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.