Statins

[Janzo54]

I have been advised to start taking Statins-anyone recommend the best for least side effects please?

Thanks,

Janzo 🙄

[Hacienda]

Morning Hun, I too have been advised to take Statins by my Triage Nurse. I see my Consultant in April, I shall ask her if I should, as I don't know how the reaction will be with my many Meds I take. I too will read the forthcoming answers to your Post. Have a Good day. xxx C.

[Janzo54 in reply to Hacienda]

Hi there! Oh good we on same page! 😊

I had a CT coronary angiogram and calcium score was 84 and i have proximal plaque but no other coronary disease. So this is encouraging bit im making the wrong type of cholesterol as faulty gene and my diet and healthy life style wont fix the problem on its own so need Statins to prevent further build up. Its a real drag to think about taking adding another tablet to my cupboard but i don't have that much choice but i can exercise a little control over which Statin I use. The Consultant said she would recommend one with least side-effects cause i have a spinal problem too and bit concerned that statins will give more muscle or bone pain. Just need to know which one she has suggested but shes discharged me know and did comment the GPs will usually offer the least expensive to start with!

Once on Statins you cant come off either so have to mess around with brands I guess!!

Im doing a bit of research but ultimately its down to my GP.

Good luck with your situation too!! Xx

Janzo 💐

[Hacienda in reply to Janzo54]

Thank You Jan, I do know family & Friends on Statins, But we are all individual and with Different Illness's. I have had quite a few Angiograms over the Years, The last showing my Right side Heart Ventricle Not allowing oxygen to circulate, Though I am COPD Severe Stage 4 and on Oxygen & Long Term Steroids. My last Cholesterol Reading was high, hence why the "Statins" were offered. That is why I shall ask my Consultant, once on them, they are forever, The Triage Nurse never explained about Statins, I have looked them up. and Listened to others. As you say, you can control which Statin you take. Best of Luck, keep me updated Hun. Love n Hugs. C. XXXX

[Janzo54 in reply to Hacienda]

Hello Hacienda,

Yes I will do that! It was my Triglycerides that were high which triggered the investigations and its a faulty gene for me unfortunately.

Sorry you are further along than me-and hope you can remain as positive as you sound.

Thanks! 💐have a good day x

[Hacienda in reply to Janzo54]

Always Positive Hun, The only way to get through all this. Exercise also. XXXX

[2greys in reply to Janzo54]

I used to wake up suffering terribly painful night cramp, in my legs, every night, for years. One day I had a "light bulb moment".

I was taking Statins at night before going to bed, the directions just said "to be taken at night", so I asked myself what constitutes "at night?" I reasoned that what was meant is that it was best taken whilst at rest.

I do not exercise after 7 pm anymore, as I now finish work earlier at 4:15 pm, so I now take my Statins at 7 pm along with my other meds and vit D3 with a pint of milk. The evening is spent relaxing, watching the "idiot box". I started to do this 6 months ago and I have only had those night cramp episodes twice , even then nowhere near as bad. A very marked improvement. Sometimes I can get cramp late in the evenings, but being still awake, I feel it coming on and I can do a few stretches, then "walk it off" if needed, before the pain gets really intense. On blood tests my bad cholesterol level is still well under control.

It may be worth asking your Consultant if taking Statins in the evening would be okay for you too.

[Hacienda in reply to 2greys]

Thanks for this post 2 Gs, I shall be writing a list for My Consultant, as I do for all appointments. All my Meds are from Morning,6am , 4pm, last ones at 10pm. So I will have to Juggle them all, after being guided by my Consultant. Hubby says I rattle anyway Ha Ha. Love C. XXXX

[2greys in reply to Hacienda]

I have to admit that I forgot to ask about this, but I had other unexpected issues to contend with that took over events. But my bloods were okay and like I said "what constitutes night" quite a few people go to bed early anyway.

[Oshgosh in reply to 2greys]

That’s a trally good idea

[Janzo54 in reply to 2greys]

Oh thats really helpful advice-thanks! Might help others on here too.

My GP gave me Atorvastatin 20mg before my investigations but not started them yet as I want to find out what my consultant suggested and find out more about brands so ive had some really good response on here which really does help!

Ive not seen anyone yet to discuss but have GP app next week. Hopefully my concerns will be listened to. 🤞

[O2Trees in reply to Janzo54]

"Once on Statins you cant come off either . . ." Is that right Janzo?

[Janzo54 in reply to O2Trees]

Yeah true they can taper off but your symptoms will come back eg high cholesterol apparently!

[O2Trees in reply to Janzo54]

Thanks Janzo.

I always watch debates unfold about statins/cholesterol etc. My cholesterol levels are high - 7.something. But my HDL is abnormally high too so my ratio is well below the cut off level. They often dont tell you about the importance of the ratio. I think the cut off is 4.3 and mine at last measure was 3.2.

[skischool]

I take 20mg of atorvastatin daily,it doesn't seem to make any difference if i take it in the morning or evening and with or without food.because of a swallowing difficulty i have to crush the tablet and take it with water but it doesn't have a particularly unpleasant taste.fortunately i am not aware of any heart issues that i have and i never have any side effects and it appears to continue to reduce my cholesterol levels by the desired 20% on a permanent basis.

[Janzo54 in reply to skischool]

Oh thats good news! Happy for you that they work too. Thanks for replying-so they take bloods to make sure the cholesterol goes down?

Sounds reassuring. 😊

Thanks Skischool

[skischool in reply to Janzo54]

Yes your Gp may want to take bloods to check their effectiveness but normally they wait at least 3 months after starting them as i takes some time for them to start working.

[Janzo54 in reply to skischool]

Yeah that would make sense-i guess they must be effective if they can record the results?!

Im a bit sceptical about meds generally but sometimes we have to trust!

I had been looking into Statins and relation to Dementia but theres not a lot out there yet.

[bunnycaramel]

If you are in the UK you will be given sim a statin you can’t choose them. They are first line

[Janzo54]

Oh ok! I guess its worth my asking but i expect thats the case but hoping i can change it if i have side effects?

[peege]

I just take 40mg of whatever the pharmacist doles out.

Your pharmacist should be able to tell you what you can and can't take with your prescribed statins. The only thing I know about is no grapefruit.

I'm happy to take them towards preventing stroke or heart attack. Living alone the thought of paralysis from stroke is too scary to contemplate.

Good luck. P

[Janzo54 in reply to peege]

Yes thats why i need to not over think things snd get protection for my heart but I have Stenosis of the spine and degenerative disc disease which causes muscle pain so just concerned that Statins will cause discomfort but know i need to start them.

[peege in reply to Janzo54]

Ah I understand your dilemma and worry. I suppose it depends on the dose. I'm okay on 40mgs even though that's a high dose. I'd rather not take them of course but that fear lurks of being a victim of a stroke. I eat healthily, healthy-ish weight bt without the statins the bad cholesterol was 8.3. It runs in the family.

Perhaps you will only have a low dose and be unaffected, I hope so. Good luck. P

[Janzo54 in reply to peege]

Thank you! I do hope so i think they recommending 20mg at the moment but will find out more when i get an appointment with GP.

[Valsha]

I started on Atorvastatin (standard first offering from our surgery) and had the aching shoulders etc. I changed to Simvastatin with the same result. My husband had a stash of Pravastatin so I took a week of those and had no problems at all, so asked GP for a prescription which I got with no questions. I have been on them for a year now with no discernible side effects. Apparently there are two groups of statins: fat soluble and water soluble and the first two are in one group and pravastatin in the other, so it might be worth asking to try that.

[Janzo54 in reply to Valsha]

Oh thats very helpful advice! Thanks so much. 👏👍😊

[Hacienda]

Thank you for this Info, I am accumulating info before I go on Statins as offered by my Triage Nurse via GP. I shall update my Lung Consultant when I see her in April for her Guidance as to which I should Take. Have a Nice day. XXX

[gingermusic]

I have been taking Atorvastatin 20 mg with no problems at all for a couple of years now. No side effects at all

[Janzo54 in reply to gingermusic]

Thats great! Thanks for encouragement!

[BronchyBronwen]

Am on Rosuvastatin as very fortunate in having sympathetic GP. Think is more costly for the surgery than others but no side effects at all. Just 5mg x 3 times weekly brings my cholesterol down significantly.

[Janzo54]

I wonder if this is the one my consultant was going to recommend?! She said its more expensive than the others and GP might not give it me. Thanks i will ask for this one first.

[BronchyBronwen]

Always worth asking. Good luck!