Severe statin / grapefruit reaction

[Emma2017]

Just thought I would write this to warn people. I went into hospital for a back operation and had a racing heart and slight pain while recuperating. The nurse went out and 2 minutes later somebody came in with an ecg machine. After that they went into overdrive and had an ambulance take me to another hospital with a cardiology department. Was there for 3 days and while there they put me on statins as my cholesterol was up slightly. Came home and improved from all the other stuff and then a week ago I had half a grapefruit. Just did not think for which I paid dearly. I was in excruciating stomach pain, then the next day I could not stop being sick, every half an hour. They wanted me to go to hospital but I did not want to go. It finally calmed down a bit on day 3. I still cannot eat much as it makes me sick. Just thought I would warn people as it was the week from hell.

[sandybrown]

Thank you for your post with full explanation of reaction between statin and grapefruit.

Did you have any procedure for your heart problem. Were you offered any life style change plan?

If you can you need to look at life style change and regular exercise for a health life.

[Emma2017 in reply to sandybrown]

I had a 3D heart scan yesterday. They are weird. Anyway am seeing the specialist tomorrow for results. I am in this pickle as exercising has been hard for the past year due to an op and the after effects. But getting there. Dropping the statins for now as in my answer to Londinium.

[sandybrown in reply to Emma2017]

Take a print of a human heart from the Internet and also write down all your questions and answers. This is what I did when I went to see a specialist. Because of my reading knowledge, the diagram and the questions, the specialist spent a lot of time explaining many things.

Good luck tomorrow.

[Paul12]

You need to learn about statins!!!

healthline.com/health/high-...

I strongly suggest you join the Facebook group Side effects of statins! Before more damage is done

m.youtube.com/watch?v=nKEHL...(Not working as expected?)

[Emma2017 in reply to Paul12]

I have learned a lot since, see my reply to Londinium.

[Paul12 in reply to Emma2017]

You’re taking Benecol which has plant sterols which increase risk of CHD. (According to Studies)

[Emma2017 in reply to Paul12]

Will have a look at that, thank you

[Markl60]

I eat a red ruby grapefruit every morning mainly for the Vit C boost and the effects that Vit C has on serotonin production and collagen formation for healthy arteries. My advice like the others is drop the Statins and be grateful that if your cholesterol is a 'little high' you will live longer than most people

[Markl60 in reply to Markl60]

Sorry my above post should have read effect that Vit C has on Cortisol production not serotonin, in other words reduces the damaging effect of stress

[Emma2017]

Hi, I was on simvistatin 40mg a day, according to the hospital a low dose. As I had other problems I noticed my muscles getting weaker too but thought nothing of it. I have not had a statin since last week Monday and I think I will not bother. I will take a benecol a day and try and exercise with my gammy leg and back. It was up to only 6.1. I have read up and since come to realise that the big pharmaceuticals somehow managed to reduce the cholesterol levels to a much lower point for when a person starts statins. This alone is costing the NHS an extra billion or so a year. Well they will not go in my body unless I have a much higher reading and.

[Markl60]

I agree with your post Londinium, hope you were not referring to me ?

[lynsreid]

Londinium I love reading your responses on this page. I am wondering if you feel they apply to those with an FH diagnosis? All the advise I get from nhs experts is that diet can have no impact on my ldl levels (this is where the mutation lies). I have been taking statins since Feb and my body aches, particularly but not exclusively my hands. At 42 I feel old and tired and I don't want to accept this situ but I am struggling to find alternative knowledgeable opinions. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. Apologies Emma2017 for jumping on your thread.

[Penel in reply to lynsreid]

For those with FH there are alternatives to statins which you could discuss with your lipid specialist.

nice.org.uk/guidance/cg71/c...

[lynsreid]

Thank you

[Spareribs]

Ah Londinium - here you are, fighting the good fight!

Anyone's GP checked their Thyroid yet?

🖖🏻 xx

[Spareribs]

Well, when we're ill - it's ya Thyroid that kicks in to slow us down to enable recovery! & makes me (& bears) hibernate this time of year!

Yep that big bad cholesterol - busy making essential hormones that we need. And why would the liver bother to re-cycle it?

It's good to see others exposing the statin con as well as Dr Malcolm Kendrick, yet even he agrees it may help someone who's had a heart attack. Dr Sultan puts it well... and my fav vitamin etc. deficiencies - something so easy to fix - but we're all so busy trying to get by....

I'll keep taking my NDT like Hillary, the voice of reason - she was 'Putined' you know! 🖖🏻 xxxx

PS knew of a grapefruit thing - didn't realise it was sickness

[Emma2017]

Just to update. Went for a 3D heart scan and saw the specialist after. My heart looked fine and more to the point my arteries were clean as whistle. Calcium score was zero, meaning no plague build up. So even though my cholesterol was 6.5 or so all was fine. I could therefore ditch all meds prescribed for my heart. Just shows you how often they possibly prescribe statins unnecessary. Take care everybody. 😀

[marin5]

you should get off the statins . While on make sure you take COQ10 100 or 200

COQ10 is naturally made in our bodies but statins deplete your body of this supplement and puts your heart at risk!

Dr Oz is a Cardiologist and has said he ould not allow any of his family to take statins!

[Emma2017 in reply to marin5]

Hi Marin I had already stopped them anyway but as you can see from the above reply it was an unnecessary evil anyway 😳

[jimmy6p]

Cholesterol, the king produced in your liver, is not bad for you. If you have levels considered to be too high, the person telling you this is wrong. Statins cause far more harm than cholesterol ever could. Don't take them. If you doctor doesn't like your decision to stop taking statins, find another doctor. Most doctors I've talked to don't know squat about any of this. Do your own research.

[Emma2017 in reply to jimmy6p]

Thanks Jimmy, I have since my episode looked up statins and cholesterol. I reckon it's big pharma that is pushing statins on the doctors. My levels were deemed up but it seems I have an extremely healthy heart and do not need them. I suppose to some of us they may be a good thing to take but too many people take them unnecessarily. I certainly will not be in any rush to ever take them again.

[sos007 Ambassador]

Statins are dangerous drugs. Assuming you have normal kidney function and normal ferritin (iron) levels in your blood, you can take 3,000 mg per day of Vitamin C which will lower your LDL cholesterol by about 18%. 500 mg daily of Niacin (vitamin B3) will also lower LDL and elevate your HDL.

Niacin initially causes a hot flush which goes away with daily use. It is best to take it with food and a full glass of cold water to minimize the flushing sensation and duration.

The flush typically lasts for 45 minutes the first few days then dissipates and eventually is hardly noticeable.

I've been taking both Niacin and Vitamin C in the dosages noted above. My blood lipids are at optimal levels. However I also have a very healthy lifestyle and diet - but these two vitamins should help everyone regardless of diet and lifestyle.

If you need to lose weight you can read my post here:

healthunlocked.com/choleste...

Good luck.

[Emma2017 in reply to sos007]

I read your reply on another thread too and find it very interesting, thanks.