Is water based statins better than fat based statins to stop the musle pains

[carol1]

[DakCB-UK]

blogs.webmd.com/cholesterol... says that the theory is that the water-based statins (rosuvastatin, pravastatin) should have lower probability of muscle damage than the fat-based (simvastatin, atorvastatin), but that hypothesis hadn't been confirmed as of 2008.

Personally, I had more pain while on rosuvastatin than on atorvastatin, but there was no permanent damage with either as far as I know. I suspect we all react differently, so like with most medications, I'd only experiment carefully, with doctors monitoring test results.

[carol1 in reply to DakCB-UK]

Thank you

[Aliwally]

Yes, I looked this up as well. Fat soluble statins such as simvastatin and atorvastatin enter the cells of the muscles and are more likely to cause muscle pain, whereas water soluble ones such as rosuvastatin can't get in.

I've just read that simvastatin is more likely to cause sleep disturbance as it can enter the brain cells. Now do you think that's why quite a few of us reported disturbing dreams while taking simvastatin? However, a health professional told me that she had never heard of that!

[carol1 in reply to Aliwally]

Thank you

[DakCB-UK in reply to Aliwally]

Even I've heard of that, but not experienced it myself, although I suffer some insomnia whenever my statin dose increases.

[carol1]

Hi thank you for your reply, do you know the other options?

[DakCB-UK in reply to carol1]

In my experience, the other options are:

1. other statins (zocor, lipitor, crestor and so on) - you may be intolerant to one kind of statin but able to tolerate a different one better.

2. fibrates (including ezetimibe) - either on their own or in a combination pill with a lower statin dose. I think one of my relatives was prescribed this.

3. bile sequestrants (colestid or questran) - I was on these when younger because they didn't like prescribing statins to children back then. Not as effective as the other options and drinking spoonfuls of grit is harder than taking pills.

I have heard of LDL apheresis (basically filtering the blood) but I hate needles so I have no experience and will try to avoid that!

You can find more detail on the HEART UK site at heartuk.org.uk/index.php?/b...

[Bargainhunter]

So many pros and cons to consider re statins! eg pravastatin (a water soluble statin) improves insulin sensitivity in some patients has a low scoring on muscle problems compared to most others, does not interfere with sleep and does not interfere with absorption of fatty acids and fat soluble vitimins, as the lipid soluble statins do then it is no wonder many people feel terrible on them, however on gpnotes rosuvastatin (a water soluble statin) increases the incidence/onset of type2 diabetes. Some have increased warnings dependant upon age eg prevastatin that looked so good can increase kidney problems in people over 65. I think I may have to try Vit D3 and 7mg of Lycopene instead of statins and eat B3 rich foods.