does anyone take simstatin tablets,got a reading of 9.1 and was advised to start taking 40mg daily?

[poeticlady]

[tanyamarie]

my dad takes them and most of the population I think judging by the amount we dispense in the pharmacy where I work!

[Hidden]

I think its good advice to take the statins with a reading of 9.1, you need to protect your heart.

I started on 20mg with a reading of 6.1 but now am only on 10mg, blood cholesterol very good on the statins now at 4.5.

Hope you got some dietary advice also.

bhf.org.uk/heart-health/con...

bhf.org.uk/research/bhf-res...

[poeticlady in reply to Hidden]

thank-you

[amagran]

I started taking a statin when my reading was 6.5. unfortunately I had a bad reaction to the tabs, out of the 6 side effects I had 5 of them, but then I am a bit funny with tabs, cant take aspirin, ibuprofen, the pill or hrt, or anything with codeine. So I went on the diet road instead, after 3 months my reading was 5.3, i cut out lurpak, though I admit my veins probably ran 60% lurpak, now I use benecol or flora, and take a cholestrol lowering drink every day, and generally cut down on the fats without becoming miserable. Richard has taken then for years without any side effects. Be careful not to eat grapefruits while taking them. x

[poeticlady in reply to amagran]

thank-you

[poeticlady in reply to amagran]

I am alleglic to asprin,should this be a concern for me,as was planning to take my first tablet to-night ?

[Gordon57]

Put me down as a 'me too'

I've had Simvastatin for some time now, maybe 4-5 years. Can't recall having a cholesterol test since I started on them though... I couldn't tell you what my reading was/is.

[poeticlady in reply to Gordon57]

thank-you

[poeticlady]

thanks,i am following a healthy diet,i am doing the weight watchers plan and have lost 2 and a half stone,but i can't seem to alter my blood sugars and seemly my cholesterol,by diet alone,as i take insulin and steriods daily,and with my breathing probelms,dont get the excerise i should,the nurse said it was important to take them to prevent me from having heart attack or stroke,so i hope i get a good result like you have Zooe,have you had any side effects that you are aware of ?

[Hidden in reply to poeticlady]

I needed to increase water and fruit intake to avoid constipation, particularly when on the higher dose, I think probably this and other heart support drug combined caused this side affect, I found first 3 months an adjustment period, then as diet / fluid intake was adjusted so did my body's tolerance I think. Of course you may not get this symptom at all. Make a note of any symptoms you notice and mention these to your doctor. My doc checks my bloods every 3 months to make sure the meds are not affecting my liver and kidneys, so far ok.

[poeticlady]

amagran,i am allergic too asprin,should this be a concern to me,as was going to take my first one to-night,

[amagran in reply to poeticlady]

no I think you'll be fine, I have side effects for most drugs, the aspirin being only one of them, When I had a hysterectomy in 1989 I even had side effects to the pain injection so had to take paracetamol, luckily am ok with that, and my thyroxin, I just hope I never need morphine cos all be flyinggggggggggggg highhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Bumley]

Hi

I was struck that most of this blog applies to me in one way or another. I am Diabetic on insulin, had a by pass 3 years ago, am Hypothyroid and have COPD . I am taking 10 different tablets, 3 inhalers and 5 injections per day. Touch wood I am not allergic to any one of them, as far as I know. I was allergic to aspirin for 16 years and suffered Anaphylactic shock twice. It was discovered recently that the allergy has worn off now for small amounts anyway.

One the 10 tablets i take was Symvastatin which I have taken for some 16 years. I have started on a trial for a new booster tablet for good cholesterol and have now been started on Atvorstatin which again is have had no problems with. Sorry I am beginning to sound like an advert for drug companies.

I did once have a conversation with my GP suggesting that I reduce my dose of Symvastatin and got nowhere, he told me that he would not advise it because of my heart problems. At that stage my Total cholesterol was 4.2. It will be interesting to see how this trial goes because it is constantly monitored.

Since I have been diabetic I have followed a fairly strict low fat, low sugar and low salt (yes I have high blood pressure,but under control).

None of this means I am complacent, I am currently taking up issues of my blood sugar readings that seemed to be affected by the Steroid inhalers I am taking now.a

regards

David

[Seams]

Also take Simvastatin, 80mg each day with a cholesterol level of 4.6. When I asked why I had to take what I thought was such a high dosage, was told it was because of heart problems.

[asimmd]

I take Simvastatin 40mg and my cholesterol reading is 3.

I was pleasantly surprised at that.

Alan

[poeticlady]

thank -you everyone,it is so helpful too read other people's opinion's I shall start a 3 month trial and see if i can lower it,although like so many of you i already take 14 tablets daily,along with the inhalers,nebs oxygen lol,