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Atorvastatin

B

Bobbycoll

Member
Messages
17
Hi I've just been recommended to go on 40mg atorvastatin I'm reluctant to as my cholesterol results are from over 9 months ago when I first got diagnosed with diabetes hba1c was 86 so I started healthy eating and got down to 28 and 31 on my last 2 tests, I've seen atorvastatin can raise blood sugars and hba1c and in honesty I really don't want to risk that, is anyone here taking atorvastatin and does it raise your fasting blood sugars by much? Will be arranging an appointment to discuss it with the gp but would appreciate anyone's experience
 
Why did they recommend it?

Did you have a full lipid panel.. if not ask which metrics they used for the recommendation and why.
 
I would be insisting on another recent blood test for full cholesterol tests before taking atorvastatin. My dad has no side effects, I had a terrible time and stopped after a fortnight.
 
Hertfordshiremum said:
I would be insisting on another recent blood test for full cholesterol tests before taking atorvastatin. My dad has no side effects, I had a terrible time and stopped after a fortnight.
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I'm going to insist on it, it was the pharmacist from our surgery that rang with her annual review so didn't question it until I read in to it more
 
bulkbiker said:
Why did they recommend it?

Did you have a full lipid panel.. if not ask which metrics they used for the recommendation and why.
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Not entirely sure of all the reasons but she said I was at risk of complications so recommended me to take them but never mentioned of the blood sugar side effects so wondered if it has raised many peoples sugars or hba1c
 
Bobbycoll said:
I'm going to insist on it, it was the pharmacist from our surgery that rang with her annual review so didn't question it until I read in to it more
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It raised my blood sugars by about 3mmol the whole time. This meant for me constantly taking more insulin, I also had a thumping headache every day. I usually walk 2 miles every morning and my legs from the knees down swelled up it was painful to walk and just got worse as the day went on. Their initial reaction was that this was all completely unrelated so after a fortnight I decided I had had enough and stopped them and within 48hrs I was completely back to normal. they then did admit that everything was listed as possible side effects. You may however have none of this but until you have some current blood test results you can’t really make that decision. A lot of doctors just assume your cholesterol will go up if you are diabetic so want to put you on statins straight away. My levels have gone up from 4 to 5.5 in the 3.5 years I have been diabetic but having read up on statins I decided against them. There is a lot of information available online.
 
Hertfordshiremum said:
I would be insisting on another recent blood test for full cholesterol tests before taking atorvastatin. My dad has no side effects, I had a terrible time and stopped after a fortnight.
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It made me very ill.
 
I also take Atorvastatin following a triple bypass six years ago. My Diabetic Nurse has said she is not aware of any reason not to take the drug. My cholesterol level was very high but the statins brought it down to a reasonable level. I think most of this is down to the fact that not all drugs work for all parties. I used to take Simvastatin until my heart op, but my cardiologist preferred Atorvastatin. I would always recommend consulting a health professional regarding medication.
 
Statins are treated like sweets by the medics yet can be dangerous (ask my wife). I do take them as my lipids ratios indicate they would help. Only take them if a full lipids 'panel' suggests your ratios are not good and don't continue with them if you get bad symptoms like muscle pain.
 
Bobbycoll said:
Not entirely sure of all the reasons but she said I was at risk of complications so recommended me to take them but never mentioned of the blood sugar side effects so wondered if it has raised many peoples sugars or hba1c
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My mum (70) has been pre-diabetic for years, but always kept it under control with diet. She's absolutely terrified of getting dementia or having a stoke (her mum and both of her aunts had vascular dementia) so she's started taking statins. her last Ac1 had gone to to 48 from 42, not huge, but enough to put her in diagnosis range
 
This is the link to the Decision Aid produced by NICE to help patients decide whether they should take statins:- https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg181/resources/patient-decision-aid-pdf-243780159

NICE says, "Improving your diet, stopping smoking, reducing your alcohol intake, reducing your weight and taking more exercise can help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. NICE recommends that most people should try doing these things before thinking about taking a statin." This applies to people who have not already been diagnosed with CVD.

Although you have improved your diet, you might like to think about other lifestyle improvements, if applicable.

Your GP should use a QRISK calculator to find out your risk of CVD in the next 10 years https://qrisk.org/three/index.php This needs up-to-date information about your blood pressure and cholesterol:HDL ratio so would require a blood test and BP check.

There is further guidance from NICE here:- https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg181/ifp/chapter/Drug-treatments-to-lower-your-cholesterol
 
While we are on the subject of Statins, has anybody else heard that you cannot eat Grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice?
 
Smeggers said:
While we are on the subject of Statins, has anybody else heard that you cannot eat Grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice?
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Information from the NHS says:-
Statins
Statins are medicines that lower your cholesterol. Grapefruit or grapefruit juice affects some statins.

Do not drink grapefruit juice if you're taking simvastatin. Grapefruit juice increases the level of simvastatin in your blood and makes side effects more likely.

Atorvastatin interacts with grapefruit juice if you drink large quantities (more than 1.2 litres daily), but an occasional glass is thought to be safe.

Currently, healthcare professionals advise it is safe to drink grapefruit juice and eat grapefruit if you're taking other types of statins.
https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/medicines/does-grapefruit-affect-my-medicine/​
 
I recommend a book by Dr. James le Fanu called "Too Many Pills" which has a lot of information on the development and appropriate/inappropriate prescribing of statins. Also has a terrific chapter on diabetes type 2. Mentions what I suspect is this forum in a very positive light, as well as LCHF.
 
thanks for that, it clears up a couple of mysteries for me
 
My glucose readings are high since starting 20mg atorvastatin about 4 weeks ago. I will be discussing this with my diabetes team next month. I did phone my gp practice for advice and was told it wasn't the statin doing this. Too much of a coincidence and it's online the potential side effects are hyperglycemia
 
Thanks for your reply, That's my major concern, spent all this time getting to an amazing hba1c then they want to spoil it with a presentative pill
 
atorvastatin raised my BG a lot
simvastatin does not for me

but I still ignore advice and don't take either
 
searley said:
atorvastatin raised my BG a lot
simvastatin does not for me

but I still ignore advice and don't take either
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In some respects, I have to agree with that. At 64 years old, I was told by my GP (a fit and energetic 30-something) that I needed to take up running. It would, apparently assist with me losing weight and do wonders for my depression. I suffer with Chronic Arthritis in both knees, shoulders and my neck thanks to my years in the Army, what the hell good would running do except push me closer to into the grave?

That ideas was quickly binned, and I now concentrate on my diet and the occasional saunter around my local park while encouraging the dog to do it's business.

One thing I would like to know, why don't locum GPs read your bloody notes?
 
I took Atorvastatin with Metformin for about 5 weeks and was in a dreadful state. It took over a year to recover physically and the ache in my lower left leg to finally fade away.
None of my symptoms was recorded in my notes - no record no harm seems to be the way to get the tablets regarded as 'safe'.
I had to relearn all my songs, and still can't play my guitar like I used to do, but I doubt I'm going to be required to save the day and go on stage again.
 
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