Help with Statins

[Fionalane]

Any advice on how to avoid side effects when taking atorvastatin? I'm starting them - high dose, today. For inherited lipoprotein a , bad cholesterol. Thanks for any advice

[tizz1]

I have taken them for several years on highest dose and have had no side effects that i am aware of i take 1 tablet a day i dont know if you can take more than that

[HectorsDad]

Statin side effects are way over reported following a certain press campaign. Trials showed that the control group taking a placebo had more side effects than the group on the real stuff😂.

There can be side effects, but don’t expect them. Personally all I get is weird dreams ( as does my wife and GP, but this side effect doesn’t get so much reporting).

[Fionalane in reply to HectorsDad]

Thank you. I get weird dreams ready- so this could be interesting.

[Pollypuss in reply to HectorsDad]

I can honestly say I had no idea I was on statins while in hospital because they give you a cocktail of drugs . I had two months of misery - not cramps etc but constant stomach upsets and having to run to the loo. The hospital told me that the drug they identified which gave me the problem was statins. It was the cardiologists decision to take me off them. Many people may find it hard to stick to a cholesterol lowering diet. It can be so boring. I would rather be bored with my diet than have to suffer what I did. In comparison the bypass I had was nothing compared to the misery of not being able to go out and be out of control

[HenryTudor]

The most common is muscle cramps, but that either goes away after a few weeks or there are other statins. I agree with the other comments that the side effects are way overstated.

[Andyman]

I didn't have any side effects. Maybe you won't either.

[thetidders]

I’ve taken statins for many years & at the moment I’m on a high dose of Astorvastatin & like the others have said I’ve never had any side effects.

Jean

[Ageingfast]

You could consider taking the tablets late evening. That way you might not notice the side effects as hopefully you will be asleep.

Colin

[Kristicats]

I had severe joint problems with atorvastatin unfortunately from 80mg down to 20mg.

[Ader42]

I’ ve been on the max Atorvastatin 80mg dose since Nov 2019.

No side effects for me, but I was worried about side effects as I personally know a few people who did have side effects with Atorvastatin. I started taking magnesium and coq10 supplements, as I read somewhere that these can mitigate side effects. I don’t know if they have stopped me having side effects of course.

I suspect i have high LP(a) too but don’t think I’ll be able to get a test on the nhs for that. I was tested for FH on nhs but that came back negative. They told me if it had come back positive they would have tested for LP(a). Frustrating.

You might want to look into Niacin and Berberine too.

[Fionalane in reply to Ader42]

Thank you. My test was on NHS but via Endochronolgist apmt. Good luck

[JennyRx in reply to Ader42]

My lipoprotein test was done by NHS lipid clinic. I haven’t got FC but it was all tested at the same time.

[Freccles]

HiAfter a heart attack at the end July I was placed on various drugs including atorvastatin 80mg. After two weeks started with muscle and joint pain. Dose reduced to 60mg but still a lot of pain. Again reduced to 40mg and told to try and persevere but after only 6 weeks doctor said stop as I could not walk or bend or lift my arms, the pain was crippling. Now in December and still suffering badly with the pain. I read a French study where 57 people with after effects were looked at and after 6 months of stopping taking the statin, 3 still were badly effected. So now just waiting for the effects to go away before starting another type of statin.

I hope this reply helps others.