Poll - side effects from statins?

[ConradJ]

I've been taking Simvastatin for years now, I do get bad cramp in the back of my legs, feet and toes, the one's that I get in my feet are so painful and when the cramp starts, it pulls my toes down.

Also my muscles hurt a lot, even putting the washing on the line makes my arm muscles hurt.

I get spasms in my hands if I try to grip things, this often happens when I'm washing up or doing general cleaning.

I do have memory problems and I get a lot of "brain fog" and confusion, but, having said that, I'm not sure where that's coming from, because I'm on antidepressants and I also have Pernicious Anemia which often causes these symptoms too.

So, to roundup, I'm not sure what is causing my "head" problems, but I'm pretty sure it's the Simvastatin that's giving me the cramps, muscle spasms and aches.

Hi @AmandaAnne,

Your symptoms sound very much like the ones I had when I was first put onto statins: I was initially prescribed Simvastatin and suffered much of what you describe, plus I felt really ill / sluggish.

My GP changed me to Pravastatin and I've not appeared to suffer any side effects since (except, maybe elements of memory loss - although that cold be as much to do with toddlers, babies and lack of sound sleep, etc.).

I highly suggest you go back to your GP and ask to try another statin - Simvastatin does appear to have had more allergic reactions than some of the others, but that's just my opinion from complaints elsewhere on this forum and other sites.

 

[BaliRob]

Some pain does not disapear immediately. Mine took a very, very long time and then suffered the same when changed hospitals and got asked to try different ones again.

My pains have diminished significantly since having more fat, but reckon I will still have niggling pain for another year if it goes the same ways a s previous...



Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

Dear donnellysdogs,

Three weeks since I went off Simvastatin I feel a noticeable softening of leg muscles and overall relaxation in both legs. Also my bones do not hurt when touching each other, i.e., legs crossed at night at shins or ankles - before, the pain was always severe.

 

[AmandaAnne]

Hi @AmandaAnne,

Your symptoms sound very much like the ones I had when I was first put onto statins: I was initially prescribed Simvastatin and suffered much of what you describe, plus I felt really ill / sluggish.

My GP changed me to Pravastatin and I've not appeared to suffer any side effects since (except, maybe elements of memory loss - although that cold be as much to do with toddlers, babies and lack of sound sleep, etc.).

I highly suggest you go back to your GP and ask to try another statin - Simvastatin does appear to have had more allergic reactions than some of the others, but that's just my opinion from complaints elsewhere on this forum and other sites.

Hi there ConradJ,

Thank you for your reply.
I'm going to be having a review of all my medication the week after next, so I'm going to discuss this with my GP.

PS......I quite agree with you re toddlers, babies and lack of sleep, I've been there and done that too!! It does get better though.

 

[AmandaAnne]

Sorry I've had to cut and paste, this is from the US FDA website, hopefully a reliable source. The memory thing and brain fog is terribly irritating, especially when so many people patronise you by saying "it's your age", Jackonory it's my age. If you look further into the memory - brain fog thing there is plenty of anecdotal evidence where some people have really big problems with memory and brain fog, not just inconvenient stuff.

Reports of Memory Loss
FDA has been investigating reports of cognitive impairment from statin use for several years. The agency has reviewed databases that record reports of bad reactions to drugs and statin clinical trials that included assessments of cognitive function.

The reports about memory loss, forgetfulness and confusion span all statin products and all age groups. Egan says these experiences are rare but that those affected often report feeling “fuzzy” or unfocused in their thinking.

In general, the symptoms were not serious and were reversible within a few weeks after the patient stopped using the statin. Some people affected in this way had been taking the medicine for a day; others had been taking it for years.

What should patients do if they fear that statin use could be clouding their thinking? “Talk to your health care professional,” Egan says. “Don’t stop taking the medication; the consequences to your heart could be far greater.”

The Risk of Diabetes
Diabetes occurs because of defects in the body’s ability to produce or use insulin—a hormone needed to convert food into energy. If the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin or if cells do not respond appropriately to insulin, blood sugar levels in the blood get too high, which can lead to serious health problems.

A small increased risk of raised blood sugar levels and the development of Type 2 diabetes have been reported with the use of statins.

“Clearly we think that the heart benefit of statins outweighs this small increased risk,” says Egan. But what this means for patients taking statins and the health care professionals prescribing them is that blood-sugar levels may need to be assessed after instituting statin therapy,” she says.

graj0 many thanks to you for your helpful and educational reply.

It does annoy me when they say these effects "are not serious" how do they know that? What long term damage is being done to our memories? They're always too quick to say these things aren't serious, when really they have no idea!

Its very interesting to read about the link to Type 2 diabetes too.

I get told that my memory and concentration problems are more than likely due to depression and anxiety, which I do suffer from. The thing is though, if you suffer from any psychological illness, it's all too easy for doctors to say "oh that's because of your depression/anxiety" what they're really saying is "I haven't got a clue so I'm going to use my quick get out clause"!!!

 

[Totto]

Hi Totto and thanks for your reply.

I've not long had a thyroid test and my GP tells me that it was fine, although I should say that over the past 5 years I've had lots of thyroid function tests because I have got a few of the symptoms, but the results always come back fine.

My GP told me my thyroid tests were fine too, while I had almost every symptom of hypothyroidism and had had them for over a decade. Eventually I got tired of being prescribed antidepressant that I didn't take as I wasn't depressed and did some research on Dr Google and came up with hypothyroidism. So started self medicating and got my life back. Not that I recommend self medicating but as a last resort it is fine.

My THS never went much above 2 but my FT4 was on the low side of normal. I dont know if the severe concussion I had as a child affected my pituitary but it is not unheard of. I am well and have normal memory, normal energy, normal most things apart from outer part of eye brows, it seems they were damaged beyond repair.

 

[Totto]

graj0 many thanks to you for your helpful and educational reply.

It does annoy me when they say these effects "are not serious" how do they know that? What long term damage is being done to our memories? They're always too quick to say these things aren't serious, when really they have no idea!

Its very interesting to read about the link to Type 2 diabetes too.

I get told that my memory and concentration problems are more than likely due to depression and anxiety, which I do suffer from. The thing is though, if you suffer from any psychological illness, it's all too easy for doctors to say "oh that's because of your depression/anxiety" what they're really saying is "I haven't got a clue so I'm going to use my quick get out clause"!!!

Depression and anxiety are common symptoms of hypothyroidism.

 

[AmandaAnne]

Thank you for you interesting replies Totto, I shall discuss this with my GP when I get my diabetes blood results back.
I have read that apparently, the tests they carry out here, are not always wholly reliable, many people seem to go down the private testing route to obtain a more reliable result.

 

[Indy51]

Not sure if anyone has posted this, but worth reading. A conventional cardiologist takes a skeptical look at statins:
http://www.drjohnm.org/2014/06/grow...gs-the-problem-of-drug-lifestyle-interaction/

 

[lizdeluz]

Was put on Simvastatin, but it was not explained to me why I should take it. I took it routinely for some time and then decided to stop - unilaterally. I didn't discuss it with my gp.

At a diabetic clinic, I said to the consultant that I didn't know why I'd been prescribed statins, and his reply was nor did he.

I'm unable to reply to the poll, because the choices don't apply: I can't prove that I had side effects, I had constant pain but that could have been arthritis, former injuries, age, etc. I can't be sure I had no side effects from statins either.

Statin-free, I still get aches and pains. However I do feel healthier and more mobile, but I've put that down to LCHF (weight loss, better control, less insulin) and yoga.

I'm surprised and impressed that many contributors seem to know for certain that statins are having any effect at all.

 

[graj0]

I'm surprised and impressed that many contributors seem to know for certain that statins are having any effect at all.

I can answer that one easily.
For some people the muscle pain in the legs, caused by the fact that statins prevent the update of CoQ10 (required to get energy to the muscle), is so pronounced and way beyond coincidence, added to the fact that Merck Pharmaceutical in their patent application of 1990 warn of impending muscle pain, there is no question that statins are responsible for the muscle pain. The sleeplessness and brain fog are also recognised by the NHS and the FDA in the US as side effects. The brain fog is an interesting one because in some people it is dramatic to the point of them being in a place where they couldn't remember how they got there. Bit dangerous when you're driving a car.
Even more interesting is that it doesn't affect everyone in exactly the same way, even the CEO of Glaxo admitted in 2003 that some of their drugs don't work in something like 40% of patients.

 

[lizdeluz]

I can answer that one easily.
For some people the muscle pain in the legs, caused by the fact that statins prevent the update of CoQ10 (required to get energy to the muscle), is so pronounced and way beyond coincidence, added to the fact that Merck Pharmaceutical in their patent application of 1990 warn of impending muscle pain, there is no question that statins are responsible for the muscle pain. The sleeplessness and brain fog are also recognised by the NHS and the FDA in the US as side effects. The brain fog is an interesting one because in some people it is dramatic to the point of them being in a place where they couldn't remember how they got there. Bit dangerous when you're driving a car.
Even more interesting is that it doesn't affect everyone in exactly the same way, even the CEO of Glaxo admitted in 2003 that some of their drugs don't work in something like 40% of patients.

That's really interesting and it's a subject that is beyond me in that I haven't done any reading about it yet. Presumably, I was prescribed Simvastatin as a precautionary measure against build-up of cholesterol. Is that the purpose of statins?

 

[sanguine]

Statins do reduce cholesterol, the question is whether you think that is a good reason to take them or not. Side effects seem to be far more common than formally reported back to GPs, NICE and the pharm companies.

I found "The Statin Damage Crisis" by Duane Graveline to be interesting reading.

 

[graj0]

That's really interesting and it's a subject that is beyond me in that I haven't done any reading about it yet. Presumably, I was prescribed Simvastatin as a precautionary measure against build-up of cholesterol. Is that the purpose of statins?

The NICE guidelines stipulate that your GP should run a risk assessment and you can find one at http://www.qrisk.org/, should the GP consider you to be within the "danger zone" he may recommend statins to lower your cholesterol. You are not forced to take them although I've heard of plenty of GPs who try to insist that you do, it looks good on their stats and they get paid more.
I've read a lot about statins including the book already mentioned and to be honest, as you say, it was beyond me. There has been so much written and I'm inclined to believe a lot of what is in "Statin Damage", I've also got a good DVD called Statin Nation. The thing is that it just started to make my head hurt (remember the brain fog?) In the end I just said "My total cholesterol is 3.5, my legs hurt, I can't sleep and I've got brain fog, I'd rather not take statins". GP said OK, let's just see what your cholesterol is in 6 months, it was 5.4, not perfect, but I can get it down if I want to.
Cholesterol is required by the body to function, especially the brain, where it is required for the neurons to communicate with each other. The body makes it's own cholesterol because the body can't rely on you eating enough. In fact the more cholesterol in things like prawns, eggs and avocado that you eat, the less the body makes, the less you eat, the more the body makes.
I will just add that my biggest surprise was how much my cholesterol dropped when I cut my carbs. That was essential for me to be able to tell my GP I didn't want statins any more thank you very much.
I may have mentioned this before (brain fog again) but I mentioned the BMJ straw pole in which 60% of the 500 GPs questioned said they wouldn't prescribe statins for themselves or to a relative. My GP just grinned and said "I can think of one of my relatives".

 

[neels]

HI,

I was initially put on Atorvastatin years ago (it was a fairly new drug at the time) but found it made me very low, depressed and moody.

I am now on Simvastatin, seems ok. Have pains all over, so not sure if its due to this.

 

[paulins]

I am at a loss to know what to do. I was put on statins( Simvastatin) and my cholesterol level was 4 on them, but I stopped taking them as they made my hips ache so much during the night. But then the level went up to 5.4, and LDL level was highish, so the GP gave me a different kind to try (Atorvastatin). She wants it under 4 as with diabetes and slightly raised BP (I am on a low dose of medication) I am apparently at higher risk. I eat no fat so clearly can't control it with diet alone. Hard to decide what to do!

 

[this is too difficult]

I am at a loss to know what to do. I was put on statins( Simvastatin) and my cholesterol level was 4 on them, but I stopped taking them as they made my hips ache so much during the night. But then the level went up to 5.4, and LDL level was highish, so the GP gave me a different kind to try (Atorvastatin). She wants it under 4 as with diabetes and slightly raised BP (I am on a low dose of medication) I am apparently at higher risk. I eat no fat so clearly can't control it with diet alone. Hard to decide what to do!

Is there a medical reason for not eating fat paulins?

 

[paulins]

Is there a medical reason for not eating fat paulins?

Weight loss! I have been trying to reverse the diabetes and have lost 68 lbs so know my diet is not the problem.

 

[this is too difficult]

Weight loss! I have been trying to reverse the diabetes and have lost 68 lbs so know my diet is not the problem.

I have lost 60 pounds and have my BG under control by going low carb Highish fat. HbA1c went from 67 to 38 in under 4 months. Cholesterol also good.

 

[this is too difficult]

Actually that is information I have been looking for. How long did it take you to lose the 68 pounds?

 

[paulins]

Actually that is information I have been looking for. How long did it take you to lose the 68 pounds?

I was diagnosed on 26th January 2014 - and began the diet on 27th! My last HbA1c was 4.9. Eating high at is counter-intuitive to me when trying to lose weight, so I have been incredibly careful about what I have eaten. Once i reach my target - 10 st - I will reintroduce some foods to see what happens.