Suffering on statins?

[sandybrown]

Please take a look at what a cardiologist has written on the copy od The Mail on sinday!

Very interesting! Diet is key to reduce cholesterol.

[Aliwally]

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

This is the article, maybe we too can look like Michelle Pfeiffer!

[MikePollard]

Very interesting article, I get the feeling that the tide is very slowly turning!

[Hidden]

Thank you for the heads-up. I would have missed the article.

The author says that GPs have put an extra 3 million people on statins, yet we have seen no obvious benefit. He then goes on to say that there has been a 40% reduction in heart attack deaths, and a 17% reduction in heart attack hospital admissions, which he has ascribed to other factors.

Confused, I try to follow up the BMJ article he refers to, but it doesn't appear to exist

bmj.com/search/advanced?tex...

I have found the reference for the Mediterranean diet.

thennt.com/nnt/mediterranea...

Readers should note the summary box in the top left-hand corner which clearly says that 94% saw no benefit.

[patch14]

Articles written in newspapers can give an overall view of what is happening within the medical community and the opinions of doctors who are leaders in their field. But I would go on to say that it is down to the individual to arm him and herself with all the facts before any decisions are made re their health. One doctor's view may not be right for a particular patient. That is why I am concerned that GPS and other professionals give a blanket diagnosis and medicate willy nilly to everyone thinking that a hammer can crack a nut! (Re the suggestion of giving everyone over 50 statins!) My opinion only!

[Aliwally]

I do agree with your opinion Patch. If you look at the NNT (numbers needed to treat) an awful lot of people have to take statins for a long time for one person to benefit.

I also think "blanket diagnosis" can be downright dangerous in some cases. I had a lot of muscle pain and twitching on statins and my mum died of motor neurone disease in her 80's, not one medic ever thought to ask me what my mum died of, being too concerned with my dad's heart attack at 52. The connection is unproven and very contentious, but it was enough for me to stop taking statins.

[Hidden]

I had a heart attack just over one year ago and had two stents fitted and put on (amongst others) 80mg per day of atorvastatin which made me ill, though it cut my cholesterol to extremely low levels (around 1.1). So I halved it to 40mg then stopped it entirely for about a month (my gp whinged). Had a blood test and chol at 7.7, so I went back on it but at 20mg per day. Chol down to 3.9, so I cut it again to 10mg per, chol now 4.0. I've never had a bad diet, always eaten healthily and rarely drink. Smoked for most of my life however (stopped in 2011) so more than likely it was the major cause.

Who knows what the answer is? All I know is that the pharma corps make a fortune selling us this stuff and they lie about its benefits/downside (this is clearly proven). Med diet?

[cjhs]

My chol went through the roof a few years ago,the Dr changed my slimvastatin,which I had taken for many years with no side effects.In my ignorance I trusted my Dr totally.

Boy was I ill,

The first lot the chemist realised I was not as normal,and would not renew the repeat.The 2nd lot,my husband hid them and made the appointment with the Dr.

I looked every where on the net for my strange reaction,it was no where to be found.so I though I was imaging it,my head would not accept it was the pills

My GP,did file a yellow form,as I did too.I learnt that GP,do not have all the answers,are not the mini God they believe themselves to be.Seem to want to push the maximum,when maybe a reduced dose may work.

My GP at that time was very aware after this event,to try a smaller amount,then work forward.

It is rare for GPS to reduce medication,after my reaction, my GP had me on half a pill,very much the same as you have tried.Increasing the dose if required,this GP is the only one who I have met who starts small the builds up the dose if needed.SO KEEP UP THE TRIAL WELL DONE YOU.

[elaina]

My cholesterol was 7.19, I was 54 and have eaten a very Healthy diet full off fruit, veg and never fries,do not eat dairy or red meat, I had a heart attack last August and Cardiac Arrest. I have been on Statins for 3 years. Since the Heart Attack I am on 80 mg of statins my cholesterol is down to 5 need to get it under 4 but working on it.

[hairyfairy]

I was put on statins when my choleserolter began to rise last year. They made me so tired that I was sleeping all day. I have been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid which my doctor says can cause high cholesterol. I came off statins, & began taking Levothyroxine, & I`m waiting for the results of a blood test to see if this has corrected my cholesterol levels. I feel much healthier on The thyroid medication than i did on statins.