Statins (Lipitor)

[Claverley]

My Mom has been on Lipitor for 25 years , but the last year her muscles have started

to ache and her memory is gettin worse. Could it be the statins, is it safe to stop them

for a couple of weeks to see if she feels better. Comments welcome Thanks.

[Serious2]

What is CoQ10? 1 was pretty much bedridden by the time I figured out that I had to do something so I quit 7 of my 9 meds. I got much better but my cholorestol went from 5 to 9 in two months and two months later it went to 11. Is there anything I can do to help myself so I don't have to take those pills again?

Those pills have made my life miserable for the last 20 years!

[Claverley]

Thank you so much for that, I will certainly watch and read it.

[sos007 Ambassador]

There's no evidence that statins are helpful to women. Statins have many side-effects among which include muscle deterioration and forgetfulness. If your mother has elevated levels of LDL cholesterol, then she needs to address the root cause of this by cutting out sugar and foods that are high in simple carbohydrates. She also needs to walk for 30 minutes daily.

A diet that is high in vegetables and fruits will provide better overall nutrition. Taking a 1,000 mg dose of vitamin C with each meal daily will also reduce cholesterol to a point, but more importantly help keep her blood vessels healthy.

Simple carbohydrates are all forms of sugar, fruit juices, soft drinks, alcohol, white flour products such as white bread, white pizza dough, and white pasta. Other simple carbs are white rice, and white potatoes. Be careful of hidden sugars in packaged foods such as ketchup, barbeque sauce, pasta sauce, salad dressings, and breakfast cereals, among other things. Obviously any type of dessert should be avoided, as well as snack foods like potato chips and pretzels.

You can also lower LDL cholesterol by increasing fiber intake which means more green vegetables, and more legumes (lentils, chick peas, beans).

You are, what you eat.

Good luck.

[Claverley in reply to sos007]

Thank you for that. My Mom is 86 and up to now Lipitor has kept her cholesterol to 4.5 but I have read so many negative things about statins , memory loss and muscle ache, and that

is getting worse with her. Yes it could be age, but if by coming off the Lipitor for a while

helps her, then that is all I ask.

I will ask her doctor for a referral to The Lipid Clinic in Birmingham, as they may be able

to analyse her bloods better, as for doctors they just give you two figures LDL and LDH

you don't even get that if you don't ask for them.

[sandybrown in reply to Claverley]

You mum is 86 and let her enjoy her life. As we get older some of the bold test numbers can change. Statin as a primary medication can help to lower cholesterol and also as a secondary medication after a heart problem helps with blood flow.

You can ask for LDL and HDL numbers. Before going to a lipid clinic and your GP for a full blood test, there are many tests you GP can request, ask for a printed copy of the blood test results. May be you can ask your GP to lower the statin dosage?

Coconut oil can help to lower cholesterol, it takes time to get used to coconut oil taste, coconut oil in UK is soft solid and can be spreadable, can use it on toast and on may food.

I use it on toast, salad and also on food at dinner time. Half an avocado, hand full of nuts can also help.

You do get differing answers to your question on this site.!!

[Claverley in reply to sandybrown]

Thank you, the doctor phoned last night and has said leave my Mom off Lipitor for about 6 weeks then have a blood test. I hope 6 weeks isn't too long for her cholesterol to rise too much, but she is also on Ezetrol 10 mg as she has been on that for 10 years as well.

I would give anything for my Mom to enjoy life, but at the moment she is not through muscle ache and memory loss. ( may be her age just don't know)

I started my Mom on raw organic coconut oil a week ago as i have read that

can help with dementia.

I am just trying to get the balance right between Mom feeling a bit better and

her cholesterol being ok.

When you love someone , you never stop trying.

[DakCB-UK in reply to Claverley]

If the lipid hypothesis is true, it's a chronic illness, so taking a few weeks off treatment to see if side-effects stop still shouldn't matter much.

[Tibblington in reply to sos007]

Well said sos007. Really the message is so simple but there is a problem with it - it doesn't make money for Big Pharma!

[Claverley]

I totally agree.

[Claverley]

Just ordered some Ubiquinol from Natures Best, not cheap but worth a try, Thank you.

[sandybrown]

Please discuss your mum's health with your GP to get a better understanding and may be reduce the dosage of all medication.

All the very best.

[Claverley in reply to sandybrown]

Mom is already on a good Vitamin supplement but I have sent for some Ubiquinol to help with her muscles as I didn't know this was better then COq10 . Shared knowledge is a great thing.

[Claverley]

Thank you, have discussed this with the doctor and we have decided to leave the Lipitor of for 6 weeks then have blood test. and see how Mom feels.

[Claverley]

I am not obsessing about cholesterol. my Mom lost her Mom with her heart when she was nine and her Mom was only twenty nine. Her sister lost her daughter at

Twenty seven with her heart. Obsession is not the word. She is 86 now so something

has worked, but because of internet knowledge we are beginning to find out more.

[DakCB-UK in reply to Claverley]

To be frank, if her family history is that worrying, she'd probably get better care from a lipid clinic than a GP.

[Claverley in reply to DakCB-UK]

Yes thats just what we are going to do, asked doctor for a referral, as its been a about 10 years since she saw a specialist.

[Nannyval]

I was the same years of taking them I had so much pain in my legs I’ve stopped taking statins get Cholestrol down with diet go in web sites that tell a lot of foods that bring it down I on Google What foods good fo high Cholestrol Also Plant Sterols and Krill Oil is very good

[Claverley]

Yes thank goodness for websites like this, you learn more then the doctors would ever tell you.