Pravastatin anyone?

[Moomin8]

Afternoon peeps😎What a glorious day it is today!

I hope you are sitting down....

because I'd just like to say that I had an actual face-to-face GP appointment today!! 🥳I hadn’t seen my lovely GPs face since before Covid!

Anyhoo, I had a rheumatology meds review and a bit of an MOT. I currently have Sulfasalazine x 2, Metoject 15mg weekly injection, Tocilizumab weekly injection, Omeprazole, Vit D3, Cyanocobalamin, Folic Acid, Calceous and Atorvastatin. My blood results indicated that my neutrophils and wbc were low, my ALT and AST (liver) results were high and my cholesterol had actually reduced to normal levels 🙂

Consequently, we talked about changing my 40mg Atorvastatin to 40mg Pravastatin. We are hoping that this will help reduce my raised liver results. I have lost weight since she last saw me and my BP was normal. I also asked about the omeprazole I take daily and whether it might be reducing my B12. I'm going to try having it every other day.

My questions are: does anyone else take Pravastatin? Has anyone else changed statins who's got RA for any reason? How about omeprazole and reducing?

I'm going on holiday 15th August,so I'm wondering whether to wait until I come back to change statin to Pravastatin, or to get onto it straight away 🤔

Any ideas welcome

[happytulip]

A family member of mine was on Atorvastatin and had very raised liver function tests so she was switched to Pravastin. The liver function settled very quickly but she did get side effects in that all of her joints, especially hips became painful. They were so bad that she could not walk without changing her gain.

Eventually a compromise was made whereby she took Pravastin every other day. This seemed to keep in top of her cholesterol and reduced her joint pain significantly. It's worth saying that she doesn't have a diagnosis of RA but does carry the EDS gene so has intermittent joint problems.

As for omeprazole. I used to be on a dose of 60mg per day but successfully reduced it to 40mg a day without any problems. Very occasionally, depending on what I eat I need a swig of gaviscon but otherwise I haven't had any problems. My primary diagnosis is SLE.

What dose of omeprazole are you on? I take a spray supplement for B12 which has kept my levels up because it's reflected in my bloods.

[Moomin8 in reply to happytulip]

Thank you for taking the time to answer 🙂I am worried about any side effects of the statin, as the only one I had with Arvostatin was my liver results rising - although it could be my Tocilizumab, MTX or anything else I take 🤷🏻‍♀️of course. My cholesterol problem is familial, and has now been reduced to normal levels with taking 40mg if Arvostation BTW.

I take 20mg of Omeprazole a day currently but take 2 Cyanocobalamin a day to counteract any B12 loss - that's if they work. It's such a juggling act!

[happytulip in reply to Moomin8]

I think Atorvastatin has a bit of a reputation for shooting LFTs up. Mums was so bad she landed up in hospital but it came straight down. It's s bummer when the high cholesterol is familial because you can make ever change to your diet and still nothing happens. It's the same situation in our family. I think I will be having this problem in the next few years judging by my recent results.

Chronic illness never comes on its own on one nicely packaged parcel. It has about a dozen friends that tag along with it to keep us on our toes.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Moomin8 in reply to happytulip]

Thanks 🙂 I'm sorry to hear about your mum - that was awful for her. I just had a GP call (see below) and I'm going back to a lower dose of Atorvastatin (better the devil you know) for now and ditching Omeprazole 🤞

[happytulip in reply to Moomin8]

Thank you, fortunately it was a while ago and only a few nights in. I've seen what you have written below. Best if luck with the change. Keep us posted.

[fangrock]

I couldn’t get past the face to face thing! My entire PsA diagnosis journey was done entirely by text message with my doctor for 6 months until I got a referral.

[Moomin8]

Morning, yes - I nearly fell over on the surgery when I was offered a choice! I hope your journey is well under way now 🤞

[Jackie1947]

I changed from Avorastatin to Rosuvastatin due to side effects. Only take 5mg twice weekly and it controls my BP. I know amazing. Will have a blood test in 2 months to see if it's controlled my slightly raised cholesterol levels. You've got a while before you go on holiday so give it a try now if you want to or leave it.

[Moomin8 in reply to Jackie1947]

Great news regarding the BP levels! I took one last night, then regretted it immediately when I got a pain in my upper digestive system for an hour or so! I think I'll go back to Arvostation until they run out. I'm sure taking one tablet will make absolutely no difference 🙄 I'm sure - right?

[Jackie1947 in reply to Moomin8]

Sorry to hear that. Those pesky pills 🤦

[Runrig01]

I changed from 40mg Atorvastatin to 20mg rosuvastatin due to side effects of cramps. I found oral B supplements did not raise my B12 levels due to taking a PPI. I take a sublingual solution which my bloods show works well. I have lung damage from aspirating acid, so am on high dose pantoprazole with no option to decrease. You still have a few weeks so you have time to switch and see how you respond. Good that you managed a face to face to discuss.

[Moomin8 in reply to Runrig01]

Hmmm...sounds interesting 🤔 Which sublingual do you take?

[happytulip in reply to Runrig01]

I also take a sublingual spray. It's fantastic and it's very obvious in my bloods when I go without. I take the Betteryou brand. I get it in Amazon. Can I ask which you take please?

[Runrig01 in reply to happytulip]

I use the Holland and Barrett one. It states 1ml, but that took me above the upper range. So I take 0.5ml and sits just under the top of the range. Costs £12.99 and lasts several months. 👍

[happytulip in reply to Runrig01]

Thank you. I think mine is of a similar price. It doesn't taste bad either which is a change from the usual stuff I have to take. Makes a nice change.

[cyberbarn]

If you are decreasing omeprazole be aware that there might be some rebound reflux. Increasing Gaviscon Advance is a good way of countering that, and there are other remedies online (liquorice anyone?) but don't give up too soon, give your body time to settled down with the lower dose.

[Moomin8 in reply to cyberbarn]

Thanks 🙂I'm one of liquorice haters 😅it's a love or hate with that 😁

[Chockyuk]

Hello 👋 I was on Pravastatin many years ago, but it didn’t agree with me, so GP switched me to Atorvastatin.

But re: liver tests, mine were high for a long time, I was on 40mg of Omeprazol per day. I had read that there is an interaction with taking high doses of PPI’s and Methotrexate, so after chatting to my GP I switched to just 15mg of Lansaprozal per day and my liver tests went down dramatically.

So it wasn’t really the change in statins, but lowering the dose of PPI’s that helped me.

Not sure if that’s helps?

x

[Moomin8 in reply to Chockyuk]

Ahhh...that's interesting 🤔 I did wonder about the Omeprazole - I will ask about that when I speak to my GP next. Thanks 🙂 What problems did you have with Pravastatin?

[medway-lady]

The alternative to Omeprazole is Cimitidine which tastes vile. All the PPI's carry risks as do nearly all other medications but it may not be the liver but the kidneys. I have stopped the Cimitidine and must never take any PPI's again on the advice of the consultant as as long as the AZ is taken with food it should be fine. But I do not, nor ever did have indigestion, acid reflux or anything else it was just prescibed to protect the stomach. Make sure if on any PPI that you keep your blood tests up to date.

[Moomin8 in reply to medway-lady]

Thanks, will do 🙂

[Moomin8 in reply to medway-lady]

AZ? Sorry, I'm not quite sure what that is? Please excuse my ignorance 😊I called the GP surgery this morning and just had a callback from the duty doc. She has agreed for me to stop Omeprazole altogether and only take if I need to dip into my etoricoxib. She said that they don't prescribe Cimetidine, or any H2 Blockers, anymore due to concerns about them🤷🏻‍♀️

I told her about how I reacted to taking the Pravastatin last night and we decided that I go back to Atorvastatin but on a lower dose of 20mg and see what happens from there. I can't fault her - she listened to what I had to say and was great! I will have another blood test in September and see what happens.

[medway-lady in reply to Moomin8]

Its Azathoprine and I yes Ranitidine is banned, but Cimitidine isn't. And Omeprazole is not without risk as I can prove; so I'm glad that you've been listened too. For me all the PPI's are totally banned.,

[Moomin8 in reply to medway-lady]

Ah, right OK 👍

[jadean8743]

I have been on Pravastatin for years with no problems. I only take 20 MG dose.

[Moomin8 in reply to jadean8743]

Great to hear🙂