Should I take statins

I was prescribed Atorvastatin 20mg. Had been given them 2 years ago, gave me leg pains. So this time I have been cutting them in half (we have a tablet cutter) so taking 10mg. Taken them for a week. Will see how it goes

The doctor I saw earlier in the week said he had never heard of the symptoms I experienced. Feeling as though something was blocking my throat with difficulty swallowing anything. However my daughter in law googled and she said from what she had read it can be a side effect of taking Statins, although fairly rare.

However, he has prescribed me Simvastain. I have started taking them, keeping my fingers crossed.

Thank you Glorianny

Jaxjacky

NotTooOld

Anyone tried plant sterols as an alternative to statins? That's what I'm doing but I won't know if its worked until I have another blood test.

It won’t help if it’s familial, I tried and my cholesterol stayed the same.

There has been some research to show children with familial High cholesterol benefitted from plant sterols. Don't know if your family would be interested. Children under 18 can't be given statins so this is important www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523058896#:~:text=Naturally%20occurring%20plant%20sterol%20esters,with%20familial%20hypercholesterolemia%20(FH).

It's not funny having swallowing problems. How do people take big pills? I too have difficulty swallowing. But obviously not as bad as yours. There are times I've choked on them, and the omeprazole. I hope the doctor has an alternative that suits you.

nadateturbe, I was taking 10mg Atorvastatin , then 5mg of Rostuvastatin. Same problems with both. I felt as though there was a ball in my throat covered in spines. Swallowing was agony. But thank you.

After posting on here I decided to give my surgery a ring. Told my story to the receptionist and said I wasn’t happy speaking to the pharmacist. To my surprise she agreed. So the result is that I have an appointment to see a Dr on the 2nd January. I am not against taking Statins, both my Mum and Nanna died after a stroke.

NotTooOld

Anyone tried plant sterols as an alternative to statins? That's what I'm doing but I won't know if its worked until I have another blood test.

It won’t help if it’s familial, I tried and my cholesterol stayed the same.

NotTooOld

Anyone tried plant sterols as an alternative to statins? That's what I'm doing but I won't know if its worked until I have another blood test.

Yes I started using them after I was told I needed statins. My level wasn't very high and no one seemed bothered that I had no family history of strokes or heart problems. Mum lived to 95, gran to 90, great gran to 90. I'm 78. Had my over 75 healthcheck in October (just over a year after I'd been advised to take them) and my cholesterol level was OK. I had a drink everyday (Asdas own are cheaper than Benecol) and used the margarine. I use a lot of olive oil and eat mostly fish and veggie, with meat occasionally.

Anyone tried plant sterols as an alternative to statins? That's what I'm doing but I won't know if its worked until I have another blood test.

Cathy, my husband takes 10mg of atorvastatin which are tiny compared to my 20mg. Perhaps you could be prescribed these.

NotSpaghetti

Luckygirl3

I eat no red meat, no cheese (migraine trigger), no milk or eggs (don't like them). I am normal weight .... and mine is 6.6. What else can I do? .... my mobility is poor so exercise is a problem.
I am about to go on cholestyramine and add a statin soon.

Exercises in water is easier.
I swim. I put more effort in some days than others but do make myself go 3 times a week.

Luckygirl3, if you are like me, your results are skewed by your triglycerides rather than your LDL. Triglycerides are elevated by carbs which turn to sugars rather than fat. You should be able to see whether this is the case by asking your Dr specifically about them.

Thank you TwinLolly. You answered the question I wanted to ask. I haven’t been on GN for a few years and am out of practice.

My sister in law had terrible cramps and aches when taking Statins so her Dr prescribed something else. It wasn’t a statin but her cholesterol came right down. Unfortunately she died earlier this year so air can’t ask her.

Dad stopped taking statins because of side-effects, and started taking Niacin (vitamin B3) instead, and it worked for him.

My husband also has had a problem with statins and started taking niacin. His GP was skeptical but after monitoring him for a couple of months, he's changed his mind after seeing my husband's cholesterol levels nicely under control.

There is the non-flushing version for those who prefer not to have the sunburnt feel when it kicks in.

It is funny to see my husband start to flush/go bright red and then it disappears after an hour or so. He doesn't mind it at all. I've found it has improved circulation in my hands and feet - opening up the blood vessels!

Prescribed atrovastatin. Couldn’t swallow. Prescribed rosuvastatin same again.
Can’t get to speak to a Gp. Have to go through surgery pharmacist.
High cholesterol is in my family, mum and grandma died of strokes.

Meant to say, if you can get into the pool

Luckygirl3

I eat no red meat, no cheese (migraine trigger), no milk or eggs (don't like them). I am normal weight .... and mine is 6.6. What else can I do? .... my mobility is poor so exercise is a problem.
I am about to go on cholestyramine and add a statin soon.

Exercises in water is easier.
I swim. I put more effort in some days than others but do make myself go 3 times a week.

Bridie22

Dr. Watson, you state statins have other benefits other than lowering cholesterol, what are they ?

I think they can also reduce inflammation.

Sorry, Luckygirl, I must have missed your post!

tictacnana

After my annual blood tests I was called in to talk about statins. I don’t need them as my cholesterol is fine but was Asked did I want to take them even though I don’t need them. Our pharmacist told me that doctors get paid by drug companies for getting people to sign up for statins. HOW IMMORAL IS THAT ?

It is not immoral, because it is not true! Doctors’ practices get bonuses FROM NHS for prescribing a certain amount of preventative medications to certain groups, not from drug companies.

Dr. Watson, you state statins have other benefits other than lowering cholesterol, what are they ?

For Coolgran and Nanna, exactly right, statins do a good job for huge numbers of people, and for many, the lowest dose is enough. For anyone linking them to cure high BP, no, statins are not for BP (at least I've never heard that, and I've had a statin for 20+ yrs). Lots of meds for high BP, mine is fractionally high, on some measurements, so I've had 'Candesartan' for many years. It's clear from comments on here that even now, SOME GPs are just not on the same page, may have some odd personal bias re statins, so are reluctant to prescribe them. That seems very odd, given how many folk derive benefits, and I gather they're not an expensive pill as meds go??!

SuzyG

Where exactly is the proof that they work and it isn't simply a change of lifestyle/more public information? Also, there is some research that LDL may not be the culprit. I'm not advocating anyone avoid Statins if they feel it's right for them, simply read as much as you can. It's very muddy out there.

Change of lifestyle does not reduce cholesterol if it is familial, as mine is.

For greyisnotmy, not sure how you or other patients have the expertise to know what's best?? Having said that, your GP sounds uninformed too, from what you say, YOU ARE exactly the category to get some benefit! Re "age and genetics", sure, they're key factors -- it's why people take all sorts of meds for a variety of reasons!! If you want to try some diet help, lots of obvious things to try, there is a vast amount of advice re lowering cholesterol, check what sorts of things have obvious sources of the 'bad' cholesterol our bodies struggle with??! Years ago I upped my oats intake, had home-made oat muffins, porridge could be good, and switched to oaty-bix (flakes) instead of a wheat-based b'fast cereal. But that isn't enough on its own, if you're addicted to some meats and fats, do check those out?

tictacnana

After my annual blood tests I was called in to talk about statins. I don’t need them as my cholesterol is fine but was Asked did I want to take them even though I don’t need them. Our pharmacist told me that doctors get paid by drug companies for getting people to sign up for statins. HOW IMMORAL IS THAT ?

I don't think they get paid by the drug companies but by NHS as part of their illness prevention programme. It is reckoned that prescribing statins prevents heart attacks and strokes and thus saves the NHS money.

For Bridie and Joseann, statins are NOT just for cholesterol, all sorts of other benefits. From chats with GP, nurses and chemists, about half the country's old folk take them, so if they were not good, we'd have heard by now!