My GP keeps trying to push me to take statins there is nothing wrong with my Cholesterol is there a reasoning why they keep saying something about guidelines for CKD .
Im already on enough tablets for ongoing breathing problems and a partially collapsed lung from pneumonia i don't really want to take anymore have chronic pain and heard statins can give you muscle pain.
Help
please stay away from statin i had my cholesterol level tiny bit up than gp gave me to take startin even never had cholesterol issue using last 6 weeks gave me very bad side effects feeling week tired now just stop 8 days ago i feel myself again try to keep my cholesterol control with diet
I asked further about this as I kept getting asked by my GP to start statins. Apparently it’s new govt advice but broad brush. They really only recommend it if you also have heart issues as well as kidney. I don’t, so am giving the statins a wide body swerve.
Nephrologist put me on statins 5 or so years ago even though I didn’t have high cholesterol as CKD and heart issues always go together. After reading a lot about statins, I have decided to go off them and am gradually reducing the dose now. I think I feel less aches and pains. I read something the other day that CoQ10 is a natural heart protector so I might try that. Will speak to doctor first
I think statins actually attributed to my CKD. I took them for years (cholesterol not that high) and had horrible leg pains, to the point that I had to quit. Looking back and now that more articles are available on the subject, I think toxins put out by my muscle pain affected my kidneys, one of the factors to low eGFR.
I have CKD and marginal cholesterol. Tried different statins for 10 years but they all seemed to make me weak. Finally found one that doesn't seem to bother me. pitavastatin, 1 mg. Keeps Ldl about 70. You should also experiment with lowering dose and then observing results after a couple months. One dose value doesn't fit everyone.
I've been on statin since November 2024, Atorvastatin - 10 mg. I am currently Stage 3B-Stage 4. My cholesterol was moderate, it will be a few months before I have blood tests again to see if there is any improvement. Leg pain was an issue for me before taking them, so, I haven't really noticed any difference. I feel about the same, almost like I'm taking a placebo. I did try to do some investigation on the internet (for what that may be worth), I did see articles suggesting it may help the kidneys by making the blood less laden with the harmful fat (my interpretation). While it isn't a blood-thinner, it could almost act like that. It should put less stress on the kidneys from what I've read.
Regarding the leg pain, I find stretching and taking daily walks helps with the leg pain. Especially if you can find a stretch for the calf muscles. It takes about 2 minutes of my day to stretch those calf muscles, which also helps with the ham strings and lower back.
My GP put me on Crestor years ago and I had a really bad reaction. I've had high cholesterol (family) and diet and exercise did not help. I take Zetia and Pravastatin and my cholesterol is finally good. The cardiologist wanted me to take Lipitor and I said no way. My LDL is 70 and he wants it below 60.
I had a health check yesterday at work (nhs admin worker) i was questioning one of the nurses doing it and they told me there is a statin that doesn't effect kidney function but that is a tier 3 drug and only a renal nephrologist in hospitals can prescribe it.
Im going to keep saying no unless something goes on with my cholesterol but it rather defeats the purpose about guidelines with kidney disease if its going to make it worse
I've been on 20mg pravastatin for about 2 years now. My cholesterol numbers were all high and have been lowered and are almost in the normal range. No side effects from this statin but years ago i did have muscle pain with Lipitor. I'm at gfr 31 for 6 or more ywhich ranges up to 38 at times.
I am very suspicious about the pressure put on patients to go on statins. I tried them years ago and had severe leg pain. It felt like a tendon from my ankle to my knee had turned to steel. If the pain had continued I would’ve been in the emergency room. My brother on the other hand, when he tried a statin his doctor put him on, ended up in the emergency room twice. Needless to say we’re not taking statins anymore.
So a couple years ago when my new primary doctor suggested I go on a statin I simply refused. My cholesterol is just slightly elevated according to today’s standards. But one thing I’ve noticed, every time I look at my chart online, it’s still lists the statin as one of my drugs. I’ve mentioned multiple times to him that I am not taking the statin, but it stays on my list of medicines. It certainly makes me wonder if doctors are being paid to have their patients on statins. If not that, then they are possibly criticized if a patient has a heart issue that was not on a statin? Perhaps there is some liability there.
I don’t know how to link it here but there is a chart available online that shows all cause mortality compared to cholesterol level at death. The lowest level of all cause mortality is associated with a cholesterol range that is elevated over today’s ideal standards - exactly the level that I’m at. I will happily remain off of statins.
GFR Below 60
Doctors Differ - Patients Die. The problem of taking a doctors lead
Statin alternative
Kidneys and Arthritis pain
