Not taking Avorstatin for a week

[Willshack]

Hi all, I’m on holiday from UK in North Carolina visiting my daughter. I’ve just realised I have not brought enough Statins with me and I’m here for another week. How bad is it to miss statins for a whole week after taking them for 15 years?

[mattychd]

Hi,

You should be able to contact your doctor and ask them to send a prescription digitally to a local pharmacy.

Of course now seen that won’t work for you but valid advice if in the UK.

Maybe spread out what you do have so you don’t have a week long gap?

[Hidden in reply to mattychd]

I would call into a pharmacy and see if the same statin is available for purchase.I've never had a problem with high cholesterol, the cardiologist tells me that I take statins to stabalise the plaque in my arteries to stop bits falling off and possibly giving me another heart attack.

[Willshack in reply to Hidden]

Thanks but I’ve none left

[Willshack in reply to Willshack]

That reply should have gone to Heather sorry, I do take mine for high cholesterol, but I gather now a week won’t have that much effect.

[Deserrol in reply to Hidden]

Me too. My last cholesterol level test showed 4.

[Heather1957]

I am not a medical person but I would take one every other day just to keep them in your system, I doubt it will cause you to much harm. My understanding is they are a long term answer to higher cholesterol so make sure you have them ready to start again when you get home. I am sure you'll be fine.

Just a bit of advice to anyone travelling, take a copy of your UK prescription with you, the pharmacies there may well fill that prescription if needed (at a cost)

[Willshack in reply to Heather1957]

The last advice is great I’ll definitely do that next time

[Mountwood in reply to Heather1957]

Good adv ice Heather. I also take a copy of my glasses prescription in case I need replacements while I'm away.

[Hidden in reply to Heather1957]

Hi Heather1957 , just a reminder that content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and your doctor. Please avoid making any changes to your medication or advising others to do the same, without speaking to a health professional first. Many thanks!

[Chappychap]

Option 1. Check at a local pharmacy if you can buy over the counter statins. I worked in the US for many years and was often surprised that, compared to the UK, a wider range of medications was available without prescription. If necessary the pharmacist may be able to recommend a walk in medical centre where you could obtain a prescription.

Option 2. Break up your remaining statins and take a smaller dose each day.

Option 3. Kick back and enjoy your vacation. I'm no doctor but I doubt a week without statins is all that big a deal!

[Willshack in reply to Chappychap]

Thanks good advice

[MICH54 in reply to Chappychap]

Re: option 2

I was told by the cardiac team & confirmed by the chemist that I should not break up Avorstatin tablets which should be swallowed whole.

[HomerJSimpson in reply to MICH54]

This shows how there is not one standard by the healthcare profession. I was on 80mg Atorvastatin and told to drop to 40. The advice - split my remaining ones in half before ordering the lower dose 🤷

[MICH54 in reply to HomerJSimpson]

Typical! In my case I was splitting the 80mg ones as I found them too hard to swallow. When the cardiac nurse called me for an update I told her and she told me I should swallow them whole. I now take 2 x 40 mg ones instead. I also checked the leaflet and it does say that on it. I was told it was because they were film coated however I am also on brilique (ticagrelor) which are film coated too and the leaflet says that I can crush the tablet in a small glass of water so 🤨!

[Ramilia in reply to HomerJSimpson]

I was told to do that too, both when I dropped from 80 to 40 and from 40 to 20.

[Hidden in reply to Chappychap]

Hi Chappychap ! Just a reminder that content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and your doctor. Please avoid making any changes to your medication or advising others to do the same, without speaking to a health professional first. Many thanks.

[Chappychap in reply to Hidden]

Point taken, thanks for the reminder.

[Rose54]

Hi I have just gone a week without Satins as muddled up meds was taking a extra Omeprazole by mistake .

So as soon as I realized I started taking them again

I understand thay stay in your system for a for weeks .

Others have given excellent advice .

[Willshack in reply to Rose54]

Thanks that’s made me feel better

[Willshack]

I’ve spoken to local pharmacy and they told me not to worry: a week will make very little difference, so as Chappychap said I’m going to kick back and enjoy myself! Thanks everybody.

[benjijen]

I wouldn't worry about it. When I had to change to a different drug I was off it for couple of weeks.

[peterjones105]

I have sometimes taken week long statin holidays due to muscle ache in the last year but at a very recent blood test my total chloresterol was a mere 3.3 from what was over a year ago 6.1, I wouldn't worry.

[Molben]

I have had to stop them in the past for a week due to taking a certain type of antibiotic.

[jerry12953]

Don't worry. I was told by my cardiologist that I could come off atorvastatin for several months to check for side-effects and it wouldn't significantly affect my chances of having a HA.

[Jibbyjabby]

Cut them in half, something is better than nothing 👍

[Schora1]

I stopped them recently for two weeks due to another health issue and was fine. My GP said stopping it for a couple of weeks would not harm me in any way.

[Hidden]

Dear Willshack

You will have no problems what so ever, I missed them for a month and my GP/Heart team said that it would not affect me but to resume as soon as possible { which I now have}

You have a great time with your daughter in North Carolina the lift mentally that must be giving you far out balances the not taking a statin or two.

If your being nagged about it {silly if you told them} then you can buy them over the counter in most states now.

Take care and have a fantastic time, which I have no doubt that your having without me saying so.

[Willshack in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Blue yes I’m having a great time and now just getting on enjoying myself and have stopped worrying. I really believe now a week will make little difference. Thanks again to everyone I can’t reply to all, to time consuming, but I feel a lot happier now.

[Emeralds55]

Hi, I've been on antibiotics recently, due to my ACOS playing up, the antibiotics could not be taken with my 80mg atorvastatin so my Dr told me to stop taking the statins. Definitely check in with your Dr though.

[Deserrol]

Hi, coincidentally, yesterday my GP asked me to stop taking mine for a week before I see him, and it would not be an issue as they are a long term player rather than s short term fix. Hope that helps.

[Siamesechris]

My GP has just taken me off statins for 2 weeks because of severe cramping..he hasnt given me anything else yet, so its probably not a problem short term