... respect that some might find them beneficial but (as I keep imploring) read up and work out why they are, for many, downright dangerous

 

[Alexandra100]

At my last review my doctor put me on statins. Artovastatin. Low dose. Since going on them my muscle pain is terrible. My joints in my hands and feet feel like I've been hit with a sledge hammer, My arms are weak as are my legs when walking. I am also suffering from no sleep, and fuzzy brain. I couldn't even remember how to use my mobile to make a call. I had tests done for low testosterone etc. All my bloods came back fine, liver function the works. I have to go from a head scan tonight at the hospital...It seems to me that all this started when I was put on statins. Yes my feed get sore from time to time and i take ALA for that. Now on statins it's not working and my blood sugars are creeping up....I think I'm going to stop taking them. What's the point of having a so called extended life if that life is a half life in daily pain with no sleep and forgetting things.

There are lots of different statins. You could ask your doctor for another, or perhaps s/he might change the dose for you.

 

[goose64]

Mike, my gallbladder did, if I eat any fat I end up in pain

 

[Mike d]

Are you attributing that to statins @goose64 ?

 

[gardengnome42]

just returned from my annual review with the specialist nurse. Low carbing has reduced my glucose levels and my plasma glucose is now at 9.4mmol/L and my daily measurements first thing in the morning is usually about 6.5 mmol/L. Now they're saying that my cholesterol is too high and that i should begin taking a statin..something that i do not want to do.I have a total cholesterol level of 5.6 a HDL of 1.49 and triglycerides of 4.63. I am so confused over what is good or bad cholesterol because under the low carb high fat diet that i have been using i am eating all the things that the nhs recommends that i do not eat.I have no weight problems i am fit and healthy and do not want to start taking any medicine if i can avoid it.......any advice?[/QUOt

At my last review my doctor put me on statins. Artovastatin. Low dose. Since going on them my muscle pain is terrible. My joints in my hands and feet feel like I've been hit with a sledge hammer, My arms are weak as are my legs when walking. I am also suffering from no sleep, and fuzzy brain. I couldn't even remember how to use my mobile to make a call. I had tests done for low testosterone etc. All my bloods came back fine, liver function the works. I have to go from a head scan tonight at the hospital...It seems to me that all this started when I was put on statins. Yes my feed get sore from time to time and i take ALA for that. Now on statins it's not working and my blood sugars are creeping up....I think I'm going to stop taking them. What's the point of having a so called extended life if that life is a half life in daily pain with no sleep and forgetting things.

You could ask for a different statin?

 

[gardengnome42]

I believe that 'Most diabetes experts and cardiologists' thought low fat high carb diet was the way to go twenty years ago. It appears that opinions are changing.
I was told that I should be on statins as my TC was raised (5.2). No mention or explanation of relative levels was made and I have to confess that, 5 weeks on, my statin prescription still sits in the chemist awaiting collection.
I have no idea where I'll end up at my next blood screening late in November, either HbA1c or cholesterol, but from what I've read and bearing in mind that I don't have any other medical condition, I've decided to take nothing for the time being.
To be honest, I find things pretty difficult to assimilate because medical opinion is so polarized, particularly concerning cholesterol. I saw a video recently (but I can't find it now) that said it's not even necessarily high LDL that is the problem as there are different types of LDL including large and small. It's the small LDL that can cause the problems in artery walls - but that wouldn't happen if the arteries hadn't been inflamed by high glucose and insulin. So, we're back to glucose. Blimey.
Meanwhile I'll stick with the bacon and eggs and see what happens - trusting those on here with far more experience than me.

Total cholesterol of 5.2 - and they say that is raised?! Just a ruse to get you on statins I'm thinking, Mine was 6.7. and I was expecting the statin 'offer' but actually it never came as the ratio came out at 2.4 which I gather is the important number - not the total. Anyway regarding cholesterol, where is the real science behind it all?

 

[Paul520785]

Years ago I was told to take Statins and when I asked about side effects I was told there were NONE.
WRONG - when I suffered massive cramp in my legs every night I stopped taking the statins and about 6 weeks later I finally had a nights sleep.
I would suggest that you ask 3 questions - What will statins give me AND what is the health cost of not taking them THEN what are the possible side effects.
Only when you feel confident that you understand the answers you must decide !
Personally I know only people who have refused or stopped taking Statins.