Statins - pros and cons

I'm on Atorvastatin and have been for a year or two on drs advice. I'm 75 and wonder how much doctors are paid to prescribe these things.... Are they really necessary for so many of us? Who knows?

I’m not sure diet can really make much difference to out cholesterol levels as we age tbh. Although it does no harm. But I understand that red meat etc does not contribute to cholesterol.

Sometimes we simply make the wretched stuff regardless of diet!

DH has been taking statins since his heart attacks - quite a few years now. No contraindications except the occasional nightmare which he rarely remembers - he just wakes me with his shouting etc. I read that it is always best to let the nightmare run its course and that is what I do.

I'm diabetic and have been on stations for a number of years. I have no side effects. I'd prefer that to the heightened chance of a stroke or heart attack if I don't take them.

Same here. On statins for a few years now with no side effects.
I resisted it for a long time, until my cholesterol reached really high levels. Within weeks it was halved.

My husband and sister have been on them for years with no side effects. I was put on them (Atorvostatin) a couple of years ago. I had horrendous nosebleeds. I read the leaflet with the statins and nosebleeds were the main side effect, although rare.
I stopped taking them and now take Benecol drinks, spread, yoghurts and take plant sterols. I haven't had my cholesterol checked since but am hoping for the best. There are a few threads on GN about statins which you may find useful.

Been on Atorvastatin for 5+ yrs no side effects my cholesterol is now in acceptable limits. I don’t want to be taking any medication but it’s advised to help avoid strokes or heart attack.

I took my first one yesterday so too early to tell. My cholesterol was 5.4. Hadn't had a test for five years when it was 5. So sad that I've had to give up grapefruit although it said on the packet to consume no more than one or two small glasses of grapefruit juice a day. I checked with the pharmacist. She said that scientifically not sure why but sometimes they can cause more side effects so its large oranges now (not quite the same though).

I refused statins when offered because my best friend had great fatigue as a side effect. I was already much more tired than normal. That was about ten years ago, and I am still almost fully alive barring accidents.

I have been taking statins for over 20 years. It’s to protect the fragile blood vessels, especially the untreated aneurysm in my brain. Any plaque formation could cause a rupture and subsequent haemorrhage. I think my blood cholesterol was 5.5 when I started and it’s now 2.5. I don’t think I have had any side effects and I’m happy to take them to avoid any further problems.

My best friend who refused statins had a dangerous aneurysm and eventually died of lung cancer in her late 80s.

Please read Dr. Malcolm Kendrick's books on statins before deciding whether to take them or not.

I took them for a while no side effects. Asked to try without cholesterol went up steadily over a year. Started taking them and it dropped significantly again as is now back to low levels. Still no side effects even though I changed brands. I am also a diabetic and have heart disease risk in my family so taking statins reduces my heart attack/ stroke risk a lot

Has any one been put straight onto the highest dose of Atorvastatin ( 80mg) - were there any side effects? Husband ( with recent onset severely blocked cardiac artery) has just been advised to take this and is worried about the high dose. I worry what may happen if he doesn't!

I’ve been on them for a couple of years. Cholesterol level was above 8 at the start now just over 5. I started straight on 40mg Atoravastatin and GP said if I didn’t respond well enough they would likely increase my dose. I have had no obvious side effects.

My husband, who is 75 and has no health issues, was advised to start taking 80mg Atorvastatin three weeks ago. He’s a keen walker (walks anything from 5 miles to 16 miles) and since taking the statins he’s noticed he gets out of breath more when walking up his usual hill. Apart from that he has no other side effects.

My husband has been on them for over 35 years - no ill effects just good ones at keeping his cholesterol down to the right level and possibly preventing the heart attacks his father had.

It was suggested I went on them 10 years ago I didn’t I have no idea what my cholesterol is my mum had what is deemed high cholesterol today and lived to 90 ….that ll do me
I m like you maw happy to be on no regular medication it may come and I won’t be stupid BUT I m not taking them because its the given

Margiknot

Has any one been put straight onto the highest dose of Atorvastatin ( 80mg) - were there any side effects? Husband ( with recent onset severely blocked cardiac artery) has just been advised to take this and is worried about the high dose. I worry what may happen if he doesn't!

Yes, I was after a heart attack. No, I haven't noticed any side effects, apart from massively reduced cholesterol levels.

My opinion is that they are the biggest con ever perpetrated on health services all over the world.
I know my doctor feels the same ( although obviously he can’t come right out and say it)

I was in a consulting room with my friend when she was talking to her heart consultant. She told him she had come off the statins as she could no longer walk properly.
His reaction to her was: and stay off them

I wonder why your husband with no health problems and a healthy lifestyle was put on statins bigbertha

Sorry for your loss Caleo

I took them, my cholesterol reduced. Had nuclear ache, came off. Diagnosed with atrial fib and blood test on great outside normal range by a chunk, plus cholesterol too high. Re-started a different statin a year ago, no side effects, reduced cholesterol less risk of stroke/heart attack

I always think it’s best to look at your families genes. What did your mother, father die of? What did your grandparents die of? Then based on the risk factor involved, either take the required tablet or not? We have a choice in our generation, they did not.

My husband has tried every statin on the market he needs to get his chloesterol down because he has Atrial Fibrillation and has had 2 strokes . He had side effects but now finds he can take 5mg rosuvastatin which is the lowest dose statin on alternate days and gets no side effects that way .