Has anyone here had problems with statins?? Am on 3rd lot-- Atorvastin affected my liver, Ezetimibe made me so tired couldn't do anything,now on rosuvastatin but feeling really tired again! I feel at 67 need a good quality of life and keep getting pressured to take these!
Statins!!: Has anyone here had problems... - British Heart Fou...
Statins!!
Written by
sandandkev
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
159 Replies
•
I’ve seen many comments on here about statins on the same lines as yours. There’s been, over the years, quite a bit of publicity about this too. There was a small research study that showed there was no difference, essentially, between those people who were on statins or a placebo.
However, saying that, it doesn’t stop YOU from feeling terrible on them!
NICE (National Institute for Clinical Evidence) has published a pathway that GPs can follow if their patients have problems tolerating them and you can read this on their website if you can struggle through the medical stuff.
The pharmacist attached to your doc’s group of surgeries should be well up on it all so if you phone the docs receptionist and ask for a phone appointment with him/her, they can advise the doctor - assuming that this is how the surgery works.
In the meantime do you need to tweak your diet and lifestyle? Get advice on this from the BHF website.
Only been on loads medication from 2022! Have lost 3 stone without trying and don't eat a lot of fatty stuff,but just feel what life I have left I need to enjoy
Indeed,,quality of life is crucial - and if your medicine needs tweaking to make it so, then don’t hesitate to ask!
Crestor usually causes the least amount of side effects but is usually given in too high a dose. Try 2.5 mg or 5 mg unless your doctor gives you s good reason to take more. Have you had AC adverse heart events previously? If not, then studies show that you don’t need s high dose. Plus, the benefits of preventing a heart even for someone with no previous events, is almost nil…like 4 extra days of life on average.
Statins do however, extend life, for those with apc, and on adt. Studies show that. I’ve shared that days numerous tubes in the past.
Are you sure that the stains are causing the fatigue?
It wasn't the statin it was ezetimibe that caused fatigue,wanted to stay off as atorvastin had caused liver probs
U sure the ezetimibe caused the tiredness?
I use Crestor. Many other cause me pain but not Crestor.
I was in with gp for something else and said about awful tiredness,she said ezetimibe can cause tiredness,so stopped it then and felt completely better within 24hrs,it was the only new medication I'd started
I feel very tired with fatigue also when I take ezetimibe
I stopped the ezetimibe and felt totally different in 12 hours,so refused to take it,I was waking up feeling like not been to sleep for weeks
Sorry, apc and adt?
Androgen deprivation treatment
Advanced Prostate cancer
Thank you. Best wishes .
There are a lot of studies too that say Statins have no real benefits in preventing ha and strokes there are some that say they are harmful in some cases. Wish they’d make their minds up.
it is so frustrating ! So many conflicting reports… the professionals don’t even agree. Where does that leave those of us taking them but wish we didn’t have to ?
I held off taking statins for a long time but my doctor kept insisting I need it to lower my cholesterol so I gave in and now I'm taking ezetimibe 10mg at night. I do feel lightheaded on mornings but I don't know if it's because of the ezetimibe or that and eliquis combined. Glad someone brought up this topic.
Hi I brought this up,but absolutely amazed at response!! Just shows though that so many people on here have had side effects,can you imagine the people out there who just put up with these effects because their gp told them they must take them
That's just not true. Large scale surveys in Europe and the USA show those on Statins live longer. My consultant recommended I take them after giving my brain an MRI scan. He said it would preserve my brain function longer. I'm over 80 now and still have a very good memory.
All the best.
Roy
People on lipophilic status have a much higher chance of Alzheimer’s and dementia than placebo. Hydrophilic statins do not cause dementia at all.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Im on Atorvastatin and it works for me.
Glad for you as that's the cheapest one for gp's to use,it made my liver tests go high,so not prepared to sacrifice my organs
I got told to take vitamin D for my liver. Which at the time I was already taking it. But take my statin at night now. As when taking in the morning, it affected my legs, making them extremely painful. Regards Dee.
Have always taken statin at night as hubby always did
Here's a link to the price of statins.leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...
All medication is offered, no one can ' force' you to take up the offer.
Your doctor is perhaps advising you to take statins to help prevent your mild coronary artery disease becoming worse.
Statins also reduce inflammation, help prevent even small areas of plaque breaking off and causing a heart attack.
Cost of statins.
I have a friend working in a gp's who told me exactly what they do
Is your friend a registered healthcare professional?
"they start you on cheapest and go on,but they are determined to put you on them!"
It's not entirely accurate to suggest patients are automatically prescribed the cheapest statin.
I am prescribed Rosuvastatin as the research suggests that anyone who has had a cardiac event should be offered a statin to reduce their LDL and total cholesterol levels.
It's your choice whether you decide to follow the evidence based advice by healthcare professionals or not.
You are started on Atorvastin the cheapest
Atorvastatin is not the cheapest statin, nor is everyone prescribed this statin initially.
I've just ended my 4th one! At this point I'm scared to try another one because each and everyone had side effects so bad that effected my life. I cannot not be able to walk with two young children! I had been battling hip pain, limping, referred for physio since March....and since summer holidays forgot to take a dose of ezetimibe and noticed the difference straight away. I now haven't been taking it for 3 weeks and feel like a new person. However from the last blood test my cholesterol was up from 4.7 to 5.2 so shows it wasn't even working!
Sounds like it is just trial and error to find which one works for everyone 😞
Hope you get to bottom of hip pain- it seems you have to go through so many departments to get an answer, it's definitely a money situation- they start you on cheapest and go on,but they are determined to put you on them! My heart from last year has managed to recover itself with my cholesterol about 5.5 but because I have mild coronary artery disease which is expected at 67! They have to get cholesterol to 2.6!! If that affects how I live then no!
Strange how assessments differ between different NHS locations, my cholesterol is 2.1, and he wants it down to 1.7 ! He bumped the statins up to 20mg
That sounds ridiculous to me! What will he do if you achieve 1.7? Increase the dose again??
This is the new advice for someone who has had a heart attack.My husband was prescribed Ezetimibe along with Rosuvastatin to further reduce his LDL cholesterol to 1.8 or below.
I haven't had a heart attack but I am involved in high intensity endurance sports, maybe they are just covering all their options with me!
Belts and braces!
A1c is not the target for statins. Cholesterol is.
Correct...A1c is for diabetes
I haven't had any pain so far, thank God, but it's frustrating to have your cholesterol go up instead of down.
I totally get where your coming from.. Atorvastatin made me so ill and the thoughts I was having were horrible, I stopped the statin and within 2 days I felt great... I'm now on Rosuvastatin 5mg , ill see how it goes..It baffles me when you read " most people tolerate statins really well" I'm obviously not one of those people like many others on here. Are you on a statin now?
Yes said I'd try rosuvastatin 10mg,but if affects me or liver then going to stop,due bloods next month
Earlier this year I was advised to take Atorvastatin 20mg. I did this with an open mind and for the first 8 weeks all was okay after that major side effects kicked in. I toughed it out until my first blood test at 12 weeks, the results were impressive I think my body had been rinsed of nearly all my cholesterol and triglycerides. I decided that maybe I needed a certain level of cholesterol to actually function so I gave them a break then started again. I cut the tablets in half and took one every other day. So far ok and will experiment by taking 10mg every week day and non at the weekend. Hopefully taking a low dose like this will be better than nothing. I will find out when I get another blood test.
Take it your liver results were also ok, I too am thinking of not taking them at weekends
Yes all my results were acceptable but the side effects were destroying my life. Just couldn’t face trying all the different options so happy with my decision at the moment to experiment with how I take them. Why people imply it is physiological just because they have encountered no problems puzzles me. My debilitating side effects took two months to go completely but I noticed an improvement in only two days. Also my two other meds were well established so it could only have been the statin.
Yes agree
I know we're talking about statins here, but this is how I feel about Eliquis. I simply couldn't function while on the full dose (5mgx2) so I began cutting the pill and taking a half dose. I still feel lightheaded but not as bad as when I was on the full dose. Why should we be taking meds that only make us feel worse instead of better? I'll be seeing my doctor in a couple days. I hope he doesn't insist I go back to the full dose, or worse, switch me to something with worse side effects.
Hi Calypso76, I think the problem you have is that Eliquis being a DOAC is only effective at the prescribed dose. I am on Edoxaban 60mg once a day and fortunately can tolerate it quite well. We are all in catch 22 being sometimes made miserable by the meds prescribed. I hope you are able to find a one that gives minimal side effects.
It depends on age,I'm now 67- all my family has passed at 79 so I don't know my life expectancy but what I have left don't want it governed by side effects of medication
It's getting the balance I think, why I can tolerate some meds and not others seems to be down to the prescribed dose. Last August after getting a definite diagnosis of AFib, had it probably for 5 years prior, I was given the go to drug Bisoprolol it caused me great harm because the dose was too high . Took a hospital admission while on holiday to rectify this, now on only 1.25mg instead of 5mg, even on this I go into bradycardia at rest so imagine what 5mg did. I reluctantly take the Edoxaban as both my mother and sister, also AFibbers, had strokes which I hope to avoid although no guarantees I guess.
Regards Kathleen
Thanks Oldforge73, all I want is something that will help me live as normal a life as possible, but from what I've been told Eliquis is only to prevent me from getting a stroke, not to make me feel better.
Hi, I was also put on 20mg Atorvastatin I did the same has you and stook it out for 12 weeks but the side affects were just too much so I stopped them, within 2 days I felt lots better... people who take statins and don't get side affects don't understand what it's like for the ones like us who do get them... I'm.on a different one now after having a 6 week break and my cholesterol going straight back up!
I think it’s indisputable that for some of us the side effects are appalling. Why this should be I can only conclude is that the deminishment of my cholesterol and triglycerides was detrimental to my well being. I am continuing to take small amounts, 10mg every other day , as I don’t want to try any other ones. I never want to feel as awful again.
I'm on Rosuvastatin 5mg every other day, I'm supposed to start everyday from tomorrow but I'm not going to ,I'm staying on every other day for a couple of weeks ... iv been told if this one doesn't suit i can't try any others the next step will be injection, which I would not agree to if I'm.honest ....
Nah! don't take the stupid things, I have diabetes 2, but before that my weight was a bit OTT, I originally was on four different different tablets, after three months on statins, 10 different tablets, side effects, reactions, I stopped them myself , good job!👍 five years later officially got diabetes 2, too much sugar in my liver, again statins threatened, lost 2 stone, politely told GP diabetes 'specialist'😝
I do think these gps are governed on age,condition and money- not necessarily in that order!! I have told pharmacist at surgery will not take if affects me- life is too short at my age so need to be able to live it
Exactly 💯
Good for you!! They don't like it when we take control- but it's our bodies! Our lives
i found Atorvastatin gave me guts ache. Having diverticulitis disease as well as heart problems its not funny. Dr. Switched me to 1 a week rosuvastatin no more problems that i noticed
Has the Rosuvastatin once weekly made any difference to your cholesterol results please
My cholesterol is at normal level on my last blood tests in May.
I also have an under active thyroid , heard someone else who has it and has had an mi, his level was like mine at the time of my mi. Seems low thyoriod function also increases cholesterol build up.??
Ezetimibe is not a stating.
No its not but its side effects are similar,I felt hadn't slept for weeks every morning!
Maybe. But it's not a statin and does not act on the liver. It lowers cholesterol.
I know but as stopped that one am being persuaded to try another statin and by the replies I've had the side effects out weigh quality of life
My liver couldn’t tolerate Atorvastatin either. My GP now has now started me on Rosuvastatin; 1 on alternate days (cardiologist was surprised as the normal dose is 1 daily).
I was trying to avoid a statin. My cholesterol was in the normal range but I changed my mind when some plaque showed up on a CT scan.
Hi . I am in the same boat as you. Atorvastatin for 18 months gave too much pain. Was not enjoying life. Then I stopped them. My quality of life dramatically improved. For the the first time since my HA I was enjoying life again. I even went on holiday. First one in 4 years. I am taking Ezitembe now but not every day. When I take them it makes me so v tired though. My cholesterol levels haven't gone down however.
Ezetimibe gave me awful fatigue,when I stopped it I felt a totally different person,it's awful how these drugs can affect your life
Statins aren't to reduce cholesterol they are to avoid plaque buid up in arteries.
All the best.
Roy
• in reply toRoyMacDonald
Hi Roy you are correct. They reduce the risk of fatty plaques breaking off from walls of your arteries. They are also used for:Statins are a class of medicines used to lower cholesterol. While some of the cholesterol in your blood comes from food, most is made by the liver. Statins work by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by the liver and helping the liver remove cholesterol that is already in the blood. So that's why people need to take them when they have high colesterol. ❤
RoyMacDonald• in reply to
I'm not taking them to lower cholesterol as I have extremely low levels of cholesterol so my liver must never have been producing high levels of cholesterol regardless of my diet. Every GP I've ever had has commented how low my levels are when I've had a blood test. They all say it's the lowest they've ever seen. Guess that's why I thought statins didn't lower cholesterol. Thanks for the info.
All the best.
Roy
• in reply toRoyMacDonald
Your welcome❤
They’re for cholesterol and for hardening/stabilizing the plaque. Not removing it.
taking station so far so good, no side effect
hi after my HA I was prescribed statins. I had so many problems with them. Eventually I was prescribed Rosuvastatin 5mg by my consultant. After everything settled down they suited me. He said they are the best statins you can take. Obviously your medical team feel you need to take them, so maybe give them a chance. I wish you well. Also statins should be taken in the evening.
OldaYoda• in reply to
monomial gives me a headache, statins seem fine for me!
Badger2024• in reply to
I take Rosuvastatin too with no side effects. I wasn’t told it should be taken in the evening. Do you know what the reason is?
• in reply toBadger2024
Hi Badger 2024 my consultant said your body makes most cholesterol at night. I hope that helps.❤
Badger2024• in reply to
Thanks for quick response. That makes sense but I always thought that statins were more about stabilising plaque already in your arteries rather than actually reducing cholesterol. Perhaps it does both
• in reply toBadger2024
You are correct they are used to stop fatty build up in your arteries. But also used if you have high colesterol: Statins are a class of medicines used to lower cholesterol. While some of the cholesterol in your blood comes from food, most is made by the liver. Statins work by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by the liver and helping the liver remove cholesterol that is already in the blood. I'm told your liver is at its most active while we are a sleep.❤
Badger2024• in reply to
Thanks so much. I’m going to switch to taking them at night from now on
• in reply toBadger2024
Apparently advisable to take at the same time every evening. Take care ❤
Most statind cause muscle pain so better taken at night
I have tried statins which have also had side effects so have now gone on to plant sterols which have reduced my cholesterol and no problems from them.
Statins aren't to reduce cholesterol they are to avoid plaque buildup in arteries. I have very low cholesterol.
All the best.
Roy
I was going to ask a similar question. I'm on Atorvastin and a cocktail of other meds leading up to my CABG in a couple of weeks. But something giving me bad headaches all day and paracetamol doesn't help. I'm going to stagger my meds a bit to see if I can pin it down. I want to go into the op as fit as I can.
hi - I’ve had 10 years of cholesterol reducing drugs from Atorvastatin to Incliseran everything causes me terrible side affects - especially migraine and IBS but I’ve also been on a plant based fat free diet which keeps the LDL down too. Have you tried Esselstyn’s Heart Disease Proof? dresselstyn.com/site/
Please unless you are high-risk Statin medication is not appropriate and they will kill you one cell at a time. I have Statin induced peripheral neuropathy. There is no cure for this affliction in the world as I have even consulted with the famed Mayo Clinic for this affliction. Please research Dr Kendrick/Dr Aseem Malhotra and many more doctors will tell you 'High Cholesterol' is not a heart risk. Statistics show that people with low cholesterol are more likely to suffer a heart event than patients with high cholesterol and also have higher immune systems. The Japanese have the highest cholesterol readings of any Nation in the world but the lowest incidence of Heart Attack and Stroke. Please have a cholesterol check performed to analyze your L.D.L part A and the Lipaprotien part B, if you have no part B which is inflammation, you have no heart risk irrespective of your total L.D.L.
Statins aren't to reduce cholesterol they are to avoid plaque buildup in arteries. I have very low cholesterol.
All the best.
Roy
Is there a link to research on this from a reputable organisation like the Mayo Clinic rather than a cardiologist who has written a book?
I’ve been on Atorvastatin and Simvastatin and both gave me issues.
When I had my HA hospital started me on Ezetimibe and then added Rosuvastatin when I was discharged. No issue at all now.
As for tiredness I’m told that the slight tiredness I do feel at times is down to a beta blocker I’m on.
If you are unable to tolerate statins or Ezetimibe there are still medication options available from you to manage your cholesterol. The NICE 'Statin Intolerance Pathway' which seems to be applicable in your case mentions Inclisiran and PCSK9i as options which your health professionals could consider, and if you qualify and you don't get side effects and they work that is a good outcome. Nonetheless the bottom line is if medication to control lipids is giving you side effects which adversely affect your quality of life on a daily basis, that has to be balanced against the reduction in heart health risk which medication undoubtedly brings. And so to some extent governed by your 'natural unmedicated' lipid profile and perhaps your age , the choice is yours in the end, as I am sure you are only too well aware. I hope you find a solution that sits well with you.
I was offered Inclisiran, but the NHS website said there was a 1 in 5 chance of respiratory problems. At the same time a BMJ article was saying reducing cholesterol generally gives a 2% improvement in life-expectancy. Since I already have asthma, those odds weren't worth the bet.
Please link the NHS website that indicates there is 1:5 chance of inclisiran inducing respiratory problems. The only information I can find is it is 'well tolerated' in trials, plus common side effects affecting up to 1 in 10 people are injection site reactions, such as pain, redness or rash, and cautionary notes for those on dialysis, or those who have severe liver or kidney disease.
As far as a blanket 2% 'one size fits' all for life expectancy increase I find that difficult to understand. Surely if you have very high natural cholesterol and therefore take statins like me, life expectancy is far more likely to be increased compared to someone who already has cholesterol well within current norms and may only be on a low dose statin or perhaps takes nothing at all. In short we all have different life expectancy relative to cholesterol and our dose and subsequent reaction to taking statins to control it.
NHS searches are only giving me publicity pieces today, but this is BHF info:
I took both those statins, after about 10 neither suited me so i stopped taking them, had my cholesterol checked, it was below the required leval and i am still alive and feel great.
i was on atorvastatin for 2 years then suffered with leaden legs. Swapped to Rosuvastatin which gave muscle pain at top of legs and arms. Now trying Simvaststin but too early to know result
You could be incorrectly associating your symptoms with the statins. I initially avoided them due to the bad publicity which does not help with your sense of wellbeing. I've been on them a while now, and I can't say I have any side effects. I have other issues such as Sleep Apnoea which was undiagnosed and is the cause of my tiredness.
As the statin was the only new drug taking at the time,it was obvious the cause
I have Angina. 64. I had significant joint pains on statins . Changed to low dose Atorvastin every second day and absolutely fine for two years now. Blood tests all good. Cholesterol down from 5.5 to 4.5.
I have tried various statins over the years and do not tolerate them. Even tried the injections again could not tolerate. Last year went dairy free and within 6 months levels went from 7.4 to 5.4. At suggestion of GP I only take Rosuvastatin 5mg 3 days a week as that I can tolerate. It is a token gesture really.
My cholesterol is 5.3 but the drs want it at 2.6
That is way too low! You need cholesterol for many functions in the body, it shouldn't be so low, that is very dangerous, what are the doctors thinking?!!! 😱
Hello, sorry to hear of your problems. I too had a reaction to statins. The GP prescribed Bezafibrates instead, which I have been taking for years. It doesn’t lower your cholesterol as much as statins, but it has brought mine down to a level the GP is happy with. We are all different, but talk to your GP or Surgery Pharmasist, I’m sure there must be a suitable medication for you. All the best.
Hi sandandkev, Snap, atorvastin mucked up my liver, rosuvastatin gave me muscle pain in myright shoulder/chest.Put on ezetimibe gave me jaw and tooth ache. Am now on Praluent injection by epicentre every 2 weeks (with something called pcsk9)- so far no side effects.I'll never go back to stating too much controversy about them,
Hi, I had issues with 80mg artovastatin, zombie episodes , completely out of it , cognitive impairment, pains in my joints, my blood pressure would drop from 215/75 to 100/60 , a whole list of ailments that I couldn’t tolerate about 4 months post quadruple bypass surgery after Nstemi heart attack July 2023. I managed to get a locum to agree to stop taking the statin for a trial period. Everyone kept saying that the statin wouldn’t make my blood pressure drop.. I stopped taking it for over a month (I couldn’t get a GP appointment to review meds 🤦🏼) and I felt fat. I achieved 5k running goals and doing Parkrun and some trails. Eventually saw my GP and was started on 40mg pravastatin and within a week I had the same zombie episodes back .. now on 10mg rosuvastatin and my cholesterol stats are on point and no zombie spot. My GP thought the statins were reacting with my other meds , 1.25mg bisoprolol, half a 1.25mg ramipril, pantoprazole, aspirin and was in clopidogrel.
I’m happy to stay on rosuvastatin and titrate dose upward if necessary. If I have regularly zombie episodes again I will pursue other options , maybe try stopping bisoprolol etc. however, I am pleased at the moment.
I also had the statin /placebo scenario crop up when I posted , it’s all interesting stuff but doesn’t help resolve individual cases .
I was happy to try a lower dose of artovastatin but my GP was against it 🤷.
I was prescribed rosuvastatin by the hospital lipid clinic but I had a bad skin reaction and felt really unwell for a few months whilst taking it. Turns out I can’t take statins.
The hospital prescribed a newer non statin called Bempedoic Acid which works differently in the body. I’ve been on it for nearly 2 years without side effects and my cholesterol level has halved. It is more expensive than a statin but if you keep having bad side effects from statins your GP could consider prescribing Bempedoic Acid.
I have tried quite a few but I find rosuvastatin has the least side effects
I've tried lots of different statins but all of them have side effects. I've just been diagnosed with severe Cerebral Small Vessel Disease. Its a thinning of the blood vessels in the brain leading to lack of oxygen to the brain. I'm supposed to be taking pravastatin as that's supposed to be the one with least side effects but even they make me feel dizzy and weird. My GP told me some people are statin intolerant and there are now other cholesterol drugs available that I can try, but I read a book by a heart doctor who said cholesterol is not what causes damage to arteries its stress. Statins don't do anything other than they have a slight blood thinning property, they have been promoted by the big pharma companies to make money.Stress damages the endothelial cells lining your arteries. Over time it builds up and causes oroblems. Eating while stressed is apparently very bad for you as your fight of flight system clashes with your digestive system and results in fat being laid down in body.
Yes, I do believe it is all down to money. Everyone becomes an income stream towards the pharmaceutical businesses. There's an interesting history surrounding statins etc...
I've been on statins for a long time, did not stop me getting HA. My cholesterol always around 6, until recently, along with heart meds and increased Lipitor(80mg)/day, now cholesterol down to 3.
Also dietary changes and reduced weight by 0.5kg-very difficult to do and maintain! No other problems so far. But how do you know it's affected your liver?
hi sandandkev, yes, I’ve had problems with statins too, so I stopped taking them. I have PAF and stable angina. I try to eat healthily, exercise and avoid getting stressed! Good luck.
I'm on atorvastatin 40mg, but don't feel tired just breathless but that's caused by my condition . Ischeamic heart disease
My cholesterol had been creeping up and last year was 5.2 but I was reluctant to add statins to my list of medications so I did all the usual things. Cut down the saturated fat etc. did more exercise but 6 months later it was up to 5.9. So reluctantly I agreed with the practice nurse that at 75 years old it was only going to keep rising. She prescribed Ezetemibe as apparently I wasn't able to be prescribed statins for some reason. I have HOCM and take Diltiazem, Furosemide, Apixaban. After 2 months of taking Ezetemibe I felt ok except that it made my constipation worse. Then for some reason the Ezetemibe became impossible to obtain, the stocks of it had run out, so my GP substituted Bempedoic Acid which I've been on now for 10 months. My cholesterol is now down to 4.6. No side effects at all.
I was on statins for years and they did very little regarding my cholesterol levels but I didn't like the side effects and I knew they could damage my liver. I finally quite taking them when I found a study and not by some alternative med thing. Can't remember who did it (read it years ago) but I remember it was from a well known medical group. They said Bergamot Extract would help. They had tried several different doses and found that 1500 mg (generally 3 caps) was a therapeutic dose, less didn't work. For some it didn't do much for others quite a bit. I went on it for a few months and my triglycerides and LDL levels dropped into the normal range for the first time in over 10 years. High normal but still in the normal range. I have kept on it for a few years now and my levels have come down more. Every time I go off for too long they go back up some. I never used to want to take supplements but these worked for me and I have no side effects from them.
My mum tried 3 different statins and none agreed with her. She was very tired too but also lost her sense of taste & smell and its never recovered. She hasn't taken statins for over 10yrs now and has been fine. Monitored of course by GP.
I read that Statins lower the production of COQ10, which is an essential chemical in the human body that helps vital cellular functions and lack of this can cause a lot of the side effects some people get when taking Statins. I read that Doctors ought to prescribe this with Statins and of course they won’t do that. I started taking them when I started on Atorvastatin and have never had a problem. It might be worth trying them. You’ll get all the information about them if you Google it.
Hi and sorry to hear you are having these issues. I am on Rosuvastatin fairly recently and suffering fatigue. I am an insomniac anyway so don't need anything extra there! I am on other meds too. I had a very long and helpful conversation with a pharmacist not connected to my surgery recently and she said the most likely culprit is the statin. She has suggested coming off for two weeks to establish whether it definitely is . Also mentioned taking vitamin b3 (niacin) instead of statins. However obviously you would discuss that with your GP first. Not saying that is the answer but maybe worth looking at. Good luck !
My wife tried two statins and neither of them suited her they made her really ill. She was then put on Ezetimibe which she could tolerate, last year she was told that Ezetimibe on it's own was not dropping her levels enough so she's now on Nustendi started it last November and so far she's been OK. Are the side effects worth putting up with if the medication is doing a good job.
My story advised to take statins 25 years ago when diagnosed diabetes type2. Never did 25 years later age 76 had a heart attack LAD blocked 95% RCA blocked 75%. I now take rosuvastatin no problems. Our friends around the same age take statins and have not had a heart attack like me.
I’ve had no problems with simvastatin 20mg but in the very early days on it I was put on 40mg and I felt pretty awful (but no idea if that was related to the simvastatin). So would it be an idea to consult your doctor about whether the dose could be lowered? I know it will depend on your cholesterol level etc but might be something to think about.
me too. Stopped them two years ago. Take fish oil with a plant sterol in now.
Had problems with statins for 10 years now, only didn't know it was the statin pains in shoulders and back the worst thing was the way i felt irritability anxiety depression sleep problems stopped doing anything and seeing people thought i was going mad seen doctors and got no help and because the way i felt couldn't motivate my self to keep going doctors after they made me feel there was nothing wrong with me it was only 6 months ago had to go in hospital changed some meds told me stop taking statins for 3weeks well never i felt so good first thing thing i noticed is shoulders stopped aching now I'm going gym 4 times a week got my social life back life is good, cardiologist told me take 5mg rosuvastatin once a week i wish i could take them every day don't fancy another heart attack but at 69 need to start living .sorry about grammar not to good at this thing but feel i had to comment, most people i know don't have any problem with statins 👍
Hi,When you say you keep getting pressured to take these? Are they prescribed for a specific reason? In my case I take statins because I had 3 heart attacks and a double cabg last year. I know what they are for and how very important they are ( for me) I am very lucky that I have had no problem with them ( atorvastatin) , only slight constipation which is easily managed. It really depends on why you are being asked to take them and how.portant you think it is that you should? In my case I would not consider not taking them,but then I've been very poorly with heart related issues for the past 3 years. I hope you manage to get things sorted out.
I have a large hole in my heart,didn't know about it- and mild coronary artery disease which at my age is expected and since all this want me on statins
My husband has had problems. One lot we thought he was getting dementia. Others have caused borderline type 2 diabetes and now has Kidney disease. I also had joint problems so came off them. I just lower my cholesterol using diet now. I was told by the nurse Omega 3 helps and that has now appeared in the BHF magazine.
Hi, your reply is interesting. I’ve recently had a very mild stroke (no discernible after effects). They now want me on statins which I really don’t want to take because of all the bad stuff associated with it and I have numerous other illnesses that I take a lot of medication for. The inference is that it will bring down my cholesterol. However, my bad cholesterol levels were 3.7 four weeks ago so I changed my diet (which wasn’t too horrific to begin with) eating plant sterols, cutting down on my red meat and high fat dairy consumption. It’s dropped to 3.1 so going in the right direction. I’ve taken Omega3’s for years. I now need to up my exercise levels as a next step. I’m fairly confident that I can bring my bad cholesterol levels down further and I’m encouraged to see people like yourself achieving that goal. Do you have any further advice or suggestions?
hi sandandkev . You are among quite a few people with similar problems with statins. In a perfect world they are the answer to your cholesterol but not for us. Many will say there will be on you can take keep trying. I had muscle wastage “ rhabidmyolosis” and was told I am severely allergic to statins. And yet others till tell me I’m wrong. I hope you will be different and find one that suits you. I also am taking g esetimibe my first blood test for a year has just been taken so I’ll soon know if it’s suitable or not. Very hard to put point reactions to meds but we will see. Wishing you much luck
I couldn't take atorvastatin but simvastatin is fine. I did think it could be making my spinal pain worse so my GP stopped it for a while. It made no difference.
I started on leqvio. It is a shot every 6 months. Reduced my chlorestrol from 210 to 155. No real side effects. Statins made me tired and gave muscle aches.
A lot of your replies basically cover lots of different experiences from Statins. I too have had many varieties of Statins and I’ve not been able to tolerate any and after 4 years I still have cough from Ramipril so I would avoid this statin. As an alternative I found a just an alternative which helps reduce cholesterol however it is not one that GPs would provide. So I’ve been taking Sterols for nearly 18 months now and my cholesterol has reduced due to the way the tablets work. There is lots of information so if you are interested in trying just Google Sterols. It works for me , no side effects and I’m happy with it.
I too am on Atorvastatin and I now have chronic kidney disease which is I believe down to meds. I also now have type 2 diabetes again I believe down to meds, I have constant dry mouth which is making my teeth rot and that according to dentist is also a result of meds? I had no problems until I was put on this cocktail after a mild HA six years ago. I also take Ezetimibe so I believe one or some of my meds are making me feel awful daily. Oh and tinitus now too which again according to consultant is also meds related?! What to do?? So yes I understand your issues as what to do about statins?
Sorry to hear. Have you been able to narrow down the culprit to statins? This is the biggest problem for both doctors and patients especially where several medicines are ingested.
Hi, remember it is your body, your choice what you put into it, I prefer quality of life. And all drugs have side effects, it is in the nature of it being a 'chemical' that is not made naturally by the body or made in nature. There are other things you can do to take care of cholesterol, blood vessels and heart. Eg the mediterranean diet, this book is worth a look by a cardiologist: amazon.co.uk/Pioppi-Diet-21... Enjoying life is important for health and longevity too.
Yes quality of life means a lot to me too
I too had a bad reaction to Atorvastin, leg swelling and pain, I grew almost breasts, and generally felt unwell. They even thought I had a DVT - fortunately not. We agreed I should just stop taking it, and the problems went away.
However my Cholesterol still remained high, but not too high. I had a drug review with the clinical pharmacist at our GP practice and he suggested a different treatment,
So I am now on Inclisiran, given as an injection initially and then another after3 months (with a blood test to check cholesterol) and then every 6 months. So far no side effects or reactions.
Checked the drug in the BNF, and no contraindications, reactions, or side effects. Known.
This seems to be the way to go if you have a reaction to Statins.
wow so many responses ! I have high cholesterol but my liver doesn' tolerate the statins I've been prescribed upto now and are those mentioned in previous replies, i have however been taking Ezitembi, with so far, no side effects. I am not overweight and on the whole eat well, avoiding fatty and fast foods, try to get my five a day and have the occasional glass of wine or gin and tonic. There are some of us who are never going to be able to reduce our cholesterol levels by diet alone, I would be more than happy to find a statin that my liver could tolerate ; I personally think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages
Glad you can take ezetimibe,it just made me feel every morning that I hadn't slept for weeks! As soon as stopped felt great,we're all different thank goodness and I can't believe all the replies
Pitavastatin - I'm loving it. Simvastatin made me feel like I was starving all the time and caused me slight muscle pain in thighs, which I had though was normal muscle fatigue until I switched to pitavastatin and it went away. After reading all these posts, I guess I'm quite lucky.
Atorvastin made me seriously suicidal. Not joking!! or embellishing !!!Best thing I did stopping them.
But still got pressure to have Statins restarted.
No way
Hi, iv just read your post and I can say I know exactly where your coming from, I was on 20mg Atorvastatin and felt exactly the same has you, I would sit and cry and think why am I here.... iv never ever had problems with mental health so I knew it was the statin , stopped them and felt normal again but my cholesterol went up so I'm.now on Rosuvastatin, i was OK until day 12 and I now have the worst headache ever, iv stopped it for a couple of days to give me some relief
I really feel for you, having been down that road.I became a grapefruit junky after stopping the Statins and found that grapefruit lowers cholesterol and BP and has something that's an anti-anxiety chemical.
Just felt considerably better, had a fresher mouth, without that statin mouth coating that I had.
Mentally felt sharper, maybe because I'd got off that statin, but coincidentally after a bowl of grapefruit.
Not suggesting you follow, it's not advice, and my personal findings.
Get a more balanced information from the internet about Statins, I did.
But I'm backing my decision with my life.
But as I pointed out to Drs, it was no life, so I'll pay that cost willingly rather than suffering for years in a stupor.
So glad to see someone else who values quality of life too, I love grapefruit but not had it due to statins,so thanks for info
IfThree years of Simvastatin nearly crippled me. Quit, and the shoulder, hip, hand and wrist pains disappeared. Three long years without any reduction in my cholesterol readings.
Five years after ending that nightmare, every single pain I had experienced under Simvastatin returned, all at once. Diagnosed as Polymyalgia Rheumatica. PMR. Look it on Health Unlocked. You will see that almost every member on that thread are currently taking statins. Then make your own judgement whether you are going to continue to take this “miracle drug” that all physicians are saying should be taken like candy.
I have been on Simvastatin for a year or so. Was on Atvorstatin, which gave me constipation. Because I was started on a number of medications at the same time, I'm not sure I can distinguish the different effects. Would prefer not to take them but cardiologists say yes
I am not too sure about the research, but my experience was not in my head or imagined.
I was ill. I had violent headaches, which started at night that lasted all night into the morning, which had a knock on effect to my sleep and working day.
I had cramps in my legs, which randomly started for no known reason. I had a reduction in dose from 80 mg to 40 mg, and then to 20 mg, by then my body couldn’t cope with statins.
I tried Rouvastin and still no let up from the symptoms.
Ezetimibe, was the worst tablet I have ever taken, my legs, arms and chest accompanied by a headache, throbbed beyond belief, my cardiac nurse told me not to take another tablet.
That said, I am now on twice a year injections, Inclisiran.284mg/1.5ml, which has work a treat,no side effects noted and cholesterol levels are at its best.
Statins need an over haul, I know they are supposed to help, but those side effects are real and around for years. I am not sure how many people are needed for their research, before they get, it really does not work for a lot of people. It would be interesting to see the numbers.
For over 25 years now I have been on low dose (5 mg) statins. I have had no kidney or liver problems. However I cannot attribute directly to statins the fatigue I have been suffering from for decades. I went off statins for three months with no change in my fatigue but my cholesterol levels began increasing gradually and now I am back on them and none the worse . Ofcourse I do understand that we all react differently to medications.
I've been on Atorvastatin since 2018 and not had any problems, sorry I can't help you
Hi, I tried 4 kinds over 2 years, with bad effects, made muscles rot. Ezitimibe irritated my gut, so have lost stone and half, getting cholesterol down from 6.7 to 6. Another half stone to go. Hope it drops a bit more. Suspect expected levels are a bit optimistic, you do need some cholesterol for your brain and hormones.
Statins should always be taken in the evening and the pharmacy label should say that, as well as the leaflet inside the pack. I'm surprised people did not know this. I have Simvastatin and would love to be rid of it. I've no idea what my LDL Cholesterol reading is. I find the Statin may give a sore neck, shoulders or arm joints. It's hard to be certain as I have other conditions which could cause the same.
Recently learned I have Stage 3a Chronic Kidney Disease. Different doctor so maybe the usual ones would not have told me. I've convinced that the cocktail of medicines I btake are the cause, so much so, I've reduced two so far but I'm not telling them in case I need to go back.
You should have regular 3 monthly bloods done for statins,and at least regular bloods done so your cholesterol will be on there,just access your notes
Should have but nothing said about that. It was annual tests before the CKD. I'm half expecting 6 monthly now but again the doctor only said I'd receive a call when it was time for tests. The primary care sector is a shambles. They never did do purely Statin based tests. I think I'm doing everything myself to reduce cholesterol and keep veins and arteries clear of plaque. I haven't actually seen a doctor in the flesh since before Covid. I used to have a Professor's personal phone on speed dial, cutting out GPs, but alas he is gone. Changed days!
I've had regular blood tests on statins which is how found out liver was affected, am due a blood test Oct as it will be 3 months on this latest statin and if liver affected again will be stopping them
HUModeratorAdministrator
Hi sandandkev,
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 or advising others to do the same, without speaking to a health professional first.
Many thanks.
I understand that there is now zero evidence that statins do anything of benefit by way of reducing cholesterol. The emerging area for research is whether cholesterol is present in order to carry out repairs since it is the "scaffolding" of the cells.
Also there are very few studies carried out using female subjects or female tissues, organs, blood, cells etc. in relation to the heat and circulation, so the findings almost exclusively relate to men and we don't actually know about women's bodies.
I wouldn't go near a statin if I was paid.
That's interesting thank you
That is the conclusion that I have come to.Too many other needed things are stopped along with cholesterol. Our brains need cholesterol to function.
One analogy I found was.
Fireman are the cause of fires, because if there is a fire you see firemen there.
Just because cholesterol is found, doesn't mean it's the cause. It's a transportation vessel for other things.
I think NHS doctors have to follow a flow chart that is out of date from new research findings.
Only way is to take some responsibility for yourself and do some harm/benefit analysis.
That's a great analogy. I'm seeing this play out in L o n g C o v i d research where researchers are generally cautious not to confuse the members of the "fire crew" with the "fires." In the same context it's been an eye opener to learn more about how drugs are created and purposed or repurposed and invariably for profit rather than altruistic motives.
You're right about the flow charts. I've met a couple of doctors I can respect, but most of my experience of NHS doctors is they're still following the equivalent of the water cycle 1.0 as taught in med school; and they deny the existence of water cycle 4.1.1 which includes cloud seeding, nanotechnology, chemical particulates causing acid rain etc.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Most of the GPs at my surgery are hopelessly out of date to the extent that sometimes I've been pushed to print the current NICE guideline and highlight the relevant parts.
The only issue with statins - for me - was it was tipping me towards diabetes so reduced dose to 40mg from 80.
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Statins
Prior to my (surprise) heart attack on 20th March I was on Simvastatin but after my procedure was...
Statins.
I recently stopped taking my statin as I found a definite correlation between how well I slept. I...
Stopping Statins
hi guys after a year last year, of frightening chest pains and ? Heart attacks, going through...
Statins
I was told by letter last week I have moderate coronary heart disease and pericardial effusion...
Statins
Hi been on statins for 2 months iam not tolerating them .woke up dizzy .my aching arms and hips not...
statins
Statins 
Statins
Statins 
Statins
