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statins

Kevmac60

Member
Messages
6
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I have been informed my cholesterol has been high on two occasions and have been given statins to take . I have read that these may raise my blood sugars . I am currently on one metformin a day since January, which has helped to reduce my bloods to under seven . They also wanted to increase my metformin , but I refused as my bloods were fine . Should high take statins or asked for something else. Vey worried confused .
 
Do you know what your cholesterol figures (LDL,HDL and triglycerides) actually are? The total figure doesn't mean much as it depends on the breakdown. There is a lot of discussion as to whether cholesterol figures mean anything.
I was taking statins for 7 years, and my total cholesterol level was 4.7 last September (HDL 1.2, LDL 2.1). GPs like diabetics to have a total cholesterol level of 4 or below. I have stopped taking statins recently as it is believed they might raise bs levels. I will see what my HbA1c and cholesterol levels are like at my next HbA1c test.
Statins can have side effects for some people, but a part from some initial muscle pain in my upper arms I had no adverse effects - apart from the possible raising of bs, which might have contributed to my T2 diagnosis, among other factors.
 
My last cholesterol test results were Tot.3.2, Ldl 1.9, Hdl 0.6 and Trigs 1.5.

Because of the dreadful leg pains, on Atorvastatin, I am in the process of cutting down and at present am taking only 20mg.

Does anyone know if I can just stop it or do I need to 'wean' myself off gradually?
 

I am pretty sure you should reduce to zero with medical support. But congrats on your progressive success


Diagnosed 13/4/16: T2, no meds, HbA1c 53, FBG 12.6, Trigs 3.6, HDL .75, LDL 4.0, BP 169/95, 13st 8lbs, waist 34" (2012 - 17st 7lbs, w 42").

6/6/16: FBG AV 4.6, Trigs 1.5, HDL 2.0, LDL 3.0, BP 112/68, BPM 66, 11st 11lbs, waist 30".

Regime: 20g LCHF, run 1 mile daily, weekly fasting.
 
I was on 20mg Simvastin daily. I just stopped taking them about 5 weeks ago without any problems.
 
While acknowledging the comments and experience of contributors, could I introduce s hint of caution to the discussion. There has been a lot of negative press about statins. Indeed, the UK tabloid media have enjoyed a veritable witch-hunt on these drugs. Unfortunately, they have added little to the debate, introduced considerable fear and failed to offer a reasoned and balanced argument.

Before you decide to throw the baby out with the bath water could I point out two fundamental points. Firstly, none (or almost none) of us here are my medical doctors and secondly, we are not privy to your medical history. It could be that the advice given here is good and that removing statins from your regime might be a positive move. Equally, because the human body is complex, it needs to be viewed holistically. There may be good reasons why your GP has prescribed statins. Why not go talk to him/ her and ask to know the reason behind their treatment. I gave up statins for 6months without telling my GP. When I told her what I had done, she offered a very sound scientific argument as to why (in my case) I should return to taking them. After much discussion, I have chosen to take them again. I would rather not but unfortunately, my body doesn't listen so I need them.

Your case may be (and probably is) vastly different but seek medical advice from your doctor before you act.
 
@Welshman I agree you should talk to your GP first. I did tell my GP at my 3 month HbA1c retest last November that I wanted to stop taking statins. She didn't try to dissuade me, but I did say I would stop 3 months before my next HbA1c test to see how it affected my bs and cholesterol levels.
I also told my pharmacist who did point out that statins are also beneficial in strengthening the heart. I don't have a problem with taking statins. I didn't get any side effects apart from a bit of muscle pain in my upper arms for the first 5-6 weeks.
But I want to see what effect they have on my levels. I might well start taking them again after my next HbA1c test.
 
The anti-statin movement is growing because many, many people are becoming knowledgable about the influence that Pharmaceutical companies have over doctors, medical training, medical education. Fresh eyes are looking again at old research and discovering that statins, the most profitable drugs ever produced, have had their benefits hyped and their drawbacks ignored. Personally, I would not dream of taking them because the so called advantages are tiny and exaggerated by reporting benefits in terms of relative numbers. To strengthen your heart, walk briskly in the fresh air for an hour a day! Ask your pharmacist if that will be more or less beneficial to the heart than taking statins!

Anybody with an enquiring mind should read Ben Goldacre's Bad Pharma, or Malcolm Kendrick's Doctoring date. That is an easier read and comes with a DVD. Then move on to Kendrick's 'The Great Cholesterol Con' or Dr Curtis 'The Cholesterol Delusion' or even Jimmy Moore's Cholesterol Clarity. Google 'Space Doctor Statins' for a terrifying history of Statin damage, it's here. https://www.spacedoc.com/articles/my-statin-story
 
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I don't think anyone should just stop taking a medication without telling their doctor . To take or not to take statins is a personal thing everyone has an opinion about them be it good or bad but only after discussing it with our own doctor can we decide what is best for us to do.
 
Unfortunately, there are also a lot of conspiracy theories and cherry picking going on. So it is hard to sort fact from fiction and fringe anecdotals. As the Welshman said, there are not many medicos here and everyone is doing their best to manage their condition.
My wife had huge cholesterol problems and the rosuvastatin played havoc with her liver. But it worked. She lost 17 kgs, exercised her butt off and with diet changes she will be off them soon - your solution will no doubt be very different.
Just cautioning against the "baby and bathwater". All the very best and sincerely wish you find the right treatment with a great outcome.
 
I am afraid that the cherry picking went on by the Pharmaceutical companies reporting their findings. They chose to report the findings that suited them and failed to report that findings that did not. For instance, the often quoted 4S study found no reduction in overall mortality rates, people just died from something else. Less heart disease, more suicides, more accidental deaths, more Cancer. They are still allowed to not publish the raw data, so that other, independent scientists are not able to analyse the data and check that the conclusions, as reported, are accurate.

You may consider the statin sceptics conspiracy theorists. I consider the statin manufacturers to be immoral conspiracists, profit before people.
 

I'm with you!

I have listened to and read extensively and am personally convinced by the contra indicators for primary prescription, but for those of you taking them, I really do urge caution...

...I suppose if you are not prepared to do so then I feel like adding the equivalent of the FSA rules in the financial industry..."you must be aware that the value of your investments can go down as well as up"...

There job done!


Diagnosed 13/4/16: T2, no meds, HbA1c 53, FBG 12.6, Trigs 3.6, HDL .75, LDL 4.0, BP 169/95, 13st 8lbs, waist 34" (2012 - 17st 7lbs, w 42").

6/6/16: FBG AV 4.6, Trigs 1.5, HDL 2.0, LDL 3.0, BP 112/68, BPM 66, 11st 11lbs, waist 30".

Regime: 20g LCHF, run 1 mile daily, weekly fasting.
 
There was a discussion this morning on Radio 4 Today program about the whether there were any benefits in taking statins for over 60s. I can't remember the name of the GP, but he wrote 'Statins - the Great Con' was saying that there was no evidence that statins prevented heart disease in over 60s. A Professor from the British Heart Foundation said they did.
You pays your money and makes your choice.
 
So to paraphrase
My wife took statins due to high cholesterol .. she had nasty side effects
She lost weight and upped her exercise
Voila the cholesterol went down.
Why do you give credit to the statins and not the diet and exercise and your wife's hard work?
See this from the Torygraph today
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/...s-not-cause-heart-disease-new-research-finds/
 
It does occur to me that as the Tobacco industry And the sugar Association/food industries where able buy senior academics to muddy the waters so are the big pharma companies able to do so There is a lot of money in statins and they want the whole world taking them.
 
I do give credit to her for the diet and exercise. While she did not diet and exercise, the statins worked for her and kept her cholesterol under control. When she started to exercise and diet, the statins were not needed as much and as a result her cholesterol improved. If further recognition is in order, she inspired me to do the same and my statins (all 10mg of it) are due for review. My HDL is 1.2, LDL is 1.0 and my tryglic is 0.7. Being off the **** tablets is infinitely preferable to being on them.
(My point was that they did works for us - as did the exercise and weight loss).
If my original comments were not clear, I offer an unreserved apology to both you and my wife.
 
Just throwing this ball back onto court/
From the BMJ archives
 

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