What's your opinions on statins? I may need to go on them but asked to have a think first not asking medical advice just people's thoughts and experiences thank you.
Statins opinions: What's your opinions... - British Heart Fou...
Statins opinions
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Mdea1988
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Hello 
I was somewhere around your age when I was advised I needed to go on statins but I ignored the advice
It was about 20 years later I had 3 heart attacks and a triple Bypass followed
Would I have gone on statins had I been advised if I could turn the clock back well yes I would I will never know if it would have prevented me from having heart attacks later in life but I wished I could go back and find out
If you have tried lifestyle changes and they have not worked then I would take them
I now have to take them and I am on 40 mg I have no problems with them and my cholesterol levels are good
It is your choice of course but if the medical profession have advised you take them I would do just what they suggest
Let us know how you get on x
there was a lot of publis few years ago saying the side effects were bad. There was a small study done fairly recently comparing statins with a placebo (blind trial) and there was no discernible diff in the side effects
and o meant to add. No side effects as far as I’m concerned
I'm M71, paroxysmal severe stroke out of the blue. Afib subsequently detected. On Atorovastatin and Clopidogrel initially, now 60mg Atorovastatin and Edoxaban ( anticoagulant).
My cholesterol levels have always been on low side of in range but I still take all meds because they were advised by clinicians who know a lot more than me.
Maybe some side effects, muscle fatigue early on, 2-3 weeks but would never have stopped me taking the meds. I have since started running 4-5 times a week. Just occasionally for no reason there are hard days, even on a low intensity short workout. I think hydration levels might be even more important.
You will I guess be thinking you will have to take them for a long time. Your circumstances are more unique than most scripts for statins as a general population health outcome measure.
Trouble is you never know where you, as an individual, are in the population and whether you are the one who benefits most. If my Afib had been detected 8 years ago when I had some heart screening tests maybe I would have been on statins etc and avoided the stroke.
If a Dr confidently advises I take the advice.
I'm not an expert, but I have been on them for 25 years. After much research, over the years, I have decided that the positives outweigh the negatives.
There can painful and disturbing side effect, but as far as I know, no one has died from taking them.
As an 'Old Bailey', barrister was once heard to say 'It's entirely a matter for you M'Lud.😀
Good comment, the positves likely outweigh the negatives. If one type doesn't suit then another might. I have no problem with my Atorovastatin
I had a heart attack 3 years ago. I was given statins. Atorvastatin 80 mg daily. I’ve had no problems and now have “healthy” lipid levels. I’d take them.
I’m taking them as I know cholesterol is a major cause of heart attacks and clogging my arteries and I have a mild narrowing at a young age. Saying that I do get muscle pains and cramps which I didn’t get before. It could be the other meds I take I suppose as they try and say statins are unlikely to cause muscle pain due to a new study. You can try alternatives but you need to request from the doctor. The evidence they they do reduce cholesterol and reduce harm are pretty significant though
My cramp and pains were so bad I could barely walk. I was taken off of atorvastatin 40mg and put on rosuvastatin 5mg. What a difference! They always try the cheapest first so don't be afraid to be pushy to try a different one.
I can do no more than endorse the positive comments you’ve already had. I’ve been on statins for many years (20+) after being diagnosed with hypertension. I had a big HA 3½ years ago (four stents) and my dose went up to 80mg, and now down to 40mg after my annual reviews.
There’s a family history on my mother’s side of heart disease. My older sister and older brother have both had heart bypasses. I’ve probably avoided the same having been on heart meds for some years. I’m well past the age at which my mother and her father died.
Just my personal experience. We are all unique, which is something to bear in mind when asking for advice in online forums.
47 heart attack 9 months ago on 40mg atorvastatin an 10mg Ezetimibe and has lowered my cholesterol level by more than half with exercise an dieting. No side affects for me but everyone is different. All the best 👍
For me family history of heart issue.
My cholestrol always high. As I got older discussed statin with GP. Decided to go that route. First brand did not suit me. Took 10 mg.
This feb uppted to 20mg as a blood test showed not low enough. August this year heartattack. The professionals told me if I had not taken statins my HA would have happened years earlier in my life.
In my book prevention is always better than cure.
Good luck with your decision.
I see some good and bad things said about them but I’m on them because I don’t want another bloody heart attack and the only side effect I get is wind 30 mins after taking them😂😂😂🥰🥰🥰wish u well xxx
They dish out statins to over 65's now, statins help protect your organs, but you have to have regular blood tests as can affect liver, my hubby was type 1 diabetic so he was on them
Great insurance ☺️ no side affects for me at all so no reason not to.
My 34 year old nephew has had to go on them, no issues and his cholesterol seriously reduced.
My father was on them for 30 years, living all that time up to 85 after a triple bypass at 55.
All benefits to us as a family.
When I had an age 70 check up, the nurse told me, based on an analysis of a finger prick blood test that I had a more than 10% chance of dying from a heart attack or stroke and I should take statins. Like you I was concerned about starting medication for life and asked for a further view after a full blood test. After the full blood test, I heard nothing. Two months later, out of the blue, I had a heart attack with cardiac arrest, and am fortunate to still be here.
Would it have made a difference if I’d taken statins when advised? Possibly not - my condition might by then have been too advanced. But I take them now, along with about 6 other meds!
Hi I have been round and round the arguments about statins but given my family history I now conclude it would have been good to have gone on when I was young like you . I am 64 and this summer started on just 5mg Rosuvastatin twice a week and that has reduced my LDL cholesterol from around 5 to 2.8 in short time. I couldn’t do it with diet. I suspect I already have some furring of my arteries but if this helps stabilise any plaque that’s a good thing. I know they are not a cure or excuse to not exercise or eat badly ( although am on low FOD map diet at moment to identify what causes my reflux! Not great diet for long term- keep eating too many potatoes 😂). My cholesterol was ok at your age ( but they may be considered poor by modern guidance) but just kept getting worse especially at menopause. If your dr suggests it I think it’s worth it.
Hi, my advice is to do your own research before deciding. You haven’t said why you need to go on them but you are young and statins are for life. If related to high cholesterol, if you haven’t tried dietary changes then it’s worth a try. Read Dr Aseem Mulhotra book on Satins, you can get it on Amazon. He gives advice on dietary changes which I followed and have had really good results.
I tell this to everyone: My brother and I have nearly identical health profiles: Age, size, weight, level of activity, professions etc.
We also both have high Lipoprotein A levels, a major risk factor for heart disease. He went on statins (low dose) in his late 30s because his LDL levels were stubbonly above normal despite radical diet changes. I did not (my LDL was just below high). Starting at age 52, I have had 4 stents and 2 heart attacks, (one was cardiac arrest -- NOT fun). His arteries are still quite clear, while my LAD was over 90% blocked, his is around 50%. He has no symptoms of any heart problems and is as active as 30 year old.
I wish wish wish I had been more proactive when I was younger and insisted on statins.
Thank you all very much! I think I will go ahead with trying them as it seems the safer option. 😁
As Sir Humphrey might say not taking statins is ‘a brave decision’. I wish I had been taking them before my heart attack -I sure am now.
been on them for 6 months after suffering a heart attack at 55. No side effects that I no off. I would take them you will soon see if they give you side effects.
I’ve tried different statins and definitely had side effects in the past. Current one, Rosuvastatin, suits me perfectly.
I’d persist with them until you find one that works for you.
My experience is also a positive one. Some mild side effects but my personal view is that the benefits significantly outweigh the drawbacks.
I also understand that more recent research has highlighted additional benefits, such as improving the elasticity of the heart muscle.
I too wish I started with statins earlier and took more notice of my cholesterol levels!!
Mdea1988 I have natural cholesterol of 9+. A miserable inconvenient diet got it down to best ever 6.5 but it crept back up. Started 40 mg Atorvastatin reduced to 5.5ish and was like that for about 20 years. Then nearly six years ago NSTEMI heart attack, and arteries found severely clogged via angiogram, Atorvastatin upped to 80mg and lipids down to 4.5 to 5. Last year I had another angiogram and I was told there was no change from five years before, so the statin is doing its job. Recently I asked to be put on Ezetimibe and my lipid test showed 3.7, which I am happy with. And I have never suffered side effects, which only affects about 5% of those taking statins. If one statin produces side effects there are others to try which may not have side effects. So everyone who has high cholesterol and is recommended to take statins should try them, the risks of not taking them far outweigh the risks of taking them, and in my case I would probably be dead by now if I hadn't taken them over the preceding 25 years.
I tell this to everyone: My brother and I have nearly identical health profiles: Age, size, weight, level of activity, professions etc.
We also both have high Lipoprotein A levels, a major risk factor for heart disease. He went on statins (low dose) in his late 30s because his LDL levels were stubbonly above normal despite radical diet changes. I did not (my LDL was just below high). Starting at age 52, I have had 4 stents and 2 heart attacks, (one was cardiac arrest -- NOT fun). His arteries are still quite clear, while my LAD was over 90% blocked, his is around 50%. He has no symptoms of any heart problems and is as active as 30 year old.
I wish wish wish I had been more proactive when I was younger and insisted on statins.
My cholesterol levels have always been good so never recommended to take statins. My family on both sides have all died from heart and circulatory issues so I have always been aware, good diet, reasonable exercise, minimal drink and never smoked. Then I had a stroke. Luckily thrombolised and no after effects but I was put on statins in hospital, subsequent investigation revealed Afib and DCM (caused by radiotherapy) my stroke was probably through Afib so I certainly won't stop the statin or the anti coag.
Although Cholesterol was not implicated in my HA, I was put on Atorvastatin as a precaution after I had stents fitted.
I thought I had got away with no side-effects, but a comment in a post here led to the conclusion that it was the likely cause of the Achilles Heel I'd had for more than a year. I was temporarily taken off them and am waiting for a decision on an alternative.
As others have said here, if the doctor has decided that statins are medically necessary for you, rather than an NHS box-ticking exercise, don't look out for side-effects but be prepared to ask for an alternative if the cheapest choice doesn't suit you.
The default one prescribed (Atorvastatin) is actually one of the most expensive ones 😉
Cost is not really a factor when statins are prescribed. The four most commonly prescribed statins each cost the NHS less than £2 per 28 course, and that includes Atorvastatin.
Hi Mdea yes statins are good at bringing your cholestrol under control.Would imagine people with high cholestrol are heading for a heart attack.I am on 5mg Rosuvastin which is mild and good on my stomach.
As many people on this forum are likely to be statin users at the request of their doctor, you are unlikely to receive a balanced view here about the pros and cons of the medication. You are right though to want to seek out more information about them. Personally I feel my quality of life is far greater without them.
Alfred, that is exactly where I am at the moment. Quality of life? Happily live alone and independent. Walk, swim etc. Fit at 71yrs. Life is good but have to pace myself. Posterior stroke diagnosed 4 weeks ago although not shown on scans. Have some thickening of the heart vessels shown on a routine scan in the Summer. Cholesterol 5.1 and diet reduced it to 4.1 in 2 months and continuing diet. Strongly advised to go on Statins, blood thinners and stomach protecting drugs. All 3 have potential side effects. Taking turmeric to thin blood. Asked for blood tests to check if I need actually blood thinners. Waiting for result. Stroke consultant said ‘High cholesterol does not cause strokes’. Tried statin and could hardly walk with hip joint pain. Never experienced before. Advised to stop and pain now absent. Advised to book appt with GP to discuss further. I am so confused at the differing opinions. I know my independence is fragile and I don’t want to end up unable to keep fit and restricted by pain. Not all statins stabilise the plaque too.
It would be interesting why you perceive your quality of life would be reduced if you took statins. I have taken statins for about 25 years and have no side effects, much the same as the other 90 to 95% of people who take them. Added to which if you do suffer side effects from one statin other statins are available which may not give side effects. In my case they have halved my total cholesterol from about 9 and without them I would be very likely to have no quality if life at all, as in I would not be alive at all.
Thankyou all for the replies. It is not a perceived idea that statins could alter the quality of my life. I took one for a week and could hardly walk with hip joint pain. Was advised to stop them immediately. The only reason I agreed to take them was to stabilise the plaque in my arteries. Only 2 types of statin do this! This does’t seem to be talked about. WHY not? My cholesterol levels are reducing well with good diet and exercise. You don’t need statins to reduce cholesterol if you are prepared to work on your diet and exercise. And my stroke consultant said high cholesterol [which I don’t have] doesn’t cause strokes. Seeing GP today for review. I asked for a blood test that showed my blood is not ‘sticky’ that could cause blood clots. So I don’t feel I need blood thinners either. I ask for blood tests to show if I need these drugs. Happy New Year.
Absolutely fine. Atorvastatin upset my stomach but simvastatin is fine. Have a look at this. It's by the BHF. youtube.com/watch?v=om7PnTd...
Hi, Many years ago, our then GP advised both my wife and I to start taking statins to help prevent Cholestral. He told us that everyone over 40 should start taking anti cholestral medication. At present I am taking Atorvastatin because of my Angina, but I was already taking medication to lower my choestral before I was diagnosed with it. Perhaps you could talk to your GP to ask why he wants you to take it.
bludnut
There is some interesting research regarding wider prescriptions of statins.
To be clear, taking statins will not prevent every repeat heart event, but statistically it makes a difference as much as lifestyle and diet changes. For me, more, because I already am on a good diet and have exercised my whole life. I see them as part of a package of doing everything I can to reduce my risk, or at least give me some warning signs before I keel over again with cardiac arrest!
Statins are a drug designed to reduce Cholesterol which has long been claimed to be a problem for the heart. So what you need is to establish is that statement in fact true if you believe it then go for the Statins other wise........?
As far as I can see the general opinion by many leading cardiologist is that in fact Cholesterol is not the problem that it has been made out to be.
Finally I read an article the other day that said that many heart attacks may well have been caused by prolonged use of statins which can promote calcification of the artery's.
Finally having read many articles and watched many Youtube videos my own opinion is that for most of us heart problems are a result of diet, and that obesity / Diabetes and IHD are two sides of the same coin.
Much advice that is given out on diets has more to do with not upsetting the processed food industry than it is to do with good heart health. e,g saturated fats are bad for you and sunflower oil is good for you. Saturated fats are not bad for you and Sunflower oil is good for you but only relative to some other industrially produced oils i.e corn oil or rape seed oil.
Very helpful. Thank you.
Hi, After some thought I recently agreed to start taking Atorvastatin, in my case to help slow down renal failure. Can't say if it will make any difference or not, but medics seem to think it's a positive move.
Hi, Mdea1988,
I had an unexpected heart attack in March 2022–one week after seeing my doctor for my annual checkup.
When I was discharged from the hospital, the doctors had prescribed various medications including Atorvastatin 80 mg. The hospital system also automatically made an appointment for me with my GP for one week after my discharge.
Honestly, I didn’t want to take a bunch of new medications without understanding more about each one and why I should be taking it—-especially since it would likely be the rest of my life. I contacted my GP and asked her, for example, to write a new prescription for the Atorvastatin—-lowering it to 20mg instead of the 80 mg. I continued to take 20 mg for about 4 months. I had been feeling like rubbish for those four months. My heart would race whenever I got up to walk even a short distance.
After four months, I saw a cardiologist because I didn’t think that I was honestly feeling any better. I had had tests, etc., but I was not learning what exactly had happened to me, why, and how to move forward. That doctor wanted to increase my Atorvastatin dosage, so I agreed to increasing to 40mg. daily. Plus, she increased my Metoprolol from 50mg to 75mg daily. The change in those two medications helped me to begin to improve.
Many people talk about the side effects of statins. Plus, I know that we are all different and our bodies can react differently to medications. I do sometimes have various muscle cramps and pains—probably a reaction to the statin—-but still tolerable for me.
An orthopedic doctor once told me that I needed to weigh the benefits of a drug that he was prescribing for me against the possible side effects of that drug. I knew what pain and suffering I was enduring without the medication, and he fully explained to me what side effects might occur with taking the medication. I had to decide whether the potential risk was worth the known benefits of that drug.
The Atorvastatin has lowered my cholesterol levels and, likely, reduced my chance of having a second HA. If I could go back to the day that I was discharged from the hospital, I would take the 80 mg. of Atorvastatin, and then have the dosage lowered after 6 months to a year of being on it. I believe that statins do help in avoiding potential HAs.
Best wishes to you in sorting out your medications and in feeling much better! ❤️
Statins save lives....that's official.
Hi after 2 stents I experimented with a couple types of statins with ezitimbe but finally stuck with rosuvastatin ( minimal side effects) not to mention every body is different. For me 5 mg daily keeps all lipid panel well under control and I am not regular 4-5 days a week is enough for me.
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