Statins And "Nocebo" Effect

[Chappychap]

bbc.co.uk/news/health-54951648

Interesting article, if you expect a medication will make you sick then you'll feel sick if you take it....even if the medication in equation is actually a harmless sugar pill or placebo!

[080311]

Saw the same report, fascinating reading.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Thank you for posting.

The concept of Nocebo and placebo is fascinating.

Here's a link to another article about the research which was funded by the BHF

medpagetoday.com/meetingcov...

[Jonathan6766]

There is no doubt that statins are proven to reduce cholesterol and reduce cardio vascular risk. But the research doesn't account for 'dose intolerance' nor for measurable elevated CK levels. In my experience I had significant side effects when I combined high dose statin with Ezetimibe. I had side effects that I had not read about which were 'diagnosable'. I didn't know it would make me ill - in fact I had high hopes that the therapy would treat my hyperlipidaemia.

[Heartattackvictim]

I have to admit I've been lucky not to have any side effects from any of my meds including statin and ramipril in particular which are reported to have potential side effects. In 13 months I have missed taking my tablets just once. I don't think I really felt any better or worse because of that but I did get anxious just because I missed the dose. I trust the science and the experts of the medical profession, and perhaps that is part of the recovery + rehabilitation process?

[tommywaits]

Very interesting. I was aware that the placebo effect means that any trials need to show over two thirds positive results before the intervention in question can be considered to have an effect but this is the first time I was aware of the term nocebo. There are plenty of anecdotal reports of people developing symptoms from internet searches but it was surprising to see the detail.

If you want a lot more detail there is a review of 95 studies in the New England Journal of Medicine that I intend to plough through. After signing up you can read a couple of articles a months for free.

nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NE...

[MountainGoat52]

I was told if I read the leaflet about the possible side effects, I would catch them! 😁

[Thanksnhs]

I very rarely read the leaflets, if I did I would have every side effect on it!, if taking new dose or new meds, I am inclined just to tell the Dr how I feel and let them decide if it is a side effect, I take statins but I don't know what the side effects can be with them, probs with the effects from all my other meds including steroids, I just don't notice, char

[Hily]

I didn't realise "muscular pain" translated as cramps. I suffered from terrible cramps from them. GP gave me Quinine Sulphate to take to deal with the cramps that were so painful at night that I was crying. Wind on 6 years and the cramps became deeper and my feet twisted as well as the leg cramps so I notified my GP, who decided to give me Ad-cal for my bones.

I went back next month unable to climb my own staircase for shortness of breath and heart thumping-nothing. Took urine in too-nothing-only dip tested.

Had lost 2,5 stones-nothing. Felt awful-nothing. Full body itch-gave me Piriton so they knocked me out. The good thing is I asked to reduce my large dose of Statins as I could stand them any more. The doctor said I could stop taking them if I wished-so I did. (Nothing mentioned on my GP notes-only dry skin!!)

Good news, Only had 1 cramp since.

Bad news, on my annual check up some 2 months later my bloods revealed CKD 4, nearly 5 on GFR 17.

My GP had missed every symptom. Her first question was had I taken any "recreational" drugs? Cheeky mare-my reply was only the drugs she had prescribed for me!

So Nocebo? I don't think so. I must have invented my symptoms and kidney disease plus now the high blood pressure.

[istimewa in reply to Hily]

So sorry that your GP had missed saving you a lot of complications from the meds you were prescribed. Shame on that GP really.