Anyone been put on Statins?

Check out one of our own (UK) cardiologists, Aseem Malhotra.

His views on prescribing statins as a primary measure, in other words when you have NOT had a heart attack, stroke etc, is strongly against doing so as the reduction in the rate of absolute mortality is so low as to be negligible.

http://doctoraseem.com/category/videos/


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According to the Resources for You booklet I was given on the DESMOND course, HDL (good) should be more than 1.5, mine was 1.2. LDL (bad) should be less than 2.0, mine was 2.1. It doesn't say anything about triglycerides.

 

I doubt that it would be an issue, but do discuss the possible impact of any statin on the liver in your particular circumstance. often general advice is inadequate in these areas. I would consider @KevinPotts words on Malhotra's opinion (one shared by 90% of my doctors) that the chance of statins actually making a difference to life span for someone who has not had heart issues prior to taking statins is negligible. I honestly just don't see why I should take them, so I don't. I would add just to clarify further, my kidney condition was inherited and was nothing at all to do with anything other than my genes (deterioration over decades was always going to happen and I was always going to wind up on dialysis and/or having a transplant). I accepted the risk of diabetes from some meds I was given, but then that was one worth taking; I may now be diabetic, but if it was a choice between dialysis and diabetes...I'd take diabetes easily every time. Statins? Don't see the risk/benefit thing is anywhere near the same way. So, I wouldn't get too wound up about them or your liver at all...but I would certainly discuss it with a doctor..all the input informs one way or another, and our decisions should at least be as informed as we can make them. Good luck. Keep us posted. Paul

 

I didn't know this... Why would they be for life? Glad I'm not on them!!




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I have been taking them for several years nothing much to report. Still don't like them though and would prefer not to be taking them.

 

I was put on statins I had a reaction to one but I am taking atervastatin with no reaction with them

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I was put on statins and having done a bit of research and felt I understood enough about the different lipids and what numbers are important I challenged my doctor as to why I was on them when I was not at risk of heart problems or stroke and his response was that NHS guidelines say diabetics with total cholesterol over 4 should be on them. He agreed, after looking at the breakdown and other lifestyle factors that I had no need for them. I don't take statins any longer. Would suggest ask your doctor for the breakdown and to work out your risk level.

 

I understood that having diabetes put us at a higher risk for stroke and heart problems

 

Have read that this is so and would not dismiss it out of hand. Also as I have Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with stents implanted the stents can raise risk of stroke or heart attack them selves and as they are a fix not a cure the aneurysm is still there stents can eventually leak. statins have been shown to increase the survival rate from ruptured aneurysms slightly I shall probably continue to take them even though I do have reservations about them. By the way Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms are usually completely asymptomatic till they rupture there is no way of knowing if you have one unless you have a scan and they like many other things tend to run in families.

 

One has to weigh the various medications in the balance and take those that do not ruin our present and future quality of life. It may be in certain circumstances an operation can help us with the health problem but we possibly may not survive the surgery. I have been on statins for years and now stopped. I have also been on warfarin and have a pacemaker. Warfarin and statins are vit k antagonists that cause arterial calcification. The novel anticoagulants do not do this. It is never black and white, we have to chose for ourselves in the end. We can always change if we feel we made a bad choice of medication. I have to decide to have or not, a large tumour removed that is not cancer that produces 20x the normal aldosterone. The meds are horrid but I may not survive the op! At the end of the day of decision it is nice to be able to put it in God's hands and hope for an improved future. regards Derek

 

I will pray for you then that you make the right decision for you and that the outcome is beneficial.

John

 

Spot on John...I'm another one who likes prayer


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Me to rather not take them or any medication but we have to do what we think is right for us

 

Many thanks John, you have my prayers too. It is a difficult health problem you have and I hope a way can be found to get a safe surgical procedure carried out. Best wishes and peace of mind to you. Derek