What about those of us who genuinely cannot tolerate Statins

[Pollypuss]

I would like to hear about people like myself who cannot take Statins and been told by the hospital post triple bypass I cannot tolerate any of them. I am in my 3 rd year post op and wonder how long I have got. My blood test a few months ago said no further action needed . But then my cholesterol level was ok pre op

[Hidden]

It would help if you explained why you were told that you cannot tolerate statins. Did you try them before you were given this advice? That aside, it is my understanding that they are usually prescribed post HA irrespective of what your lipid levels are, to further reduce your heart disease risk (although I might be wrong on that). But for those who can't tolerate statins (given that there are several available with differing side effects, if any, on the individual) there is now a medication called Inclisiran available by periodic injection to reduce cholesterol. Perhaps you need to speak with your GP or cardiologist about these issues to clarify your position regarding any need for yourself for cholesterol reducing medication.

[Pollypuss in reply to Hidden]

The hospital thought I had norovirus and isolated me for a week because everything I eat had the same result. Eventually after a lot of tests they discovered the problem was Statins. Compared with what I went through post of op the actual op was nothing . I lost over a stone in weight couldn’t eat and spent a lot of time on the loo. My digestive system took a couple of months to recover.

[Hidden in reply to Pollypuss]

OK thanks for the clarification. I would still suggest you clarify with your GP or cardiologist whether there is a need for some cholesterol reducing medication. If the answer is yes, and you can't tolerate all statins then what about the injection route, and if you only tried one statin with adverse effects does this mean you can't try others? However, if you are told that you don't need to take cholesterol reducing meds. irrespective of your apparent statin intolerance, that's it I suppose, unless you thought that advice should be challenged, especially since such meds were initially prescribed for you.

[Pollypuss]

Well part of me accepts I should be taking them because I seem to have had an unusual situation prior to the discovery that I needed a bypass in that all my tests came back negative for two years . I know there are many different types but that was taken into consideration by the people who did the tests .

[Hidden]

There are alternative to statins:

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Plus inclisiran which that article doesn’t mention as it’s a new drug that’s been made available since the piece was published. If they only tried you on one statin, you might benefit from trying a different one. Our bodies can respond very differently to drugs that are otherwise very closely related.

[Pollypuss]

Thank you for your help . Will investigate and make suggestions to my doctor in this case

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Ezetimibe is an alternative to statins and sometimes in addition to them when Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is present. As mentioned NICE have also approved Inclisiran for six-monthly injection. At around £1000 per shot compared to pence per statin it is rarely first choice.

Often a low dose statin, e.g. 10mg Atorvastatin, is maintained for its other effects such as the reduction of irritation, often a precursor to plaque formation, and the stabilization of any existing plaque. The latter effect tends to raise the Calcium Score which is why I am not a great fan of Calcium Score once treatment has been started.

[nellie237 in reply to MichaelJH]

Shot! Freudian slip? 🤣

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to nellie237]

Grrr! 😡 Predictive text! ☹️

[nellie237 in reply to MichaelJH]

It always makes me chuckle when I see it go wrong. 🤣🤣 You made me smile today, so thank you😊

[Pollypuss in reply to nellie237]

On the contrary in my case he was spot on…😸

[MountainGoat52]

I was prescribed Atorvastatin, Pravastatin and Simvastatin, all having unacceptable side effects. I was then prescribed Ezetimibe which was found to be totally ineffective. Finally I was persuaded to try 10mg Rosuvastatin on alternate days and after a short bedding in period with some side effects, it has been fine. Last year my cholesterol started to climb back towards its normal level of 4.4, so I suggested to my GP that I could take my Rosuvastatin every day and the result is that it is now back down at 3.7 with an excellent HDL result.

I recently read a post on here that referred to the fact that there are two types of statins. It may be worthwhile doing a search to find out more.

[Fynndog]

I also am intollerante to statins. Awful runs and eventually muscle wastage so I was told not to take them. I’ve been prescribed esetimibe which I will take when my body has recovered. Reading the contra indications ( which all meds have I know) esetimibe can cause muscle wastage so I am in a quandary really wanting to conform but rather afraid too. Muscle wastage was horrible I looked like a husk.