Statins : Hey guys, I was wondering if... - British Heart Fou...

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Statins

23 Replies

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone else might be having problems with Statins? I'm currently taking 1x 10mg of Rosuvastatin a day and I have the feeling that it's making me ill. I wake up most morning shaking inside and my anxiety is now kicking in.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers.

Paul

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23 Replies
woodbon profile image
woodbon

I can't take statins as they upset my tummy! GP has tried several and at the lowest dose, but I react the same way. Check this out with your Gp as they have some side effects or it may be something else causing your problem. Hope all goes well.

Eadaoin profile image
Eadaoin

Ask if you can change your statin. I did that many years ago and have been fine ever since.

Eneedubleyew profile image
Eneedubleyew

I've only been on Rosuvastatin for 3 weeks, not had any side effects. I was previously on Atorvastatin, which made me constipated, so I was changed to these. I guess different statins effect us in different ways. Maybe you can see if you can change to a different statin.

Maisie2014 profile image
Maisie2014

I can’t take any statins because of the various side effects. My GP has asked me to take Pravastatin once a week. At least I only feel crap one day a week now 😂

Karenpr profile image
Karenpr

My husband had problems and takes Ezetimibe which is a “fake” statin and has had no problems and his cholesterol has been fine for over two years in this.

Kristin1812 profile image
Kristin1812Heart Star

GP changed mine four times, till we found one that suited.

Gela64 profile image
Gela64

Hi - my husband has familial hyperlipidemia -gradually after about 6 months after he was put on statins he was hardly able to walk for more than 50 meters -no energy at all. It was hell! For the last 7 years he has been on ezetimibe plus bezafibrate and there have been no side effects since -quality of life has returned! I am sure statins are great for some people but his cholesterol levels are now no worse than while on statins. All I want to say is there are alternatives you could discuss with your GP -good luck!

GOWERBOY profile image
GOWERBOY

Good morning. The decision is yours. Many different opinions and a lot of anti statin information on you tube.

seasider18 profile image
seasider18 in reply to GOWERBOY

Our GP has an NHS notice on his wall that he points to. It tells him to discuss the pros and cons with the patient and let them make their own decision. I did not stay on

Atorvastatin for very long when prescribed it in 2011 due to muscle pains.

At that time he was taking a statin but when he discussed their usage with my wife about three years ago she declined them. I asked him if he still took them and he said he had stopped but I did not ask why as our time was up.

The first consultant I had spoken to about them said they are all right 'If you want the runs'

GOWERBOY profile image
GOWERBOY in reply to seasider18

Whatever suits you I took Atorvastatin for 5 years. I am an older man but I felt they were aging my system in a negative way. Aches, pains and confusion.

seasider18 profile image
seasider18 in reply to GOWERBOY

I was 76 when prescribed them prior to my AVR.

ph5019 profile image
ph5019

Hi Paul, if your feeling anxious already, in my opinion even 10mg might make you feel worse. I take 10mg of a different one, although in hospital they started me on 80 mg at night, never slept at all, stopped taking it and now on just the 10 mg which I take in the morning. With all these drugs its difficult to say if our symptoms are the result of our trauma or the drugs - good luck Paul

DD13 profile image
DD13

Hi I suffered with great pain in my legs and difficulty in walking. Changed taking my statin at night now. No pain or problems walking at all. Like others have said talk yo your GP. Hope you get on ok. Regards Dee.

Henry20 profile image
Henry20

Paulus

Yes, this is a common topic here. I felt I had problems and now take ezetimibe. Too soon to tell if all is now OK, but it's not a statin, however cholesterol has fallen to normal from too high

Henry

SmokeAKipper profile image
SmokeAKipper

Thing is what are the other medications your on... if you have BUPA ring the free nurse for advice or see your chemist as they are experts on drugs not doctor’s

MountainGoat52 profile image
MountainGoat52

Rosuvastatin is one of the more "modern" statins. I was persuaded to have this drug after having had significant problems with Atorvastatin, Pravastatin and Simvastatin. Initially I thought I might be on the same track and would end up being statin intolerant, but after a few weeks I found that I had no issues whatsoever. I take 10mg on alternate days which works with this drug as it has a reasonably long half life. You might ask your GP whether you might try this rather than stopping it altogether.

As has been mentioned, Ezetimibe is an alternative, though it is usually prescribed in conjunction with a statin. In my case it was found to have no effect whatsoever.

I would say that it is important to get your drugs right for you. I know many people who suffer problems just because they have been prescribed a particular drug and keep on taking it as if 'doctor knows best'. There is no need for this. No-one should suffer in this way. Drugs are there to make you better, not make you feel worse, so do not be afraid to refer any problems or issues that you have back to your GP. I do hope you get your problems sorted out and you feel better soon. ☺

Yes, tried many including injections doc stopped due to terrible leg pain and rashes. Been off since Jan and numbers stayed consistent. Only major change is triglycerides which oddly doubled but the thought is newly diagnosed sugar issues causing that.

Good luck

HenryTudor profile image
HenryTudor

I’ve been on Atorvastatin for around 15 years. After my HA a few months ago the dose was increased to 80mg. I was ok for a few months & then suffered some aches & pains. I started to take Co-Q10 again (stopped after HA) & am now as right as rain.

In the early days my GP spent 6 months tweaking my meds, statins & bp, & I’ve been ok with it all. Statins went, over all these years, from 10mg to 20mg to 40mg & now 80mg. I’m generally happy with my meds. I walk quite a lot.

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the information.

I've spoken with the cardiologist and he has taken me of the Statin for a trial period to see how it goes. I have an appointment with him in 2 weeks and will also get blood work done to check my cholesterol levels. Fingers crossed and thanks again for reaching out.

Cheers,

Paul

Julytwelfth profile image
Julytwelfth

I was prescribed 10mg rosuvastatin around twenty years ago and have never had any issues. Two years ago the prescription was upped to 15mg when I was diagnosed with angina. I guess it’s pot luck if our bodies can cope with certain drugs but not others.

Pollypuss profile image
Pollypuss

You know this is a big dilemma for many of us who cannot tolerate Statins. I gather from all I have read on this site that there is a lot of stress associated with whether to tolerate the side effects of statin (in my case it is running to the loo unexpectedly ) . I think this needs to be taken seriously and addressed . The cardiologist who gave me my 3 month post op assessment didn’t give me dark details about what would happen to me if I didn’t take statins. If it is causing people the very stress that we are meant to avoid then it is obvious that this needs to be sorted out. Maybe the drug companies should take what we are saying and research the possibility of a drug that does have lesser side effects and realise this isn’t something we imagine after reading the blurb on the package

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to Pollypuss

They have developed another type medication to lower cholesterol known as PCSK9-inhibitors.

heartuk.org.uk/getting-trea...

The NHS is running a trial to use an injection given twice a year to lower a person's cholesterol.

gmjournal.co.uk/nhs-to-tria...

Pollypuss profile image
Pollypuss in reply to Milkfairy

Thank you

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