Statin hepatoxicity

[BRIANPY]

I developed elevated liver enzymes, about 3 weeks after starting Artovastatin 80mg once a day. I was told that I had statin hepatoxicity.

Has anyone else had this problem?

[Hidden]

With the caveat that I’m not medically qualified. Elevated enzymes are a common problem with statins. Artovastatin caused me issues and took me over the threshold for when they start to worry - they’re normally only fussed about ALT and/or AST if your levels exceed three times the upper limit of normal. Below that, they tend to take a watch and wait approach. It took us a while to work out it was the artorvastatin causing the problem, so I ended up in a mess with other conditions I have as they thought the meds for those were the culprit. Took about 3 months to twig the statin was the issue and stop it, and then about 2 months after that for my ALT to normalise.

[pasigal]

Yes, somewhat. I have been monitored closely by a liver specialist.

[Cee-Cee1]

Hi Brian - after a heart attack in January this year I had to stay in hospital for five weeks to wait for a triple bypass in February. On admission I was prescribed 80mgs of Atorvastatin daily. My planned operation was cancelled 3 times during the five week stay for various reasons. They do a raft of blood tests the day before a planned operation and the last cancellation was due to them discovering my liver enzyme readings were "deranged" and "completely off the scale" (their words!). It was the statin causing it and as soon as I was taken off it my liver readings returned to normal very, very quickly. I've now been told that my body simply can't tolerate statins and I've been prescribed Ezetimebe by my GP as my cholesterol level, although 4.5 total, is still a little higher than they'd like. This isn't a statin as such but works by reducing the amount of cholesterol your body absorbs from your intestines and is sometimes prescribed together with a statin to work in conjunction. I've been taking it for 5 months now and am going to have blood tests once I've been taking it for 6 months to see how I'm getting along with it. I haven't noticed any problems in the meantime (unlike the numerous dreadful side-effects I had while on statins). Good luck in the meantime. Carol

[Fynndog]

I had the same problem. Atorvastatin first then they tried rosuvastatin . I went downhill fast. I’m on Estemibe now . Like cee cee1 it’s only been 6 months. The blood test revealed that my cholesterol had reduced only by 9% not the 40% they had hoped for. It seems they are waiting to see what transpires. They have spoken of a newer type if cholesterol treatment that I might have to try.

Overall blood test revealed only “ satisfactory”

It’s a bit worrying but I can’t take statins again