I have recently decided to stop taking my statins. I have previously been having pain in my joints and also my back.

[sandwiches]

Since i have stopped my statins, i have felt much better. My leg is no longer heavy. My muscles are no longer tight. My head feels a lot more clearer. I can walk a bit more faster. No longer take as many paracetamol as i used to. Has anyone else stopped their statins and how do you feel. Does anyone feel i am doing the right thing. I have been taking statins for over ten years.

[Purpletop]

I'm not taking statins but my husband has taken them for a while to reduce his cholesterol. He had similar issues as you had, with the legs muscles. He told the cardiologist who advised him to stop for a while and see what happens. His muscle cramps have improved but haven't resolved fully. The cardiologist is now putting him on a new statin that is only taken few times a week as opposed to each day. And at a very low dose. He'll see how it goes.

As for doing the right thing - it depends on the reason you've been put on them in the first place. If the reason was for raised cholesterol, unless you're able to reduce it by diet and exercise only, maybe it would be good to mention this to a cardiologist and see what he suggests.

As a lupie, I'm wondering whether I should take these preventatively because lupus increases the likelihood of cholesterol formation and adherence to arteries. Indeed there are currently clinical trials that do just that - give lupus sufferers statins for 2 years and see whether by comparison to those taking placebo, there is any reduction/slowing down of plaque formation/cholesterol adhesion.

My regular rheumatologist is not that keen, given that there is no proof at the moment that statins help in reducing the lupus-related risk of plaque formation. But another consultant rheumatologist in London did suggest them for me, although my cholesterol was 5 at the time (i.e. not that high).

Good luck with whatever you decide - ultimately no one can force you to take any medication if you don't want to.

[hope4cure in reply to Purpletop]

You will find some information on the WWW. searching Statins - Lupus. Paradoxically Statins can help with the symptoms of Lupus but may also be the cause of Lupus symptoms. Look at the pamphlet in your statin box about side effects which clearly says that lupus like symptoms appear together with changes in blood cells. I am an example of this and am looking for someone who has overcome the problem by coming off the statins. I want to know how long it will be after stopping treatment before I lose the symptoms..

[sandwiches in reply to hope4cure]

Thanks for your advice. I will look on statins-lupus and see what it says. I just think that i have been on statins for such a long time and just keep being in pain all of the time. Who knows what will happen if i re introduce them.

[sandwiches]

Thanks for your advice. I have decided to see how i feel for at least a month or more without the statins. I have also had a transplant so i don't know whether or not it will affect my transplanted kidney. I will take some advice from my gp. x

[hope4cure]

It would be most helpful if you told me how long you had abandoned Statin before their side effects wore off?