Atorvastatin side effects

[Chin1956]

Hi

I am 67 and due to heart issues have been taking Atorvastatin 40mg for 18 months, I have notice and other shave also notice that my personality , mood swing, anxiety and short tempter seem to be more obvious and prone these days.

I was thinking of reducing the dosage that I am currently taking.

Any advice please.

Andrew

[Blackcatsooty]

Dear Chin

Speak to your GP. Ask him if you can cut the dosage.

It is too easy to blame the medication when it is the illness that is actually the issue.

I certainly got t.he mood swings etc. By working hard to get a good sleep pattern, things improved.

Best wishes

Sooty

[Chinkoflight]

Is Atorvastatin the only medication you are taking? It's a big jump to think it's doing you more harm than good some 18 months after being prescribed. I'm on Atorvastatin and Clopidogrel too as the 'best insurance ' policy against another event. It's frustrating that an event that was very traumatic can't be pinned down to be corrected and the only remedy is prescription drugs. It is beyond doubt that at times I am a bit (!) moodier and mean than I was but I wouldn't for one minute be looking at the drugs for an explanation. There was a massive amount of anxiety, still is, about the randomness of my stroke as is the likelihood of having another one. And there's not a lot you can do with all that anxiety, it's quite dysfunctional. BUT on BHF I found a link to Couchto5K (C25K) which has helped me take back control of my health which has had knock on benefits for my well being. Hopefully the GP can give you good advice.

[Hidden]

With the caveat that I’m not medically qualified. I haven’t had a heart attack myself, but my mum had an NSTEMI and 3 stents about 3 years ago, and my step father had a major STEMI about a decade ago. Both of them experienced mood changes in the wake of what happened, mostly manifesting as being incredibly irritable and quick tempered: my understanding is that irritability and low mood are commonplace having had a major cardiac event, to the point that some people become quite clinically depressed and require treatment for it. There aren’t many organs in the body that life is completely dependent on the way it is the heart, so it’s understandable that a cardiac event can effect us emotionally, particularly if it comes completely out of the blue. My mum seemed to turn the corner after a couple of years, but my step father has remained much more irritable and moody ever since.

There have been some studies done into mood and statins, but as I understand it, the outcomes weren’t conclusive, in part because many people get put on statins following a cardiac event rather than prior. I have a history of depression and personally didn’t experience any mood issues when taking atorvastatin, and neither does my dad: we were both put on it preventatively, but we’re all individuals, and therein lies the difficulty with evidence based medicine 🤷‍♂️ What I would say is that any decision to reduce medication should be made in conjunction with a qualified medical professional. The whole point in taking it for you is to help prevent another heart attack, so any dose reduction is a decision that has to be weighed against that risk. Ultimately, they can’t force you to take it at the current dose if you decide otherwise, or even at all, but it’s definitely a conversation to have with the GP.

[Issy14]

Hello Chin

Not a good idea to reduce doses of meds without talking to your GP first. I have been on Atorvastatin for many years following a valve replacement and I had noticed a similar symptom. I talked to my GP and he put me on Citalopram 20 mg and I have had no trouble since. I also do meditation which helps to calm me down.

[Andian]

I’m glad I read your post, as I am also on Atorvastatin and can identify with you. My husband has recently been diagnosed with early Alzheimers, and my patience is at Zero. I feel grateful that I’m alive so will not query my medication and will just plod on.

[Villagelife]

I would talk to the gp and ask him about reducing to 20mg.

[GeorgeGlass]

Be careful with anti-anxiety meds like SSRI's. A study on monkeys showed a 600% increase in arteriosclerosis from using Zoloft.