Just started taking a statin & have some concerns....

[RRL31]

Hello - I have just joined. I was diagnosed with diabetes about 4 years ago & control it through diet & exercise which is working so far.

However, my cholestrol is apparently high (7) and so the Dr has prescribed statins. He basically told me I had no choice as it would be impossible to lower my cholestrol by changing my diet.

He has started me on 40mg (can't remember which one I'm on) but looking at the leaflet it seems he has started me on almost the highest dose.

Since taking them for the first time on Saturday I've had some nausea (although that seems to have subsided now) but also some pain in my upper arm muscles.

I'm also concerned that as it seems statins can bring on diabetes is it likely to make mine more difficult to control.

The Dr also tried to give me metformin (?) which I refused - he said it would help me lose weight - I said I'd give it a go on my own as my BG was controlled well.

Any thoughts? Should I just go back to the GP & discuss my concerns?

Thanks for reading such a long post!

R

[stopgo]

40mg is acceptable as a starter which would increase to 80mg if necessary.i think you should take your own advice and discuss your concerns with your GP but ask your question step by step and write the answers down.I have diabetes 2 and which is controlled by diet/exercise and am on 80mg statins.Diabetes Test results have not changed over the past 2 years.

[Aliwally]

You are probably on simvastatin and 40mg is the usual starting dose. 80mg of any statin is a whacking dose and only given after a heart attack or if your levels are exceptionally high.

Maybe you could try to get your levels down by diet but I think it is pretty standard for GP's to want to prescribe statins if you have raised cholesterol and type 2.

There is a lot of talk now on the mainstream Diabetes blogs about the benefits of low carb diets.

I am on the top end of normal for blood glucose and a lower carb approach has worked for me.

[cdoris]

My partner has Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (high cholesterol caused by genetic factors not diet) and is under the care of a consultant who is expert in metabolic disorders. In her opinion 40mg statin is far too high as a starting dose as the body needs to acclimatise to the statin. She recommends a starting dose of 10mg to be increased at three monthly intervals,

depending on blood test results. If you are still experiencing symptoms related to the statin - or have further concerns - please see your gp. There are many different types of statin and it may be that adjustments are required to best suit your needs. Good luck!

[sandybrown]

Hello,

I am in the same situation male, 67!, it all started two years ago, high blood sugar and high cholesterol, life style change did bring blood sugar down but not cholesterol. GP wrote medication for both but I did not go for it two years ago.

Two months ago went on statin (20mg), my next blood test is in June. Only time will tell on cholesterol. After seeing the Chinese baby in the drain pipe life can be different! In UK, H&S would not have allowed on what we saw on TV.

Do you know your HbA1c test results and HDL,LDL and triglyceride values?

[Aliwally]

However, there are statins and statins. The older ones such as simvastatin and pravastatin are less powerful, therefore you need a higher dose such as 40mg.

The newer statins such as rosuvastatin (Crestor) are more potent so you need a smaller dose. The FH consultant is probably referring to these as most people with FH would be prescribed these more potent ones.

Crestor starts at 5mg.

[sandybrown]

HI, RRL31,

Answer to this question:

Any thoughts? Should I just go back to the GP & discuss my concerns?

Thanks for reading such a long post!

R

Please go back to your GP, get a printer copy of your last two blood test results, check the values and compare it with the values on the Internet. Some GP can print a graph of all the blood test values. Life style change or both life style change and medication may help to lower the blood test results values. Have been to Life Line screening twice now, two years ago and this year, keeping a record of all the findings.

Good luck with your gap discussion.

[zorro1]

My partner was diagnosed with diabetes 2 nearly a year ago. The doctor put him on Metformin and tried to get him on Statins - his cholesterol was over 6. He refused the statin having seen both of my parents badly affected by the drugs. My dad developed liver problems within weeks and my mum after a year had suffered such damage to her muscles she could barely walk. The doctor took her off them immediately. She had to use a stick for a few months but has since recovered. Despite not taking statins my partner's last 2 cholesterol test have been 4 and last week's was 3. In addition to the metformin he has been very good at cutting sugars from his diet as much as possible. He hasn't cut down on fats though and has put on a few pounds - the doctor isn't too worried about this as he wasn't overweight before and looked quite gaunt to me. If you don't have genetic reasons for high cholesterol then perhaps the diet route is worth exploring further.

Best of luck

[RRL31]

Thank you all so much for your thoughtful & helpful replies, I'm really touched.

I think I need to go back to the GP & have a discussion, as many of you have said. Last week he just handed me the prescription & I took it without any question so now, having thought about it & having some helpful information from here it's probably time to have that conversation.

My upper arm is still very painful. I went swimming yesterday & that was quite difficult - I don't want to get in to a situation where I can't do any exercise. Having said that the arm pain could be totally unconnected to the statins.

Anyway thanks again - I'll report back & am still interested in hearing other people's experiences.

R

[sassy47]

Go straight back to your Gp and ask him to change them, sounds like you could be on simvastain, i was on them although only 20mg but i had the same pain in my upper arm and sometimes in my chest, i dont know why they prescribe this one as i've heard of loads of people having the same side effect, i've been off simvastatin for a few months now and my arm still has a dull ache in it, iI was told that simvastatin causes muscle waste, and i have in my left upper arm, i'm now on Atorvastatin which i have been told can cause migraines my level was only 5.6 so i'm taking one every other day.hope you get sorted soon

[Poppy2910 in reply to sassy47]

my GP told me that they are only able to prescribe simvastatin and atorvastatin, reason, because they are the cheapest !

[spats]

find out why you have to have statins. 7 was acceptable before the great statin push by the drug companies. then the government introduced incentives to get poor gps to work properly-, so now the good ones use these to enhance the practice revenue. If they get 'poor' results in their clinic evaluations they get less money. Simple! I don't take Statins (am diabetic) But do use herbals which are a compromise and work for me. They won't do anything for your diabetes as such it's just that more diabetic people get more circulation problems than the 'others'. If you are female metformin may help fend off cancer, can give you gut problems, but can help for many years. Could be worth the try It is more value than a protocole dose of statins

[jillgloucester]

Ive been on statins for a year and a half, about 8 months ago I started to get a stiff left arm where I have trouble putting clothes on etc,, it only hurts really if I try to lift my arm up,,, ..I really don't know if this is connected with statins or not,,,makes me wonder though.... The doctor said its frozen shoulder and doesn't think its statins. Im supposed to be having a cortisone injection tomorrow but I'm worried it could make it worse... Before all these drugs I always felt fit and well???

[suki65 in reply to jillgloucester]

jill i have the same problem i have been told i have osteoarthritis i think its a load of rubbish i had nothing wrong with me before i started statins i am only 48 and sometimes feel 68 .

check out dr mercolas

why eating breakfast might make you hungrier

I have been doing this for 2 months and only taking opti omega 3 capsules i eat between 11am and 7pm and my level was 7.9 now 2 months without statins doing the above 6.2 my doc is so pleased but now i have to fight the damage statins have done to my muscles and bones and confidence and energy and so on .please try the above it is not that hard just drink water when feeling hungry and you will be surprised .GOOD LUCK jill

[suki65 in reply to jillgloucester]

Hi jill100

how are you doing did you have the cortisone injection?

are you still on statins and how are your arms ?

[jillgloucester in reply to suki65]

Hi Suki,,,,,,,,,,Thank you for your coments, always good to read how others are getting on with things.............Well, to be honest I got too scared to have the injection in the end, not because I was scared of the needle really, but because someone said their arm became really painful and has never got better since, so of course that put me right off.......Thinking about it again ,, sometimes I think it could be something different like something wrong with the shoulder bone rather than a frozen shoulder??? I might ask the doc for an Xray? cos they think they know what it is better never really sure......????????????

How long were you on statins for,,???

I had a heart attack,, 99percent blocked ,, put a stent in ,, feel fine now and I felt fine before ,, always fit and healthy etc.....

I dont feel any different on all these drugs,, I just wonder what the hell are they doing to my body????????????????? I will read about that Dr too....Sorry I was late getting back to you............Cant they tell by a blood test if you have Osteoarthritis??? Funny ,,, when I lost a stone I would always drink water instead of food...I have to get back into that Zone again ,,,im 9 and half stone ,, 5' 2" ,,, ive just put on a stone after a year and a half,,.....I came off statins for a while and I went up to 5.9....I was 3.6 on statins............Look after yourself too..............x

[suki65 in reply to jillgloucester]

hi jill

i have been on and off them since 2011 April rosuvastatin,simvastatin and pravastatin i had swelling to my kness,ankles and back ,which i have once more ,depression ,very low ,lethargic,sore elbow bones and knees especially after carrying a ag ,my thighs have changed shape which they are saying something is going on with my muscles ,my left arm i can not stretch it far ,my ears felt like there was something crawling ,cramp and tingling .All these only came on after taking statins i have never had so many health problems i believe they are to blame .5.9 is ok here in England so they tell me .

did you have the problem with your arm before you took statins ?

I have just ordered ubiquinol that is supposed to be great for your bones do you take anything for your bones ?

I asked for my vitamin d to be checked and low and behold it is below ,i asked as statins can also mess this up .

space doc is a good site called muscle pain and statins .

Oh jill i am so annoyed do they not know what they are doing to us all ?

[suki65]

RRL31 stop taking the statins i have had this happen to me i was told there are other statins i have had 3 different statins and side effects from all .

check out dr. mercolas

why eating breakfast might make you hungrier

i have been doing this for 2 months and only taking opti omega 3 capsules i eat between 11am and 7pm and my level was 7.9 now 2 months without statins doing the above 6.2 my doc is so pleased but now i have to fight the damage statins have done to my muscles and bones and confidence and energy and so on .please try the above it is not that hard just drink water when feeling hungry and you will be surprised .