I have now come to the conclusion that instead of getting the correct treatment for my heart problem I have been given a higher dosage of statins that is causing me more harm. I believe that my diagnosis should be treated with a stent or a bypass. I have three siblings , two have had heart attacks and the other was prevented from having a heart attack as her private heart consultant intervened in time to save her from having a heart attack by fitting a stent , one had a stent fitted after her heart attack. My father died at 43 years from a heart attack. My brother died last year from cancer he had a bypass 15 years ago, after his bypass he was prescribed statins 80mg per day. The last 12 years of his life he had slowly lost the ability to walk and his health gradually deteriorated, his liver function was never monitored neither was his cholesterol levels. By the time he died his liver was not functioning and had several lesions on it. I have been taking statins for over two years, recently the dosage was doubled by my heart consultant which he said he needed to do to prevent me from having a heart attack, he also said it was to bring my cholesterol levels down. He also stated he considered a heart bypass or a stent but they would not necessarily prevent a heart attack!!! I am now suffering from all the same side effects my brother was, my GP now believes I have liver problems and I am awaiting blood tests, needless to say I am no longer taking the statins.
poisoned by statins: I have now come to... - British Heart Fou...
poisoned by statins
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Your Cardiologist is correct.
A large multinational trial appears to show that interventions such as stents or open heart surgery are no more effective than medication, in preventing heart attacks and other major cardiac events.
Stents and surgery have risks along with the need to take medication for the rest of your life.
" The ISCHEMIA trial failed to show that routine invasive therapy was associated with a reduction in major adverse ischemic events compared with optimal medical therapy among stable patients with moderate ischemia."
acc.org/latest-in-cardiolog...
I suggest you discuss your concerns with your Cardiologist. Statins also reduce inflammation and stabilise even small areas of plaque in the coronary arteries.
Statins play an important role in helping prevent the progression of obstructive coronary artery disease CAD.
There are several different types of statins as well as the option of injections.
Heart UK as well as the BHF have lots of information which you might find helpful.
You can also live with non obstructive coronary artery disease, NOCAD causing angina/ ischaemia non obstructive coronary arteries. ANOCA/INOCA
The only treatment option in these types of angina is medication.
You can also experience a heart attack without any permanent blockages of your coronary arteries, Myocardial Infarction non obstructive coronary arteries, MINOCA.
Do you feel able to share with the forum members your diagnosis?
This will help give context to your post.
Have you been offered screening for familial hypercholesterolaemia an inherited disorder that leads to high levels of cholesterol?
Do you live with angina?
Thank you Milkfairy, my sisters would strongly disagree with you as regards to having the stent fitted or bypass. I have three main arteries affected all narrowing. I had the familial hypercholesterolaemia genetic screening but results were not confirmed so inconclusive.
Also angina not diagnosed but consultant has now prescribed a GTN spray.
Have you been offered any testing?
Even if you are offered interventions such as stents or open heart surgery you will still have coronary artery disease.
It's your choice of course whether you take statins, however statins have been shown to help prevent cardiac events, stents and the grafts blocking.
The BHF has lots of information about angina.
bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
thanks Milkfairy I will take onboard what you have said and your grounded advice, I am just feeling low because I am dealing with side effects and grief.
Has GTN nitro lingual spray helped abort anginal attack. It seems to have gone out of common practice because of the side effects mainly headache. As I have said before some cardiologists are against interventional treatment as NHS patient but okay as private patient. Do anyone know why?
I have not used GTN spray yet as I did not like the sound of the side effects explained to me by my consultant and also did not understand why he was prescribing it. My sister who is treated privately seems to be in contact with her consultant on a regular basis and is often sent for checks and blood tests. My other sister and I rarely here from our consultants or GP's in regard to tests or any other checks. I am still waiting to hear from my GP in regard to my requested blood tests which I have requested twice in the last two weeks along with another GP from a different practice. I have called my consultant three times in as many weeks and he still has not contacted me. The last time I called 20/04/22 his unsympathetic curt secretary told me to call my GP instead.
Thank you. I had read the author’s post and am also worried about statins and liver function but your response was very helpful and has eased my concerns in taking them. My dad volunteered in a trial of high dosage statin many years ago and was taken off them immediately because of a deterioration in his liver function, albeit he is now 81 and not had any heart issues despite his unhealthy appetite so perhaps down to taking the statin?
“Needless to say I am no longer taking the statins” this is of course completely your choice but can I say that if anyone else is thinking about this then please consult your cardiologist/Dr/Nurse first.
It's what the ISCHEMIA trial showed which I paraphrased.I perhaps should have empased moderate ischemia.
"The ISCHEMIA trial failed to show that routine invasive therapy was associated with a reduction in major adverse ischemic events compared with optimal medical therapy among stable patients with moderate ischemia "
The research as you can imagine caused a bit of a fuss amongst Interventional Cardiologists.
theatlantic.com/health/arch...
There is even a discussion as to whether all STEMI ST elevation myocardial infarctions require stents.
tctmd.com/news/no-stents-st...
They are now using new techniques during an angiogram to assess how well the blood flows through the coronary arteries rather than inserting stents by how blocked an artery looks.
This area of Cardiology is fast moving.
It's a funny old world. I have ST elevations and Troponin rises, yet not a blockage in sight 😉
Not long after my triple bypass the plumber who came around to fix something for me casually mentioned that his father had the same . What astonished me was that his father refused to give up his way of life and refused to take his medication. He was still alive and well several years on. Well I can’t take Statins as the hospital attributed my severe reaction (constant diarrhea and severe weight loss) to Statins . For heavens sake let’s hear it from the survivors who do not take Statins on this site for a change and how they are progressing .
Agreed, let's hear evidence based reliable information rather than anecdotes.
Thank you yes it would be good to hear from people who have not taken the statins as I saw the damage they did to my brother. He also had a triple bypass at 50 years of age and refused to change his life habits after. Unfortunately he died from cancer, but did not die from further heart problems.
I was diagnosed with severe hypertension in 1990, was put on various tablets but when it came to Statins for high cholesterol I was very unwell. Had to stop them. Cholesterol remains fairly high as does BP but here I am coming up to 77 years old and doing ok. Still on meds for BP but nothing else. I would not take Statins ever again! Re Aline I am so sorry you are having such a bad time and family loss. My thoughts are with you. Take care, Much love to you xxx
My symptoms started September 2019 I have been taken by blue light ambulance twice last year to hospital as I had heart block resulting in me fainting and fitting. I live with constant heart palpitations so severe at night that I cannot sleep now I have to take sleeping tablets to get to sleep. I am frightened to eat my evening meal as this will also start my heart racing. I am also at a loss as my family are distraught with the fact that my consultant states a stent will not stop me having a heart attack because as I stated my sister was told categorically by her private heart specialist that she need the stent to prevent her having a heart attack and my other sister was fitted with a stent immediately after having a heart attack. My brother was given a bypass immediately after his heart attack which was so severe he had to be brought back to life his surgeon stated he had a condition known as widow makers. It seems to me you have to have a heart attack and survive it before you get what you need. I cannot begin to tell you the effect this has had on my life, and now I am suffering all manner of side effects from statins that are now impacting my major organs. My dentist had to stop treatment after given me injections to numb my gum for routine treatment on Wednesday as my heart started racing so badly he got scared and thought I was going to have a heart attack in his surgery. I am also at a loss as to why I am now being prescribed GTN spray for angina. I have completely changed my diet to reduce my cholesterol at last blood test August 2021 LDL 2.38 and HDL of 1.67, my first obtuse marginal branch has a 70-90 % narrowing and the right coronary artery has a 50-70 % narrowing with another 70-90% narrowing in its mid part and a 50-70%narrowing in the branch known as the PDA.
Hi Rebaline, I am very sorry for your loss and can understand how stressful things must be for you.
I can’t answer most of your questions as I do not have sufficient knowledge but the problem with the racing heart you had when the dentist gave you a local anaesthetic I can answer, in that you need to make sure the dentist knows about your palpitations and gives you adrenaline free local anaesthetic. I have atrial fibrillation and had the same happen to me in the past. It’s on my notes now but I always make sure I mention it if I need a local, anyway.
Also, the racing heart you experience after eating your evening meal and your nighttime palpitations keeping you awake I can relate to very well! For me, I found that certain foods / drinks were a trigger, for instance spicy foods, caffeine and sadly, alcohol. Also the timing and size of my evening meal was a factor. If, I ate too late in the evening, or had a large meal I’d been in for a rough night of palpitations.
I’m sorry, none of the above helps with your underlying problems but hope it will at least enable you to go back to the dentist and get the treatment you need.
All the best to you, TC
"I think MF's interpretation of it could just have been a bit confusing to the OP in this case."
I suggest that the OP is the best judge.
Perhaps also consider women are different. Unfortunately too few women participate in clinical trials. Women's blood vessels are smaller.
Perhaps also people feel uncomfortable with research which seems counterintuitive.
It's about how the blood flows not what the blockages look like.
I just wanted to know if you had a coronary angiograph. Only that can prove if you have a non obstructive coronary artery disease. I agree statins do have side effects.
I have had echocardiogram and CT cardiac angiogram and Cor artery scoring. Also I have a reveal device fitted.
The most accurate way of assessing blood flow limiting blockages is by an invasive angiogram rather than by a CT angiogram.
I suggest you ask your Cardiologist to consider whether you would benefit from an invasive angiogram.
Do tell them how you and your family are feeling.
Your quality of life is important.
Only an angiogram testing for microvascular dysfunction and using acetylcholine to test for coronary vasospams will demonstrate non obstructive coronary artery disease.
Yes. I agree with that. I had the test in 2004. The test was positive. Saw a geritrician because I was 67 yrs. Told to take 75 mg aspirin and discharged. That was a mistake
I have no expertise on cardiology or pharmacy only from being on the receiving end of both.
I personally don't think any case is the same and people are treated as they need.
My bypass in 2017 was because I had a blockage in my LAD and apparently it was in a position where a stent could not be fitted, I have to believe that medication would not have helped.
I had 2 stents fitted in October but the artery was so furred up they had to drill a clear path for the stents, again I very much doubt medication would help.
I would have loved to have managed with just medication and believe the specialists would not have done either procedure if they could have been avoided.
As I said we are all individuals.
There is a difference between a CT angiogram and invasive angiogram.
I know my liver is being impacted as some symptoms are easily identifiable and the GP I spoke to last week agreed and wanted the blood tests done ASAP. I contacted the GP to ask for replacement statins which my sister had been prescribed after side effects from the statins she was taking. I cannot help make comparisons when I saw my brother suffering on a daily basis from the exact same symptoms as I am now having, of course I did not forsee this happening to me. Its only now I am realising what is happening to me is the same.
Also I have been trying to find out what heart blocks I have had as I have now found out there are three kinds which range from not severe to very severe, but my consultant has still not replied to me. All I know is the one he recorded recently was a 2.1 block.
I have heart blocks and had a pacemaker fitted around 4 years ago. I used to get crazy palpitations and also after I ate and at night, it didn’t stop immediately but has now settled down. It might be worth mentioning to your GP/consultant that maybe you need a pacemaker? Good luck, it’s a mine field.
I was originally on80 mgof astorvastatin then 40 but side affects were not good went onto Rosavastatin. My stent saved my life , I’m here 3 yrs later, my cardiologist recommended a vegan lifestyle and so I’m working on this.
Also looking at your history it looks in the family.
Are you over weight? Check your not pre- diabetic.
Inflammation is key learn about it .Be active build your
Self up not just physically eg swimming and also mentally (therapy).
Lastly Coffee.... having more than 2 everyday creates palpitations....
Why did your cardiologist recommend a vegan lifestyle?
Thank you, I have changed statins to Rosavastatin which I am taking now and I changed diet December 2021, I am not overweight.
I understand how you feel. I was taken off statins when I became unable to walk. I now try to control my cholestoral with diet.
Thank you, One of my side effects was being unable to walk and walking is/was a big part of my daily activity.
Remember that even after stents they would still usually prescribe statins.
Thank you, Yes my sisters both take statins after stents being fitted, but they take 5mg per day, my consultant wants me to take 40mg per day.
I take 80 would to get it reduced eventually
Yes, correct, stents or bypasses won't necessarily prevent future heart attacks. I'm (happily) living proof of that, having had cardiac arrest 9 months after getting a stent! BUT, and this is a big BUT, they were in different arteries, at least.
Stents and bypasses are generally seen as life-saving procedures, not preventive per se, which I admit I struggled to wrap my head around. The hard truth is that if you have coronary artery disease, you are going to be at high risk for future heart events, no matter what you do. Statins, exercise, diet etc can reduce that risk somewhat. That is the best we can hope for.
I am sorry to hear of the anxiety the whole conflicting storm of opinion brings. That maybe part of the problem , the constant state of anxiety a heart condition brings. I can’t do statins , tried them all sorts of reactions . I read the book by Dr Malcom Kendrick who’s a Gp but had a background in Cardiology. The great cholesterol con. So I have a 7 year old stent after my LAD was 95% blocked . I use a GTN spray when I go running. I am part of the EbC 2 study . My recommendation is try to find some space to allay your anxiety. I took up Tai Chi. Won’t cure you but helps you de stress . Change diet to more veg based and lose weight if necessary. Go walking and gentle cardio exercise . A stent worked for me I am sure . Good luck finding your path .
I am totally convinced that statins are a killer. However, until there are viable alternatives doctors (and I am quite sure they are fully aware of the killer qualities of statins) will continue to prescribe them and we will continue to take them. So, WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?
So are heart attacks. I know which one id prefer and which one id rather not have again. There are non medical alternatives but if you’re prescribed statins it’s for good reason.
That's an ... interesting take on statins. This is a pretty good overview of the risks. mayoclinic.org/diseases-con....
One thing that I've struggled with w/r/t side effects is that I'm taking a lot of drugs atm -- statins, bisoprolol, aspirin, ticagrelor -- so it would be hard to tease out what might be causing them. But really, the vast, vast majority of people who take statins do not experience side effects, and "increased risk of death" is not one of them.
I won't dispute at all that statins could, in the long run, be neutral at best.
I am speaking from ignorance on this subject but I always go to the web and look up Numbers Needed to Treat and Numbers Needed to Harm and check the stats. Cannot do any harm to be informed. I am so sorry you are in this ghastly situation. Good luck
It's a fine point, but I think we're talking about future events. Yes, if you have severe enough blockage, in a critical artery without symptoms, for example, in my case i had 90% LAD blockage -- stents/bypasses are called for to prevent an actual heart attack. But recent studies do show that in most cases statins can have a similar effect.
My brother also has CAD, but he was "lucky" in the sense that he had higher cholesterol levels at a younger age, and was prescribed statins in his late 30s. He has 50% LAD blockage, but his cardiologist is adamant that a stent won't give him any more benefits. The 20 years of statins he's been on have kept him as healthy as possible.
That's interesting.
My husband was prescribed statins due to his family history and raised BP in his early 40's. NHS guidance, he grumbled but took his statins.
His younger brother who had all his care privately through work insurance, wasn't prescribed statins.
My husband at 48, developed angina, angiogram showed his left anterior descending LAD, artery was nearly completely blocked.
Stent inserted, angina resolved.
His younger statin free brother, at 46, had an out of hospital cardiac arrest, due to a massive heart attack, needed several stents and a later drilling out of the plaque in his other arteries.
I’ve read your post and think you should speak with your GP about having regular liver function tests, perhaps every 6 months at your GPs suggestion.
I believe that some of the procedures do not affect long term life expectancy but do greatly affect the quality of life.
Hi Rebaline, have you had an angiogram? This will show if you do need stents. I had 2 put in last year. Yes I guess you could still have a heart attack but clearly stents improve heart function if your arteries are blocked. You could also discuss having a cardiac MRI scan which reports on your actual heart function. With your familial history it would be quite in order to talk to the cardiologist again and if you have not had these tests, request them. Good luck.
Thank you Elephanthere1 yes I have had most procedures including CT angiogram and I have a reveal device fitted which is monitoring my heart but not the palpations according to my consultant. When my heart races I have to use a hand held device for
My only comment (lots of interesting stuff posted before me) based on my personal experience, is to say 'life likely extended by statins' rather than 'poisoned by statins', as your post headline. And I'll bet there are many others who that applies to.
Likewise there could also be many people like myself who are being damaged by statins.
Stents and statins work on different things - stents fix a narrowed area. Full stop.
Statins are prescribed to: stop you making as much cholesterol, stabilise plaques creating narrowings and reduce inflammation inflammation makes it more likely for plaques to form).
So a stent will literally do nothing apart from fix one place, the place the stent is. And actually, if you don’t make the lifestyle changes and take the meds, the stent can become blocked too!
Stents are placed in emergencies, or when a narrowing is affecting blood flow. It’s not the % blockage (not until v high numbers) it is what blood gets through when the heart has to work harder. There is a test called a pressure wire study which measures blood in/blood out (not the most fun I’ve had, but it gives the correct info).
Your GP can change your statin, and ought to be monitoring your bloods regularly anyway, not your consultant.
The palpitations are a different beast, and again, a stent won’t fix them. Again, your GP needs to instigate some heart monitoring for you (24 hr holter). Panic attacks and the lovely peri/menopause are also generators of palpitations. You feel them more in the evening because you’re not busy doing other things, but all our hearts have ectopic beats all day long, they are normal.
I honestly think some proper reading and learning about hearts and how they work rather than relying on anecdotal information will help you a great deal. BHF website is a great place to start.
My husband just had one stent, after a brief period of angina.The statins helped reduce the severity of his obstructive coronary artery disease. They did their job.
He was back at work a few days later.
However my brother in law nearly died, saved by an off duty life guard who witnessed his cardiac arrest and performed CPR, until the ambulance arrived. An air ambulance was called too.
My brother in law had more blockages which were much more severe.
The fall out from this experience has been profound on him, his wife and son (aged 4 at the time), who witnessed his cardiac arrest.
The NHS team treating him questioned why he hadn't been prescribed statins by his private Professor of Cardiology.
Sorry you are going through all this and I understand how you feel. I had a long difficult discussion with my doctor and we agreed that my personal decision was I was stopping statins. Unfortunately many doctors just follow the party line but I did my own research and my doctor fully understood my rational. We agreed that I will continue to control my cholestrol with diet and exercise. I await my next set of blood tests ! Just make sure whatever you decide to do discuss and agree with your doctor/cardiologist. Good luck.
I was on statins. Legs hurt so much, I could barely walk. Repatha was prescribed. No pain and cholesterol is better than ever.
Hi I would ask my gp to refer me to have a ct scan of heart, and a referral to have a second opinion concerning your fears
I had a heart attack and two stents fitted. Atthe same time they found 2 more blockages in the LAD. A further angiogram showed the blockages to be around 64% but blood flow through them was fine so they we re not stented. Obviously I'm concerned about these blockages but as I have no symptoms I agree with their decision to not do another invasive procedure.
Sorry to hear about your family heart aches I have had a heart attack and stents fitted
I am statin and fenofibrate intolerant having tried almost all of them over the last 15 years l also have familial hyper cholesterol
My Doctor suggested l try Red Rice Extract l was sceptical but it has worked for me steadily reducing my cholesterol month on month so now I am within normal range which is amazing having had ridiculously high cholesterol for most of my life
I hope this helps take care and try to de stress
Interesting all the replies. Well I must be an odd bod because for two years with chest pains all my tests came back fine: blood pressure ,cholesterol, ecg’s (six in all) until one night I had an odd “indigestion” bout - drove myself to A&E and didn’t come out of hospital for nearly two months after a bypass. Even a doctor friend of mine said she’s never come across my situation before. Managed to keep my cholesterol down now without statins….but then it wasn’t bad before so where do I go from here 😱
Thank you I am taking the Rosuvastatin now and will look into anti inflammation foods.
Thanks Twinklystar I am on a daily aspirin 75mg gastro resistant. I have a very busy life still managing to work 3 days a week, my exercise has been severely restricted lately as have my work patterns. I usually keep a spotlossly clean large house I am a keen gardener and decorator. My day starts at apx., 7am and I would normally finish my daily tasks by 8.30pm
Statins remain a controversial subject for many, arousing strong feelings both for and against. Once having made a decision about them, few change their minds but obviously personal history and/or experience will have a big part to play. Statins have been implicated in elevated liver enzymes in about 1% of those taking them, the main culprit apparently being the commonly prescribed Atorvastatin. A change of statin appears to stop this inflammation, with liver levels normalising as a result. We can read and research as much as we want, and be advised by our doctors, too, but in the end it is our decision whether to take statins or not, and I would be reluctant to tell anyone what to do with regard to this type of medication. However, approaching these matters with an open mind should lead to the best and most appropriate outcome.
Hi All,
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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.
You can find more information about statins at the link below;
bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
I hope this helps 😊
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