I have been prescribed 40mg Atorvastatin to bring down my cholesterol levels. We think is is familial (hereditary) high cholesterol, but is being exasperated by Tocilizumab. My GP said that she would start me on a low dose - is 40mg a low dose? My sister is only on 20mg after increasing from 10mg!
What are your experiences? I'm not asking for medical advice; I wouldn't do that. My Tocilizumab seems to be starting to work it's magic, so I don't want to stop that. I did have to stop my 22.5mg mtx injections for around 6 weeks, because my liver, neutrophils and white blood count went awry; I've had to restart on 15mg. I'd rather have not restarted, but I was told that it would reduce my risk of getting another autoimmune disease.
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Moomin8
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Do you manage ok? I was told to take it just before bed time. I take iron tablets (ferrous sulphate) and mustn't take them at the same time. I'm taking the iron at 4-5pm now.
I take my Iron with Vitamin C mid morning and have always taken my Statin (even when I was on a lower dose) before bed time, never had any problems with Statin's. My cholesterol problem was also hereditary, I didn't know I had a problem until I had my heart attack in 1988 and the doctors at Addenbrookes informed me it was hereditary. I have been on Statins ever since. I am on Atorvastatin (just thought I would mention the type of statin as I know there are several).
Thank you for this information i also take statins and iron tablets and was never told that you cannot take them together.. do you know the reason why?
I have to take 3 iron tablets a day which personally i think is a lot seeing as she said my anemia is only a bit low. So my last 1 i take of an evening with my statin so maybe i will take it later in the evening.
I think that the advice is that it's always best to take statins at bed time - that's what the pharmacist told me when my husband started them after a stroke. He's on Simvastatin and has never had any problems; after a couple of years he was allowed to drop to one on alternative days as his cholesterol had dropped so much 😉
I'm prescribed 20mg atorvastatin, though I take mine with my other evening meal meds rather than bedtime. It's not quite so important with atorvastatin to take it at bedtime as it has a longer half life than older statins but no bad thing if it serves as a reminder for you . The reason it's better taken at night though is to do with it being when cholesterol is made, they are are more efficient at reducing LDL, according to my GP who explained when I started them & changed over from simvastatin, my first one.
I started on 40mg now down to 20mg. Like you familia and exasperated by Barcitnib. I started to take flaxseed oil supplements and adding it to food my cholesterol is now stable at 4.3 on 20mg and daily flaxseed supplements. This works for me.
If your levels were quite high ….GPs often start Atorvastatin @ 40mg apparently. Soon after I was put on that dose 35 years ago- I saw a cardiologist who smiled & said “bit over the top “ & halved the dose…..I’m now down to 10mg ….& have been well controlled on that for years.
I take Pravastatin 10mg as a precautionary measure prescribed by my diabetes doctor. My cholesterol wasn't particularly high but she said having diabetes for over 30 years puts me at risk of heart attack and stroke. I also have rheumatoid arthritis. I was started on simvastatin which caused constipation as did artovastatin. However Pravastatin is ok for me. I think 40mg isn't a low dose but I would think your doctor has probably prescribed the dose he/she thinks is appropriate for you. I always take mine at night before bed.
I started on the same statin as you at 20 mg, then my GP said the protocol is to try and get it down by 40% for people with RA. It's about higher risk factor of stroke etc for RA sufferers. So after three months, from 5.3 dropped to 4.3. Then GP doubled dose to 40 mg, and this week its 3.9/4. She said she was surprised it had not gone down more. (I had knocked it off whilst I was unwell for about five days before blood test though, so we thought that may have affected it). I asked her how low she wants it to go? She said 40% lower than 5.3...
I thought it was making me nauseous but GP said it will be the methotrexate and i should mention at hospital visit and maybe change meds??However I've followed advice on here re lemongrass and ginger tea, plus yakult and nausea is now alot better.
I've been on 40mg since I had a TIA in 2016. I've had no problems at all with it. My cholesterol had been raised, even though I eat a very healthy diet. In my case it seems to be hereditary. My husband was put on 20mg even though his cholesterol is normal...because of his age...as a precaution.
I started on 20mg just before Christmas. Had my bloods done a month ago, and my cholesterol levels are down already! It may have affected urea levels though, so getting bloods done again next week.
I have been on 10mg. For many years and my cholesterol is now described as satisfactory at 3.5, I did have side effects of aching legs for most of that time but this stopped about 2 years ago. Today I have been informed to double the dose to 20mg. Not for cholesterol problems but heart risks. My wife as been on 10mg. For about 3 years and as had no known side effects up till now. I take a very long list of medications and as far as I know Atorvastatin as not clashed with any of them. What I have just realised I haven’t been told if to take two ten’s in one go, or one ten twice per day.
My experience is low dose of 2mg which is what I am now. Been told on it for three months then review. Truly hope things settle down asap as your biologics are working well.🤞
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Triple treatment adding Sulfasalazine 
Methotrexate now been added
Rituximab without MTX?
Omeprazole and Hydroxychloroquine added to the mix.
How long will infusion side effects last?
