Hi all,I've been advised to take Atorvastatin 10mg due to a QRisk of 20%. I've read about statins and I'm not sure I want to take them.
I swapped from Bisoprolol to Nebivolol then Diltiziam, now back on Bisoprolol due to side effects from the other two over the past 3 months. I don't want to take the risk of side effects again from starting a statin.
I'm concerned also about it nudging my prediabetic state to Type 2 if starting on statins.
Any suggestions please?
From someone who is paying the price for not starting statin therapy earlier, I urge you to take the Atorvastatin if you cannot reach your LDL and other lipid goals with diet and exercise alone.
And in addition to lowering cholesterol, statins also have anti-inflammatory and plaque stabilizing properties. This can translate into a reduced stroke risk for those who have afib, where stroke risk can be greater than in the general population.
Yes, statins may slightly raise diabetes risk with some, but the stroke and heart protection often outweighs this and you can compensate the diabetes risk with diet and exercise.
Personally I've taken statins for over 10 years and never saw any difference with my blood sugar, or for that matter had any muscular issues, which you sometimes hear about.
That said, if you are still hesitant about statins after doing your research, ask your doctor about doing a Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) Scan. It will give you a good indication about the amount of plaque in your coronary arteries. Should you score 0 or very low, an argument might be made to hold off on statins. Conversely, should you score high, statins would be almost mandatory.
Another important test that is being recommended, at least once in a lifetime, is blood test called lipo(a) which is a hereditary marker for coronary artery disease. If it turns out yours is elevated, another factor to take into consideration regarding statins.
Again I wish I had paid more attention to cholesterol and more agressive cardiovascular treatment when I was younger.
Some of us are very lucky, often through heredity, and do well without statins or even lifestyle modifications. Others are not so lucky. Do you really want to gamble?
Jim
Thankyou for your reply, I'm still thinking about it, however I'm taking what you've said on board. It's a difficult decision as there's been so much bad press on statins. I'll read up on it again, the problem is with that, there's conflicting reports and I'm becoming more undecided! Thanks for your input.
First, look at the source of the "bad press". Compare their credentials to those advocating statins were needed. Are these anti-statin doctors selling supplements? Are they media doctors making money on Internet clicks? Are they affiliated with major and well respected Medical centers?
Cholesterol and heart disease are big industry. And well, some argue you cannot trust the drug companies because they make money on statins, the same holds true for the Internet doctors who make money on statin alternatives. At least the drug companies have trial data supporting their claims.
Jim
I started with 10mg Atorvastatin, but it lowered my cholesterol too much. Now take daily 5mg, with no side effects whatsoever - have been on this regimen for years !
The diabetes risk from statins is higher for women. The benefits of statins are marginal for most people who take them and this is even more true for women. Large scale epidemiological stu(dies done in Scandinavia showed that elderly women with raised cholesterol were healthier and lived longer and even had less cardiovascular disease . A large study ( can't remember where it was done) showed that the algorithims used in Q risk and similar scoring systems grossly overestimated the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular disease. As Jim says a benefit of statins is their anti inflammatory action but this can be achieved naturally . There are many supplements that have an anti inflammatory effect eg resveratrol and diet can help enormously. Not only do statins up the risk of diabetes they also reduce the production by the liver of several key chemicals such as co enzyme Q10 and dolichols. The body does not make these for fun any more than it makes cholesterol. We need these substances for proper functioning. There is also evidence from studies in Japan that statins increase heart failure and impaired cognition.
This is really helpful, Jim, thank you! I’m in the same dilemma as Notsurewhattoexpect, and I’m doubly confused as my own GP isn’t a fan of statins while every other GP I’ve seen tells me I must begin a statin regime immediately. So your answer gives me something specific I can ask for to clarify further. Thank you!
It is a difficult and very individual decision that you are faced with and as you say, it is another life long medication. My GP advised me to take statins two months ago as my cholesterol was high. I was booked for a ct angiogram at the time, so l said that l would think it over and see what condition my arteries were in before making a decision. The scan was clear and l was told my heart was healthy and my arteries were healthy. I have therefore decided not to take them, The body needs a certain amount of cholesterol, especially the brain. How much, must depend on the individual. Perhaps you could also have a test to determine the state of your arteries before making a decision? See your GP if you are concerned as it’s not something to rush into. Diabetes is something you need to avoid if possible. There are advantages and disadvantages to all drugs and all have side effects, although not all experience them. I have a sensitive reaction to most drugs so understand your difficulty.
Thankyou for your reply. The more I look into it the more uncertain I am. I think I'll book in with my gp and express my concerns before making the decision, thanks again.
Agree. At Cholesterol of around 7 for 10 yrs, the medics found out and strongly pushed statins. I decided to postpone those and monitor my levels, which 20 years later are still the same. 11 years ago heart & carotid arteries were checked following AF diagnosis and found to be all clear.
So whilst accepting there may be some benefit in statins there is not enough for my individual body.
nothing in life is risk free. Crossing the road taking paracetamol ( have you read the information leaflet recently), but it’s things we all do.
They have to legally list all the possible risks it doesn’t mean you’re going to get them.
I am so glad you asked this. I saw cardiologist yesterday and ended up with two dilemmas. He said I can come off anticoagulant if I want to but also suggested statins as recent bloods say glucose 6.5. I am fed up about that as had very low fat diet for last 6 months and exercise regularly. I know so many who had horrible side effects from statins.
I have got some cholesterol lowering drinks and am probably going to go over to soya milk and have green tea.
I really miss being healthy 😢
What was the reason for your cardiologist to suggest you come off your anticoagulant? I have to be on it for life with AF. I find that very alarming considering the risk of stroke.
Because I have had only one episode of AF. I do also have to see specialist as I had a pulmonary embolism about a month before the AF so may have to stay on it anyway because of that.
My inclination is to stay on it anyway because of both things I plus family history but will consider all things.
I think you really need to stay on your anticoagulant for the reasons you state. I am finding it very disturbing that patients are being told they can just stop. Look after yourself.
Thank you. Certainly these days I feel very sorry for patients who, for whatever reason aren’t able to make these complex decisions for themselves. Patient involvement is fantastic for many of us but what about those people.
Yes l agree. The situation is very worrying. The lack of care is disturbing. I have on occasions had to ask my GP if certain medications interact as l take Warfarin. I now have a lack of trust and I double check everything. We put our lives in their hands. It makes you think how many people have been wrongly treated and ………,.,,,
Good for you trying the low fat diet, the word diet always makes me feel deprived. I appreciate everyone is different, and I understand many people are unable to effect their cholesterol levels through diet but on hearing I needed a heart valve replacement I went on what I called a ‘heart diet’, sadly it was not going to help with the valve, maybe I felt it was something I could do towards the whole heart thing. Lots of oily fish, fruit and salad and vege, olive oil, garlic etc over 18 months or so, I lowered my total cholesterol from 7.9 to 5.3. My GP had discussed statins but recognised the good HDL was high in my total so did not push them. Picking up on your low fat approach, wondering if a bit of the right fats might help rather than hinder? Previously, I was eating too much butter, mayonnaise etc. Now dealing with AFib I am needing to loose weight so taking a different tack but I did all so loose weight on my so called ‘heart diet’ too. What ever approach I take I try to add healthy food rather than restrict too many things, probably just a mindset thing. Personally if prescribed Statins I would have a go, no idea where anti Statin press starts from but I understand the medics generally fee it is a fantastic medication that continues to build and help people struggling with high cholesterol. Best of luck.
Low fat diets are bad for everyone it's sugar not fat that causes ill health. My old Aunt who was always thin ate every ones fat if left behind on their plates we used to laugh about it.
Anyway she died three weeks before reaching a 100 years old and was never ever ill in her lifetime. Cholesterol is require everywhere in the body including the brains, building up the Good one HDL is a good idea.
Diets just put the brain into hold onto everything morsel that it gets they never work.
I take Hawthorn extract and eat nuts everyday to raise my good HDL.
I’ve been prescribed them too though never been overweight in my life and was active until this paroxysmal AF and the chronic fatigue struck. I had thought I was prescribed them in connection with the large gallstone I have acquired and now the gallbladder walls are apparently swollen but because it isn’t cancerous and I’m not in much pain it doesn’t seem anything is going to be done about that! At least at 80, my brain still works ok and I do pretty well at daily word games!! Another case of box ticking no doubt!
Hi, I’ve been pre diabetic since 2015. I followed a low carb diet and got my HBA1C down to 41. Started statins three or four years later and next blood test showed it had risen to 43. And there it has stayed. All my mother’s family had diabetes so it is in the genes. My doc thinks it will come for me too but I am hanging on. So many foods to avoid and anything cold or spicy gives me AF. Very limiting at times. All the best.
Just read about Dr Malcolm Kendrick who has just won a five year battle in the high court.
He has always been against Statins, very interesting. The big Pharma make billons of dollars send these out when not needed and sometimes causing harm too.
Even Oxford Professors have been proved wrong.
Yes, that is what I had read and is making me really consider whether or not to take them. I've booked an appointment with a gp as I felt the phone call with the pharmacist was quite rushed even though he tried to answer my questions, there was more I wanted to ask. So hopefully I will make the right decision in a couple of weeks at the appointment.
I really hope they are helpful. Please will you let us know what they say, and what you decide? Looks like there’s plenty of us in a similar dilemma! Thanks 
Yes I'll post on here when I've had a chat with the gp. There seems to be, as you say many people in a similar position as myself and it's good to question things before making a decision and not to feel rushed.
Good for you thinking on your feet. The GP's these days are nearly all the same tick box tick box and more tick boxes.
If you have no history or family history of CVD and lone AF I would question the reasoning for suggesting. I don’t think blanket prescribing is sensible or even effective before Lifestyle measures. If it is purely lipid levels I found changes to my diet alongside supplementing with plant sterols and anti inflammatories worked, many would consider my levels still high but I’m happy with them.
I had low lipid levels right up to my 60’s when suddenly they started to rise and I was advised to take them, with some pressure. I discussed my personal medical history with GP and she agreed that in my position, she would not agree to taking them either.
Dr Malcom McKendrick and Dr Aseem Malholtra make sound arguments against but it has to be a personal decision for you and you must feel comfortable taking them and believe the benefits will outweigh the risks.
I have been taking statins for over ten years without any side effects. In addition my blood sugar levels are fine despite having a very sweet tooth!
Notsurewhattoexpect the clues in the name, and you won’t really know till you try the advised statin therapy.
There are many, many posts on here referring to statins and will I, won’t I debate.
My simple view is that if a trusted medical practitioner advises you to use statins then they think it will be to your benefit.
Yes, all medicines have potential side effects, and they are advised in the information leaflet.
Potential is the key word here the leaflet doesn’t say you will get these side effects.
Now the only definitive way that you will know about side effects and whether you are affected is by trying them. If having tried them they don’t suit then stop taking them, its always a personal choice but one which needs to be driven by your own experience and not what others have experienced. That is my best shot at advice best of luck with your decision making.
If you need statins, you need them. Who are the people who complain about t hem? The few who get side effects. They are the only ones you read about online. The millions of people who take them with no problems at all don't post. I tried atovastatin after a heart attack ( which I wouldn't have had if I'd been on statins) but it upset my stomach so I was changed to simvastatin. No problems at all. Been on them now for 6 years. If one doesn't suit,there are plenty of others.
I've been on Atorvastatin for a few years now and it's kept my borderline cholesterol at a really good level. I see my GP in a week for my yearly Medicare exam (I'm in the US) and will discuss if I need to continue on them. I take my pill at 8 p.m. which makes me sleepy and just in time for bed a few hours later.
Thanks for that, did you have any side effects at the start if you don't mind me asking?
Ask away! No, I had no side effects when starting them. And I'm one to worry about such things!
That's good, everyone is different and some people on here are fine on them, one or two have not and been prescribed an alternative. I'll see what the gp says at my appointment, thanks for replying.
You're welcome -- best of luck.
My wife passed Sept 26 at 81 from heart failure. She was advised to take statins in 2016 due to high cholesterol but opted to use diet and exercise as well as supplements. Last November, her coronary arteries were found to be very clogged and had 5 stents inserted. Her ejection fraction (measure of heart performance) was 20 out of 100, goal is ~55. Cardiologists gave her very little chance of survival. In April her ejection fraction was still 20, indicating that her heart function was not improving. This is only one data point but she sure wished she had taken statins.
I'm so sorry for your loss. There are so many reasons to take them and probably outweigh any risks there may be. Thank you for taking the time to reply, take good care of yourself.
Plant sterols at 2400mg per day to lower cholesterol or red yeast rice, are worth looking into as alternatives, also good old fashioned exercise.
I lik Jim’s reply.👍
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