Statins and blurred vision Migraine - British Heart Fou...

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Statins and blurred vision Migraine

SmokeAKipper profile image
19 Replies

Hi has anyone else had blurred vision during Migraine.

Once the migraine went vision ok, happened twice no episode in a week Had eyes tested seem ok but been referred, seeing doctor tomorrow.

Was reading up statins can cause issue and people have stopped taking statins once cholesterol is controlled by Vegan lifestyle and exercise.

Thx Seamus

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SmokeAKipper
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19 Replies
SmokeAKipper profile image
SmokeAKipper

Thx for your thoughts

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

I have to agree with Hidden about Google!

Blurred vision sometimes with zigzag lines like an old out of tune TV are quite common with proper migraine. In fact some people only get the visual disturbances as they age.

The majority of our cholesterol is manufactured by our own liver. So if is around >=6.0 or you suffer with Familial Hypercholesterolaemia you are unlikely to achieve an optimum level.

Also bear in mind statins have other benefits besides reducing cholesterol - they also reduce irritation, often a precursor to plaque formation, and stabilise any existing plaque. There is also some preliminary research that they protect against gum disease.

SmokeAKipper profile image
SmokeAKipper in reply toMichaelJH

Thx for reply

Hello :-)

I am a long time sufferer of migraines

I would get one at least once a month sometimes it could be once a week and I would get the aura with everyone I had as soon as I got that I knew the migraine was starting

When I had my heart attacks and they put me on statins as well as a cocktail of other meds which was now over a year ago I so far have gone from a migraine at least once a month to having just one in over a year !

So the theory that statins can cause migraines has certainly not been the case for me :-) x

SmokeAKipper profile image
SmokeAKipper in reply to

Thanks that’s the information I was looking for, after a stent 2 yrs and HA sometimes it’s refreshing to have support regardless if the question may have been stupid. But I was worried hence asking thank you

in reply toSmokeAKipper

The question was not stupid at all :-)

I think as I am now having upset stomachs I ask myself everyday is one of my meds upsetting it anything new that happens I think our first thought can be is it one of our meds :-) x

SmokeAKipper profile image
SmokeAKipper in reply to

Indeed as I had an issue with astorvastatin previously and had it switched to rosavastatin ... but appreciate your support

in reply toSmokeAKipper

:-) x

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

Yes, it's very common to have blurred vision with a migraine. I get it.

Jean

SmokeAKipper profile image
SmokeAKipper in reply tojeanjeannie50

Thx I’ll check with doctor blood pressure was 138 78 also so will ask if it’s related

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply toSmokeAKipper

By the way I'm not in statins.

Pollypuss profile image
Pollypuss

Yes I have had migraine with blurred vision for over 30 years but I am not on statins. However after my triple bypass:My migraines decreased

My “osteo arthritis “ has all but disappeared.

I stil get migraine if I stress out. Odd thing is I never had one migraine when I was in hospital and under great stress because I had to undergo tests to find why I was anemic and time was important to get the operation done

VelvetSky profile image
VelvetSky

Hi, I’ve had migraine all my life, it’s a family genetic. Blurred vision is common with it. However, since my HA I’ve had aura in both eyes without the headache, it used to be in black and white but I’ve had a couple in colour.I don’t think statins influence it but stress and tiredness certainly do. I find if I ignore it it will fade after a time. Hope you feel better.

03Rob77 profile image
03Rob77

Hey, I have suffer with chronic migraines for years, I get auroras, headache, confusion to the point we’re I can’t remember my own name or where I am or what I’m doing, I can get any one of these symptoms on there own or altogether, I have several illnesses to long to list an seems like the doctors are finding something else every couple of months, I’m on 2 different medications for cholesterol including Astorvastatin and some other one that works with it, i have the genetic marker so healthy diet won’t help on its own, I have a pacemaker and being investigated for angina, also sleep apnea, when migraines first started I thought I had dementia, it can be very worrying, hope this helps

Lupaal profile image
Lupaal

Not on staring and I always get blurred vision/zig zags when I have a migraine, I don't get the headaches, just the vision problems.

linnielizzie profile image
linnielizzie

I think you have your answers and yes blurred vision and aura are part of classic migraine. It's made me feel yukky just reading the replies !!!

MDR1 profile image
MDR1

Your migraine could be caused by a number of factors. High blood pressure might temporarily cause blurred vision but I don't think it would cause migraine.I've suffered from migraine most of my life and am lucky enough to know what causes it - coffee, red wine and bright light, including the low sun in winter. First thing that happens is the blurred vision. Then the full blown migraine. Lying down in a dark, quiet room helps me.

Reuben52 profile image
Reuben52

I too have had occasional ocular migraines for years. No headache. Onset is typically loss of focus, followed by a very bright spot which gradually expands via neon-like zigzag lines till it fills my entire field of vision, then everything returns to normal.Typically takes 20 minutes to half an hour.Importantly, neither frequency nor duration have been affected by astorvastatin which I started about 5 years ago, or my AVR and double bypass meds after the operation 2 years ago.

Scout2017 profile image
Scout2017

Hi - I've had migraines with blurred vision for many years (usually starts as a "sparkly patch" in my visual field that moves around and particularly affects the centre, so not being able to see faces properly is the first warning I've got one coming on). I've been taking statins for 3 years - an "agressive" dose of atorvastatin, alongside tiny doses of bisoprolol and ramipril, and I've had practically no migraines since. :-)

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