Atorvastatin Increase

[Citylady33]

Hello people! I'm new here.

I was started on 10mg Atorvastatin about 18 months ago and had no problems at all. Two weeks ago my GP suggested increasing to 20mg as my cholesterol was very slightly above the normal range (5.1 instead of 5.0). I've had a horrendous headache for days and very nauseous. Could the increase in statin be causing this? Anyone else had a similar experience?

Thanks 😊

[Hidden]

It may well be. If it doesn't subside in a day or so, contact your GP again. Meanwhile, do you remember whether you had side-effects when you first started taking it? I've been on 40mg for some years now, and hardly had any side-effects at all.

[sandybrown]

Hello,

What are your cholesterol lipid numbers?, you can ask your doctor for a printout of your blood test information.

A good doctor would have suggested a life style change!!!

UK average is 5.5, your number is 5.1. Doctor has double the dosage? Why?

Medication side effect can be very bad.

Please consult your doctor for a medication review for lower dosage or different medication.

Your doctor can do a risk analysis and offer advice.

Take care.

[Citylady33 in reply to sandybrown]

Hi

Thanks for the reply. If I'd realised my cholesterol was only .1 above the high reference limit I would've refused the increase. I've still got a full box of 10mg so going back to that dose now. Truly, my GP is not very switched on. My lipids are both around 2.2 mark.

Regarding lifestyle changes - I've asked for help with weight loss many times but don't get much response!

[sandybrown in reply to Citylady33]

Thanks for your response.

Total cholesterol is equal to HDL + LDL + Triglyceride/x

All you need is to go back to your GP practice and ask for medication review.

For life style change you need to do research. There are many video clips on the Internet.

Time controlled eating is very important. Leaving a lot of time between evening meal and breakfast. Try to leave more than 15 hours between evening meal and breakfast, no snacks. Try for good breakfast, lunch and a light evening meal. Always look out for free and hidden sugar in food and drinks.

Human body makes 80 % cholesterol on demand for body to function and 20% from food intake. You may want to ask why? your body is looking to produce a lot of cholesterol on demand.

All these worked for me. A problem this year, as I am 76, I am finding it difficult to maintain my weight,the weight has gone up. I am due for a blood test in December 2022. Wait and see.!!!

Take care.

[elliebath in reply to sandybrown]

Do pop over to Health Unlocked Weight Loss Support forum. As well as lots of weight loss advice we have a monthly Maintainers group . There are some longterm maintainers there who, like you, are now finding it more difficult in our 70s .

[sluggerpk]

I googled it and those are the side effects. Chloresterol can be lowered by Diet and Exercise. Please try that instead of Chloresterol medication.

[Linda_Lincolnshire62]

I too have been on 40mg of Atorvastatin for eight years. Prior to this I was on 80mg of Simvastatin for at least 10 years. The reason I was given for the change was women over sixty were better off taking Atorvastatin and it could be achieved on a lower dose of statins. I have had no problems on either statin. At the beginning I changed my lifestyle and came down from 8.5 to 7. After the menopause my results shot up to nearly 10. and I was put on statins.This is a warning to every woman. I also have my Husband to thank for noticing my health had deteriorated

[ALB38]

You have my sympathy. Statins can have horrendous side effects and I would not touch them with a barge pole. Tell your GP where to go and get rid of the lot. I ,would change my GP if ever I was prescribed them again.