I am an 87-year-old male and was routinely put on the maximum 80mg daily dose of atorvastatin following treatment for calcified arteries 4 years ago, even though my total cholesterol had always been below the recommended maximum of 5.0.
I escaped serious difficulty for 2 years, but the past 2 years have been hell with severe muscle pain at the top of one leg, and brain fog.
I unilaterally took myself off all statins and after 2 months my quality of life is now back.
My understanding is that statins are a powerful drug that stop the liver producing the healthy cholesterol the brain, heart, and liver need to function normally. Most people can control their cholesterol level by sensible diet.
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soserene
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I am fairly new to all this, after a sudden major heart attack 2 months ago. My cholesterol level was below 5.0, and I was initially put on a moderate 40mg dose of atorvastatin together with all the other standard pills given after a heart attack.
My understanding is that statins reduce the amount of cholesterol made in the liver, and so cholesterol is then taken out of the blood to make bile, so reducing the blood cholesterol levels. From what I’ve read, they reduce LDL and can slightly increase HDL. They reduce by up to 50%, but don’t ‘stop the liver producing healthy cholesterol’. Statins also have an anti-inflammatory effect - and that’s why I suggested to my cardiologist that I be put on the full 80mg dose (that, and the fact that he had no idea why I’d been put on just 40mg in the first place), as inflammation might explain a big heart attack with minor atheroma.
Having started with total cholesterol of 4.3, and reduced my saturated fat intake to well under 20g per day, on top of the maximum statin dose, I feel I must have crashed my cholesterol. ..but hopefully more the LDL than the HDL.
Different individuals react differently to different medications. But I won’t be stopping taking any of these chemicals, unless directed to by a medical expert who knows much more than I do about the best way to recover from a heart attack and reduce the chance of another.
You clearly have studied the subject much more deeply than I have.
I am just blundering around in the dark really. All I know is that I don’t trust the pharmaceutical industry and my quality of life is suddenly much better without statins than with. But if I suffer a major heart attack next week, I might well die to regret it…
I had better discuss the subject with my cardiologist and take some expert advice.
I understand that statins also stabilise any plaque in the arteries, so wise course is to discuss with your medic. I have been on the high dose for 6 years now.
There is no evidence showing increase in longevity as a result of taking statins, but there is evidence of the mega profits made from them by drug companies. My Dr told me when I first met him that he could only dicuss one problem per visit. Several months later he wanted me to visit so he could put me on statins and clopidogrial. Had he read my notes he would have realised that I had a massive internal bleed last time is was on this antiplatelet, showing that his motivation was driven by a visit from the drug companies.
It does make you wonder. I had angioplasty (routine before valve op) which identified "mild furring" of one artery, have LDL cholesterol and was put on atorvastatin and aspirin. Normal procedure the cardiology registrar told me when I asked. I'm just amazed that neither of these meds or the other seven that I take regularly cause any side effects.
Researchers found that adults who reported taking statins as prescribed with a very healthy lifestyle had the lowest risk for all-cause mortality (HR = 0.7; 95% CI, 0.57-0.87) and CV mortality (HR = 0.56; 95% CI, 0.4-0.79) compared with statin nonusers with an unhealthy lifestyle. Those taking a statin but with an unhealthy lifestyle saw no significant reduction in risk for all-cause mortality or CV mortality. Results persisted in analyses stratified by sex.
High-risk participants taking statins and with a very healthy lifestyle had the highest years of life gained, with a median of 5.9 years at age 35 years (95% CI, 4.14-7.67; P < .001) compared with nonstatin users at high risk with an unhealthy lifestyle. Additionally, those at high risk who took statins and had a very healthy lifestyle had a life expectancy comparable to those with a very healthy lifestyle without high risk.
“The combination of preventive medication use and adhering to multiple healthy lifestyles was significantly associated with a lower risk of all-cause and CVD mortality, as well as having remarkable benefits in life expectancy. These findings highlight the importance of the combination of preventive medication use and adherence to healthy lifestyles to reduce mortality risk and increase life expectancy for people with high CVD risk
Whilst your quality of life has returned having stopped the atorvastatin you were taking, your heart health risk had now gone up. You were likely prescribed a statin since not only does it give a better lipid profile, but it also stabilses existing arterial plaque reducing the risk of bits falling off and causing blockages leading to strokes and heart attacks. Unfortunately in your case you have had muscle aches and pains which are a side effect experienced by less than 10% of users. However just because one statin gives you side effects does not mean they all will and there are others available to try . Rosuvastatin seems to be a popular alternative which people switch to without side effects. But if you are statin intolerant there is other medication available like ezetimibe to try. So I suggest you return to your GP to discuss your options. And as far as diet is concerned whereas it will help to give you a better lipid profile to some extent it is for life and any relaxation means your lipid profile goes back to where it was, and diet and lifestyle will certainly not achieve the same outcome that medication will achieve with perhaps a more relaxed approach to diet and lifestyle.
I'm sure that is sage advice. I'll get back to my GP and cardiologist. But I'm very determined to maintain a sensible balance between of quality and quantity of life, which doesn’t always seem to be the main concern of the medical professions.
There are several other statins which don't cause any problems. My husband had dreadful pain from atorvastatin. i also had to change it. Simvastatin has no ill effects for me but I believe rosuvastatin has even better reports.
He is 87 years old. He has lived this long and now we want to reduce his "risk" with a statin? Risk is a word thrown around with nothing behind it, it is an opinion based on opinion not science. Heart disease continues to be a world wide killer, despite the vast amount of people taking , and not taking, statins. Cardio vascular disease is not a result of to much cholesterol, it is a result of injury. When injury occurs cholesterol comes to heal, and that process also "stabilizes ruptures/injury", no amount of LDL manipulation with a statin will stop this process. The liver will work harder to produce cholesterol . Cholesterol goes up and down daily. Every cell requires cholesterol. His cells are being deprived of cholesterol, he is suffering in a noticeable way. Some people have a genetic challenge but even that does not translate to a surety of heart disease, many have extremely high LDL and have normal lifespans. Heart health is not dependent on low LDL, it is the opposite, the body creates LDL to repair inevitable damage caused by simply being alive and aging and how we take care of our bodies.
Our shared member has a history of calcified arteries, and continuing with a course of statins will reduce the risk of bits breaking off as I mentioned. Strokes and heart attacks caused by bits breaking off can happen at any time of your advancing years, and if that risk is reduced that is surely a good thing. My father suffered a severe stroke towards the end of his 70s, which eventually caused his demise and having seem him at the end I would not wish that on anybody. However if you can't take medication because it induces unpleasant side effects, then, as our shared member has recognised you have to weigh up quality vs. quantity of life which is a view I fully endorse and support. As to your comment about heart risk being based on opinion rather than science, that may be your view, but as far as I am concerned the vast majority of the medical profession appear to support lipid modifying medication based on peer reviewed research, and that is the current advice practiced globally, so that's good enough for me.
My point is if you leave him with the ldl he is producing it will also stabilize any plaque, no need to do it artificially with the calcium statins lay down. The calcium fr9m statins also breaks off. The body knows how to heal itself. Believe it or not. My point is fighting your body's natural healing is insane to me
A good friend of mines father took himself off his statins against medical advice and despite being a healthy weight, good diet and relatively fit as he works on a farm before long he had a mild heart attack and is now on a cocktail of medications. There are alternatives to high dose Atorvastatin which your cardiologist or GP could swap you to if side effects are a problem. Coming off medication without consulting your cardiologist is irresponsible and suggesting it was a success could influence others to do the same and put their lives at risk.
I’m presuming you go for annual blood tests and if so , did you discuss the situation with the nurse? I would have thought that discussion should have led to them making an appointment with the doctor for a review of your medication.
In your situation, I would book to see the Dr and explain all the history. They are aware of the muscle issues that statins , especially at the higher dose, can cause. They may put you on a lower dose or a different medication. I would rather try swapping drugs than return to the situation you were in prior.
Quite regularly people who have not posted before come on here and are vehemently anti medication. I always wonder what the agenda is. I think from your replies you were not just doing the same. But there are vulnerable people who could read messages and think they will also stop medication for whatever reason. It is ill advised for anyone not to discuss these things with a medical professional before deciding on such strategies.
I hope you get an alternative which will help you have many more good healthy years.
I tried to avoid statins, already taking 5 other meds after my heart failure 5 years ago (now more or less normal after cardiac ablation and pacemaker). My justification to myself was low cholesterol. However, a routine scan last year showed some plaque, so I accepted the advice to take a statin. I tried various doses of Atorvastatin but my blood tests showed that I couldn’t tolerate it. I’m now on a low dose Rosuvastatin with no adverse effects (that I know of 😉).
As others have stated, there is a clear evidence for the benefits of statins for those with certain heart issues. I have been on 80mg after a heart attack at the age of 57, followed by another heart attack within 6 months. However, at 87 yrs of age I too would probably reconsider taking them if greatly effecting my quality of life but please discuss with your doctor so you are making an informed decision, there maybe also be alternatives.
Hi Raymond, Firstly it is a good description of your medical history. Secondly what do you mean by " brain fog"- does it mean your memory has been affected ? As the other contributors have mentioned Atorovastatin was likely to have caused muscle pains so you have done a good thing by stopping it. You have taken a positive step by eating heathy diet. Have you got other medical condition like diabetes and/or hypertension? I am surprised that you were put on statin because of only calcified arteries and no other condition. The best course would be firstly seek the advice of you G.P. to sort out the dilemma . Regards.
Your understanding is what I have also been seeing. My Dr. always advices diet/life style changes before recommending I take meds. Have you ask your Dr. about trying a new diet and retesting you in a few months? Do some research to look for good foods to help with your numbers, take care
My only advice is ALWAYS advice your medical support is changed in medications BEFORE proceeding.While statins impact some people this way, they are extremely beneficial for many others.
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