statins

[jillgloucester]

How many people out there have no problems with statins what- so-ever? No pain anywhere!

[DakCB-UK]

It's hard to say.

Firstly, this forum is more likely to have people like me, who have had problems and are looking for help. So looking here will under-estimate the number of people who are ok.

Secondly, statin side-effects seem to be under-reported, so general/national figures will over-estimate it. I think the leaflets with the tablets claim a few in each 1000 suffer side effects.

At least you might get a range. I suspect it might be quite wide.

[Hidden in reply to DakCB-UK]

When I was researching side effects from statins I was surprised that there was little information over all and sites which had previously provided me with information were no longer available. But .... when I did a search asking how to rid the body of statins, pow ... lots of stuff. The imbalance struck me as rather odd. Remember all people who take statins are recommended to take CO Q10 to minimize that damage from taking statins.

For some the side effect are immediate. For me, I evidently tolerated them well. And then years later I could not get out of bed in the morning from the extreme pain. Neck, shoulder, hips, knees, ankles. I avoided reading instructions for anything because I could not concentrate. I laughed and cried easily at anything I watch on television. I thought it was old age. Wrong. Today after 14 months of being off Pravistatin, I feel reborn. And believe me I am not one for histrionics. Life has become more interesting. Food tastes better. I can smell things at a distance. I can put my pants on without leaning against the wall. Today I have the courage to speak about these things. A year ago I could not.

[mags3003]

Hi, I was put on statins following my heart attack in sept 11, never had a problem with them, the dosage was reduced sept 12 from 80 to 40, but never been aware of any problems. Mags

[Hidden]

I'm with DakCB-UK here. Besides, surely we should expect problems with increasing dosage?

I'm on the equiv. of 80mg Simvastatin, and have minor muscle aches and often cramp up. Not a bad trade-off for a 1/5th reduction in CVD risk.

For what it's worth, my perspective is that there is absolutely nothing we can take without side effects.

Watch out for one sided arguments. Statins have side effects, but we forget the health advantage. Everyone extols the virtues of olive oil, but keeps quiet about the calories that comes with it. Excess weight is a health disadvantage.

[spats]

From what I can remember -during the trials of statins side effects were about about one in a thousand participants had a reaction, and many felt good and even wanted to keep on with the medication, BUT if there is a reaction it can be devastating to the person. Also recognising that the side effect IS real had only been introduced to doctors within the past couple of years, and not all accept the reaction even now!!! (There may even be a couple of more 0's, but I sent all my magazines for recycling only this past Monday!!!!)

[Hidden in reply to spats]

The problem with these studies, as was pointed out by two doctors from UCLA during an interview, now scrubbed from the Internet, is that the subjects used were not the one likely to have need of statins. They were young and healthy. So the results were less than reliable. If, say, the subjects were 50 and over with preexisting conditions, well studies may have had a different outcome. Like testing a cancer drug on someone who does not have cancer. Results: after six months of treatment there were no signs of cancer. Hmmmmm.

Remember, we should have the best and least expensive health care system in the world. After all America is the greatest. However, it seems we fall far short of that.

[YvonneD]

I have been on statins for 10 years now because I inherited F.H. and have had no problems at all.

Some years ago I read a website "cholesterol and health" which said, "Since coenzyme Q10 and cholesterol are both synthesized from the same substance, mevalonate, statin drugs also inhibit the body's synthesis of coenzyme Q10. This is not a "side effect," of statins, but a direct, inherent function of the drugs."

So I take CoQ10 also to ensure the statins do not drain my body of this necessary element.

I suspect the vast majority of statin-takers will not register their non-problems so you will have to find the total number taking statins and deduct those with problems to answer your question.

[optom301]

I have been on 40mg Simvastatin for six years now and do get the odd leg cramps at night, but my cholesterol level is now 3.6 and, having had one coronary artery stent already, I feel the minimal side effects are worth the lowered risk of atheroma. My practice nurse told me that there is some risk of memory loss in time, but this occurs mainly in persons who are vivid dreamers already. As I'm not, hopefully the old memory will keep going fairly reliably!