So, last January Dx’d with PMR; both local MD and Rheumatologist said to stop my statin. I have a strong family history of stroke but I said OK. Started on Prednisone 10mg; now down to 3mg/2.5mg alternate days, methotrexate once a week. Doing just fine there. Couple of times I suggested to each doc separately: let’s check a lipid panel. Wasn’t done. Well, anyway, so here I am in Florida on a ladder, arms over my head holding an orchid basket tangled in vines, shouting to spouse-who’s going deaf and doesn’t respond-, and when I get off the ladder, I feel like I’m gonna die. I go see local MD who refers me to a cardiologist and finally orders a cholesterol panel: Total cholesterol 307, triglycerides 157, and LDL a whopping 209. Do you know the word ‘ iatrogenic ‘?!!! I have an echo and stress test scheduled, and am taking a daily aspirin in addition to my gd statin!
And, by the way, no change in PMR pain since I restarted my statin 2 weeks ago. Please, please remember- you are your best advocate. Having a medical degree does not make a human less fallible than the rest of us.
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Joblow
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Addendum: I just read the post previous to mine about a study done questioning the efficacy of statins. Sorry Charlie, but having seen my grandmother with locked-in syndrome after a series of strokes, and having had my father die age 48 of cerebral hemorrhage, and also knowing that I took statins for 10 years previously with nothing noteworthy other than a lowering of cholesterol, I will take my atorvastatin, and I will be happy doing so.
I suppose it's too late to warn that atorvastatin is one of the statins that warns it can be a precursor to PMR. I was on it for about 3yrs and had terrible arm pain. I was then put on pravastatin for 13 or 14 yes. I stopped it earlier this year and within a week I had a clearer head. I spoke to the Dr who is supporting this and we wil see how cholesterol reacts. Even on highest dose it is still high but if it remains the same in 12mths I can't see the point in taking it in my case. If it gets higher I will reconsider.
Thanks, read the article. Their conclusion was statins “may be associated” with PMR. Well, having had to watch my grandmother sit, tied to her chair, unable to speak, just sitting there ripping her dress on Saturdays when I was in grade school, I just know I don’t want to go there and do that. And, I guess, my belief that the shingles vaccine triggered my first episode of PMR 9 years ago, and the fact(which I just now thought of) that I didn’t stop statins 9 years ago and my PMR resolved in 12 months anyway, makes me want to stick with my plan of resuming Atorvastin.
That could change...who knows? But many of us have that one thing that we never want to happen to us; for me it’s a stroke. Ooga-booga, no thank you!
My rumination was intended to suggest you ask for more expensive version, that is not linked with muscle pain quite so much - if you find pain and stiffness increase. We all have our own memories of illnesses experienced by relatives that impact on future treatments we find acceptable or unacceptable. It can be a minefield of emotions. 🌻
My father died of a cerebral haemorrhage at 49 - that was enough to persuade my brother to take the statin offered. However - it won't prevent what my father died of, a cerebral aneurysm bursting. So I say no.
No - the evidence I have gathered suggests to me that a statin is not the way to go. And they are now saying what I have said (on the basis of my science training) since the cholesterol story started. The cholesterol story and the low fat story are the result of big business wanting to make money - and only the results that fitted their theory were made available.
The author of the article about the study referenced is a cardiologist - so either he and his colleagues with medical degrees or the proponents of statins with their medical degrees (and business interests) are wrong ...
Had to jump in here on this topic. I an my doc decided to cut my pravastatin to 20 mgs as my cholesterol had come down great. 6 months later it is elevated and I went back to my 40 mgs. For me the statin works go figure methotrexate almost killed me so I am finding we need to keep working on what works for us.
I am moving end of this week n I wished I could say this has been easy... But it will be over soon. My sed rate and crp both elevated so back on 20 mgs pred. I am so weary of this almost 4 yrs now...
I hope to get Wi-Fi soon so will post again once moved...
Later .....edited my stupid phone response .... How does sed turn into dad
The point is not whether they lower cholesterol or not - they do. But that isn't being accompanied by a reduction in cardiovascular deaths. In fact, early deaths increase in patient populations with very low cholesterol levels.
Well, now you are mixing things up, and not supplying needed references. The fact that ‘very low cholesterol ‘ is associated with poor outcomes does not mean one shouldn’t treat a very high cholesterol.
Statins MAY be associated with a reduction in risk of a second event in someone who has had an event, especially men, but it may be that the statin does something to achieve this. The reduction in cholesterol is possibly a surrogate marker - not the reason. More studies are needed - the usual cry!
The whole story is confused - there are varying degrees of effect in different age groups and between men and women and in primary and secondary prevention. Mixing all the figures together has led to some confusion and some companies have been extremely selective in the results they used in their analyses, nothing new there then.
The bottom line is - nothing is absolutely certain.
re: "both local MD and Rheumatologist said to stop my statin"
What reason did they give? I assume your cardiologist doesn't agree as you are now back on statins. I had a GCA induced stroke while on 10mg atorvastatin. After the stroke put on 80mg atorvastatin by the stroke neurologist to bring LDL below 70. Also confirmed by cardiologist recommendation. Have now dropped atorvastatin to 40mg which still maintains LDL below 70.
"Statin therapy in patients with cardiovascular disease is associated with reduced incidence of stroke. The Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction of Cholesterol Levels (SPARCL) trial showed daily treatment with 80 mg of atorvastatin in patients with a recent stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) reduced the incidence of fatal or nonfatal stroke by 16%."
PS I have GCA; on 4.5mg pred. I don't have PMR. I walk twice a day for exercise; 1mi each time. I use Nordic Poles in the evening. Also folkdance 1 or 2 times per week.
Oooh...I’m jealous of your very attractive LDL. My local MD had me stop statins because initially she thought that was what was causing my shoulder/hip pain. Then when I started the prednisone for PMR they didn’t want me to resume because- what?- too many moving parts for them to keep track of I guess. And I didn’t have a cardiologist at that point.
So I’m taking the statin, have quit Diet Coke (which I drank 6/day- it’s sweaty working outside in Florida) and am quitting my nicotine gum which I have used for 15 years. There- you have all my dirty little secrets. Echo and stress test couple weeks away.. we’ll see.
My hubs just had heart stents put in. Cardiologist changed his med from Pravastatin to Atorvastatin, saying it was better. Good to read your experience with it. I couldn't take it; caused a belly ache to the point I thought I had an ulcer. Weird. On Pravastatin now, though I never wanted to take a statin. With family stroke history and GCA for me, I'm in. Whether it works to prevent a stroke or not, I don't know, but at least I tried, eh!?
Atorvastatin nearly had me in a wheelchair! At half dose in less than 10 days. I couldn't walk 50m up the slightest slope to the hospital door - not very practical!
I have had PMR for 4 yrs now. I had never taken Statins before I got it. Then last year I had a slight heart problem,( Tacotsubo Cardiomyopathy), was in hospital for a week, discharged in November 2018 with numerous pills including 80mg Atorvastatin. Still waiting for a follow-up appointment with Cardiac Clinic. Phoned my Dr. to ask if I could lower the dose of Atorvastatin now, His comment, "Oh no, you're on that for life now". Will ask the Cardiologist when I get to see him. My hubby has had 2 strokes since 2008, so don't want to go down that road!
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