Statins please share your experience/knowledge

As an ex-research pharmacologist, I would totally agree with people who say read as much literature about them as possible. All drugs can have side-effects, not everyone will experience them or they are so mild that it doesn't bother them. Some people will have to give up that particular medication or change to an alternative.
Like many posters, I have been on Atorvastatin 20mg for a few years with no side-effects. My OH has been taking Simvastatin for many years, and gets tired, but who can say if that is due to the drug or a
old age? Many people can take them happily with no adverse effects. I would trust medical research papers more than books on the shelf in WH Smiths or Waterstones. Other bookshops are available.

fancyflowers The Telegraph articles are behind a paywall. You are clutching at straws I’m afraid. There are plenty of positive articles in Telegraph for statins if you search, but bear in mind these articles are written by journalists.

The science for statins is well established and saves lives. Nothing else to add.

Grantanow

I've taken prescribed statins for ten years without any problems whatsoever.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1867901/

I've taken prescribed statins for ten years without any problems whatsoever.

I think if anyone has any sense they will not be persuaded by posts on this site but discuss their individual risk with their GP.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/21/gps-paid-handing-statins-puts-patients-review-finds/

Better to read research articles published in reputable journals which have been "peer reviewed", than books, even by doctors. Anyone can write a book and get it published. Summary of latest research is available on sites like British Heart Foundation. One of those is an article referred to by Farznanah upthread - "Statins - 10 facts you might not know". I'll quote one interesting bit of research:

A 2016 BHF-funded study found that patients were 11% and 12% more likely to stop taking statins for primary and secondary prevention respectively, after a period in which statins received a lot of negative media coverage.

A 2015 Danish study found that every negative nationwide news story meant people were 9% more likely to stop taking statins. Stopping statins early led to a 26% greater risk of a heart attack and an 18% increase in the risk of cardiovascular mortality

Justin Smith is not a doctor for a start fancyflowers he’s an ex engineer and now a personal trainer and nutrition coach who’s probably made a few quid from the book. I can’t be bothered to research the rest of them.

I think if anyone has any sense they will not be persuaded by posts on this site but discuss their individual risk with their GP.
Deaths may be caused by believing information which is not scientifically rigorously researched.

Many statins are now out of patent, therefore cheaper, and the savings in the prevention of heart attack/stroke are greater to NHS than expenditure on statins.

Why wouldn't you trust books researched and written by qualified doctors?

I suggest you read any or all of the books for yourself.

If you read the books (and I have read them all), you will find ample scientific evidence.

Why do you trust anything written in the books?

Statins are one of the most researched drugs in the world because they's prescribed so widely. Where is the solid scientific evidence which refutes the claims that they save lives?

Read any of these books and I think you will be persuaded not to touch them.

Curtaintwitcher

It's in the interests of the drug companies to have as many people as possible taking regular medication. Bear this in mind whenever you are advised to start taking something.
Personally, I would prefer to take statins in a different form....yogurts and spreads containing plant statins.

So you'd prefer to increase the spread and yoghurt producers' profits? Foods containing plant sterols and stanols are all highly processed.

Been on statins for about 20 years, no side effects or problems.

It's in the interests of the drug companies to have as many people as possible taking regular medication. Bear this in mind whenever you are advised to start taking something.
Personally, I would prefer to take statins in a different form....yogurts and spreads containing plant statins.

Statins have lowered my cholesterol considerably, and I have nil side effects.

My brother has taken statins for several years without any problems or side effects.
I haven’t taken them, but worryingly my GP prescribed them without discussing this with me first. I had collected my usual medication from the chemist with statins included. I refused the statins. Apparently NICE now recommend them for anyone scoring 10% or above on the Qrisk3 assessment for developing heart problems in the next 10 years. I requested a cholesterol test and discussion about the Qrisk assessment and any side effects with a GP before I was prepared to take statins. The test result was normal & I heard nothing further from the GP.
I’m not sure how ethical it is for GPs to prescribe medication in this way. Whatever happened to ‘informed consent’?

To be frank when you are over 75 life is not low risk, sadly.

IF there are real risks NOT related solely to your age - then maybe. (The QRISK assessment tool is so heavily age weighted that it is impossible to have a low risk over the age of about 75). Not tried them myself, but watched DH lose muscle mass and energy VERY badly as he tried each of 3 different types for 2 months each - 3 years ago and he has never regained the strength in his legs despite being then and now a very healthy active person. I do know that some people take them with no bother, but also am sure they harm some. Wish we knew which 'sort' we were.

For informed information look at the BHF and 10 things about statins which you may not know, rather than unreliable anecdotal accounts.

Medical evidence is overwhelming for statins in the reduction of stroke and heart attacks, and is very convincing.
My cholesterol went up from 4.6 to 6.6 a few weeks ago, and I started statins after discussion with GP who went through my personal risk profile with me.

I am taking 20mg a day with no side effects at present. My OH has been taking them for 30+ years because of familial raised cholesterol. His father died mid 40s from heart attack, and my OH has had no problems.

We have both been offered an injection instead of statins. It will be repeated in six months. I did try statins years ago but got terrible pains in my calves.

Hb1ac*

A woman I used to work with was told to come off them just a short while after starting them because they were causing her liver damage. It is not uncommon.

I take 40mg daily and haven’t had any side effects in the 5 years since they were prescribed.
I have severe heart failure following vital myocarditis and I want to minimise any chance of further complications from it.
My cholesterol, blood pressure and h1bac are all good so I guess I’m doing ok!

Jaxjacky....yes I told my gp I wasn't taking anymore statins, he wrote it in my notes...