Statins.....no longer sure what to think

[Pollylocks]

Every thread I've seen about statins, I've banged on and on 'just don't take them'.

Its because I was given statins, Simvastatin, when my cholesterol, was 'too high', years ago, cannot remember the figures of good and bad, the overall was 6,9.

I became more and more achey over the next two years, one of my thighs actually had wasted muscles, didn't know my statins were the cause until I googled them. So I saw my GP....he said stop taking them for a month then start them again, see what happens, come back and see me afterwards,

I did. My aches and pains disappeared, when I started taking them again I was in worse pain, needed a week off work. My GP agreed that I shouldn't take them any more and I said I'll take my chances from now on.

However, a new GP I saw, added them to my Repeat Prescription, Atvorstatin this time, after my reading of 7.1. I didn't take them, stuffed them in the cupboard, was too worried about the consequences.

BUT.... I had some heart palpitations a few months ago for ten days, had a 24 hour monitor and all sorted now, am fine. BUT the sheer fright of it made me start taking the statins, my overall result two weeks after taking them was 4,1, again I cannot remember the good and bad results but know they were within the right parameters.No aches, no pains four months on, my fingers are crossed !

So I think maybe I was too hasty in condemning all statins, thought they were all the same, would be interested to hear others' views and stories.

 

[Lamont D]

I have been given atvorstatin and only started taking them 3 days, the jury is still out. I will give it every chance and I'm getting blood test done in three weeks to see if any change in my readings and affect on my liver.

So far no side effects!

 

[4ratbags]

I used to be on simvastatin . I used to get aches and pains with them. I will keep my fingers crossed for you as well and with any luck it will be fine, I guess its just one if those wait and see things.

 

[Daphne917]

I used to be on Pravostatin - my BS levels increased and I felt dizzy most of the time. I'm now off them and feel a lot better!.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Drs like to give the cheapest statin initially.

As with my hubby (non diabetic) they would have given him the cheap ones.. But he had started to take atorvastatin ones of mine.. Because I have absolutely no tolerance to any statin. We knew his levels were high... The GP didn't question that he had used mine.. Just upped the dosage of the atoravastain. Since then the results have radically reduced within 90 days. The HDL (if I remember correctly) had reduced too dramatically and slthough the GP had filed away blood tests as excellent I queried them and got hubby to ask for his dosage to be halved. Again, no question. Tjis has been done.

There are also other drugs besides statins that could be used if there is an intolerance.

However, I also myself have an intolerance to these too. Ezemtibe is one of the alternatives, but there are more available.

People are unaware of alternatives, but they are available.

 

[NinaB73]

This is so interesting! As I too have hidden my statins to the back of the cupboard!!! I started on simvastatin and after side effects went on to atvorstatin, kept getting really fussy hands to the extent that I got up to spend a penny in the night and couldn't turn my bed side lamp on, felt like a rhino had sat on my hands!! I walk regularly with my dog and noticed I was walking what I would of called a fairly short distance and was having to stop because I had what I can only describe as cramp in my lower legs! I actually didn't attribute it to the statins at the time and thought much worse that I was having trouble with my general circulation. Stopped the statins and haven't suffered since! I do feel pressured to take them again though, cholesterol about 6 last time but mostly 'good' cholesterol according to my nurse, but it is the fear of strokes etc that worries me, but they are still in the cupboard, winking at me occasionally!

 

[donnellysdogs]

It is important to have a test done (normally I tjink 3 weeks after starting statins). Again GPs are not always fortcoming with these... Some don't tell patients. Many GPs still don't believe that patients have pains etc due to statins.

I don't know what the actual test is that should be given as the follow up when starting stains.. Perhaps someone else can advise what this test is.

 

[NinaB73]

Drs like to give the cheapest statin initially.

As with my hubby (non diabetic) they would have given him the cheap ones.. But he had started to take atorvastatin ones of mine.. Because I have absolutely no tolerance to any statin. We knew his levels were high... The GP didn't question that he had used mine.. Just upped the dosage of the atoravastain. Since then the results have radically reduced within 90 days. The HDL (if I remember correctly) had reduced too dramatically and slthough the GP had filed away blood tests as excellent I queried them and got hubby to ask for his dosage to be halved. Again, no question. Tjis has been done.

There are also other drugs besides statins that could be used if there is an intolerance.

However, I also myself have an intolerance to these too. Ezemtibe is one of the alternatives, but there are more available.

People are unaware of alternatives, but they are available.

I am really interested to hear what alternatives are available as I do worry about the statins in my cupboard! I know I should take but I feel my quality of life is worse by taking them so am burying my head in the sand a bit! I worked on a stroke ward once and live in fear but I if I can't even take my dog for a walk, where is the health benefits in that? I know you are a knowledgeable poster on here and I would appreciate your take on it!!

 

[DeejayR]

I have stopped taking statins after 6 years with the agreement of my GP to see what happens, although my last cholesterol overall was over 5 (no breakdown was recorded). If my cholesterol continues to rise I will start taking them again, although the surgery has now switched brands. Until a couple of weeks ago I used to feel as if I'd been run over by a bus (slight exaggeration) first thing, but now I don't. The GP has agreed that a cholesterol test without a breakdown of HDL, LDL, trigs & TC/HDL ratio is pointless.
It's a totally individual matter, surely.

 

[Fayefaye1429]

Hi everyone I was suggested because I have been diabetic for 15 years to take them. For five years I have worked hard to keep my ch down and I did it with a book called cooking for lowing ch and wow such yum food to. Anyway my ch was a little high I though meh let's see if one works. The first one made my legs slightly numb but the second one wow it froze out my arm and I honestly thought it was numbness of a heart attack. It wasn't been checked out. We have decided to wait 5 months before I go on a different one if I do. All I can say is one might work but my diet book has helped so much plus I lost over two stone with it added bonus don't know if that helpa

 

[Pilgrim22]

I have now been on 80mg atvorstatin daily for four years, and touch wood, had no bad side effects to now.

 

[Randburg]

Ive been on Atvorstatin for a year without any problems

 

[graj0]

. . . . . . . Many GPs still don't believe that patients have pains etc due to statins.

That's appalling really, especially as Merck Pharmaceutical applied for a patent in 1990 to include CoQ10 with the statin. In their words "to prevent impending muscle pain". That's not made up, just google "Merck statin CoQ10", you can read the whole patent application. Good for the sleep problems that statins CAN cause. I say can because at the end of the day, they affect people in different ways, different brands, different doses and different people, all lead to different outcomes.

However, clinical trials were sufficient to cause Merck to make the patent application that they did. Unfortunately the never followed it up and that's possibly because they could not find proof that ingesting CoQ10 would replace the CoQ10 no longer produced in the body because of the statin. So even if you don't have any physical side effects, there's also the potential sleep problems and brain fog poor memory problems. The brain needs cholesterol and I think the problem is nobody really knows how much. Our legal system doesn't trust a juror if they have connections to the defendant in the dock, but we're all happy to trust advisers who benefit financially from the pharmaceutical companies involved.

 

[catherinecherub]

It is important to have a test done (normally I tjink 3 weeks after starting statins). Again GPs are not always fortcoming with these... Some don't tell patients. Many GPs still don't believe that patients have pains etc due to statins.

I don't know what the actual test is that should be given as the follow up when starting stains.. Perhaps someone else can advise what this test is.

This is the test.

http://labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/ck/tab/test/

And this is from the NHS about side effects of statins.

Muscle effects
Statins can occasionally cause muscle inflammation (swelling) and damage. Speak to your doctor if you experience muscle pain, tenderness or weakness that cannot be explained (for example, pain that is not due to physical work).

Your doctor will carry out a blood test to measure a substance in your blood called creatine kinase (CK), which is released into the blood when your muscles are inflamed or damaged.

If the level of CK in your blood is more than five times the normal level, your doctor may advise you to stop taking the statin. Regular exercise can sometimes lead to a rise in CK, so tell your doctor if you have been exercising a lot.

Once your CK level has returned to normal, your doctor may suggest you start taking the statin again, but at a lower dose.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cholesterol-lowering-medicines-statins/Pages/Side-effects.aspx

 

[bobrobert]

I stopped taking them last year and a few months ago my GP asked me why and I told him that I read that they don't actually prevent heart disease and lowers good cholesterol as well as bad. Lowers CoQ10 and possibly causes diabetes. Amazingly he agreed with me. He was the one who put me on them but you have to remember he has to do what the NHS tells him. I take CoQ10 in place of the statins

 

[donnellysdogs]

This is the test.

http://labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/ck/tab/test/

And this is from the NHS about side effects of statins.

Muscle effects
Statins can occasionally cause muscle inflammation (swelling) and damage. Speak to your doctor if you experience muscle pain, tenderness or weakness that cannot be explained (for example, pain that is not due to physical work).

Your doctor will carry out a blood test to measure a substance in your blood called creatine kinase (CK), which is released into the blood when your muscles are inflamed or damaged.

If the level of CK in your blood is more than five times the normal level, your doctor may advise you to stop taking the statin. Regular exercise can sometimes lead to a rise in CK, so tell your doctor if you have been exercising a lot.

Once your CK level has returned to normal, your doctor may suggest you start taking the statin again, but at a lower dose.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cholesterol-lowering-medicines-statins/Pages/Side-effects.aspx

As with me though.. The tests for CK for many people with the pains and aches will be negative... So GPs dismiss the fact that statins are the cause.

 

[donnellysdogs]

This is the test.

http://labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/ck/tab/test/

And this is from the NHS about side effects of statins.

Muscle effects
Statins can occasionally cause muscle inflammation (swelling) and damage. Speak to your doctor if you experience muscle pain, tenderness or weakness that cannot be explained (for example, pain that is not due to physical work).

Your doctor will carry out a blood test to measure a substance in your blood called creatine kinase (CK), which is released into the blood when your muscles are inflamed or damaged.

If the level of CK in your blood is more than five times the normal level, your doctor may advise you to stop taking the statin. Regular exercise can sometimes lead to a rise in CK, so tell your doctor if you have been exercising a lot.

Once your CK level has returned to normal, your doctor may suggest you start taking the statin again, but at a lower dose.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cholesterol-lowering-medicines-statins/Pages/Side-effects.aspx

Also, why do the results have to be 5 times higher before advising for cessation of statins?

 

[donnellysdogs]

Personally I would ask the GPs if they have a referral system in place for gyms etc as NICE gudelines state the following:

1.2.7 Advise people at high risk of or with CVD to do the following every week: at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity or1.2.8 Advise people to do muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms) in line with national guidance for the general population 1.2.9 Encourage people who are unable to perform moderate-intensity physical activity because of comorbidity, medical conditions or personal circumstances to exercise at their maximum safe capacity. [2008, amended 2014]1.2.10 Advice about physical activity should take into account the person's needs, preferences and circumstances. Agree goals and provide the person with written information about the benefits of activity and local opportunities to be active, in line with Four commonly used methods to increase physical activity (NICE public health guidance 2). [2008]75 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic activity or a mix of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity
GPs rarely discuss this aspect and they are obliged to....

 

[Daibell]

Hi. First stains do have side effects for some people. It's fairly common and they can be serious. It you dig down various information sources you will find evidence that reducing your blood cholesterol may not be a good thing and that the evidence that reducing it reduces the risk of heart disease is questionable and based on bad data. So, you need to research the available info and make your own decision. Don't just assume that the NHS advice is evidence-based.

 

[sazzy19]

Every thread I've seen about statins, I've banged on and on 'just don't take them'.

Its because I was given statins, Simvastatin, when my cholesterol, was 'too high', years ago, cannot remember the figures of good and bad, the overall was 6,9.

I became more and more achey over the next two years, one of my thighs actually had wasted muscles, didn't know my statins were the cause until I googled them. So I saw my GP....he said stop taking them for a month then start them again, see what happens, come back and see me afterwards,

I did. My aches and pains disappeared, when I started taking them again I was in worse pain, needed a week off work. My GP agreed that I shouldn't take them any more and I said I'll take my chances from now on.

However, a new GP I saw, added them to my Repeat Prescription, Atvorstatin this time, after my reading of 7.1. I didn't take them, stuffed them in the cupboard, was too worried about the consequences.

BUT.... I had some heart palpitations a few months ago for ten days, had a 24 hour monitor and all sorted now, am fine. BUT the sheer fright of it made me start taking the statins, my overall result two weeks after taking them was 4,1, again I cannot remember the good and bad results but know they were within the right parameters.No aches, no pains four months on, my fingers are crossed !

So I think maybe I was too hasty in condemning all statins, thought they were all the same, would be interested to hear others' views and stories.

Hi, I had simvastatin a few years ago & felt so ill I stopped taking them....then my cholesterol shot up so the gp put me on atorvastatin & I've had no problems whatsoever, thankfully. Think simvastatin is just not a good one at all.