Bad dreams on symvastatin 40mgms

[Lennylyon]

I started on symvastatin 3month ago after my doctor suggested as my cholesterol was over 8 I wasn’t keen but took the plunge and to be quite honest I have had no serious side effects have felt no different. The only thing I would say is that I have been dreaming more than usual and occasionally they have been quite scary in fact my husband had to wake me up as I was shouting out in my sleep and crying, and sometimes I won’t want to go back to sleep in case I go straight back into the same dream, I have thought about going to my doctor to have my tablet changed to a different one but would appreciate if anybody else has had this problem and could the give me any advice. Thank you

[sandybrown]

The question is why 40mg? Did you GP suggest life style change or a risk analysis check and to offer you guidance.?

If you give full details of your blood lipid levels some one here may help you to understand the cholesterol numbers.

[Lennylyon in reply to sandybrown]

Thank you for taking the time to reply, I thought that was the standard dose, I did try to cut back on the bad food stuff but willpower is not my strongest attribute I am not overweight don’t smoke but have a wee tipple now and again maybe I should ask my doctor if I could have a lower dose would still like to hear back from anyone else that is having bad dreams like me. Well off to bed now hopefully to have sweet dreams 😞

[sos007 Ambassador]

When I was on statins (they caused me severe muscle pain so I weaned off over a 10 month period - I was on a very high dose), I do not recall having vivid dreams. It is possible you are sleeping better and getting more REM sleep. I don't know if you changed your diet and lifestyle concurrent to taking the statin, but losing excess body weight results in better and deeper sleep.

As I've noted for many others who have written in this forum, LDL-C is no longer considered the best treatment target for dyslipidemia.

Get your LDL-P (particle number) measured instead. You can do this with an NMR Lipoprofile blood test (about $100 USD). This test will also provide some additional vital information about your insulin sensitivity. It is possible to have a high LDL-C and a low LDL-P, in which case your CVD risk would be considered low and you wouldn't need the statin.

Furthermore, it is better to address the root cause of the elevated cholesterol. Cholesterol is the result of the body's immune response to an inflammatory condition. Resolve the cause of the inflammation and the cholesterol will likely go back to normal levels.

Follow a low-carb diet and start walking for 30-60 minutes daily.

Statin research is thin on their efficacy for females. The Number Needed to Treat (NNT) for statins is 104. That is 104 people need to be treated with statins before one of them receives a protective benefit. This means that even when efficacious, it benefits a very small percentage of the people taking them.

Statins may cause muscle pain and damage, elevated blood glucose and increases the risk of Alzheimer's Disease.

Statins should be a last resort medication and does not give those taking them an all-clear to indulge in a poor diet and lifestyle. Dietary and lifestyle change is the first order of business when your body starts producing too much cholesterol.

Good luck.

[Lennylyon in reply to sos007]

Thank you for all the information,think I might have to read it a few times to take it all in cholesterol is just a mine field so many different views but all welcome

[Lennylyon]

Thank you for your reply I am so mixed up with all the information but really thankful that people take the time to try and help, I slept well last night no bad dreams thank goodness,I did try to bring my cholesterol down last year with no luck in fact it went up a bit,the only thing that I did stop was swimming and now I am wondering if that could have made it go higher May have to think about starting again.

[sandybrown in reply to Lennylyon]

Stop worrying, stress can give a lot of health problems. Over the last five years my blood test numbers go up and down, I go for check up once a year. I do watch what I am eating and drinking, check my weight and there is a target weight, I have not achieved this. Just enjoying life. What ever happens I will take it.

[sandybrown]

There is health section on the copy of The Daily Mail every Tuesday. Today part 2 of good sleep guide. Next week, "Truth about why we dream". There is something to look forward to read!!

[Lennylyon]

Thanks sounds very interesting will give it a read

[marin5]

make sure while you're on it to take at least 100 mg or 200mg of CoenzymeQ10

because statins deplete your body of them! You need it for your heart!0