Statins , clutching at straws ?

[Mgs333]

I have been on statins for over 10 years now, firstly Simvastatin and then was changed 12 months ago to Atorvastatin...both give me leg pains and poor sleep which is causing me huge problems. So I am cosidering stopping my statins altogether , only for a couple of weeks to see how I get on....I know I am clutching at straws but really need to sort my sleep out. I don't seem to get any benefit from the statins anyway although I do understand that they are meant to help protect against future heart events.

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

I was on Atorvastatin, and while it wasn't bothering me to a great degree I was also getting a few irritating muscle pains.

A while ago I found an article from the Cleveland Clinic on the subject - see link below. Basically they suggest changing from a lipophilic statin (atorvastatin, simvastatin, fluvastatin) to a hydrophilic statin (rosuvastatin, pravastatin). I got mine changed to Rosuvastatin and once the Atorvastatin had worked it's way out of my system, (it takes a month or so) I was no longer bothered by muscle pains.

Suggest you have a chat with your GP.

health.clevelandclinic.org/...

[hawkipierce]

Have you tried to supplement with CoQ10???

[Wellington19]

I have asked to be taken off statins many times over the years always been refused

[Sophiecat17]

I had terrible nightmare with atorvastatin and sim a statin , changed to rosuvastatin as above and I have none now. ( As above)

[45sue]

Agree speak to GP & ask to try a different one at possibly a lower dose. My GP looked for one with least reported side effects & changed from Atorvastatin to Pravastatin at lowest dose which has been OK.

[Palpman]

It has been proven that many people who take statins get the side effects they read or heard about......even though they unknowingly have been given placebos.

[StupidDrugs in reply to Palpman]

I will assume that you are not implying that all people with side-effects are imagining them? There is evidence for this scenario, as there is with most drugs and actual or perceived side effects, but it is not proven in the sense that side-effects are minimal or do not exist. Indeed, the latest (widely reported) statin 'nocebo' study is a joke in its design and delivery and, consequently, its conclusions.

The side-effects of statins are real for many and whether they are worth putting up with is a matter for the individual and their overall health status and expectations. Personally, I also had problems with Atorovastatin (all doses) but, as suggested above, since switching to hydrophilic statins I have had no problems (Pravastatin) or much less problems (Rosuvastatin).

As stated by my doctors and cardiologists, stopping statins for a month to see whether they are the source of your troubles is unlikely to be an issue. In my case, taking them seems to have been a full-stop waste of time - in the time I have been taking them the condition of my arteries deteriorated significantly and I had at least one heart attack (despite being active, having a good diet etc etc).

Regards to future events, statins do reduce your chances of having another heart attack... by approx. 2%.

[scotsrish in reply to StupidDrugs]

Certainly not the first time i have heard this in regards to second and third heart attack while on statins. One trial by a statin company said 70 % of people who had bad side effects from statins before did not know in the trial they were on them and had no side effects. Therefore it was all in their head! Come on i did not even know what heart disease or statins were before it happened to me plus if i did not have such bad side effects from 3 different statins and different strength i would have taken them no problem. When you have millions complaining of muscle pain, memory loss, liver toxicity, fatigue etc. Are you seriously going to say it is in all their heads or are the pharmaceutical companies lieing. Sorry for the rant.

[stillaboveground in reply to scotsrish]

Totally agree with your rant,

[Palpman]

I said "many people" not "all" people as you simply.

Further to that, you say the Nocebo Study is a joke. Which of the Nocebo Studies are you referring to below?

Links/References:

Bingel U, & For the Placebo Competence Team. (2014). Avoiding nocebo effects to optimize treatment outcome. JAMA, 312(7), 693–694. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.8342

Colloca L, & Finniss D. (2012). Nocebo effects, patient-clinician communication, and therapeutic outcomes. JAMA, 307(6), 567–568. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.115

Eknoyan, D., Hurley, R. A., & Taber, K. H. (2013). The Neurobiology of Placebo and Nocebo: How Expectations Influence Treatment Outcomes. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 25(4), vi–254. doi:10.1176/appi.neuropsych.13090207

Feinberg, C .Ted Kaptchuk of Harvard Medical School studies placebos | Harvard Magazine Jan-Feb 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2014, from harvardmagazine.com/2013/01...

Kaptchuk, T. J., Stason, W. B., Davis, R. B., Legedza, A. R. T., Schnyer, R. N., Kerr, C. E., … Goldman, R. H. (2006). Sham device v inert pill: randomized controlled trial of two placebo treatments. BMJ, 332(7538), 391–397. doi:10.1136/bmj.38726.603310.55

[Hidden in reply to Palpman]

Hi

Yes, I read that Nocebo article too and it's not realistic.

Statin side effects, muscle aches usually, are real and long lasting in some people.

The reason, I read, is that statins 'compete' in the liver for the same enzyme that keeps muscles healthy.

And, for a very few people, myself included, even after stopping them, the muscles are not the same again.

All the best

Alps

[Palpman in reply to Hidden]

You are quite correct and statins do cause real muscle pain in 3% of people and you are highly likely to be one of them.

In one test with beta blocker there were 3 groups. Beta blockers have been known to cause sexual dysfunction.

Group A were not told what tablets they were given.

Group B were told that they were to be given beta blockers.

Group C were told that the beta blocker they are given has been known to cause sexual dysfunction.

In group A, 3% complained of sexual dysfunction.

In group B, 15% complained of sexual dysfunction.

In group C, 31% complained of sexual dysfunction.

Not strange at all.

[Merlin22]

Hi

I haven’t experienced muscle problems .... however sleep was disturbed .... I tried taking them earlier than at bed time .... I’m not saying it is what you should do only that I did it and it helped me getter a better nights rest .... maybe talk to your GP and ask for some advice .... sorry I can’t be more of a help.

[tigerlilygarden]

hello, I was on Atorvastatin and I had stomach pain so changed to Simvastatin the muscle pain is a side effect and i find that I still need to eat healthy and do more walking. neither affected my sleep. Talk to your GP to see if there's a better one with less side effects. I do have muscle pain but not all the time.

[Hidden]

Hi Mgs333

I took 12 weeks of rosuvastatin endng in April 17

The aches started then, and despite stopping statins over 3 years ago, the aches have not only NOT gone way, but progress by the week.

Taking them, has been THE biggest mistake of my life.

All the best

Alps

[Pollypuss]

What I cannot understand about statins in that they are primarily anti inflammatory. Then why are there people I know having to take anti inflammatory medication to address the side effects🙁