Baracitinib & Statins

Hi all,

Has anyone here had to go on statins for high Cholestrol due to taking Baracitinib?

I’ve just had a call from Rhumatology telling me my cholesterol is raised and they want me to stop Baracitinib for 3weeks then have bloods done to check if it’s the meds causing it and not me. I just know I’ll crash and burn without any meds so I’m not sure what to do.

If it’s not the meds I’m still gonna have to take a statin anyway, so I’m thinking of just starting them without stopping the Baracitinib for fear of crashing 😩🤗x

[allanah]

I personally would follow their advice. Statins do have side effects too so why take them if you dont need them? So to me it makes sense to stop the Bara , get results and it might just be a diet change?

Or if you need the statins then you will know xx

[Hidden in reply to allanah]

Thanks allanah,

The thing is I eat quite a healthy diet and I've never had an issue with my cholesterol levels before.

I am terrified of crashing again on zero meds its such a hell hole to be in.

My thinking is, if its me or meds im gonna have to take a statin anyway as he has nothing else to give me. Stay well 🤗X

[Stayloose]

Tricky decision. I read somewhere that cholesterol sometimes settles on Baricitinib but can't remember the source or know its validity. Have you had regular cholesterol checks before and since taking Baricitinib?

[Hidden in reply to Stayloose]

Hi Stayloose,

Yeah my cholesterol levels have always been fine and Baracitinb is known to raise it.

I dont really want to flare as I'm canny atm.

Im damned if I do take Baracitinb and damned if i don't, bit of a dilemma, stay well 🤗x

[Stayloose in reply to Hidden]

Baricitinib leaves the system very quickly I know. I guess it might depend how high your cholesterol is. My OH had a very low cholesterol pre Baricitinib, raised 3 months later. He asked for recheck but GP just cancelled all bloods in lockdown. Ridiculously healthy diet so Baricitinib related. Hope Rheumy can explain their reasoning.

[sylvi]

Please please please darling do what the rheumy asks of you. It is only three weeks and the baricitinib won't be out of your system by the time three weeks are up.xxxx

[Hidden in reply to sylvi]

I’m terrified of flaring Sylvi, as I’m doing canny atm and I’ve never changed my diet or lifestyle so I’m assuming it’s the Baracitinib causing the raised cholesterol as it is one of the side effects. Stay well and thanks for your support 🤗X

[AgedCrone in reply to Hidden]

It could just be your age AM.......the older we get the more likely our cholesterol levels are to rise.

You do realise there are different types of statins don’t you? Do you. Know which you dhould take?

I have been on them for many years & when a bright young locum decided to change my statin......believe me ..a rheumy flare is nothing to how I felt on the wrong drug.

[Hidden in reply to AgedCrone]

Ohhh the pleasures of getting old 🤣well I’m assuming it is the Baracitinib as it is one of the common side effects and I’ve never had a problem before taking it.

Yes age plays it’s part and there’s quite a few choices of statins to be on, but, hopefully my GP will choose the correct one for me, trial & error again. Stay well AC 🤗X

[AgedCrone in reply to Hidden]

Believe me age is what you make of it.....I have friends of my age who have no diseases who take every supplement they read about just because “at our age we must need something”...which is mostly nonsense.

Take prescribed drugs of course...but otherwise a decent diet & a PMA.....will ensure most “older people“ do just fine.

After all age is just a number....not a condition that requires treatment.

Hope you don’t need the statins...but if you do.....hope they do the trick.

[Hidden in reply to AgedCrone]

Couldn’t agree more! I always say, everything in moderation & never excess of.

A good balance of food, drink, exercise, laughter, family, and social friendships gives me personally a fulfilling life 🤗X

[jacbub103]

I started taking tofacitinib ( similar drug) 18 months ago and my cholesterol levels went up , they put me on statins but did not take me off my drug (thankfully) and my levels came down. If you haven’t changed your diet ( which I hadn’t) then it can only be the drug that has done this.

[Hidden in reply to jacbub103]

Thanks jacbub,

Yeah I’ve not changed my diet or lifestyle and I’m terrified of crashing as I don’t have anything else except steroids my rheumy can give me. It can only be the Baracitinib causing it after 10months. 🤗X

[jacbub103 in reply to Hidden]

Talk to your Rhemy, as I personally wouldn’t want to crash into that cavern , it’s worth the call 🤞.

[Hidden in reply to jacbub103]

Thanks jacbub, I’ll do that today🤗X

[wishbone]

I thought they would have given you statins while taking baricitinib as happened with jacbub103, but they must have their reasons not to. Might be worth asking them. We are all different of course, but my RA was noticeably worse within a week of stopping baricitinib. I wouldn't say it crashed though, and I did manage to get through the the 8 weeks I was off it with less trouble than anticipated.

I've been taking a low dose of statins for approx 15 years

[Hidden in reply to wishbone]

Hi wishbone,

That’s what I’m terrified of crashing within days because I’m doing canny atm and don’t want to rock the boat. They did say if I flared I could increase my steroids but that’s not an option with me as everyone runs a mile when I’m on high doses🤣🤣 think it gonna be the statin, thanks for the reply and stay well 🤗X

[wishbone in reply to Hidden]

You're post has reminded me that I really need my cholesterol checked, among other things, as it must be around 9 months since I last had my bloods done. I'm due a phone appointment with rheumy at 9.30 so will mention it to the nurse.

Anyway, good luck with that Angel and you stay well too.

[CallMeSunny in reply to Hidden]

Hello AngelMar....had you thought about maybe suggesting to your rheumatology department that you look at your diet to see if there’s anything you can do to lower your cholesterol levels and if you think you can tweak it, then ask for a delay to the decision until a further cholesterol blood test in 3 months time?

[Hidden in reply to CallMeSunny]

I’m quite a healthy eater and never had cholesterol problems before. I have rang rhumy nurse this morning and he’s inclined like me to think it’s the side effects off Baracitinib. We have decided jointly to keep taking the Baracitinib and a low dose Statin prescribed by my GP then monthly bloods to see how it goes. Stay well 🤗X

[CallMeSunny in reply to Hidden]

Glad you were able to speak to your nurse and draw up a plan together. You must feel relieved not to be coming off the B. X

[Hidden in reply to CallMeSunny]

Huge relief!!! We’ll see how things from there, and thanks for your support CMC 🤗X

[AgedCrone]

Not a good idea to self prescribe...especially when your doctors have told you what they suggest you should do.

If you do start to flare....speak to your rheumy nurse...by far the safest option.

[Hidden in reply to AgedCrone]

I’m not going to self prescribe AgeCrone, that’s something I would never do. My rhumy nurse is writing to my GP to explain and to prescribe the statins if needed, stay well and thanks for your support 🤗X

[Jacey15]

No but I now have a high cholesterol due to methotrexate. Was 4.7 pre mtx, 6.5 post. I am now on statins with no side effects.

[Hidden in reply to Jacey15]

That good to hear Jacey thank you and stay well 🤗X