Are most RA patients on statins? The rheumatologist has never mentioned them. My GP surgery recently asked me to attend an RA health check . A surprise as they never have done before.
He did bloods for cholesterol, diabetes and something else which I can’t remember . Blood pressure, weight etc. Blood results showed that my cholesterol was 6.2 , no higher than 10 years ago but he said I needed statins as it was too high and RA sufferers are more likely to get heart disease. I wasn’t keen to have them but after a bit of a ding dong on the phone I agreed to try atorvistatin. I thought if anyone’s going to get side effects it’ll be me but all ok so far after 4 weeks.
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Yes. They said the same to me. I tried one that I didn't get on with but settled on pravastatin. They try to get it as low as they can, and I think it's in order to meet targets. But they reckon there is an increased risk of heart and circulation problems with RA so I took their advice (reluctantly). Yet more meds!!
Hi . I was put on atorvastatin many years ago , before I was diagnosed with RA, because my cholesterol reading was around the same as yours. I have a family history of heart disease , that's why I was put on it. I haven't had any problems with it.
I'm not. I think it's safe to say the jury is still out on statins, they can have a lot of side effects. Also high cholesterol can be an indicator of other issues, like an underactive thyroid, some doctors seem to reach for the statin prescription as soon as they see a high level of cholesterol instead of investigating the root cause.
My mum is being nagged at to go on them even though her levels are the same as ever and it's the 'good' cholesterol which is high, they are supposed to be looking at triglycerides and the proportion of good to bad these days, but some GPs are too lazy to keep up to date.
I'm not although I tried two but failed. You don't have to take them every day according to my medic. Some can take them every other day. RA we are at a higher risk of heart attack and strokes.
I was put on them last week re same reason but having awful side effects so waiting for a GP call to see what next as 2 nd one I have tried and failed at!
Hi there. Good to see this thread. I was put on statins 3 weeks ago. Cholesterol 6.6 and having probs with gall bladder. I felt quite unwell on them. Had telephone call with GP who tried to pursuade me it was not side effects from statins but a bug!!! Have stopped taking them. Not sure I will try again. Life with steroids has been disruptive enough. Doesn't Pred increase risk of high cholesterol too?
Hi Goldfinch, yes prednisalone does affect cholesterol apparently. Sorry you felt ill on the statin prescribed. Maybe try again or have a different one, we do get sick of taking all these drugs and it’s disheartening every time another one is added!
I have tried 2 statins and both times within an hour of taking them I was feeling crap. Discussion with GP yesterday who also found it odd my bp dropped so much and headaches that there is another non statin called Ezetemibe.
I said I will have a think but we will do bloods in Oct after a change in some of my eating habits ie carbs and see what happens then.
I am on atorvastatin like you. My gp did a risk analysis ( you can find the form on the nhs website) . If your overall risk of having a cardio incident in the next 10 yrs is over 10 , then statins are reccomended . RA increases the score, as do other factors such as family history, lifestyle, hypertension, thyroid etc .
I think the nhs is all about prevention these days. My hubby went for a screening ..a new one just introduced for people over a certain age...and was told he should cut down on carbs as his blood sugar was 0.1 over the reccomended level. I guess its a good thing to be monitored .
They get mentioned every now and again. My ratio is around 2 so I’m resisting plus I am changing from my JAK soon. It raises lipid levels. My heart is already being monitored as it has a few issues but none related to furring arteries.
my husband is very healthy at 69 with Zero medication but his records states he has cardiovascular disease and takes Statins !! Getting this removed it a nightmare, not the first time our medical records are incorrect took 2 years to sort it last time
I’ve had similar when an Asthma nurse told me I had COPD which I don’t I have Asthma. Apparently they can’t remove things from your notes but can put in an amendment. I told them I wanted it removed as my travel insurance increased drastically with COPD added.
As Helix was saying some doctors follow the risk profile algorithm which indicates statins if you have several risks in your family history such as RA and heart disease. I always thought mine was ok and yours seems quite low to me but these days they seem to want you to be at 4 or under! I am on prednisalone and I have noticed that my bad cholesterol number has got higher.
They keep lowering the threshold numbers so everything can be on them. Just don’t take them I got muscle damage from taking them, the side effects are horrible
you should always fast before the blood test for Cholesterol levels, this differentiates the " good" Cholesterol from the "bad".People don't always know this or are not told.
I think the Dr's use QRISK as a guide. You can play around with the variables but the one that seems to make the most difference is Age, sadly we can't do too much about that one!
I should have been on statins for years. Only had RA for 3 years. Heart disease in my family. I tried many but they cause my muscles to weaken so I have to take fibrates instead to higher my good cholesterol to try to counteract the high bad. Mine was 6.1 overall this time last year. I'm due a test now. My hubby is on them. He is on atorvastatin. His 3rd one after 2 others weakened his muscles and ok on them. The guidelines used to be 5 but the government lowered this to 4. It's a precautionary but as someone said the jury is still out on that figure. Funnily I'm having the same problem with hydroxychloroquine, besides the nightmares, my muscles are getting rubbish so getting a call from Rheumy nurse today to discuss it.
I'm on it after problems with Atorvastatin. I tefused to take the dose they prescribed and negotiated 5 mg. alternate days. I still have muscle aches but then I have inflammatory arthritis and fibromyalgia. .My cholesterol is down from 8.3 to 5.9
Thank you for your reply Aliceeliza. I have been prescribed 5mg daily but, like you, take it on alternate days. Your falling cholesterol levels are encouraging for me and best wishes for the future.
Your reply was useful for me, Aliceeliza. I felt dreadful for a few weeks whilst taking Atorvastatin. I could hardly lift my arms and legs and had terrible muscle aches. My GP has prescribed a different one but I've yet to begin taking them. I dread going through that again. However, my cholesterol level is over 8, I have a family history of heart disease and several illnesses which put me into the at risk category. I will pluck up courage to start the new statin soon. It's good to hear a positive experience.
I have been on rosuvastatin for 7 years with various combinations of ra drugs. I have not had any problem at all with this statin and cholesterol has been kept in the preferred range .
Hello. I take Rosuvastatin. My cholesterol was 6 and my GP suggested I take it. I didn't argue because it was better than worrying about having my cholesterol taken. Family history of heart disease so I thought RA as well so I'm fine with it. Been on it for several years now. I'm not sure if it gives me sore muscles as RA does sometimes. 🙂
Thank you Seabird. I have GCA and extensive calcification so I’m very glad to get encouraging results about this statin, from you and other long term users. It is great to get this feedback.
I was surprised at my last health review that my chlolesterol level has come down slightly and yet for the first time my gp recommended I go onto statins! I have since found out that what was an acceptable chlolesterol level for decades is now deemed not and so gp's are advised to put people onto Statins, pharmaceutical profit I believe! I have also heard that statins are linked to an increase in dementia! Something that we're not told about.
Same thing happened to me with my GP checking everything & I even had to take my blood pressure at home for a week twice a day as it was different & high all the time at the Surgery. The tops of my arms are very sensitive due to all the years of RA in my shoulders (had it 35yrs now) & these automatic blood pressure machines really hurt! Not many have manual machines & a lot dont know how to use them any more! I had my cholesterol checked which was same as yours & has been for years but like you I was pressured to go on statins, Atorvastatin like you! Now my Doctor is checking for sugars in my blood (diabetes) at next blood test, so I'm dreading being told I've got Diabetes too! I'm overweight due to the onset of Osteoarthritis now in my knees & hips which is so painful & I can hardly walk some days let alone exercise!!? At least there is medication for RA & minebis under control with Abatacept biologic EpiPen & Methotrexate but there is no treatment for Osteoarthritis apart from painkillers & gels. Ive been referred to the Orthapaedic clinic last December but still haven't had the appointment even though my Doctor wrote a letter trying to hurry it up. My RA Consultant wont even give me a steroid injection until I've seen the clinic! So its miserable & we dont need to be lectured by the Doctors & reminded that were at risk of heart & other major organs being affected! Life is hard enough as it is without a warning about our mortality risks too!?? I'm fine on statins luckily so hope you continue to be too Downtime. Good luck.
I think that there is a push to put everyone over a certain age on Statins to lower the CV incidents. I understand why but not all Statins affect people in the same way.I've had a Cholesterol level of around 5.2 for years. Only significant because I'm veggie and have a family history of high levels...plus the healthy range used to be up to 5.
Since my Rheum diagnosis 3 years ago I'm never sure what is a symptom and what is a side effect of meds. Anyway my cholesterol has jumped to 8. Apparently Mycophenolate isn't one of the immunosuppressanrs that increases it but...hmm!
On the other hand I do have a family history and I'm 57 this year so I started Atorvastatin. My Cholesterol dropped to 4.9 in 3 months but I have had an increase in muscle and joint pain (a common side effect) which I will discuss with my GP this week. I'll ask about alternate day dosing. I've also been referred to a lipid clinic for follow up on family history. I am wondering about weight gain as well. About half a stone maybe a bit more....tho I do need to do more exercise sooooo.....
A bit fed up with it all really but I'm still living a fairly similar life to 4 years ago so I'll take that as a win.
Having read this I’m a bit concerned as mine is & always has been high. It’s currently 7.5. GP’s have always said “oh you have RA so yours is always raised” so they ignore it. I did mention it again recently to a new GP who did the risk assessment & said I scored just over 10. I don’t have a family history being adopted but that could potentially be even higher. She was still reluctant to prescribe. She suggested a fasting blood test next time I have my yearly one which will be October.
My Dr suddenly did a Risk Asessment including cholesterol. Mine was slightly high at 5.7 and we talked about statins. I’m reluctant to go on them as my husband has muscle ache with them. But by diet and exercise I’ve brought mine down to 4.2. Lost 2 stone, adding porridge, flaxseed, nuts, avocado etc to diet. My diet was healthy before but just a few tweaks has helped me. But obviously statins are life savers and I would have taken them in the end.
You don't mention your age, but if you are under 70 with high cholesterol it is probably wise to take statins - or at least have a try, but not everyone gets on with them. It is possible to lower the cholesterol by watching what you eat but that may depend on your family history.
People with RD are more at risk of heart disease (and lung disease) but less so than formerly as some modern medication does help to keep it at bay, by reducing inflammation.
Personally, I have never taken them. I'm 88 (on Sunday) and have managed to keep my cholesterol low.
Anyway, Good Luck with whatever you decide to do -your doctor will be aware of all the possible "pros and cons".
I was called in a couple of years ago. The Dr had an app and put my details in etc and he said I needed statins re heart disease. I have taken them until last night. Feel my memory has been impaired…….and after reading leaflet it is one of the side effects. Taking my chances 😵💫.
My Cholesterol is 4.5, and been fairly stable for years. However, a GP sent me a text with a link to a prescription for Atorvastatin, which I ignored - not taking yet more meds without some reasoned discussion! This last time, my own GP recommended me taking them, as she said that there is some research that shows that they have an anti-inflammatory effect, as well as anti-cholesterol. I trust her, so am taking them, without any issues so far!
They make me go for a GP RA check which is no use at all because even if I’m in total agony and can barely move, they can’t change my medication.
KThey also tried to put me on statins. I refused. On my second attempt they admitted it was defensive prescribing. The reason I refused is because the data sheet for both’ may cause liver damage’ - why double the chances?
My Nurse Specialist said it wasn’t a problem because I have regular LFTs anyway…
My cholesterol was 4.9. Also my HDL and LDL cholesterol are the same but HDL should be three times higher than LDL. When I had an appointment to see a more senior partner, he said statins were pointless because they would reduce both and removed it from my prescription. I suggested dietary advice would have been more helpful and he agreed but that is not possible
I haven’t been able to get a doctor’s appointment for anything requiring a GP for the best part of three years but they are now requesting I go for yet another medication review and have to see a GP because I have MTX…groan…
Why do we and they have to jump through so many pointless hoops. GP appointments should be for those who need them!!!
I haven’t had a face to face with my wonderful Consultant for over three years and only one video appointment. Hopefully though I’m seeing her on the 5th September! YAY!! WOO HOO!!
My GP wanted to put me on a statin and I said I didn't want to take them. When he asked me "why not." I said " because I have enough problems with my joints." He replied "fair point." I am still not on them.
I’ve been on statins for years due to family history of high cholesterol my father made cholesterol himself( rare). I have cousin who is a heart surgeon as is her husband and they both said years ago that everyone over 40 should be taking them to prevent cardiovascular disease they practice what they preach
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