Hi,I follow regularly BHF posts and find them all reassuring
I have a question on Atorvastatin, I had a stent implant Dec 2016 and take 80mg Atorvastin plus Ramipril 125mg and Aspirin 75mg
My GP suggested to reduce this to 40mg but requested first a blood test after the results she decided to keep me on 80mg Atorvastatin as my cholesterol was 4.3
I’m wondering how many other people on here are taking such high dose of statin?
Thanks for your help with this
The target range for us 'hearties' is 4.0 or below, although the LDL/HDL/etc. breakdown is also important. Besides reducing cholesterol statins stabilise plaque and reduce irritation often the precursor to plaque formation. This should minimise the risk of restenosis.
If you are having no problems and LFT (liver function tests) are OK I would carry on as you are. I note you are still on the lower dose of Ramipril so it all looks good.
I was on 80mg but had to reduce to 40mg because my liver doesn’t like it. Told to have another blood test in 3 months to further assess. My cholesterol is low but told to continue with them because I had a heart attack and stent fitted.
Ah thank you for your replies, this is very comforting and helpful to me
I am due an assessment /blood test soon but feel more reassured o continue on high dose now
LFT should be carried out 4 - 6 weeks after commencement of statins or increase in dose, and regularly thereafter even if things appear stable.
Been on 80mg atorvasatin since ha 2014, they tried in 2106 to lower to 40mg but soon after put back to 80mg. Had no problems with it. All the very best to you.
I believe that 80mg is a standard dose after heart surgery. I was on the same after my bypass but due to quite unusual leg ache in the hip area, upon the first years review, it was put back to 40mg which was the dose I was on before the op, due to high cholesterol - I am diabetic so higher levels must be kept low. Hope this helps reassure you.
I was on 80 mg my GP dropped 20mg after bypass operations.my cholesterol 4.1
I was complaining very tired and my mussells lot of pain.But I am ok now
As others have said, 80mg is the norm after surgery or MI. I’ve had to reduce to 20mg though as my liver enzymes decided to go bananas 😀
I have been on Atorvastatin since March plus rest of medication since heart attack and not had any blood tests for liver or any other effects should I be asking for blood tests
You may find they have done them as part of your general monitoring. However, it’s worth asking them as they should be doing it
Since heart attack and stents only blood tests I have had were whilst in hosp for 3 days in March
I did ask my DR if I required test and he said no
Hi-I’ve been on the maximum dose of 80 mgs of Atorvastatin since my H.A 15 months ago. My Cardiologist recommended staying on that dose, as long as my body could tolerate it, he said. I seem fine on that dosage, so will continue.
Hubby has been on 80mg for the last 12 years following HA and stent. Various issues since but still on 80mg!
Thank you all for taking the time to reply to my post
I shall continue on 80mg as suggested by Doctor and it appears most of you are ok on that also 👍
Everybody who had replied seems to be very happy to continue to take what I consider a very high dose of 80mg for long periods, perhaps for the rest of your life. Can I ask what is the benefit you expect to gain from this approach which seems advocated by your GPs - what is the rationale they explain as to why this is necessary. My personal experiences is that I prefer to reduce or eliminate all medications if at all possible as all drugs have unwanted side effects. Thanks, interesting to get others views.
Not everyones medical condition allows for them to reduce or come off meds entirely. Not everyone experiences side effects or maybe only have mild side effects and if they do, there are usually alternatives. Also, for most people the benefits of the meds outweigh the disadvantages, you're very lucky if your able to stop them my husbands meds are what's keeping him alive.
Thank you very much for your reply. Yes, I agree wholeheartedly with your statement but I am not convinced that statins are necessarily the answer to preventing heart attacks. I took them religiously for 9 years thinking this, maybe they did in my case too, but they didn’t prevent my atherosclerosis progressing to the point that I needed a bypass. Since my bypass and trying to do as much research as possible I am not convinced one way or the other. We all do want we think is best in our own circumstances. Many people who take statins can still suffer heart attacks too!
Hi Bob
Statins main role may well be in slowing the progression of coronary heart disease. Perhaps putting off rather than stopping heart attacks .
The average age of when someone has a heart attack has steadily risen over the years.
Partly due to fewer people smoking, not sure we can say diets have improved as diabetes and obesity are increasing so statins may well have their place.
Heart disease is complex with multifactorial causes.
Fully agree, it is very much a dilemma which is why I continue to ask these questions. Unfortunately there is no simple answer that gets unaminous approval although we know the established view of the medical profession supports the view that statins do help to reduce the prevalence of heart attacks. I tought that they would prevent heart attacks and this is the message that we as patients like to hear.
I’m on 80mg and my last blood test showed cholesterol was 2.4, no mention of lowering dose and I’m fine with that.
All the best.
When I had my stent last year, the hospital put me on 80mg. My GP told me this is fairly standard after a heart attack, but she was happy to reduce it to 40mg as I was rather stressed about the whole heart attack business and the statins were distressing me as much as anything else. None of the many medics I've seen since then has made any comment on it.
Hi,
I too am on 80 and several in my rehab group are on the same. I made sure I had the blood tests (in fact I had to ask my doctor for them). All is OK so I am advised to carry on. I still have a lingering doubt about statin's, but its hard to oppose the huge medical and corporate juggernaut telling you to take them. 80 is certainly high and more than a regular kind of dose that eg one's partner may be taking.
Cheers,
Otto
Hi I was on 40mg atorvastatin since 2012 because of FH then last year had a heart attack and 3 stents now on 80mg plus ramipril aspirin, bisoprolol. Ticagrelor, isosorbide,nicorandil etc my triglycerides levels were high but cholesterol is quite low now at 4.8. Not sure if statins will be put back on 40mg now after the heart attack
Interesting, do you consider taking 40mg atorvastatin since 2012 was a major benefit to you in that the heart attack could have had fatal consequences if you had not been taking statins. This is the question I am still struggling with having taken statins for 10 years starting in 2004 but then required a bypass in February 2014. They may have prevented me having a fatal heart attack but I am not sure. But since my bypass I changed my diet and lifestyle then I tried stopping taking them In May 2016 as I had muscle problems and fatigue and have been in a quandary since as to their benefit. Certainly I no longer have the side effects which to me seems to out-way the very small absolute risk reduction which Statins actually provide.
Yes I have struggled with that question myself. I have been told that it could of been worse as my blockage was in the LAD witch is usually called the widow maker. But then I think if I was on the 80mg from the start would it of prevented the heart attack? I think you just have to think you are lucky that it wasn’t worse than it could of been. And if you can get by with taking the 80mg then that’s the best thing for you. Hope you think the benefits out way the risk x
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