Reluctant to start a statin…

GPs are paid to hit targets and those are often reached using medications. These targets are rewarded with QOF points.
Targets =points, points= money.
Points are worth about £230 each.
GP practices can make around £150,000 per practice.

It’s not just statins by the way.

My husband started on this statin a month ago and is also on Amlodipine, he has had no adverse side effects so far.

i was put on statins but they caused me problems with vertigo so I stopped taking them.
i take co q10 from asda which is affordable (unlike tesco!) so i'm hoping that this will help.
i also take odourless garlic with thiamine from tesco which they claim helps with a healthy heart.

I’ve been taking atorvastatin 10 for at least 10 years . I’m also on two medications for high blood pressure and two medications for type2 diabetes. I have absolutely no side effects from any of them . I wouldn’t worry too much if I were you as if they don’t agree with you then you can come off them again .

Primrose53

GPs are paid to hit targets and those are often reached using medications. These targets are rewarded with QOF points.
Targets =points, points= money.
Points are worth about £230 each.
GP practices can make around £150,000 per practice.

It’s not just statins by the way.

And, if it's a dispensing practice, statins are cheap, too. We used to hand out omeprazole to lots of people when advice on diet [which would take up more time] could have helped. And they were never meant to be taken long term.

Ive been taking 20mg Atorvastatin for years. Was reluctant at first, but never had any side effects at all. Had I had problems, I'd have been given another to try. I really don't want to have a stroke!

You are completely right Luckygirl, we do need to be realistic. There is so much more research on the need to get cholesterol levels much lower than originally thought. There is a lot of concern with younger people with high cholesterol and earlier heart attacks. It is thought that their high processed food is the culprit. In many ways our age group had healthier diets. The problems we get is poor lung function as we were exposed to coal fires, wood burners and paraffin heaters when we were children.

GPs usually calculate the risk of a stroke or heart attack within next 10 years using a risk calculation QRISK3. You can check your own.

My risk was 24% of having one or other in next 10 years. I decided it was worth taking statins to reduce the risk of both which may debilitate or kill prematurely.

All medication comes with some side effects, and you have to weigh up which is the better option.

The research for Statins is very positive and their use has probably saved the NHS thousands in prevention of heart attacks and strokes, making statins cost effective. (I haven’t checked any calculations if they exist btw)

I have had no side effects.

If you are being prescribed statins to reduce your cholesterol I would suggest you watch the Netflix documentary Magic Pill with an open mind.

Since I had a heart attack on 2015 and another in 2018 I have been on statins and blood pressure tabs. I have 2 candersartan and rosuvastatin and bisoprol for blood pressure. No problems whatsoever.

Chrisks- I’ve been on 20mg Atorvastatin now for 3 or 4 years, also 5mg Amlodipine. I’ve had absolutely no side effects.

Hi, I'm sure most people are able to take statins without any issues and that's great, however please don't dismiss the people who have had issues. I was put on atorvastatin but nobody thought to check my creatine kinase levels once I had been put on them (normal creatine kinase (CK) levels typically range between 25 and 200 U/L (units per litre). My levels rose to almost 4000. I started to get really bad muscle issues and eventually after many blood tests was diagnosed with statin related myopathy and Myositis is quite debilitating. I still suffer after 13 years and am now taking methotrexate but still haven't got my core strength back. If offered/advised please ask about the creatine kinase blood test as this is one of the ways they can tell if it's affecting you. I know many people on statins who can take them without issues but either ask before going on them or look out for muscle issues

Do most people who are advised to take stating have high B/P too. My weight and b/p are fine, my only problem being lack of exercise because of my knee.

A health check last year showed that at 73 I am extremely healthy, ideal blood pressure with a borderline cholesterol level and maybe a BMI which ideally should be lower. My risk of a stroke/ heart attack was 14% over the next 10 years. I was offered statins but declined and instead I’ve been taking plant sterols from Holland & Barrett, Benecol drinks daily and Benecol spread, as well as being very careful with my diet. Recently I was re tested and my cholesterol level had come down to where no one is worried anymore, but I will get it checked regularly. I’m not opposed to statins, but all medications seem to have some sort of side effects so I’d rather stay clear as long as possible. Apparently when I reach 80 my %age level will increase substantially and I will be strongly advised to have them then.

I’ve heard that GPs prescribe them too often when they are not needed as they get a higher financial gain for the prescription. They should however be advising on diet exercise instead of attempting the get the country on them. I’d do your own research for peace of mind.

I cant offer reassurance as I cant tolerate statins Ive tried all of them and they give me muscle pain upset stomach and skin rashes

I was on atorvastatin, but only for a couple of weeks. I didn't want to take them. I was on a group on Facebook and there were so many stories about what damage statins have done to people. They said that we need the cholesterol for our brains, so high cholesterol is not a bad thing. Also I've seen it said that they can give you Alzheimer's and atorvastatin was one of the ones mentioned (by a doctor). Unfortunately I've been banned from Facebook, so I can't see anything on there now. It's annoying because I was on a few groups, which I miss. Also lost touch with a lot of people, including old school friends. Free speech isn't allowed nowadays. However, I listen to Whats Up Docs on BBC Sounds and there was a doctor on there talking about statins, and she was actually on them herself and I was almost tempted to go back on them, but haven't.
I am on a few other medications for various things, beta blockers, but not for high blood pressure, for migraine prevention, fexofenadine, frovatriptan, mebeverine.

I was using Benecol margarine at one time, until I heard a doctor saying that it makes very little difference if you use it, so stopped buying it, especially as it's expensive and doesn't taste very nice. She also said not to worry about using butter in moderation, things like sandwiches, but not to overindulge with it by using it for cooking. She was one of the doctors involved with the Zoe nationwide survey, so someone I trusted.

orly

I am no longer on any statins having been taken off Simvastatin and Atorvastatin after years of protest. It's now recorded on my medical record

How do you go on for holiday insurance if you are refusing to take a statin Orly?

Very happy to take them contain lactose and I have an intolerance. I did try but had to stop as they caused me digestives issues. I now take ezitimbe which still has lactose in, but less.

Chrisks, I think the best thing for you to do would be to discuss your concerns with your doctor or other medical professional rather than take the advice proffered here, because, as you can see, it differs significantly.

We can only let you know our experience of taking a medication which, as evidenced on this thread, can vary widely, and could be quite different for you.

I suspect the majority of us are not medically trained, so our advice is purely based on our own experience of using a prescribed medication or from an anecdotal perspective rather than from a medical perspective.

Seek advice from your medical practitioner, voice any worries you might have with them and let them advise you accordingly, then make an informed decision. Good luck.

For the OP -- this type of "oooohhhh, Statins, they're awful" rumour seems prevalent amongst quite a subset of folk who should know better -- pay no attention.

The comment from EazyBee is spot-on, reinforced by other comments.

A huge chunk of the more mature population take an assortment of daily meds, and Statins have been high on the list for years. I started some 25 years ago, Simvastatin, and have since been placed on Atorvastatin (& there are quite a few more). The doses vary (minimum for me), and though there can be some side-effects, as you get started, just make a note and report whatever they may be. It's easy enough to switch types and doses.
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The Quack doesn't prescribe them as an alternative to Smarties, and they have quite a few benefits, lowing Cholesterol especially. Anyone telling you to avoid them can be asked to show you their Medical qualifications, so you can compare where they studied to the actual Doctor?

BEWARE of comments that read like "A bit of research reveals" as that "research" might well be some FBook mumbo-jumbo posted by a hypochondriac with severe bee in the bonnet issues?!

Another one referred to side effects of "Confusion, memory loss, aching joints and muscles." . . . .if you went on a coach tour for the more ancient tourists and did a survey, I'm pretty sure that almost everyone would say they had that lot, irrespective of their pills?!

If YOU do have some side effects, as I said, make a note, and report them back. If you read the side-effects that have been reported for say, aspirin or ibufopren, etc (read the leaflet in the packet) nobody would ever take them!

My GP advised me to start statins and I’ve been prescribed Pravastatin 10mg. Been taking them for a few months now with zero side effects.

I've been taking 20mg of Atorvastatin for almost 3 years (the only medication I take). No side effects whatsoever and within three months my cholesterol dropped from over 8 to 4.5.
give it a try.

If you have been banned for exercising your right to free speech it should be sounding alarm bells about what they are trying to hide