Another meds review (statins)

[Hrty]

Just had another meds review with the GP Clinician/Pharmacist. He is pretty certain I am showing signs of statin intolerance. I stopped Rosuvastatin last week owing to awful leg pains which hsve subsided since stopping. He did explain that for someone with history of HA that statins were important but stressed that it's at the maximum tolerated level. We have agreed that I will go back to Atovastatin, the pain was less intense on that, but at 20mg only to begin with. If I find I'm ok on that dose after a month then I can increase to 40mg but to stop immediately if I have any problems. Doing this gives me a good week or so before my next appt with my cardiologist on 11th Sept. I'm also restarting rehab next week. We also discussed my Vit D deficiency and how soon I'd start to feel the benefit of the supplement I've started. He said that as it can take a long time for a deficiency it can take quite a while before the benefits of the supplement can kick in, up to 3 months.

[Denistennis]

👋 Hi Hrty, I don't know your personal health history. I can only speak from my personal experience re. statin therapy. Prior to my Bypass September 2022, I was advised to take a daily Simvastatin. Felt fine for six weeks. However, I started to feel not quite myself. From the little I understand, statin therapy does not immediately inhibit the livers ability to produce cholesterol. It takes some weeks before that happens. Hence, the delay in my starting to feel like something wasn't quite right.

For some people, the benefits of reducing their risk of another heart attack, etc, offset any symptoms imagined or real. In my case, I just couldn't come to terms with not feeling quite right and stopped taking them.

Following my Bypass surgery, I found myself on the usual cocktail of medications, including Atorvastatin. After 4 months, I couldn't cope with all the side effects and after discussing this with my GP and a cardiologist I took the decision to discontinue all medication 💊 except for a daily aspirin + a daily Omeprazole.

Since stopping Atorvastatin, my cholesterol has doubled, but I feel as good as I've ever felt. So, sadly, there 😔 are no easy answers in this life. Risk the side effects of statin therapy or take the risk of further plaque building up in your cardiovascular system. As to vitamin D deficiency, I was diagnosed with this some years ago and have taken a daily supplement ever since.

In the UK, our bodies are unable to create the bodies' needs re. Vitamin D from October to April/March from sunlight alone so taking a daily Vitamin D supplement is a very good idea.

Hope you come to terms with your medication

Best regards,

Denis

[Wenlock in reply to Denistennis]

Morning, just bin stations and use porridge (twice a week) clears cholesterol naturally.only prob if you overdue is sore bum. My stations just have me nightmares. Worth a try anyway. Good Luck Wenlock.

[Hrty in reply to Wenlock]

I have oats for breakfast pretty much every morning 🙂. At the moment it's the potential protection the statins offer in stabilising any existing plaque as well as lowering cholesterol that interests me so fingers crossed we can get the doses right. 🤞

[Cavalierrubie in reply to Denistennis]

I absolutely agree with your post Dennis. I can’t tolerate many drugs and it’s a case of finding a quality of life by trial and error. All drugs have side effects and we are all different. We have to do what is best for us. Only you know how you feel,no one else. Take care.

[Denistennis in reply to Cavalierrubie]

😊 Thanks for the positive response to my post Cavalierrubie. In all honesty I do lose a little sleep not taking my cardiologists advice to take statins but as I'm currently feeling great I don't want to risk rocking the boat by going back on them. All the best, Denis

[Hrty in reply to Cavalierrubie]

Totally agree with both you and Denis about balancing the meds and potential side effects against the benefits of being on them. If I'm honest, I didn't feel completely comfortable being off the statins because of the protection they offer with regard to plaque stabilisation on top of reducing cholesterol. I found it interesting that the pharmacist said it's all about getting the type, combination and dosage of meds right and where there are side effects working out whether its the dose, a particular drug or the combination causing the problem can be difficult and take time. The good thing is the GP's and the Pharmacists there are willing to listen and talk to me about it.

[jonbellw1a]

Hi. I came off atorostatins( not sure if I spelt that right) as I had bad joint pains. Complained to the doctor,and after about 7 years finally changed to simvostatins. Pains are not there anymore. So worth the change.

[Hrty in reply to jonbellw1a]

Hi, I'd hoped for the same with the switch to Rosuvastatin but unfortunately it was worse. I'll see how I get on with this lower dose of atorvastaton. I have a cardiologist appt a week on monday so another thing to add to the list to discuss. Good to hear you managed to find something that worked for you.

[jonbellw1a]

Hi. I'm on 80mg of simvostatins as it's not as good as atorvostatins and it's been ok with me. So hopefully a shuffle of trying different ones may help