Statins

[Avux99]

Hi

Just wondered whether anybody with liver issues has also been prescribed statins for high cholesterol & if so, any issues?

[Treeclimber62]

I had a liver transplant 4 years ago and take statins no problems as yet blood tests always good .i took them a good 8 years before the transplant with no issues I had hep c so statins didn't cause transplant hope this helps

[Bikafella]

Post transplant 3½yrs ago I was put on low dose of statins. I was initially worried about possible side effects as I'd heard there could be joint and muscle pain. I was reassured that when they were first prescribed there were some issues but now they were pretty much not likely to cause you any problems. I've not had a single issue with my health relating to statins and my blood tests have never highlighted any thing detrimental.

[Str8jacket]

I have no experience with statins, but there is interesting research going on into whether statins might be warranted in liver cirrhosis regardless of whether there is any cardiovascular disease--the thought being they might decrease inflammation and improve blood flow through the liver. Below is a link to a discussion on the topic with a professor at UPENN (a very prestigious uni in the states).

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl....

Simvastatin was first looked at in 2009 with promising preliminary results for portal hypertension. Unfortunately, with liver disease research being as slow as it is, it has taken 12 years to get to a Phase 3 trial-LIVER_HOPE. Kind of frustrating to see such slow going with an existing drug (!) that has already been in use for other conditions. If you're interested, link below to a review.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/316...

I looked through your posting history, and your background seemed very similar to mine in terms of symptoms (also have a prolonged history of drinking far too much), especially feeling HE first, having seemingly normal bloods, unclear scans, etc. If I can ask, how have you been and how are you now? How did your diagnosis saga develop?

[Avux99 in reply to Str8jacket]

Hi thank you very much for the reply. Very interesting & indeed encouraging reading, flying in the face of what the warning labels on the Statin medication state!

I’ve gone ahead and started 10mg daily of Atorvastatin, been on them for three days now, little bit of nausea & headache, so will see how it goes. Diet & exercise hasn’t been enough to lower cholesterol unfortunately & there is a history of heart disease in the family (dad died aged 46) so do need the meds if I can tolerate them. Did mention my Liver concerns to the GP who decided to start on the low dose & will monitor Liver. How often, I don’t know.

Very brief resume of my own situ is I started getting symptoms in Oct 2011 age 40. Binge drank on an epic scale like Ollie Reed for 20+ years previously, since I was 18. Immediately stopped drinking when I started getting strange symptoms (first ones were Hypoglycaemia episodes & pain in Spleen area), and have stayed teetotal since, 10 year anniversary of being dry looming on the horizon

Symptoms have been: Hypoglycaemia episodes, brain fog (HE?), itchy legs, occasional cramping type pains in the location of the Liver, noticeably sore spleen during infections. Also I’m noticeably more sensitive to the likes of paint fumes than I used to be.

Over the last 10 years, All liver markers have been normal, a CT from 2012 showed ‘enlarged Liver’ - but I’ve since been told this was subjective. Had 3 Fibroscans, these all came in between 3.8-5 range (score falling slightly with the more recent ones)

So that’s where I am at the moment, just turned 50, I would have snatched your hand off to be in this position 10 years ago at the age of 40 to be honest! Mortality definitely flashed before my eyes, BIG wake up call, just got to keep on keeping on!!

[Str8jacket in reply to Avux99]

Congratulations on the upcoming 10 years! It does sound like you had some great luck with your liver health, that's wondeful to hear! Best of luck with the ticker.

[Avux99 in reply to Str8jacket]

Well, I’d be surprised given my colossal drinking history if there isn’t significant liver damage (& especially with some ongoing symptoms) but by slamming on the drinking brakes, any rate of progression so far seems to be slow enough to make me think I might just make it to a reasonable age. Obviously they won’t do a biopsy to confirm anything as bloods are all ok. Just got to keep doing the right things & hope my liver can cling on by it’s fingernails!

[Greengal314]

hi Aux99. Are you still taking statins ? I was recommended to take them. I was diagnosed with compensated cirrhosis. No symptoms currently. Normal bloodwork. Thanks !

[Avux99]

Hi there. No I am not taking statins, I am exercising & eating healthy (usually!). My Cholesterol is still high. But my blood pressure is normal. Guy in the gym said if my blood pressure is ok, I shouldn’t need statins as my blood pressure would be high as a result of blood struggling to pump through narrow arteries. Which whilst not official medical advice, does kinda make sense to me.

I only took statins for about a month but didn’t like the aching muscles as a side effect, which affected my ability to exercise. If at all possible I’d like to continue do without them & take ‘the risk’.