Statins

I don't take statins but if I were in your shoes I would discuss this with your gp at your next review, leg pain is sometimes mentioned in those who take statins but switching drugs can sometimes be helpful, who knows he may let you stop them but you really do need to discuss this with them first just to be on the safe side.

I was put on statins at the beginning of the year when my cholesterol level was 6.1 mmol/L. At the end of March it was down to 4.7 mmol/L but the GP I had been seeing said I would need to be on them for life.

My brother, who is also on statins, has dementia and there is a possible link between dementia and the use of statins so I wasn't happy about this decision.

I saw a different GP a few weeks ago about another matter and asked for a second opinion. Her view was that it was up to me in the end as she couldn't force me to take them. We have agreed that we will look at it again after a further blood test in September. If my levels are good I will come off for a month or so before having another blood test to see if I have managed to maintain good control through diet only.

Perhaps you could suggest something similar?

Dawn

Interesting this topic, to me anyway. (this is chris, beves husband)

I have been on statins for 24 years now so a longer term user of them, When I first went for a blood test I had a reading of 12.6 which I was told was exceptionally high and must be brought down. I was first put on a very strict low fat diet and my levels dropped to around 6. However despite me keeping to this dreadful diet my levels rose 7, 8, 9 and once it hit 9 my doctor put me on statins and I dropped to 5 and I was able to eat more normal foods. Currently its normal for it to be between 4.3 and 4.6 which my doctor is happy with but still wants me to get it lower. I have no idea how but I cant go back to the early diet I know that so continue to keep taking the statins.

However I do have other problems which I now think could be due to the statins, I often get muscles cramps, if I miss a dose I do get very depressed, I often suffer with reflux and have over the recent years also developed Arrhythmia. I have been thinking I wonder if all these other problems have a route cause. I asked my GP if it could be the statins and he dismissed it and said my cholesterol levels where important to keep under control and other problems would be dealt with if and when they happen.

Now on 5 different drugs which I do think are because of the statins but have always just taken my GP's word for the need of them.

Chris.

I have stopped mine for a few days and definitely feel better ... I'm going to see my doctor on Tuesday I don't know how she will take the news when I break it to her

I was on simv for a few months, & developed muscle pains. I read letters (not articles) in Balance linking statins to muscle pain. I stopped, & the pains cleared in a few days. I told my Dr, & he confirmed the side effects & agrees with me not taking them.

No more statins for me.

If you ease up or stop the statins for a week or 3, you won't suffer immediate chol problems, but you may notice health improvements. Try it.

In my experience, Chris (Beve's husband), reducing my carbohydrate intake lowered my cholesterol better than reducing my fat intake, and other people have found the same.

For a website that lists the side-effects of statins, Google 'Duane Graveline'. He's on spacedoc.net. He's a former USAF doctor who was part of the NASA space programme. He is very anti-statins, so maybe also read some pro-statins sites to get a balance!

I took 10mg Simvastatin for 3 years and ended up barely able to walk. Others have no problems with them, even on a higher dose. I think if my cholesterol was as high as yours was originally, I'd go back on to a different statin to reduce the levels, but once I'd had a few good readings I'd want to reduce the dose, or stop altogether, to see if I could cope. I don't take them now; my total cholesterol is in the low 5s, but my overall lipid profile is acceptable, and my GP is not hassling me about it.

We are all different. As I say, some people can take them for years with no problems whatsoever.

Viv 8)