my cholesterol is not high but because my diabetes and high blood pressure drs have recommended statins should I take these I’ve heard side effects not sure what to do
statins : my cholesterol is not high... - British Heart Fou...
statins
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Hometeam2016
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If a doctor advises you take certain medication, there's a good reason for this.
We're not medics and don't have access to your medical records so are unable to advise any further on that... although I would suggest you don't believe everything you read online. If you have any concerns, bring them up with a doctor or pharmacist as these are trained medical professionals.
Something to bear in mind - all medication and food has side effects, but they affect everyone differently... what I tolerate well may cause a reaction in you. So it comes down to what you are willing to tolerate for your health.
Some folk will go out their way to avoid dairy products because it makes them gassy. Some folk will continue to drink alcohol despite the hangovers they cause.
It's a very individual scenario but some people have strong opinions on the use of certain medication... at the end of the day, it's a conversation between you and your doctor, and possibly some trial and error while your body adjusts.
Dear You,
I can see by some of your other posts that your health journey has been long and one that includes your family.
I can understand with the long term illnesses that you have that you would be worried about another added tablet, especially one that's main cure is something that you don't suffer with.
As already stated in your other answers statins are not just to help with cholesterol levels but can be for other things.
Its a question to ask the Dr about his/her concerns as to why you will be better off on this medication, maybe you have discussed family history/ ailments?
Above all please don't worry about side effects of any medication, with tweaking, dosage etc most effects { if any are present } can be corrected.
Take care and please keep us informed.
Hello 
Some years ago my Doctor advised me to go on statins I may have been your age even younger
I read up about them and thought no not me I am not risking those !
Several years later 3 heart attacks and a triple Bypass
Do I regret not taking the Statins when advised yes
Reason is and now I shall never know would they have prevented me having 3 heart attacks resulting in a triple Bypass
I shall never know the answer to that now but if I could turn back the clock I would take them
Most settle on them and if you start on a low dose the chances of side effects are not very high
I hope you make the right choice for you x
no the doc sent me an email saying he is prescribing statins would I like them? So just asking views in them as I’ve never heard of them before apart from my husband being out on them few months back but he did have high cholesterol I haven’t
That’s a odd way of introducing you to a medication. He’s telling you he’s prescribing it then he’s asking you if you want it. You should reply to his email and ask him if he can make an appointment with you to discuss you taking a statin, then you can tell him how you feel.
Honestly, I would try to have a conversation with your doctor about all of this first. You have questions running through your mind, and understandably so. Usually, for most of us, beginning a statin means a lifetime commitment. You have a right to question why taking a statin might benefit you. Knowing the reasons why your doctor thinks a statin could help you seems more than reasonable to me. I would also question this—but I also believe that knowledge is power.
So, while I now realize that HBP, diabetes, and heart disease (among other things) are all intricately related, I would also have many questions just like you do. I hate having to take any new medicine. So, again, I would humbly suggest a conversation with your doctor.
My doctor changed my HBP medication this week. It is the same basic medication without the HCTZ. My urinalysis last week indicated some kidney issues. I emailed three questions to her yesterday that were bothering me. For one, I am worried about fluid retention without the HCTZ—that has been a problem in the past so my anxiety is driving me crazy about this “what if.” She should email me her answers to my questions today., so I may feel better. For me, it feels better to have all of the information, and your doctor can provide that information.
As for the statin, if you were prescribed the lower dosage of 20 mg, it might provide protection for you, but not cause side effects such as muscle cramping/spasms. Again, your doctor could discuss all of this with you.
I wish you the best in sorting all of this.
hi , I spoke to my gp there reply was because I’m diabetic it may go in your favour to take them , i se posts about statins being a silent killer I guess everything can be
With all medications there could be side effects.
As a diabetic the risk of heart disease especially blocked arteries rises, as a diabetic I have had a by pass and 2 stents fitted.
There are some people on here who are vocally anti statins but you must decide whether to listen to lay people or follow the advice of the medics.
There are several options of statins on the market so you may have to see which ones suit you.
I would recommend rather than listen to people on here (I suppose that means me too) you do your own research.
it was on a post on here but I guess your going to get anti
people
Most of us on this forum are facing difficult decisions with incomplete information.
There's no doubt that a tiny minority of people have suffered adverse effects from statins. So if someone has a very low risk of a heart attack or stroke then they probably shouldn't take statins, and it's also true that in the past statins were overprescribed in some countries.
But as your risk of a heart attack or stroke increases then the benefit of statins increase. And most people on this forum are at quite elevated risk of heart attacks and strokes, like it or not we're in the front line!
A particularly tricky area is type 2 diabetes. If you're diagnosed with T2 D then the hard fact is that your heart attack/stroke risk factor is almost as high as if you were a smoker, so there's a much stronger argument in favour of statins.
However, in a very small number of people statins may drive adverse glucose spikes. The risk/reward balance is still in favour of statins, so my personal take on this is that unless I absolutely knew that I was one of that tiny minority who had this rare response then I'd still take statins even with T2D. Especially as there are plenty of diet and life style options that can reduce glucose spikes much more than statins might increase them.
Good luck!
My cholesterol is not high and never has been, yet I had a heart attack. I am now on statins. I was told 'whatever your cholesterol was before the heart attack, it's too high for you'. Maybe ask your dr is that the case for you? Often we need to ask specific questions, when you have the exact reasoning and pros and cons, you can make an informed decision that is best for you.
If I can jump on your thread. I read somewhere that you can get leg muscle pains and higher blood sugar levels as a side effect - is this true? I have painfull calf muscles and have been diagnosed as pre diabetic, I have just had blood tests done and blood sugar level is still the same but nearly every thing I eat is now sugar free or low sugar.
I am waiting to see the gp next week but I want to half my avorastatin dose from 80mg to 40mg as my cholesterol has dropped from 6.2 to about 3.
Anyone else had anything similar?
TIA
I halved mine with my doctor's approval. My cholesterol was never high but after a stroke I was put on 40mg automatically. I was getting pains in my wrists but I know statins have other benefits apart from lowering cholesterol. I now take 20mg and no wrist pains. Cholesterol below 4.
same here, Still_Breathing. I’ve just started a diabetes prevention programme run by the NHS and diabetes Uk (I think). You can be referred by your GP. I’d also like to drop from 80 to 40 mg atorvastatin, but will that make my cholesterol go back up? My coach on the programme suggested some diet changes — I’m vegan anyway and don’t eat sugar— before tackling the statin. Good luck!
when I had my HA (very unexpectedly) in March 2022, the cardiologist in the emergency room immediately prescribed 80mg of Atorvastatin. I was given an appointment one week later with my GP. Being me, I was scared to death, hate taking new medicines, and like to fully understand why I take anything. Long story short, my GP and I decided that I would likely be safe dropping the Atorvastatin to the lowest dosage of 20mg. (( Knowing what I know now, I probably would have taken the 80 mg for awhile))
From March to May, I still had quite a bit of testing on my heart, and I felt so weak, had heart pains and some daily palpitations, and my heart was still racing with any little exertion. I basically felt weak and terrible. In late May, I saw a new cardiologist. She wanted me to increase my Atorvastatin to 80 mg again—I agreed to 40 mg. So, I did increase my statin from 20mg to 40mg, and I feel that this amount has been good for me.
After 11 months from my HA, I had blood tests done (7 different ones), and my cholesterol levels were down quite a bit. My GP and I both feel that 40 mg of Atorvastatin is working for me. I notice that I do have some muscle cramping, but I can manage so far. When I first started using it, I had quite a bit of wrist pain. I had even asked my cardiologist in May if the wrist pain was associated with a possible heart attack warning, but she stated that the wrist pain should have nothing to do with my heart. I now think that it was likely a result/side effect of the statin. Now, I have an occasional wrist pain. I should also add that the cardiologist in May also increased my beta blocker dosage to 75 mg, and I slowly began to feel some better.
It seems likely to me that you may be able to lower your dosage of statin to 40 mg and still maintain your lowered level of cholesterol, but you will want to discuss this with your doctor first before lowering the dosage. The lower dose seems to be working well for me, but I know that we are all different.
Best wishes to you!
I had side effects but the advantages for me outweighed the negatives and I have settled down.
Sounds like you will go on a low dose and trust the experts to advise.
Not all statins are the same and when I started getting some side effects from the one prescribed my gp changed it to another and now I'm fine with no side effects and just taking the lowest dose nightly. Been on them for 8yrs now.
Try them for a few months, then decide. If you have side effects (and yes they DO exist!) you can speak to GP or consultant about changing them.
I have mentioned previously but at the risk of repeating myself…
I was told by my GP that if I suffered any what I thought was side effect,I could, with her knowledge, stop the statins for a certain period, check to see if they are still there( ie not related to statins) or go. If the pains went then returned after recommencing the statins, then we could assume a connection/side effect. My own personal medical trials. Statins are non addictive-there are no withdrawal issues.
She also said I should take Vitamin D as lots of aches and pains are attributable to low Vit D but get attributed to other meds.
I am on a statin, have had no side effects at all and my cholesterol numbers are far better than when I was 25 years younger and doing loads of exercise and eating like a rabbit to try to sort out a genetic issue that oats and lettuce were never going to triumph over, in an effort to avoid a non addictive statin! That’s not to say I’ve ditched the lifestyle efforts but I went a bit ott as I was so shocked by the high cholesterol, lost loads of weight-I wasn’t over weight to start with and became a bit emaciated-and was told by the specialist it was unsustainable to try that hard.
I have always had low cholesterol in fact my gp told me l was lucky having low cholesterol without the use of medication however l started to get chest pain and referred to a cardiologist and after 2 years of a whole range of tests it was discovered l have moderate plaque in one of my arteries so cardiologist prescribed statins and aspirin l was already taking blood pressure meds. I did get muscle pain in my legs initially but changed to a different statin which helped. In my case I’m glad I’m on statins because they will help prevent heart attack and/or stroke. I have been given the all clear and told to continue taking statins and bp meds. Two of my friends also with low cholesterol and not on statins have had mini strokes. Best wishes
TAKE THEM! When I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes I was 'offered' statins. Atorvastatin to be precise. I took them but got horrible leg pains. My GP said come off them and not to worry as my cholesterol was very low.Roll forward 8 years (I can't remember being tested for cholesterol in that time but it rose to 6.6) failed Bypass and 4 stents. I wished I'd been offered other statins to try. I just clearly wasn't knowledgeable enough about how diabetes affects my arteries.
I'm now on Rosuvastatin and don't have any side effects. Who knows if I'd have been saved from all I've been through if I'd been on them since diagnosis.
All the best
Susie
This is the correct answer
You will hear people, here and elsewhere, who blame statins for all sorts of things. Your doctor will, however, be going on hard, factual, tried and tested evidence. Statins save lives. Proven over and over again. NHS and NICE recommend prescribing them to people with certain risk factors to prevent high cholesterol and build up of plaque.
One of the stories you will hear about statins is that "they cause muscle and joint pain" just to lay that one to bed. In most people complaining of that side effect the cause is not the statins. Don't take my word for it, check out this link to a BHF article bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-...
I totally disagree.
Why are statins the only meds on the planet where Nocebo, a valid concept, is rolled out?
Instead of totally removing the muscle side effects of statins, the BHF et al wheel out Nocebo.
Is not lifestyle the number one cause of poor health? Tackle that first, with vegan diet, 10 - 12 hours of exercise a week, bmi under 19, no booze or alcohol.
Persevere99
Why would the BHF, one of the largest independent funders of clinical research give such supposed 'misinformation' ?
There are other medications and treatments that can be affected by the nocebo affect. It is a recognised by researchers how the nocebo affect can influence clinical trial results.
Hi
What are your exercise levels?
I ask because the main risk factor for statin muscle aches is exercise.
Statins cause myalgia and exercise, at a high level, causes myalgia.
So, the 2 don’t mix.
Persevere99
The latest research suggests otherwise.
tctmd.com/news/moderate-int...
I disagree
Journal List Br J Clin Pharmacol v.57(4); 2004 Apr PMC1884475
Only 20% of athletes could tolerate statins, compared to 80% of the general population.
A - The number 1 side effect of statins is myalgia
B - Exercisers, at a high level, train by inducing myalgia, sore muscles etc, then after rest their muscles are stronger than before.
Therefore, the 2 don’t mix.
This article is nearly 20 years old!
Ignore those posts; the only people who write online are those who think they've had problems or who sometimes genuinely have. There are millions of people taking statins with no problems at all. I'm one of them. Lots of different ones so if one doesn't suit, another probably will. If your doctor has prescribed them, then he obviously thinks you need them. Whose advice would you choose? Your doctor or some random strangers? If I'd been given statins before my heart attack then I probably wouldn't have had a heart attack.
I find this response to "ignore those posts " insulting. Statins effect on cholesterol has a long term negative impact on every cell in everybody's body, it is not just a question of the absence of, or the presence of, actual or perceived muscle pain. I wonder if the Doctor had a conversation with the poster about that. This posters diabetes may in fact get worse if they take the statin, I wonder if the Doctor had a conversation with the poster about that. You are a "random stranger" offering your opinion just like myself. Perpetuating the idea that information acquired outside of the NHS guidelines is to be ignored shuts the door on dialogue and sends a message that medicine must never be questioned, that is bad science .
hey jack dr hasn’t said anything apart from diabetes that’s why I may need statins , it’s a low dose
Hi Hometeam2016 ,
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 without speaking to a health professional first.
Many thanks!
Hi I recommend you take some ime on Rosuvastatin no problems.Tryed atorvastatin before and the were a bit severe.Can only benefit you.Goodluckⁿ
we’ll, I’ve SVT,PAF and now T2D diet controlled and only Empagliflozin.
My cholesterol was only 4.6, my diabetes nurse said ‘I HAVE to offer you statins’ this is even though I do not need them! The answer was NO! A friend of mine is a qualified nurse and midwife and has been on them years. She’s had all sorts of problems on them and has now weaned herself off. It’s not all about one constituent in the reading it depends on Triglycerides too.
Tackle your high cholesterol, diet diet AND get a second opinion.
Statins don't just reduce cholesterol levels. Statins play an important role in reducing inflammation and stabilising even small areas of plaque. They help to treat endothelial dysfunction.
Endothelial dysfunction is thought to be a precursor of both obstructive and non obstructive coronary artery disease.
Diabetes is associated with endothelial dysfunction.
It is of course your discision whether you take up the offer of taking a statin.
I hope you make the right decision for you based on evidence based information rather than antidotes.
I don’t need them. I avoid any unnecessary drugs, many have side effects that can be worse than the condition.
Everyone is so different and time changes how you react to medication. Years ago my misguided gp refused my diabetic specialist suggestion to start statins, I've had 3 heart attacks, I don't know what would have happened if I started them earlier. There are a few, so if one doesn't suit your particular condition, another can be tried. Reading interactions can be more scarier than reality. I've just started a medication that said if I was allergic to Chinese hamster ovary cells not to take them?? Going on this forum, I was reassured into at least trying them. All good. Great advice to talk to gp, that can be difficult to get appointment, at least talk to pharmacist, they know you well. Take care. Moni
I too have heart problems diabetes and cholesterol I have the diabetes and cholesterol under control but still have to take metformin and Atorvastatin 80 mig
Speak with your doctor or consultant and ask them to explain why
Take care
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