Can you just stop taking statins and metformin

[richf]

For a while I was managing to keep my glucose levels down. Out of the blue after thinking my levels were acceptable, I get a call from my GP saying that I am in the group that I should be taking statins and a prescription had been sent to my pharmacist for delivery.
At my next review (actually with the doctors pharmacist) I as told that I now need to include metformin to my daily medication.
I have done some research on Berberine and and asked the question could I stop taking the statin and metformin and just use Berberine. Unfortunately I was told they had not heard of it!
I believe statins can raise glucose levels requiring me to be prescribed metformin. So my question is, from any ones experience, can I substitute the statin and metformin for berberine and if so would it be statins & metformin one day then berberine the following day or would it have to be more gradual.
I am asking on the forum as I believe I will get the same answers at my doctors.
Any advice appreciated.

 

[Magic Turtle]

For a while I was managing to keep my glucose levels down. Out of the blue after thinking my levels were acceptable, I get a call from my GP saying that I am in the group that I should be taking statins and a prescription had been sent to my pharmacist for delivery.
At my next review (actually with the doctors pharmacist) I as told that I now need to include metformin to my daily medication.
I have done some research on Berberine and and asked the question could I stop taking the statin and metformin and just use Berberine. Unfortunately I was told they had not heard of it!
I believe statins can raise glucose levels requiring me to be prescribed metformin. So my question is, from any ones experience, can I substitute the statin and metformin for berberine and if so would it be statins & metformin one day then berberine the following day or would it have to be more gradual.
I am asking on the forum as I believe I will get the same answers at my doctors.
Any advice appreciated.

Well, firstly it sounds as if they have agreed you do not have diabetes, but danger of pre diabetes. You do not seem to be focused upon your levels, and this would be a recommendation for you - to understand these and the reasoning behind them. The statins should be about cholesterol in your blood, so swat up on that. Also the Metformin could help you to reduce your blood sugar levels, not a death sentence because once you have reversed your condition you could ask to stop taking it. Advice - do not take anything not recommended by your expert medical practitioner. Also work to reduce your bad cholesterol there is plenty of information available on this.

 

[richf]

Well, firstly it sounds as if they have agreed you do not have diabetes, but danger of pre diabetes. You do not seem to be focused upon your levels, and this would be a recommendation for you - to understand these and the reasoning behind them. The statins should be about cholesterol in your blood, so swat up on that. Also the Metformin could help you to reduce your blood sugar levels, not a death sentence because once you have reversed your condition you could ask to stop taking it. Advice - do not take anything not recommended by your expert medical practitioner. Also work to reduce your bad cholesterol there is plenty of information available on this.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[ianf0ster]

Use of statins is very much a personal decision, even though the majority of the medical profession seem in favour of them. There are some people who get no noticeable side effects, those with mild side effects (e.g. such as slightly raised blood glucose) and some who get sufficiently bad side effects as to stop taking them (muscle pain, brain fog and in my case also a nasty itchy rash).
Metformin discourages the liver from putting as much glucose into the blood stream, but does nothing to prevent the carbohydrates we eat being turned into glucose in the blood stream.

I know of no adverse effects (apart from the obvious) of ceasing to take either of those two drugs.

 

[Magic Turtle]

Use of statins is very much a personal decision, even though the majority of the medical profession seem in favour of them. There are some people who get no noticeable side effects, those with mild side effects (e.g. such as slightly raised blood glucose) and some who get sufficiently bad side effects as to stop taking them (muscle pain, brain fog and in my case also a nasty itchy rash).
Metformin discourages the liver from putting as much glucose into the blood stream, but does nothing to prevent the carbohydrates we eat being turned into glucose in the blood stream.

I know of no adverse effects (apart from the obvious) of ceasing to take either of those two drugs.

Yes, it is in the Lap of the Gods whether there are unfortunate side effects. And true the statins do not address the root causes. But there is a powerful solution of course which is to reduce the carbohydrates plus saturated fats intake. This should result in lower blood sugar and triglycerides. But the statins work for the lucky ones and appear to lower the cholesterol which at least is a psychological prop.

 

[Antje77]

But the statins work for the lucky ones and appear to lower the blood sugar which at least is a psychological prop.

Do you havea source on your statement that statins appear to lower blood glucose? I've never heard of this.

And true the statins do not address the root causes. But there is a powerful solution of course which is to reduce the carbohydrates plus saturated fats intake.

I wouldn't be so sure about the saturated fats. I significantly increased my sat fat intake together with lowering my carbs upon diagnosis some 9 years ago. My lipids quickly went from out of whack to the optimal range together with dropping my BG (on insulin and low carb in my case). I was only on a statin for a month or two before informing my HCP I was stopping this and reassess in six months.

 

[ianf0ster]

All the evidence I know of, as well as the experience of several forum members is that statins tend to raise BG, not lower it.
The Pfizer web site says so (or did in 2017 when I had the discussion with my GP), and this 2023 BMJ paper says so: https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj-2022-071727

 

[Antje77]

At my next review (actually with the doctors pharmacist) I as told that I now need to include metformin to my daily medication.

What is your blood glucose or hba1c like at the moment? Usually medication is prescribed because of raised numbers.

As for the statins, do you have access to your labs and a full lipid panel?
It's very common for (pre)diabetics to be prescribed a statin regardless of their lipid levels.

 

[Magic Turtle]

Do you havea source on your statement that statins appear to lower blood glucose? I've never heard of this.

I wouldn't be so sure about the saturated fats. I significantly increased my sat fat intake together with lowering my carbs upon diagnosis some 9 years ago. My lipids quickly went from out of whack to the optimal range together with dropping my BG (on insulin and low carb in my case). I was only on a statin for a month or two before informing my HCP I was stopping this and reassess in six months.

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!

 

[Bcgirl]

This is my personal experience and I am NOT suggesting a thing….this is a N=1 experiment.
My pancreas is damaged and I just sit in the pre diabetic range…low carb keeps me there but doesn’t make it great. I have never taken drugs for diabetes or cholesterol (my ldl was quite high but HDL and triglycerides always good). What I have tried is Berberine. I have been taking it now for three and a half months. My latest blood test had my A1C at 5.9 (lowest for me in ten years) and my cholesterol was drastically decreased …lower ldl, lower triglycerides and higher HDL…all amazing results. There was not one red flag on my blood tests! There are some interesting studies on Berberine and cholesterol out there…give it a google, it sure worked for me. Your choice, I’m not recommending a thing. Right now I eat high fat, moderate protein and very low carb…

 

[Magic Turtle]

I am here to learn, and what better source can there be. Personally, I still have high triglycerides at the last count, although I have given up breads and spreads since. It is possible to learn something every day and thanks for sharing this. I feel that to reassure you I am not about to try it.

 

[\Daf/]

I asked my doctor the same question, it I told him I was stopping, I didn’t ask, he agreed to it, but I think he may have discussed this with the other doctors, and he called me back, he said it’s for precautionary measures, as I stopped I got no symptoms of withdrawal, so I went back on it, but a little reluctant.

It’s always best to ask if you want to stop.

Please note:- I have t read any of the above as I haven’t got time atm.

 

[Rachox]

I haven’t read this thread thoroughly but in answer to your title question @richf , you decide what you put in your body by way of medication even if it goes against medical advice. But what you must do is tell your medics what you are and aren’t taking so your medical records are up to date.

Edit for typo

 

[Melgar]

Yes, it is in the Lap of the Gods whether there are unfortunate side effects. And true the statins do not address the root causes. But there is a powerful solution of course which is to reduce the carbohydrates plus saturated fats intake. This should result in lower blood sugar and triglycerides. But the statins work for the lucky ones and appear to lower the cholesterol which at least is a psychological prop.

I have found the food I eat has little to do with my lipid stats. I had resisted for several years before I went on statins. I have no side effects from the statin (Rosuvastatin) I take. I do take Probiotics as I believe this aids with the gut / brain axis and the effects of medications on gut microbiota.

My Triglycerides are very low and always have been. My HDL is well within the normal range, but my LDL's were historically high as I'm a likely, given my lipids ( pre statin ), a lean mass hyper-responder (LMHR) phenotype . Now my LDLs are within normal range since taking the statin.
As an aside I'm fat intolerant, that is I can only eat a small amount of fat before my body objects with nausea and IBS and fails to digest the fat yet still my LDL's were high.

To be honest, personally I was uncomfortable having high LDLs despite the ongoing scientific discussions in some quarters that they are not the bad guys. Whether you take statins or not, I believe, is a personnel choice. However, I am very mindful when it comes to statin discussions because some people absolutely need them as they are a lifesaving medication and I would not wish to influence them to not take them against their specialist's advice,

 

[JoKalsbeek]

For a while I was managing to keep my glucose levels down. Out of the blue after thinking my levels were acceptable, I get a call from my GP saying that I am in the group that I should be taking statins and a prescription had been sent to my pharmacist for delivery.
At my next review (actually with the doctors pharmacist) I as told that I now need to include metformin to my daily medication.
I have done some research on Berberine and and asked the question could I stop taking the statin and metformin and just use Berberine. Unfortunately I was told they had not heard of it!
I believe statins can raise glucose levels requiring me to be prescribed metformin. So my question is, from any ones experience, can I substitute the statin and metformin for berberine and if so would it be statins & metformin one day then berberine the following day or would it have to be more gradual.
I am asking on the forum as I believe I will get the same answers at my doctors.
Any advice appreciated.

If the question is, can I just stop without withdrawal symptoms, you should be able to, yes.

 

[Michael 1701]

I'm giving my stating a rest for a while starting yesterday. I do seem to exhibit quite a few of the side effects. I'll see how it goes.

 

[lovinglife]

I'm giving my stating a rest for a while starting yesterday. I do seem to exhibit quite a few of the side effects. I'll see how it goes.

Of course it’s your choice, but if you are doing it without the support or knowledge of your GP or HCP in your shoes I would book myself a cholesterol test for a few weeks time just to be aware how or if it’s affected my cholesterol numbers

 

[Magic Turtle]

From what you said - I think you are going to see if the side effects go away fine. I have just had anxiety, still going through this. As I was feeling better, I decided to come off my daily med. Six days later my daughter overheard me telling my wife and came straight to me. She said that I should not come off this without speaking to my doctor first. I think that she was right. Different med, different situation but they need to decide with you just saying this is not advice.