Cll and Statins - Thank you for your responses - CLL Support

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Cll and Statins - Thank you for your responses

TheFlyer profile image
28 Replies

Hi All

Had a Cholesterol test come back at 6.7 and automatically are suggesting statins.

Seeing the Dr next week if I can get an appt to discuss.

Any concerns from a CLL perspective.

Jules The Flyer

Do these help

Serum cholesterol level 4.0 mmol/L [0.0 - 5.2]

Serum triglyceride levels 2.4 mmol/L [0.0 - 2.3]; Non-fasting samples for lipid evaluation may have

falsely elevated triglyceride levels which will

invalidate LDL Cholesterol estimations. Please fast

patients if triglyceride measurement and/or LDL

Cholesterol estimations are required.; Outside reference range

Serum HDL cholesterol level 0.6 mmol/L

Serum LDL cholesterol level 2.3 mmol/L

Serum cholesterol/HDL ratio 6.7

Serum non high density lipoprotein cholesterol level 3.4 mmol/L

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TheFlyer profile image
TheFlyer
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28 Replies
lankisterguy profile image
lankisterguyVolunteer

Hi TheFlyer,

-

For previous discussions you can look for the box on this page labeled: "Related Posts

*Statins and Ibrutinib

*Venetoclax and \"statin\" use

*Statins and Lymph Nodes

*Acalabrutinib and statin interaction

*Heart health, statins and Sun exposure.

-

Len

Bemersyde profile image
Bemersyde in reply to lankisterguy

On W&W, but knocking on the door of treatment, have taken 5mg Rosuvastatin, with consultants approval, for many a year without negative effects. Less sanguine about the prescribed 75mg aspirin that comes with it.

lankisterguy profile image
lankisterguyVolunteer in reply to Bemersyde

Hi Bemersyde

Please consult with your Hem/Onc and the doctor that prescribed the statin about the aspirin - since the BTKi drugs act as a blood thinner / inhibiting clotting, it usually means halting any daily aspirin or dose adjusting other blood thinners.

Len

Bemersyde profile image
Bemersyde in reply to lankisterguy

Hi Len

I’m still W&W no BTKi’s just yet

Initially prescribed daily doses of 40mg Simvastatin with 75mg Asprin and 10mg proton pump inhibitor (PPI) Omeprazole

Whilst negotiating statin reduction to 5mg did query the Asprin/PPI dosage to be told would get unwanted side effects and statin would be ineffective unless taken as a set

Researches showed that this triumvirate was the go to combination and in the UK. However I did come across a study by Prof Peter Rothwell, Clinical Neurology, Oxford concluding a lower dose of Asprin was just as effective - without the stomach/digestive system negativity of the 75mg dose (sorry I’ve lost details of his paper just have a reference I made in my case notes)

Was unable to convince my GP or Cll consultant of the benefits and still getting prescribed the 75mg but will query again who knows things might have changed😊

Best

Bemersyde

annmcgowan profile image
annmcgowan

Hi my cholesterol was only 4.7 when my GO offered statin. I asked my haemotogist as I am on flair trial on ibrutinib. He thought it would be a good idea to take them. I have been on for a few months and no side effects.

Good luck

Ann

GMa27 profile image
GMa27

Take .5 mg. for many years. No issues.

RZ8983DV profile image
RZ8983DV

I was on them for a few years when I was initially diagnosed, then came off statins. Now might have to go back on them though I don't want to

LeoPa profile image
LeoPa

My cholesterol is 8.5 and I don't take statins. But my diet is most probably very different from yours 😁

Detail profile image
Detail in reply to LeoPa

Hi LeoPa

Its good to hear from somebody who has the same level as myself, 8.5

My doctor wants me to go on statins, but I am reluctant to.

My diet is good. Plenty of vegetables and oily fish etc. But, cant get my level down.

LeoPa profile image
LeoPa in reply to Detail

Hi, I'll send you a private message with relevant info

TheFlyer profile image
TheFlyer in reply to LeoPa

Can you send it to me to please

LeoPa profile image
LeoPa in reply to TheFlyer

Hi, I just sent it. Happy reading!

Detail profile image
Detail in reply to LeoPa

Thank you

LeoPa profile image
LeoPa in reply to Detail

You're welcome, if any questions, I'm just a message away 😁. Don't hesitate to send me a PM.

Bubnojay profile image
Bubnojay

There are good and bad cholesterols, worth looking into your levels of HDL and LDL.

TheFlyer profile image
TheFlyer in reply to Bubnojay

Serum cholesterol level 4.0 mmol/L [0.0 - 5.2]

Serum triglyceride levels 2.4 mmol/L [0.0 - 2.3]; Non-fasting samples for lipid evaluation may have

falsely elevated triglyceride levels which will

invalidate LDL Cholesterol estimations. Please fast

patients if triglyceride measurement and/or LDL

Cholesterol estimations are required.; Outside reference range

Serum HDL cholesterol level 0.6 mmol/L

Serum LDL cholesterol level 2.3 mmol/L

Serum cholesterol/HDL ratio 6.7

Serum non high density lipoprotein cholesterol level 3.4 mmol/L

laldoroty profile image
laldoroty

I have been on statins since 1994, CLL in 2019, treatment in 2020, large B cell lymphoma in 2023, presently in treatment, never had a problem. Good luck

Sepsur profile image
Sepsur

didn’t like statin I was on - came off it - cholesterol dropped by a 1/6 - quite a few meds increase cholesterol count and more specifically- they can reduce HDL cholesterol and increase LDL cholesterol- exactly the wrong way round!!!

I’d been on steroids periodically & diuretics etc etc - something the cholesterol nurse chose not to consider

Jm954 profile image
Jm954Administrator

Personally, with those results I wouldn't take statins for the marginal benefit it might offer you.

There are serious side effects that are often glossed over including muscle cramps and rhabdomyolysis. Here's a list of side effects and benefits although in rece3nt years it's felt that the benefits have been overstated.

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

TheFlyer profile image
TheFlyer in reply to Jm954

Hi, This might be irrelevant on Boxing day I had a fall I ruptured my Quad tendon then on the 29th Jan had an op and spent 3 weeks in bed as I couldn't bear weight. Anyway on the 15th feb the cast came of and Iam now in an adustable leg brace. Could it be I have been rather inactive for the first part of the year and liking the odd treat hear and there could this be what has raised my Cholestrol level ? usually I was around 5 5.2 when previously checked. just a thought. best wishes julian

Jm954 profile image
Jm954Administrator in reply to TheFlyer

Exercise is good for lowering cholesterol so that seems that it could be likely and it's just a temporary raise

RSilver profile image
RSilver in reply to Jm954

"There are serious side effects that are often glossed over"!Well said!

PaulaS profile image
PaulaSVolunteer

Hi Jules the Flyer,

Good to hear from you again.

I agree with Jackie, that I wouldn't be too keen on statins with your results. Or at least, be careful what dose you take.

Soon after I started Atorvastatin 20 mg last November (as prescribed by my GP), I lost most of my sense of taste and smell.

Christmas was a very tasteless time for me. I wondered why mince pies and Xmas puddings were so bland this year and thought we must have bought mild instead of mature cheeses. When a yummy Chocolate Orange tasted like cardboard, I knew something was wrong!

When I eventually read that Atorvastatin can cause loss of taste and smell, I halved the Atorvastatin dose from 20gm to 10 mg. (My GP was happy with this). Very soon chocolate and cheese tasted delicious again! I wish I'd done that earlier, and enjoyed the Christmas treats.

Loss of taste isn't always listed as a side effect of statins. Seems it's not a common problem - could be that dose and size of person makes a difference. Other medications we're on might also affect outcomes when statins are added to the mix. I was also on Ibrutinib, Levothyroxin, Penicillin, Fanitidine.

I had heard that statins can cause muscle pains and was almost expecting that, but no, I didn't have any muscle pains or any other ill effects.

Let us know what you decide and how you get on.

Best wishes,

Paula

TheFlyer profile image
TheFlyer in reply to PaulaS

Hi Paula always around just in the background these days. Set up my own Gardening Business 3 years ago and it been none stop, This might be irrelevant on Boxing day I had a fall I ruptured my Quad tendon then on the 29th Jan had an op and spent 3 weeks in bed as I couldn't bear weight. Anyway on the 15th feb the cast came of and Iam now in an adustable leg brace. Could it be I have been rather inactive for the first part of the year and liking the odd treat hear and there could this be what has raised my Cholestrol level ? usually I was around 5 5.2 when previously checked. best wishes Julian

bennevisplace profile image
bennevisplace

I had reason to delve into lipid profile testing and statin use in the UK, because my wife had two tests showing high LDL following surgery and her GP wants her to take statins. Here are some reasons why we have (for now) decided against, some of which may apply to you. Make of it what you will.

1. Both tests were on blood samples drawn with NO prior fast, needed for test accuracy.

2. Her triglyceride level is in the middle of the normal range.

3. Her blood pressure has always been normal to below normal.

4. She has no history of cardiovascular disease.

5. Before surgery she was briefly on a medication one of whose side effects can be raised cholesterol levels in women over 60.

6. The evidence of benefit/ side effects for statins in reducing heart attack in low risk groups is not at all compelling.

7. By comparison the evidence for dietary measures is.

RSilver profile image
RSilver

My HDL was 7.0 last checked.LDL was 3.41

My Glucose Fasting was 6.0

My A1C was 5.9

I refused to take Statins although have been offered them many time.

My father had his first MI at age 55 & my uncle died during a Cabg. If that isn't Familiar I don't know what is.

Since I worked in Healthcare (now retired after 32 years) I scheduled myself for an Exercise Stress Test . Been doing that every few years. My last one I ran an extra 2 minutes at Target Heart Rate with no difficulty.

Perhaps your values, and subsequent decision, should be based on a complete Cardio Vascular Disease risk assessment.

Your milage may vary.

R.

al444 profile image
al444

hello , I have been using Statin over 10 y no link or damage with CLL

Jujy profile image
Jujy

Greetings. My husband is the CLL patient but I am the one with high cholesterol numbers despite being a careful vegetarian. Statins give me bad side effects (suicidal ideation) so my GP recommended I get a coronary calcium scan to assess my risk. I don’t know if such a scan would be contraindicated for CLL patients. My results showed my risk score as zero (I am 71). I now feel confident eschewing statins and I might just have the cheese and gelato when we go to Italy (my husband is recently uMRD after V&O treatment). BTW, I had to pay for the scan out of pocket for the scan. Worth knowing your risk factor.

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