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
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?
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?
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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?
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
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
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
I'm due a phone appointment with rheumy at 9.30 so will mention it to the nurse.
Statins and Hydroxychloroquine
Cholesterol and Statins 
Statins
Rituximab and statins - a good combo?
methotrexate injections and atorvastatin statin
