Last year, before my beloved GP retired, she put me on 10mg Crestor as a preventative, she said all CKD patients with a GFR less than 50 should be on a statin, and that it was recommended.
So I went on. My gfr dropped 6 points My neph, immediately changed the dose to 5mg. So that is what I have been taking daily.
It's one of the only meds I take. I really hate taking meds, I eat plant-based, I exercise regularly, and I take pretty good care of myself.
My cholesterol profile was never an issue before I went on Crestor, and is just fine now, so my question is do I really have to stay on this drug, I really don't like that I am taking a drug that I believe is doing damage to my kidneys.
I would like to get off this drug and I am going to bring it up at my next neph appointment although I suspect I will get a fight even though I have done my research. (lol)
Does anyone else have feelings about the use or abuse of statins?
There is a lot of controversy over statins. I tried to put it off taking one as long as I could but now I am on a very low dose. My cholesterol was never awful, maybe the highest was 200. But now it is 130. But my GFR improved also. Talk with your doctor. They put people on preventive meds as a protocol and it doesn't work for everyone. I always fight to not take meds.
My thoughts; give your pharmacist a call regarding the Crestor; although it is one of the newer and widely prescribed drugs, it is not for everyone.
Another source would be to look up possible side effects of this drug on Drugs.com. Google it or get the APP.
I would discuss the statin with both your GP and Nephro as they have your cholesterol baseline and are hopefully consulting with each other to best attend to all of your medical needs.
There are alternative drugs to keep cholesterol in check such as Ezetimibe whose
Brand name is Zetia.
I have been plant based since 2017 and was found to be
statin allergic in 2018.
My PCP and Nephro came up with a combination of Phytosterols, omega 3 fish oil, chia seeds and niacin which my nephro researched successfully for kidney patients during his residency and fellowship at a metro teaching hospital.
It has worked well for me; bear in mind that I'm being monitored.
Bear in mind that
every patient is different with different medical needs.
Do your homework and have a chat with especially your nephro to come up with a plan that is best for your needs.
Stay positive and let me know how things go!
Bet 🙂
Hi there, thanks for your insightful post. I don't have any of the usual Crestor side effects, perhaps it's because the dose is so low, I guess my biggest concern is being on it if I don't need it. My cholesterol was the same on and off so why take the drug?
Interesting. I was put on Crestor in 2015. It didn't do anything to my cholesterol numbers. Come to find out, I had hypothyroidism that had my cholesterol high. Being hypo also lowered my GFR into the 70s from the upper 90s.
Hi I am in Atorvastin 10mg due to Nephrotic Syndrome as it can raise the cholesterol level. Was on it even when it was in remission. Just another medication to add to all the others.
Personally I would ask the doctor for details of an independent study/report clearly confirming that a statin is beneficial. Then you can decide (and maybe share on here).
Of course, no one on here should suggest you take or stop a medication though sharing experiences is OK. But, if you post on the thyroid forum here, you will likely be dissuaded!
My mum refused a statin when offered after her total cholestrol rose to ~7mmol/l (still there) as we believe that cholestrol is actually a good thing and underlying causes of its increase can include.....her CKD nhsinform.scot/illnesses-an.... Its the underlying cause that needs attention, not a statin to hide it.
And, of course, statins have many side effects...including kidney damage, with higher doses webmd.com/cholesterol-manag....
So your decision - but should be based on evidence!
Thank you, I’m an advocate for finding Research Base results for the Why’s.
Noting that Statins, can cause kidney damage is revolutionary to me! I also think 💭 the drugs that helps one problem creates other problems and lead to more long term treatments, like dialysis. This is so troublesome for me. Nothing against meds, or medical staff but the continuous cycle of decades of giving prescriptions, and no cure but, the need for more prescriptions, or insulin, or heart trouble, or CKD, or diabetes, or…… Where is the make me whole again medical team! Where is the less medication 💊 and still doing great team. 🌸
I'm CKD5, 20+ years. Was put on statins and had so many issues. At the time my triglycerides were 800. I changed a few things stopped statins. Now my triglycerides are 130, cholesterol is 140.
Mine was just the opposite and I've had all the tests showing normal heart function and less than 10% blockages. Phenomenal given ive been on dialysis 20+ years.
Compatible? I was listed for nearly 10 years. My antibodies were 99-100%. Ive had 5 children and now nearly 30 transfusions. I did four full rounds (2 months) of IVIG desensitization to no avail. No living donor, so no paired exchange. I had 2 calls in all that time, but positive crossmatch. At this point dialysis is going well and I'm getting older so I'm okay not listing. HTHBlessings
It's your choice. My cholesterol is quite high but my veins and arteries are just fine, with about 50 % blockage (which is good for my age) so I won't take it. In mho there is enough research out there that shows blockage is not necessarily related to high #s so I feel OK with my decision. You have to do the research for yourself and do what is right for you. My cardio even said that they prescribe as a preventative mostly and I'm OK to not take it, at this time.
That's true....in my case it's hereditary so diet, exercise and even the statin really did nothing. I also have Graves Disease which is an autoimmune disease causing hyperthyroidism.
Statins are great for big pharma profits. But I would put them in the bin. If you do a bit of exercise, eat few fast carbs and get enough sunlight then you will be fine.
No, they don't do stents at 50%. At 79 50% is good. They do a vascular test, some kind of scan, they do the ankles, thighs, neck and abdomen. No reputable doc would put a stent in at 50%
I tried Crestor once and it gave me the most god awful daily migraines. I avoid statins like they are the devil. All of my heart tests have been extremely good so I'll keep not taking them.
My neph says statins cause damage to the kidneys but are a necessary evil if you have high cholesterol. I have never had high cholesterol, so I don't know why I was put on a statin. My GP, who put me on the drug said it was something all CKD patients with a GFR of less than 50 were recommended. My gfr dropped when I went on the statin. In fact, my neph immediately lowered my dose right after my GP started me on it! I'm not so sure I need to be on it...I'm considering going off and seeing if my gfr goes up.
Statins are used for varied things but to my understanding not protect the kidneys. BP meds such as Lisinopril and Ramipril which are from the ACE Inhibitor family or Losartan which is from the
Angiotensin II receptor blocker family are widely prescribed even at a low dose to protect the kidneys; even for folks who do not have elevated pressure such as diabetic patients.
Other BP meds may be used but these are widely prescribed.
Several PCP's caring for varied members of my family as well as nephrologists have verified this. Lisinopril or Losartan are widely prescribed as a first line drug to reduce proteinuria as well as protect kidneys as they reduce pressure on them.
They are also used to reduce elevated blood pressure.
Look them up on Drugs.com.
You can google them or get the APP which tells you uses, possible side effects as well as mild, moderate and severe drug interactions.
I was on lisinopril for years, I was in the hospital for pneumonia (from covid) & they stopped it! My doc said it can do more damage to re- start the med. Than to just stay off of it. I was taking a low dose, it did double duty, bp & protect kidney's. Ah
Agreed and talk to your doctor as there are drugs and alternatives which are safe, effective and have no side effects. Every person is different with different health issues and biochemistry
Diet, exercise. Stopped statins 5 yrs ago and yes it was a near immediate relief from weak muscles, improved labs.
I had to hunt but this was one of the articles my GP sent me to support the use of a statin: (I have no idea why this is in italics and try as I may, it will not go back to normal Roman type!!! sciencedirect.com/science/a...
I think if I refused to take a statin they'd say I was non-compliant and take me off the transplant list. The transplant program is very concerned with heart health because of the links between CKD and heart trouble. Don't forget drugs may help prevent things from getting worse. It isn't just about getting to "normal" and then stopping the medication.
My cholesterol was/is normal. My triglycerides were sometimes high due to diabetes, but they have been normal before I was put on the statin. There are tons of medical articles that come up when you search for the links between CKD and heart issues, especially as CKD progresses. Most ESRD folks die from heart problems, not from the CKD itself. I take over 30 pills a day so one more isn't that big a deal, especially since it is required for the transplant list. You really need to ask your medical team why you are on it and if it is a proven preventative for your CKD. Everyone is different.
I tried Lipitor but after a few months refused to take it. it affects muscles, causes weakness. I already had atrophied calf muscles due to toe amputations, and the Lipitor made it harder for me to stand and walk. Patient advocates in hospital told me it's my body and I have the right to refuse anything meds or treatment I deem to be causing me ill side effects. However, If you have to follow rules for future transplant, that may be a different issue.
I was finally convinced to try a statin again not for cholesterol, but for vascular health after my pulmonary embolism. They say it’s good for diabetics as well, something about opening up the arteries which can only help when you’ve had one PE as it makes it more likely to have more. I had to go off it though. I have reactions to about 4 statins, 100%, so far…
I stopped Crestor in 2017, 2 years after starting the drug. My cholesterol numbers kept rising. My dosage was adjusted, but it never worked. After I quit taking the drug, my cholesterol actually dropped some, but then jumped back up. I'm only 4 weeks into my levothyroxine thyroid medication. I have a blood test in 2 more weeks to find out if it is helping my cholesterol numbers. Hypothyroidism often causes high cholesterol, high bp, kidney failure and a ton of other issues. I was diagnosed as overt hypo that was missed for 7 years. I can definitely feel a difference in 4 weeks. My blood pressure is great, much less kidney issues. I will let you know my cholesterol results in a couple of weeks.
Statins are for dyslipidemia, or high cholesterol or high calcium scan score with signs of plaque. It is not for kidney disease. If you have no signs of cardiovascular disease or high risk based on a lipid panel then your nephrologist is wrong & should be replaced. Find a new internist to review your records in detail to help you get off the statin safely & address your kidney concerns & why the nephrologist believes statins help kidney disease. Your diet is the Greger diet which is correct & you should minimize animal protein but supplement with B12. Find out why your nephrologist was never able to explain why statins were prescribed for you.
Bond-007 it was my GP who prescribed the statin. My neph would be happy to see me off it.Thank you for your reply!
The drug called Glucophage SR in the UK is still being prescribed but the warnings are much stronger than they were. In USA, The Glucophage XR brand name has been discontinued in the U.S. If generic versions of this product have been approved by the FDA, there may be generic equivalents available.
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