Stage 5 Needs Safe Statin Recommendation

[FelineFandom146]

Hello all!

I'm a stage 5 CKD Patient. Yes, Kidney Failure without dialysis or transplant, yet. My cholesterol and Triglycerides are super high! My PCP will want to put me on a statin but I can't find any safe for Stage 5 Patients. Anyone out there have any recommendations? I can't get into see my Kidney Doc until April. Nice, huh?

[Pisces49]

I take atorastatin. Prescribed by a GP but ok with my nephrologist.

[DEZIN]

it is not a safe thing for a non physician to recommend medication.

I recently was prescribed a statin from my endocrinologist. She called my nephrologist as well. If you have a primary doctor have them reach out to your kidney doctor. It is hard when doctors get booked and you have too wait, but l have found that Doctors respond to other doctors quicker.

[drmind]

I'm at gfr 3b (38) and have been taking pravastatin daily for a year or so with no obvious side effects. I was very concerned about starting a statin as I had trouble with them years ago (Lipitor). Still in the months since starting pravastatin, all my cholesterol numbers have improved a little with every lab work that I do. No big jumps. Just small positive improvements each time, so I'm happy with this medication. Please check with your doctors about what to do. Good luck

[FelineFandom146 in reply to drmind]

Thank you for your input. Greatly appreciated!

[ShyeLoverDoctor]

I am not a doctor. I have had kidney disease for 17 years. Been on dialysis and now have a transplant.

I have never heard of being stage 5 meaning you can’t be on statins. HOWEVER you will likely require a dose adjustment, i.e. take less than someone with normal kidneys.

Just because you can’t see your nephrologist , does that really mean he/she won’t answer a message, phone call, etc?

Especially at State 5, you need to run all medicines by the nephrologist. Period.

[FelineFandom146]

Thanks for the reply. It is greatly appreciated. However, there is much debate about the safety of Statins for anyone with CKD and especially for those in later stages. That being said, not all Nephrologists are knowledgeable about other meds. That being said, I take no meds without checking into them first. I've had CKD for over 27 years and have learned to be extra cautious after many errors by "specialists." Thanks again.....

[Darlenia in reply to FelineFandom146]

Do you have a cardiologist? My husband (who now has a transplant) found his cardiologist to be very knowledgeable about blood pressure meds, statins, etc. - more so than his nephrologist. Their influence on blood vessels and organs are in their wheelhouse. Definitely let him know your history - especially your kidney situation. Cardiologists are quick to interface with other specialists. Perhaps this is an approach you can consider.

[NoStatinsForMe]

Statins will do nothing to lower Triglycerides. Additionally, statin use can increase risk of Type 2 diabetes by as much as 20% over 3 years. Statins can also cause skeletal muscle inflammation, and in “rare” cases can lead to rhabdomyolosis, which is the breakdown of muscle tissue which can then lead to acute kidney failure.

By inhibiting cholesterol synthesis, statins also can decrease Vitamin D levels, critical for healthy immune function, healthy bones, & also important for healthy kidney function. Statins inhibit Vit K2 synthesis. K2 is important for ensuring calcium in blood gets deposited in bone instead of the coronary arteries, and this may explain why statins have been shown to increase CAC scores (deposition of calcium in arteries).

Not sure how high your cholesterol is, but if it’s not over 300, you may want to rethink entertaining idea of statins. Triglyceride:HDL ratio has been shown to be a more accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease risk. Make sure you’ve cut all SEED OILS (canola, vegetable, soybean, margarine, etc) out of your diet.

[FelineFandom146 in reply to NoStatinsForMe]

Thanks for your input. I don't like Statins either, but the physicians are always pushing it. I know all the bad things statins do which is why I've delayed taking them over the years. I'm seriously working on my diet with the Dr. Dean Ornish diet, the only diet proven to reverse heart disease. No oils. fats, nuts, what so ever. This restrictive diet worked once for me. I'm hoping it works again. The trick with statins or any medication is changing the way you eat for the medication to properly work. Everyone wants a quick fix, which is why statins were created to begin with. Physicians rarely tell Americans to change their diet in fear they won't. It's too difficult to do so. Bah! If I have to change the way I eat to begin with I might as go all the way to skip the statins. Thanks again everyone for your input. Greatly appreciated. I've been down this road before but once again just wanted to see what other CKD patients were taking and their experiences, good and bad. Stay safe. Stay hydrated.