Statins

My dad stopped taking statins and started on a regime of Niacin (vitamin B3) 500mg daily (a natural product). Over time it brought his cholesterol levels down to within normal limits. He continued taking it throughout the years with no ill-effects.

Unfortunately my dear husband (DH) has high cholesterol but was not happy ☹ about taking long term statins. I told him about the Niacin.

So when he was next in the Netherlands, visiting his mum, he spoke to the family's GP about stopping the statins and going taking Nacin. The Dutch GP was agreeable but on the basis that my DH still had his cholesterol levels checked.

My DH's cholesterol levels have normalised and remained in a good range. Along with the Niacin (vitamin B3) 500mg/day, he also started taking Omega 3 capsules.

I started on them too as, on my side, there is a family history of raised cholesterol. So far my borderline levels have normalised but I will still take them.

When taking Niacin - there is a bit of an usual side-effect!

Niacin can cause flushing ?, unless you get the non-flushing version.

The first time I started to flush I could feel myself tingling, ears getting hot, my face started to feel sunburnt as did the rest of me while the Niacin seemed to work through my body, opening up small capillaries near the surface of the skin.

I looked as if I had sunburn ?. The effect lasted for about an hour. The first time it happened I was a bit frightened ? but I was at my mum and dad's place when it happened and they said it would be ok. We had a good laugh about it, and thereafter I called it 'the sunburn vitamin'! ?

An added bonus for me (when taking the Niacin) has been the fact that the circulation in my hands and feet have improved. But this was before I learnt that there is a non-flushing version!

These days we taken the non-flushing version but every now and then we end up getting the "sunburnt look" if one of the tablets isn't quite the non-flushing version.?

I cannot advocate taking Niacin as an alternative treatment to statins because everyone is different. Some things work for people, some things don't.

I’ve been on atoravastatin for years with no side effects. When I was first prescribed statins I did suffer the horrible muscle cramps (getting in and out of bed was a nightmare) but when the doctor changed my prescription to atoravastatin the muscle cramps disappeared. My husband also takes them with no side effects. I have incredibly high cholesterol and diet alone will not reduce it. Both sides of our family have suffered and finally succumbed to strokes so we’re not taking any unnecessary chances!

I agree MOnica - I live with awful ME/CFS, and by leaving us to cope alone with private support etc, the NHS are leaving us in the hands of charlatans, organisations with no safeguarding of vulnerable adults nor Child Protection, and at best you could call the self serving, un police checked part of the voluntary sector.

I used to work on in these areas, so can sadly spot the charlatans, but rely on some of them!

Skye17 There is also considerable research suggesting that high cholesterol contributes to the development of Alzheimers. There was a report published this week. The best that can be said is that the jury is out on the subject.

I have been googling Dr Myhill, whose site you reference. I am not sure how reliable a source she is. She runs a private specialist ME/CFS clinic and has been struck off the medical register and reinstated once and clearly runs one of those specialist clinics that teeter on the edge of approved medecine and quackery. You might like to look at this site jdc325.wordpress.com/2011/08/05/the-wrongness-of-dr-sarah-myhill/

Oh dear, I've been taking statins for ten years (I'm 75) and assumed the leg pains and sensation of pulsing in my legs was owing to osteoarthritis. I too have difficulty walking and have had several falls. Now you've got me worried.

My husband is on Statins for high blood pressure and he is fine, no side effects.

Thanks for the link skye.

My husband was on them and had pains in his shoulders.
He also had hallucinations through the night

This doctor thinks statins may be contributing to the rise in Alzheimer’s Disease.
www.drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Cholesterol_-_the_whys_and_wherefores#The_Problem_with_Statins

Been on statins for years. Initially took Simvastatin but developed horrid cramps in legs and feet. Chemist suggested that I ask my doctor to prescribe Atorvastatin. they suit me much better.

My last visit to my GP was at least 7 years ago. A blood test showed high cholesterol but I vaguely said I'd control it by diet and she didn't push me at all towards statins. I'm still alive, no idea what my cholesterol is but I'm nowhere near over weight and very active. The only medication I've had for donkeys' years is one weekend of paracetamol for bad toothache.
DH took statins for quite a while and on my advice after reading an article in the Daily Telegraph he stopped taking them. Gradually he reduced his daily aspirin to zero so all he takes now is medication for diabetes and his mental health. Like me, he's still alive.

My husband took them for a couple of years. After a few months he began to get muscle pain and could barely get up and down the stairs. He didn't realise until a friend told him it was one of the side effects of statins This was confirmed by a chemist, as soon as I said they didn't suit him she asked if it was muscle pain. He hasn't taken any since. I daresay there are people who take them and are not effected, but, I would also say there are people who have put it down to getting older and not realised it's the statins

I have been prescribed 2 different statins over the years, dreadful muscle aches so I longer take them. It's on my medical notes that I do not tolerate statins. I am Epileptic, Diabetic Type 2 & have Peripheral Neuropathy for which I do take medication.

My advice would be try them & see how you are, many people get no side effects, I'm just unfortunate that I suffer side effects. My DF died at age 49 due to overproduction of cholesterol which led to a heart attack, 42 years ago statins didn't exist

All statins are not equal - some can cause susceptible people to develop a really annoying and persistent cough - but if that happens you just change the statin. At least, that's my experience, and I'v been on them since 1996.

DH is no longer on statins because both kinds he was on gave him nightmares and made his muscels ache.. Fortunately. his cholsterol level always hovered only just the recommended level so hisGP told him it would not be disastrous if he stopped taking them.

Unfortunately seems true that there is a financial incentive here, as with persuading people to have the flu vaccine. One would like to be able to get impartial advice on medical matters, and not have to worry that the reason certain medication was prescribed was mainly that there were substantial inducements to so doing.

Hope this is not a serious comment ...
It really worries me that the negative publicity and vibes on social media mean that some people whose life could be saved, because of their medical/history profile - are put in danger. A bit like MMR.

I have not heard of, but I know of people who have had debilitating strokes, heart attacks and died- as the stuff they heard on social media stopped them from taking statins. Fact.

Yes, when first introduced, statins were recommended to be accompanied by COQ10, but this was found to not be cost effective so was dropped.

I've heard a tale of a man who went to Australia for a holiday. He boarded the plane in a wheelchair. Whilst on holiday he realised he'd forgotten his statins so went without. When he boarded the plane home he walked on, no wheelchair this time.

I have familial hyperlipidemia( genetic high cholesterol inherited from BOTH parents ) Irefuse statins now Ive tried them all and had muscle weakness pain rashes and horrendous wind and diahorrea impacting on my quality of life My advice would be try them and see how you do

DH had a blood test which showed his cholesterol was 6.3 and the GP said he should go on statins. He said he would try to get it down himself and then if that didn't work, would go on them. We don't eat a lot of red meat but he did have things like salami, pate and ham for lunch. The first thing he did was cut that out, bought cholesterol-reducing products like 'ProActive' milk and cholesterol-lowering yogurt drinks. Also, a friend had been recommended black garlic tablets. In less than a year his cholesterol was down to 4.7. Worth a try.

Apparently statins can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in older women. But not younger women or men I believe. I asked my GP about this and she just said it's better than having a stroke. So I keep taking the tablets☹

I am about to start on Ezetrol, a non-statin, designed to lower cholesterol in people who have tried statins but cannot tolerate them. I tried 3-4 types of statin with always the same effect - very dizzy and difficulty keeping balance while walking. I came off them sharpish. A recent operation for a pacemaker has made getting cholesterol lower a necessity. Anyone have any experience of Ezetrol? I did try Plant Sterols with limited success but no side effects.

No side effects for me, or none that I’m aware of.

sandelf- statins should not be pushed inappropriately - but they are a real life saver for some, with a particular profile and history.