I don't want to take Statins. Advice please.

I was reluctant to go on them but have had no problems. The only thing I have done is start taking a Co-enzyme Q10 supplement as I read that one's levels drop with age and statins make it worse.

Genetics play a huge part in health outcomes. My late husband died at just 56 and started being diagnosed with various health issues when only in his early 40s. I have led exactly the same lifestyle as he did, recent tests show my liver is fine, my spirometry test was normal (despite smoking for more than 35 years) and my blood test was fine as well. I have high blood pressure (family history) under control with medication, acid reflux again under control with medication and that is about it, barring HRT for menopause symptoms. I am overweight, albeit slowly losing it, get plenty of exercise but have an erratic diet, as well as drinking too much. It really is a complete lottery.

growstuff

buffly Were you a practice manager in England? What you have described just isn't true.

buffyfly9

Over to you! 😝

Thank you foxie48. GPs are paid for the health checks and not for prescribing.

buffyfly9

Thank god you are out there Primrose 53, I was beginning to feel that I was in a parallel universe!! Those of us who are sceptical about statins are NOT saying that those who need them shouldn't take them. Nor are we "smug" because we are lucky to be healthy or so clueless as to infer that someone who has multiple health issues has brought it on themselves, I would never think that. I believe our health is down to many factors; genetic inheritance from our parents, life style, stress, our environment and yes, at the end of the day the sheer luck of the draw. To all those out there who are struggling with health issues I truly wish you the very best.

Back again buffyfly9

Agreed. I have never said that people should not take statins and I don’t think you have either. It is entirely up to the individual. There are thousands of sceptics like us out here!

As for being smug, that’s not me either. I am fortunate to be in good health for my age but have many friends who are not. I believe it’s down to luck of the draw myself. my parents lived to 86 and nearly 97 but never smoked or drank and you would have said my Dad looked 10 years younger until he went on statins and then he aged massively.

I smoked until nearly 20 years ago so I have nothing to be smug about. Genetic counselling has revealed I am at med-high risk of developing bowel cancer but I don’t worry about.

As I said earlier, 20 years ago I was told to go on statins and I refused after doing my own research but that was my choice. I’m still here and well so to me that proves I didn’t need them. I’ve saved the NHS a lot of money too.

I actually believe a lot of GPs are coming round to the idea that not everybody benefits from statins because years ago when it always flagged up that I had refused statins. Some doctors asked me why, others tried again to persuade me but now when it flags up they either don’t mention it or say it’s entirely my choice.

"Ongoing management
CHOL001. Percentage of patients on the QOF Coronary
Heart Disease, Peripheral Arterial Disease, Stroke/TIA or
Chronic Kidney Disease Register who are currently
prescribed a statin, or where a statin is declined or
clinically unsuitable, another lipid-lowering therapy
14 70-95%
CHOL002. Percentage of patients on the QOF Coronary
Heart Disease, Peripheral Arterial Disease, or Stroke/TIA
Register, who have a recording of non-HDL cholesterol in
16 20-35%
the preceding 12 months that is lower than 2.5 mmol/L, or
where non-HDL cholesterol is not recorded a recording of
LDL cholesterol in the preceding 12 months that is lower
than 1.8 mmol/L"
www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/PRN00289-quality-and-outcomes-framework-guidance-for-2023-24.pdf

The above is taken from the QOF , there is nothing about doctors being paid to prescribe statins, they get paid for doing the health check regardless of whether the patient is prescribed statins, declines statins or does not require statins. The QOF is an important part of primary medical care, high BP and high cholesterol don't usually cause much in the way of symptoms but both can cause disease and death.

^ And I wouldn't be so sure that millions take them without any problems either, I was at A Christmas lunch where everyone was over pension age, we were talking about them and one man said he got so fed up with his GP insisting that he had to take them and his aches and pains were due to old age, so he just gets his repeat prescription and flushes them down the loo, about 6 people at the lunch admitted to doing the same, I bet they are not the only ones either. I doubt very much if the NHS actually know how many people take them without side effects and neither do you.^

I very much doubt that millions of people are doing this, why would they not say “no thank you, I will not be taking them”and take the prescription from the repeat meds list. Absolute waste of money, people like you are costing the NHS a fortune.

How does it work with other medical matters when it would be assumed that you were taking Statins?

MOnica The last time I went to see my GP with a problem and asked for treatment, he said to me, "Putting any medication in your body is a poison and will have some side-effects.There are three medications I could prescribe, but I wouldn't give two of them to my own mother, so I'm not giving them to you." When I asked about side-effects, he said that he knew they work, but he couldn't predict side-effects and I should stop them if I was bothered about anything.

I always question any treatment, medication and other forms. I've always felt that I've been involved in a joint decision and I don't understand why people don't just refuse, if they don't like something.

jenpax

My cholesterol is below average as is my blood pressure but because I am borderline Diabetic my nurse wanted to put me on statins. I refused

That's your right, but the nurse had a duty to follow NICE guidelines by recommending statins.

It s very difficult when you rae on the right side of a line not to sound congratulatory, simply because those on the other side will always assume t unless proven otherwise.

Until recently i was on the healthy side of the line and like so many did the sums, considered the issue and decided against statins. Then I had a medical incident. Statins were prescribed for very good reasons and I am happy taking them.

I think all of us are like that. We consider the reasons that any drug could be prescribed and if there is good reason we take them and if there isn't we do not - and if circumstances change we may change our decision.

Medical authorities are too ready to prescrbe pills for every potential problem that we do need to watcch and check what we are given and why.

My cholesterol is below average as is my blood pressure but because I am borderline Diabetic my nurse wanted to put me on statins. I refused

Primrose53

So we have now established that GP Practices DO make huge incomes from treating people with “high” cholesterol including prescribing statins. We have seen in black and white how they are encouraged to maximise their income through QOF Points which translate into income for their practices. It’s all above in black and white. It’s not misinformation and it’s not “rubbish”.

We also know that GPs are paid per prescription issued. last time I looked they got just under £1 for each prescription. Can’t check now as am on way out.

There will always be people who won’t believe anything because they don’t want to, even if they see it in black and white.

How do they think these GP “businesses” make money? I was recently in a high street pharmacy and was offered a health check which I accepted. A few weeks later I was at my GPs for something else and she said I was due for a health check. I said I had had one and she was most put out that I didn’t have it at the surgery. She said “we could have had that income instead of them.”

Where is it in black and white? Not in the link which has been posted.

Whatever his GP says, all he has to do is not authorise any repeat prescriptions. He doesn't have to follow the GP's advice.

Chakotay

growstuff

Chakotay

Grantanow

There's a lot of loony nonsense talked about statins. Millions of people take them every day and so do I with no ill effects whatsoever.

@Grantanow it is certainly not looney nonsense, when my husband was 60 he started to have aches and pains, he couldn't walk without the aid of 2 sticks, obviously he went to his GP who could find no reason for his lack of mobility and pain, it was only when I saw him take his Statins and read the bumph in the leaflet that I saw it might be the side effects of them he stopped taking them and the pains stopped within a week, a few years later a new GP wanted to put him back on them he refused he was referred to a Lipid Consultant to totally understood his reason for stopping them (obviously even some medical professionals believe the 'loony nonsense') my husband is now 74 and has no mobility problems at all.

And I wouldn't be so sure that millions take them without any problems either, I was at A Christmas lunch where everyone was over pension age, we were talking about them and one man said he got so fed up with his GP insisting that he had to take them and his aches and pains were due to old age, so he just gets his repeat prescription and flushes them down the loo, about 6 people at the lunch admitted to doing the same, I bet they are not the only ones either. I doubt very much if the NHS actually know how many people take them without side effects and neither do you.

So why don't these people report problems? Why are they wasting money by flushing the meds down the toilet?

Nobody is forcing anybody to take anything. If these people have a heart attack or stroke, it will be assumed they are taking their prescribed statins. Why don't they be honest, so that researchers have more accurate statistics?

No wonder some people think there's a waste problem in the NHS!

@growstuff did you actually READ my post I specifically mentioned that he had been to his GP who told him he had to take them and his aches and pains had nothing to do with taking them but due only to old age and nothing more reporting the problem did not help him as he was being ignored, and that is very common

Yes, I read it.

RedRidingHood, I’m with you on occasionally finding those ‘some posters’ rather smug, as though their good health is entirely down to them.
I have RA, started drug treatment when I was 43. Within a month I was back doing my usual 3 mile walk , having found getting downstairs in the morning a challenge in previous months.
The treatments carry risks, usually similar to the risks associated with untreated RA
My husband lived an active, happy life, followed all the advice on lifestyle, last year he was diagnosed with stage 4 metastasised cancer. He engaged with palliative treatments. He died 6 months from diagnosis.
It’s random, not always due to ‘lifestyle choices’

Thank god you are out there Primrose 53, I was beginning to feel that I was in a parallel universe!! Those of us who are sceptical about statins are NOT saying that those who need them shouldn't take them. Nor are we "smug" because we are lucky to be healthy or so clueless as to infer that someone who has multiple health issues has brought it on themselves, I would never think that. I believe our health is down to many factors; genetic inheritance from our parents, life style, stress, our environment and yes, at the end of the day the sheer luck of the draw. To all those out there who are struggling with health issues I truly wish you the very best.

Well my experience here. I was out on stations after a referral because of a problem I had. The aches and pains I had before have not increased, and don't feel I have had any unwanted side effects.
If there are problems with statins in pregnancy then this is probably something that ought to be addressed by would be mothers or newly pregnant women, it isn't something I feel affects me, being in my late 60s with no ovaries and no man either
There are different stations and another one might not have those side effects.
Always good to eat a good diet with as little sugar as possible, and fairly low carb, this is good for many conditions too

I have no idea how this all works with GPs, but I am sceptical about these computer generated advice sheets to take statins the day you hit 65.
My cholesterol is always around 3.5 but it took a bit of a leap after a month in France eating butter, croissants, cheese and reached 5.0. No face to face discussion, but a letter. So why take something unnecessarily without proper investigation. How many people does this happen to?

Lots of smugness from people who are very lucky to reach their 70s and have excellent health. I do sometimes get a sense of blame that I have lots of health conditions. Somehow it must be my fault that I have RA or osteoporosis or breast cancer or other things. perhaps I have an unhealthy diet or drink too much?
Actually no. I do all the right things. My breakfast for years has been plain oats and seeds so that's no miracle worker. I have never been overweight, don't smoke drink very little.
I was reluctant to take statins because of the many other drugs I take. I like to see an improvement in quality of life in return for taking a drug. I can't ditch the RA drugs because I would very quickly become unable to move around. As it is they put the disease completly in remisssion.

In the end because of my high risk I agreed to take a 10mg dose which has reduced my cholestrol to 3.

Chakotay

Grantanow

There's a lot of loony nonsense talked about statins. Millions of people take them every day and so do I with no ill effects whatsoever.

@Grantanow it is certainly not looney nonsense, when my husband was 60 he started to have aches and pains, he couldn't walk without the aid of 2 sticks, obviously he went to his GP who could find no reason for his lack of mobility and pain, it was only when I saw him take his Statins and read the bumph in the leaflet that I saw it might be the side effects of them he stopped taking them and the pains stopped within a week, a few years later a new GP wanted to put him back on them he refused he was referred to a Lipid Consultant to totally understood his reason for stopping them (obviously even some medical professionals believe the 'loony nonsense') my husband is now 74 and has no mobility problems at all.

And I wouldn't be so sure that millions take them without any problems either, I was at A Christmas lunch where everyone was over pension age, we were talking about them and one man said he got so fed up with his GP insisting that he had to take them and his aches and pains were due to old age, so he just gets his repeat prescription and flushes them down the loo, about 6 people at the lunch admitted to doing the same, I bet they are not the only ones either. I doubt very much if the NHS actually know how many people take them without side effects and neither do you.

I fully believe that Chakotay I saw my Dad decline terribly within weeks of starting on statins. He became muddled, forgetful, aching joints, extreme tiredness etc. when just weeks before he did the crossword daily, played football with his grandchildren and led very busy life.

A friend and I who started on Statins at the same time in our late 70s sat down and for our own amusement wrote down all our aches and pains and other problems before we started. This is very recent so we shall be checking if we notice anything before ascribing it to the statins. I have another friend who had a heart attack was prescribed statins but just stopped taking them, how will this play out if she is admitted with a further problem? I really think the Dr should be told but she treats it as if it is none of his business.
I am sorry your DH was ignored by the GP Chakotay he should have been offered an alternative.

So we have now established that GP Practices DO make huge incomes from treating people with “high” cholesterol including prescribing statins. We have seen in black and white how they are encouraged to maximise their income through QOF Points which translate into income for their practices. It’s all above in black and white. It’s not misinformation and it’s not “rubbish”.

We also know that GPs are paid per prescription issued. last time I looked they got just under £1 for each prescription. Can’t check now as am on way out.

There will always be people who won’t believe anything because they don’t want to, even if they see it in black and white.

How do they think these GP “businesses” make money? I was recently in a high street pharmacy and was offered a health check which I accepted. A few weeks later I was at my GPs for something else and she said I was due for a health check. I said I had had one and she was most put out that I didn’t have it at the surgery. She said “we could have had that income instead of them.”

growstuff

Chakotay

Grantanow

There's a lot of loony nonsense talked about statins. Millions of people take them every day and so do I with no ill effects whatsoever.

@Grantanow it is certainly not looney nonsense, when my husband was 60 he started to have aches and pains, he couldn't walk without the aid of 2 sticks, obviously he went to his GP who could find no reason for his lack of mobility and pain, it was only when I saw him take his Statins and read the bumph in the leaflet that I saw it might be the side effects of them he stopped taking them and the pains stopped within a week, a few years later a new GP wanted to put him back on them he refused he was referred to a Lipid Consultant to totally understood his reason for stopping them (obviously even some medical professionals believe the 'loony nonsense') my husband is now 74 and has no mobility problems at all.

And I wouldn't be so sure that millions take them without any problems either, I was at A Christmas lunch where everyone was over pension age, we were talking about them and one man said he got so fed up with his GP insisting that he had to take them and his aches and pains were due to old age, so he just gets his repeat prescription and flushes them down the loo, about 6 people at the lunch admitted to doing the same, I bet they are not the only ones either. I doubt very much if the NHS actually know how many people take them without side effects and neither do you.

So why don't these people report problems? Why are they wasting money by flushing the meds down the toilet?

Nobody is forcing anybody to take anything. If these people have a heart attack or stroke, it will be assumed they are taking their prescribed statins. Why don't they be honest, so that researchers have more accurate statistics?

No wonder some people think there's a waste problem in the NHS!

@growstuff did you actually READ my post I specifically mentioned that he had been to his GP who told him he had to take them and his aches and pains had nothing to do with taking them but due only to old age and nothing more reporting the problem did not help him as he was being ignored, and that is very common

I wonder how many of those "now deceased patients" would have lived a longer life if they had taken their medication as directed!
I'm not a shareholder in any drug company (as far as I know) but like Growstuff I dislike misinformation. This "doctors get paid for prescribing statins" rubbish pops up every time statins is mentioned in a thread and if I see it, I will challenge it because it is untrue.

An elderly couple in our village got together when their respective spouses died. They continued to live separately though. When he passed away quite suddenly from cancer, she was horrified to find his spare room literally full to bursting with bags and bags of statins which he had been prescribed but never took. She discussed this with his adult children and they said he did not want to go against what his GP said …. That generation never questioned anything their doctor said.