Reluctant to start a statin…

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?

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.

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 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’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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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 .

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.

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

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.

Reluctantly went on Rosuvastatin at nurse's advice, took for over a year but developed increasingly severe cramp in my legs at night, sometimes could hardly get out of bed due to pain and difficulty moving legs. Got a phone appt with trainee GP ('real' GP's never available at local surgery) who said not taking them would actually make hardly any difference so stopped. Almost immediately the cramps stopped and finally an undisturbed night's sleep.

I take 2 bp meds and 3 months ago was prescribed Atorvastatin. I can barely walk for the pain in my legs and buttocks and can no longer sleep without sleeping tablets. Like others have said I have no wish to have a stroke but I can't go on like this.

Meant to say my late mother (whom I am very unlike) had high cholesterol. She was a very thin vegetarian.

Been on them for a few years after a TIA, never had any problems/side-effects

Yoginimeisje

Morning Chriks

I had an mot with the doctor a few months back, everything came back good, aside from my cholesterol was 12 and should be 10. The doctor prescribed statins, I asked if I could lower my cholesterol by change in diet, he simply said "NO".
I checked this out and you can. Cut down and sugar & refined carbs.

I have heard really bad reports on them, my son was dead against me taking them and sent me a video explaining that when they say it lowers your risk of stroke & heart attack by 50%, this is not accurate; it's actually just 2/100, lowers to 1/100 taking statins, which is not 50%.
300 adverse reactions. I'm not taking them.

Just wondered if you are not in the UK (maybe measured differently outside UK) as I’ve never heard of such a high cholesterol reading.

I refused statins too against advice but started taking plant sterols which have reduced mine from 7.1 to 6.2 without doing much else. I do eat less than I used to because my appetite isn’t the same as it once was. I’m about 1.5 stones lighter than I was at 50, size 12 and 5’3” (I’ve lost an inch). I’ve been on Amlodopine 5mg for a few years. Don’t think I get side effects from these and my BP is well controlled. I have really bad muscle pain and arthritis though and I’m sure it would worsen with statins.

4allweknow

Can't comment given your current medication. At 79 and having been bypassed in the medical checks supposedly to take place from 70 - 75 and tgen on request when seeing a GP at the request of my optician the GP told me not having had any statins and now at my age there was no way she would start to prescribe them. There must surely be a reason why GP wants to prescribe and you should be told why.

It makes them more money prescribing statins.