statins

[robertsw]

Is anyone on watch and wait and on statins? My cholesterol is high so I’ve been offered to go on Atrovastatin. I just would like to know if anyone else is on a statin.

[RobertCLL]

I am on Atrovastatin and also Ibrutinib. So far its work with no issues.

[Skyshark]

I'm in remission after V+O and started Atrovastatin about 5 weeks ago.

At January appointment, my haematologist suggested I start Statins, "can't start early enough". After an initial discussion with my GP that wasn't very enthusiastic, "you can if you want, come in anytime and ask", I played around with my "qrisk" numbers (Hazard 1.3) but couldn't find anything that rewound the clock or took away the former smoker.

qrisk.org/

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng238/...

There is a titration period while Cholesterol and Liver Function Tests are carried out to gauge effectiveness of dose and safety for liver. Mine are being done at same time as quarterly CLL blood tests, doctor just ticked 2 more boxes on the path bag.

england.nhs.uk/aac/wp-conte...

Commonly used drugs for CLL treatment are metabolised by CYP3A. Statins are also metabolised by CYP3A. Because of this they both have the same list of proscribed foods.

drugs.com/interactions-chec...

But when I look closer at this the Statins allow 1.2L of grapefruit juice (drugs.com says 1 US quart which is slightly less than a Litre) of grapefruit juice, even though the drug level in the blood can increase tenfold compared to the 2-3 times of cBTKi.

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hype...

(The NICE.org.uk and NHS.UK links may not work outside the UK)

[GMa27]

I have been on .5 mg of simvastain for 20+ years. No issues. Have had CLL 19 years- 12 of those were on W&W.

[julius_the_cat]

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[cajunjeff]

I have been on rosuvastatin for about 6 yrs now. I have no side effects from it of which I am aware. My cholesterol numbers have been very good since starting a statin. My good cholesterol is high, my bad is low, and my total cholesterol is 148, which is good for me.

[Edalv]

Hello, I am still in W&W. I was diagnosed with CLL about 20 years ago. I started a low dosage of pravastatin about 15 months ago. My total cholesterol went from 185 to 142 and my LDL from 112 to 73. And the triglycerides from 113 to 86. I was surprised that such a small dose of pravastatin could have such a big impact.

[Rando21]

Think there’s plenty of replies on this one. I was concerned but after research decided they were very safe and may actually help with other cancer risks. Also, try searching for other posts on Health Unlocked.

Link:

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

[robertsw]

Thank you everyone, I’ll start them on Monday and hopefully all will be good.

[ncosto]

Robertsw - I've been on atorvastatin for about 20 years which has been controlling my cholesterol. I started BTKi treatment 6 months ago and with a long history of cardiac disease the oncologic-cardiologist has added ezetimibe to my daily drug protocol. No interactions with any of them.

[RZ8983DV]

I was on statins about 10 years before being diagnosed with CLL. A few years ago my GP took me off statins I. Have been on W and W since diagnosis in 2008

[Edalv in reply to RZ8983DV]

Any reason why your GP took off statins…?

[RZ8983DV in reply to Edalv]

It happened gradually and my cholesterol was no longer high. Last year a GP blood test showed high triglycerides I offered to go back n statin. It was the blood test after switching from lipitor to simvastatin in 2008 where the high WBC and lymphocytes which led to to the CLL diagnosis first appeared

[Wimco]

Yes. I on WW for 5 years and on statins

[pompeym]

After a heart issue while doing strenuous exercise in 2017 I had a stent fitted & was put on Atorvastatin - after a year it started to cause issues so was changed to Rosuvastatin. After a similar time frame that also started to cause similar issues so was changed to Pravastatin which I have been on ever since.

[21Bedlam21]

I’m on watch and wait and also on statins. No problems with them.

[Elliot43]

yes have been on Atorvastatin 40mgs a couple of years now

I’m on Zanubrutinib just over a year now. No probelms at all

[RosettaClapp]

I've been on Atorvastatin for 35 years now.. No side effects and hopefully no strike to come.. My cholesterol isn't high but there's a very strong risk of hereditary brain bleeds in my family

[AVGH]

I have been on Atorvastatin for 10 years. Apart from being barred from eating grapefruit, I really haven't been affected. I have been on Acalabrutinib for CLL for 5 years or more, and there seems to be no interaction with this palliative treatment which nukes your immune system (I am led to believe).

Maybe I am just lucky (usually am) but I tolerate the Statin without any noticeable effect. My chloresterol levels are now fine.

God bless, and good health

Vince

[AndyT]

I’ve been on statins for over 20 years, since I was diagnosed with another form of blood cancer. I remain on them now that I’m on watch & wait for CLL too - currently 30mg Pravastatin per day.

I’ve never had any side effects that I can definitely attribute to statins.

[Insanity4578]

I have been on statins for about 1.5 years. My Hemoglobin A1C (reflects blood glucose over time) did go up. We added metformin. Now my ALT (one of the liver enzymes) is up. Of course we don’t know for sure what is causing liver enzyme elevation since I have taken a litany of supplements. In addition, I have struggled with muscle pain and weakness that I am convinced is from my statin and seems dose related. I am not sure if a have a message here…just own slightly messy experience.

[Unglorious in reply to Insanity4578]

I am not on statins now, and I hope I don't have to go back on them because when I was, I too experienced in my case, horrible muscle aches. I am on Acalabrutinib.

[Barney2866]

Been on watch and wait for 6 years and taken Atorvastatin for 5 years with no problems at all.

[ErieSailor]

I d been on 20 mg of Atorvastatin for probably 12 years. No problems that I know of. My total cholesterol has been under 200 for years now. I’m W&W for 3 years.

[loveRicky]

I too am on Atorvastatin Calcium 20 mg. I have NOT had any issues while taking it.

[ChristyAnne_UK]

Yes. Been on W&W for 11 years. Been on Atorvastatin for years, too. Seems to be working. No side effects.

[pete-paz]

i was diagnosed W&W about year and half ago but have had on and off struggles with cholesterol for years but i know the problem is my diet (ice cream is my best/worst friend) my GP has tried to get me on statins for years but i can control things by adjusting my diet. don't get me wrong take what ever medication you need to but some things can be controlled with lifestyle adjustments, specifically exercise and diet.

[srdh50]

I started on Atorvostatin while on W&W two years ago. No issues. Started on Calquence about a year later. CLL numbers all good now.

[Suzi_]

my heart doctor suggested i go on statins, since my cholesterol is a little high. I refused to go in Statins. I am trying to correct my cholesterol levels naturally, i am trying to eat oat cereals, drink oat milk. Cinnamon also helps. U may want to explore some natural options. The choice is yours. All meds/ statins have side effects!

I hope this helps!

Good luck!

[Edalv in reply to Suzi_]

I also thought I could control my cholesterol with lifestyle changes. Then about 18 months ago my GP checked my Apo-B… my total cholesterol was in the 180’s range, but the Apo-B was very high. After educating myself about the LDL particle size and the effect issues it can cause, I decided I needed to start taking statins. In 18 months after I started taking a statin, my Apo-B is now in the normal range and so is my LDL. In conclusion, I currently take a very low dosage of pravastatin 10mg once a day, and hopefully prevented a potential heart problem…

[Donnamccll]

Been on w&w for 8+ years. I take the same stating with no issues. Some physicians have told me that statins provide anti-inflammatory benefits.

[SurviveOr]

W&W since 2011. Atorvastatin - 80MG/day - since Oct., 2018.

No probs ... so far ...

[Insanity4578]

I commented earlier that I was on atorvastatin but had problems with muscle pain and weakness. I should add that I am a runner so that could have something to do with it. In addition, I recently added CoQ10 to my supplement list, which seemed to help.

[Susanbarratt]

My husband had been on WW for nearly six years and on statins for most of that time. He has had no problems whatsoever. Three weeks had his cholesterol blood test and thankfully all is well.