WHO'S ON STATINS

I was put on statins about 7 years ago after a couple of really high tests, 20mg simvastatin, then raising to 40mg as despite diet changes the tests were still very high. I was having some minor side effects with stomach upsets and some slight muscle pain. About a year later i was told I was pre-diabetic. Made some further diet changes to low GI. Had another lipid test in dec 2012 which again was back up over 8. Doctor did not want to prescribe 80gm simvastatin due to the fact I was already having side effects, so instead switched me over to atorvastain 40mg, with an instruction to have another test in march. All side effects ceased within a week or two of switching.

In the meantime i was diagnosed type 2 in march and was put on metformin. I then had the cholesterol test and just yesterday was told it came back at 4.1. - still no side effects following the change to atorvastatin.

I do have a family history of diabetes, strokes and heart attacks so I'm very happy to get my cholesterol more under control.


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I was put on statins about 7 years ago after a couple of really high tests, 20mg simvastatin, then raising to 40mg as despite diet changes the tests were still very high. I was having some minor side effects with stomach upsets and some slight muscle pain. About a year later i was told I was pre-diabetic. Made some further diet changes to low GI. Had another lipid test in dec 2012 which again was back up over 8. Doctor did not want to prescribe 80gm simvastatin due to the fact I was already having side effects, so instead switched me over to atorvastain 40mg, with an instruction to have another test in march. All side effects ceased within a week or two of switching.

In the meantime i was diagnosed type 2 in march and was put on metformin. I then had the cholesterol test and just yesterday was told it came back at 4.1. - still no side effects following the change to atorvastatin.

I do have a family history of diabetes, strokes and heart attacks so I'm very happy to get my cholesterol more under control.


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I was taken off Simvastatin at the end of january, because it caused sudden stange highs, lows and inconsistencies in my BG levels. Apparently this is a side effect of Simvastatin that is not widely spoken of. Since stopping, my BGs have been much, much better. I have a blood test at the end of the month and another visit to the consultant to see what has happened to my cholesterol levels in the last 3 months.

I was on Pravastatin for years before that, with no problems, but my GP changed it to Simvastatin because she said that the efficacy of Simvastatin in Diabetics has been studied much more, and its effects are well understood! Except for strange side-effects, I think.

I too was put on Statins some 5 years ago although my levels were very normal but was advised to take them as precautionary. However over a short period of time i too developed sever joint pains in my feet and legs. At first i was told that it was because my uric acid was too high ( im a gout sufferer) so increase allopurinal, i begged to differ as the pains were not the same as gout attacks. I then went to visit a neurologist and she told me to stop the statins and monitor the pains. within a couple of weeks the pains decreased. have not used statins since but monitor cholestral regularly and all is still normal.

The evidence suggests that those who are at high risk for coronary disease (i.e. all diabetics will fall into this category) and have high LDL (or a poor LDL:HDL ratio) that statins will reduce the risk of having a heart attack or death from such an event. Therefore it is understandable that most diabetics can be "encouraged" to go on them.

What is not explained well however is that a common (10%) side effect that has been known a long time is that these can cause quite bad muscular pain. This can be quite debilitating in some cases.

What is further not explained - and not often known by medics (due to poor / lack of updating drug leaflet information when new studies come to light) is that statins have also been linked to issues such as depression, sleep/memory issues and sexual dysfunction. Statins have been around a long time, however only recently have some of these side effects been established.

Ideally Drs should tell this to their patients, if they feel they should be on cholesterol controlling medicines then put them on it to assess for side effects (starting at a low end dose and progressing if need be and the drug is tolerated) and if the side-effects are too much then look at alternative approaches/weigh up the risk/benefits etc.

Unfortunately with many medics this does not happen as most see statins as an old school side-effect free wonder drug that everyone should be on (mainly because statins lower a surrogate marker which we like to think we understand but do not fully understand - we just know usually high LDL is bad as is low HDL...), and do not read up on the latest studies (lack of time and other reasons).

If you arm yourself with such info most Drs (if you are not patronising with the info!) can be receptive to this approach.

Personally, I am on 40mg Simvistatin ed and feel I have no side effects. But also on 10mg ramipril so hard to tell what would be what!!

J