I haven't posted for a while on the forum. Has anyone had issues with thyroid and taking statins with side effects?
Last year from May I had cardiac investigations done which started with a murmur (now thought to be benign) and have been diagnosed with mild coronary heart disease with a moderate stenosis in the first diagonal branch.
The advice from NHS doctors and a private Cardiologist was to go on a statin.
I trialled Atorvastatin 20mg and within a week my muscles particularly thigh muscles were sore and aching making everyday activities difficult. I stopped. Waited almost three weeks and tried a new one Rosuvastatin at a half dose of 5mg. After a few days I have also felt unwell with muscles aches and fatigue. I am waiting to speak to the GP's pharmacist for advice and I think the next step is Ezetimibe a different type of cholesterol lowering drug.
My lasts cholesterol blood test was May 2024:
Total Cholesterol 5.6 mmol/L (Below 5)
Non serum HDL 2.2 mmol/L ( Above 1.2)
Serum HDL 2.55mml/L (Below 4)
At the time my notes remarked that my cholersterol levels were all good and low risk of cardiac problems. Six months later a diagnosis with a moderate stenosis. There is ambivalence from doctors/consultant as to whether slight breathlessness is Angina or not. The private Cardiologist didn't think so.
Any way I don't take the Angina meds.
My last Thyroid results are:
Tsh 0.96 (0.27 - 4.2)
T4 17.3 (12-22)
T3 4.4 (3.1-6.8)
I saw a private Endocrinologist last week in Plymouth who says my thyroid blood tests are spot on and my dose of 100 x3 and 75 x 4 per week is correct. She would not entertain the idea of T3 with my moderate stenosis though I said that my sons muscle issues have been corrected with the addition of T3. However she totally endorsed my need for taking a statin to lower my cholesterol and therefore protect my cardio issues. She also said it is really important to have LDL cholesterol tested which it doesn't seem to be as routine and that should be under 2.
If anyone has had similar issues taking statins with thyroid or high cholesterol I would be interested in any advice.
Thank you
Written by
Doubleelephant
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You might do better to look up the nature of statins and why most respected cardiologists suggest you don't take them. My husband had memory issues when he took them, it became a battle, I suggested he didn't take them, he'd stop, his cholesterol would rise so the nurse doing is healthcheck would tell him he needed to take them so he'd start again. He's been off them quite a long now with no ill effects. Some physical problems can cause elevated cholesterol, hypothyroidism is one such. It's worth knowing that cholesterol is made in the liver for use all over the body especially the brain, it is necessary, why would you want to lower it? If you consider that it's been a huge moneymaker for big Pharma and that GPs were given an extra payment for every patient for whom they prescribed it, it might give some insight into why it is still being pushed. There is a lot of info on the net now with which you can inform yourself, just stay off web affilliated pages like WebMD who are known to have links to pharmaceutical companies.
Thank you for your advice and concerns over statins. It is a minefield and so difficult to know what is best to do. If it were only my slightly elevated cholestserol results I probably wouldn't take them but it is because I have the stenosis too so I am worried that will become more blocked up.
5.6 really isn’t high. Mine last time was 6.27, prior to that it was 7.38, there was never any attempt by the GP to ascertain what might be causing the increase he just wanted to give me statins. That said same GPs won’t agree to prescribing me any hypo treatment because my bloods are “in range”, symptoms not considered at all. I self medicate and I feel better and have lost some weight. They have never been concerned by my high ferritin, as high as 650 in a range, the top of which is 150. I’ve now read enough to understand it’s because I have non alcoholic fatty liver and I have that because I’m classed as obese and that’s partly my fault. Now they’ve fixated on my blood sugar level so I am down for a pre-diabetes check annually. Getting to know yourself is half the battle towards being able to take action to try to repair yourself too. Now I’m not suggesting you take these but read up about Methylene blue and it’s amazing properties and DMSO for pain relief and many other benefits. I’m willing to be my own guinea pig lol but I appreciate it’s not for everyone.
No your're right 5.6 isn't really high. And the Gp didn't prescribe me with any cholersterol lowering drugs based on that. It was only after the the stenosis was found.
It seems very difficult to get doctors to see you holistically.
Thank you for your words of advice and good luck with your health too.
"FT4 needs to be in upper quarter of range ". Where specifically have you got that from? I'd be cautious about raising Levo, pushing to top of the range, with Coronary heart disease.
With current percentages through range at 53 & 35%, any increase isnt going to take this member close to optimal even. Many people need FT4 towards the top of the range so that theres enough conversion of T4 to T3 to raise FT3 high enough to feel well. T3 being the active hormone.
Just as many heart issues can be caused by too low FT3 than too high. The aim is to have just enough.
"Just as many heart issues can be caused by too low FT3 than too high. The aim is to have just enough."
True, I'm just querying where these optimal values comes from. Often you meet the law of diminishing returns when pushing the T4 to the top of the range, sometimes FT3 even drops. A high FT4/FT3 ratio isn't something you want with heart conditions. Higher FT4 is associated with atrial fibrillation/heart failure etc.
Having an over range FT4 isnt good at all, but within range, high in range should be fine and is often necessary for someone to feel well and raise FT3 high enough.
Of course nothing is laid in stone and we are all individuals needing slightly different values to reach our own sweet spot.
in this section "People at an increased risk of side effects"
it says
If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.
The problem you have is that with a known heart problem (the murmur), even if it is benign, doctors will push statins all the harder.
In the end it is always your decision whether or not to take statins. Don't forget that the heart is a muscle.
You might find this link - particularly the graphs - helpful in deciding whether you want to take them or not.
I read that too on the NHS website about hypothyroidism and statin use. I even mentioned to the Private Endo but she said as my results all good and in range that it wouldn't be a problem and that my muscles aches are probably menopausal.
Request “trial “ Levo increase to 100mcg 5 days and 75mcg 2 days per week
Do you always get same brand Levo at each prescription
Low FT3 will result in low vitamin levels
Breathlessness is frequently low iron/ferritin
What is reason for your hypothyroidism
Autoimmune?
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
I take Vit D,
How much vitamin D are you taking
Test twice year
Folic Acid, B12
Are you not taking a vitamin B complex
Omega 3, selennium, zinc and recently Coq10 to combat muscle pain.
The last time I was on a higher dose than I am currently on was back in 2018 when I was alternating 100/75 daily. I was on that dose for about three years taking in the time of covid. During that time my TSH was always suppressed with my T4 being between 20 and 21 and my T3 was once recorded at 5.
After that I was told to decrease to 75 every day in 2022 but have since built it back up to the current dose. I fear that 100 x5 and 75 x2 would only make me suppressed and now being diagnosed with a stenosis my GP would not Endo would support suppression of my TSH let alone the supplementation of T3.
Since that time I have been using monitor my health to check my thyroid levels and follow the instructions as per your post.
I had let Magnesium slip off my long list of Vitamins.
In your experience do you know of others with treated Hypothyroidism to experience further muscle aches with Statins. If the statins aren't right for me the next step is something called Ezetimbe?
The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported
In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned
Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.
Similarly few months later consider trying dairy free too. Approx 50-60% find dairy free beneficial
With loads of vegan dairy alternatives these days it’s not as difficult as in the past
Doubleelephant It is very odd that you don't have a LDL cholesterol figure. It's probably the one that most doctors are interested in. Total cholesterol isn't particularly useful, but if you have your triglyceride level it is possible to calculate your LDL level as total cholesterol - HDL cholesterol - 20% of triglyceride level (caveat: that is how it is done in the UK, no idea about other countries). If you don't have your triglyceride level either, just ask your GP to do cholesterol testing (as a fasting test). It's one thing my GP would agree to without a second thought.
Regarding statins, it's worth looking at what the different ones do (the BHF ran an article on this in their magazine recently) as they don't all do the same thing.
I know the last time it was on my cholersterol profile was 2011!
Now it's Total, Hdl, Non HDL and Ratio.
I have been told LDL should be under 2. Mine was 2.49 in 2011 and no one remarked on it!
Thanks for the advice regarding Statins. After trying Atorvastatin and Rosuvastatin I don't feel hopeful that they suit me. I believe another drug Ezetimbe is used to combat cholesterol in another way.
I would like to be able to improve my T3 levels without being suppressed
You mean without suppressing your TSH? But TSH has nothing to do with hearts. It doesn't matter if it's suppressed. It's suppressed because your pituitary has decided you don't need it anymore. And you don't. So, don't worry on that score.
Your FT3 is very low - too low for good heart health. The heart needs lots of T3 and doctors are misguided to refuse it on those grounds.
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After some advice and more info . . 
Can I get some advice on my latest results, please?
Cholesterol and Calcium results
Trouble collecting blood and how are my readings?
