Here's just some of the research I've found on the subject of women and statins:
http://www.whp-apsf.ca/pdf/statinsEvidenceCaution.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3303886/ - from the conclusion: "If our findings are generalizable, clinical and public health recommendations regarding the ‘dangers’ of cholesterol should be revised. This is especially true for women, for whom moderately elevated cholesterol (by current standards) may prove to be not only harmless but even beneficial."
Plus a couple of articles:
http://www.virginiahopkinstestkits.com/statinswomen.html
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1973295,00.html
My experience of statins - I was given Simvastatin about 8 years ago and, after around 6 weeks had dreadful pain around my ribcage (there is a word for this but I can't remember it), I really thought I was having a heart attack as I didn't think of the statins at the time. But as this was the only recent drug I'd been given I stopped it and the pain went away. To test if it was the statin, after 2 weeks or so I took them again and within 2 days the pain returned, and I did this test a few time. I told my Dr and he agreed it looked like it was the statin - but still continued to prescribe them on my monthly script! Over the years I have tried different statins with similar results, mainly muscle pain but also nausea. Of course this was before I was diagnosed with T2. On my diagnosis last November my total chol. levels were between 6 and 7 so, along with Metformin I was again given statins, this time Atorvastatin and back came the muscle pains and nausea. I even reduced the dosage to just 5mg a night, but with no change. But trying to convince my GP, not the same one as before, seems like talking to myself. I have also tried taking the Q10 supplement 120mg, and plan on going back on that, minus the 1/2 statin, to see if it helps with muscle pain and weakness. I have always had RA flares but 'statin pain' is something else! I think quality of life holds more than supposed length of life to me. Also, after losing over 3 stones my chol. level should be lower when I go for my 6 mth check soon.
I feel really irritable today so forgive me if I sound er.. irritable! Pain and sleep don't really go together!
I can totally relate to all that you are going through. I have come to an agreement with my gp to stay off statins for 3 months and then have a cholesterol check. While on statins my cholesterol level was 3.8. Off statins has gone up to 5. I have decided to pay particular attention to my diet to see if I can reduce it without taking statins. My life has been so bad this past year that I would rather have raised cholestrol than suffer all the side effects of statins?
Statins are the work of the devil.
My GP put me on Simvastatin last year, and slowly over a couple of months I began to feel horrible and gradually all the muscles in my body started to really hurt, so that I was doubled up in pain constantly and could hardly think. I went back to the GP who said that he could not think of the cause. At that I started to become sceptical; did some of my own research and discovered the truth about statins. I took myself off using them, despite being told that I should continue for the sake of my heart. After a year, I still have some muscle pain, but I feel far better than I did. If they caused so much pain to my muscles, what were they doing to my heart, which is a muscle?
Crooked pharmacy companies!
I totally agree with this statement. they are bringing down the "acceptable" figures. more people living in fear, more pills doled out, more profits for Dr Pharma. I am sick of this preventative stuff being shoved down my neck. I've stopped taking my statin and will Never take them again, no matter WHAT doctors or nurses say to me. They don't know anything for sure about them. I'll take my chances, if I eat healthy and excercise, that's all I can do and want to do. Why do they want us all to live to be 100 years old? They can't afford the elderly care bill now!I understand what you say ellie. Personally, I don't think 5 is over high for a woman, I would be happy with that, or even 5+. Over the years they seem to have lowered the numbers - probably to dish out more statins!
Loved this Squire Fulwood! - As I believe I have said before, statins will only cross my lips when a time may come (hopefully not!) that I will be force-fed - hmm - and at such a time I may not mind anyway ...Here is Dr Kendrick on BBC news this morning.
I'm very pleased to say that lowering my carb intake by cutting out pasta/rice/bread/potato my total cholesterol dropped to 3.5. It's been 9 months since I finally stopped taking Atorvastatin and my recent total cholesterol (1 week ago) was 5.4. PDG methinks, quite chuffed as I know how to get it lower without drugs.With question marks emerging over claims that 20 percent of statin users experience side effects, what is this community's experience with statins? Please only respond to the poll if you have actually taken statins.
I'm very pleased to say that lowering my carb intake by cutting out pasta/rice/bread/potato my total cholesterol dropped to 3.5. It's been 9 months since I finally stopped taking Atorvastatin and my recent total cholesterol (1 week ago) was 5.4. PDG methinks, quite chuffed as I know how to get it lower without drugs.
I did put my vote in, I tolerated muscle pain, sleepless nights and brain fog for 17 years, 9 months without the **** thing and I've only got the brain fog to get rid of. What are my chances?
I hope they are very good. How on earth did you go that long with all that happening? Maybe you didn't realise what was causing it = so glad you do now!
so I can ask her then, but I was wondering if any one here had suddenly started to experience the muscle pain after being on the statins for so long.
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