thyroid & Statins

[Atma123]

I had hypothyroidism for over 35 years and I’m now on statins. I’m finding now that the strength in my muscles has weakened. Has anyone else suffered with this while taking statins while having hypothyroidism. Thanks

[humanbean]

There have been lots of posts on this forum about statins. This link is worth reading |:

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

In particular read the section entitled : "People at an increased risk of side effects"

and notice that it mentions underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).

If you have high cholesterol it is likely that you are under-treated for your hypothyroidism.

I should point out that I have high cholesterol but have always refused statins.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Do you have recent thyroid and vitamin test results

How much Levo are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine at each prescription

Exactly what vitamin supplements are you taking

ESSENTIAL to test and maintain GOOD vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Lower vitamin levels are more common as we get older

Strongly recommend you get full thyroid and vitamin testing done if not tested recently

As detailed in your previous post a year ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thousands of U.K. patients have to test privately if GP or lab won’t test

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)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Post all about what time of day to test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

Monitor My Health (NHS private test service) offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies)

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here

thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

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

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In days before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12 if last test result serum B12 was below 500 or active B12 (private test) under 70

[grumpyold]

Muscle weakness is just one of the well known side effects. I have heard that even if patients stop taking statins, the muscle weakness remains.

I would never take them despite my GPs attempts to persuade me.

[buddy99 in reply to grumpyold]

Yes, it does indeed, especially if the thyroid hormones are still not taken care of. I had my gp coerce me into taking them (while hypo) and both the pain and the weakness lasted for almost a year after stopping the statins, with the muscle weakness leaving me last. Never in my life will anybody convince me again to ever take statins.

[grumpyold in reply to buddy99]

I question literally every med I am newly prescribed now. Any trust I had in medics is long gone. GPs get a financial incentive for pushing statins 😱!

[CustardTarts in reply to grumpyold]

no GP should be incentivised to supply anything. if you need it you need it. It just skews there thinking. Think diabetes is another one they're incentivised to treat.

[Tina_Maria]

In almost all patients with thyroid disease, the high cholesterol is a result of having too little thyroid hormones, especially T3. If you do not have enough T3 available, your metabolism is slowed down and your liver cannot effectively clear cholesterol and other dietary components from your circulation and therefore they accumulate in your system.

This is not a diet issue, it is a metabolic issue and should be addressed by resolving the cause of the problem, which is a lack of thyroid hormones. Statins treat the symptoms of your high cholesterol, but does not address the underlying problem. Even the NHS states that you should treat hypothyroidism before giving statins, as the high cholesterol will resolve itself, when appropriately treated!

Has your GP ever tested your T4 and T3? These are your actual hormones and without knowing where these sit, you cannot know if you are getting enough thyroid hormones for your needs.

[Transalp]

Statins seem to bring out the “covid jab” conspiracy thinking in many people.

[Tina_Maria in reply to Transalp]

Why would you say that? I would be interested to hear your thoughts on conspiracy thinking and statins....

[Transalp in reply to Tina_Maria]

Because of the resistance to using statins, the various “reasons” not to such as “we need cholesterol our brains are Xx% cholesterol” - even though statins don’t reduce cholesterol to zero, or the “big pharma pays doctors to push statins” and so-on.

I’ve not seen too many other medicines aside from the Covid jab provoke such a strong and often conspiracy-theoried response.

[KatyMac68 in reply to Transalp]

But when you read stuff like this

Statins, risk, and personalised care

bmj.com/content/384/bmj-202...

"Statins have also been shown to increase the risk of diabetes (4) and breast cancer (5) in women, but not men."

[Transalp in reply to KatyMac68]

All medicines have potential side effects, if those were worse than the primary improvement they would not get licensed.

[Tina_Maria in reply to Transalp]

Why would you take a medication that does not really address the underlying problem?

No one wants to or should have to take medication they don't really need, if the problem can be resolved through another, better way without additional side effects!

[Tina_Maria in reply to Transalp]

Patients with hypothyroidism are reluctant to take statins, as it does not address their underlying problem. Why would you agree to take a medication such as a statin with its potential side effects, if you know that this is not addressing the root cause of your high cholesterol? This is not some conspiracy whim, but a well-documented scientific reason.

If you have low thyroid hormones, and in particular low T3 levels, this will slow down your metabolism. As a result your cholesterol (and glucose) levels will rise, as your liver cannot efficiently process these components. It can be corrected, when patients are put on the correct dose of thyroid medication, and especially if low T3 levels are addressed, as this will directly address the primary cause of the high cholesterol. Even the NHS acknowledges that high cholesterol can be a result of hypothyroidism and should be corrected BEFORE considering statins:

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

And lipid abnormalities are connected to hypothyroidism:

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

The problem is also, that many hypothyroid patients are not treated with sufficient amounts of thyroid hormones, and as a result many present with high cholesterol. GPs and endocrinologists do not know or want to acknowledge the connection between hypothyroidism and cholesterol. They treat their patients to have normal TSH levels (which is a poor surrogate marker when on treatment), without any consideration for their actual T4 and T3 levels, hence many patients do not have sufficient hormones to run an efficient metabolism. Instead, they are being prescribed statins and metformin, which are simply a 'plaster' to deal with the elevated levels, but do nothing for the underlying, disturbed metabolism.

So you may perhaps appreciate, that patients are somewhat reluctant to take statins, knowing full well that this is not addressing the real problem, because what they would need is an increase in thyroid medication.

There is a lot more to not wanting statins. And perhaps you should inform yourself a bit better on this subject, before accusing people of being conspiracy theorists and judging them on their choice of not taking a medicine they do not really need.

[Transalp in reply to Tina_Maria]

I take T4 and T3 and my FT4 is around 60% of range and my FT3 around 90% of range. I also have high cholesterol and high TG so I take a low dose statin.

I will agree that root causes should try and be addressed first, but outside that there are plenty of people whose genetics and age can be aided with medication such as statins.

Your double post already confirms my initial point.

[helvella in reply to Transalp]

Interesting that when it comes to liothyronine, it seems to be the doctors who are resistant to its use!

I have twice been pushed to take statins. And this was despite my cholesterol levels being low (and triglycerides were fine as well).

But what really undermined statins in the early days, were the somewhat foolish doctors who said things like they are so safe they should be put in our water supply. Afraid that while it might have seemed just a bit of an exaggeration to them, the fact that they could make such ridiculous statements was genuinely concerning. That attitude helped to destroy any trust that might otherwise have been possible.

[Transalp in reply to helvella]

Yes, considering how cheap Liothyronine is there seems little justification for the resistance to its use.

I guess lots of doctors are pro statins based upon seeing lots of people with cardio issues and seeing the benefits of the medication.

[helvella in reply to Transalp]

At that time, there were few real benefits to be seen as they were so new.

[Transalp in reply to helvella]

Certainly strange they were recommending them if your cholesterol and TG were low.

[BlueMoon65]

There is ample objective evidence which demonstrates that statins have little or no effect, e.g. in extending life . There is a book which contains this evidence written by an experienced doctor, but I hesitate to specify, as I know we don't use names on here. Suffice to say that in my own case, after my GP reduced Levo to 25% of my long-term, problem- free dose over only 10 weeks, I ended up in hospital with chest pains, (?M.I. )A cardiologist shouted at me in front of a group of med students saying 'You're over medicated for thyroid and your cholesterol is too high'. Interestingly, a young junior doctor had approached me before I had even had an ECG and said 'We'll put you on statins'. I had seen my husband have a serious reaction to these several years earlier, so declined. This was recorded on my notes, explaining the cardio's anger. She also prescribed beta-blockers, which I also declined. Statistical evidence is a very different thing than 'conspiracy theory', and a wise patient should have clear understanding of the risk/ benefit analysis of any medication.

[Transalp in reply to BlueMoon65]

Yes, all those doctors with their years of study and specialisms really are unable to understand statistics.

[Lulu2607]

Hi Atma123 . Yes I had awful muscle pain when taking statins. I was offerred a few different brands and pushed into taking them, but the muscle issues meant it just wasn't worth it. I don't take any now but no doubt the issue will rear it's head again in the near future. Same with blood pressure tablets. Too many side effects. I do wonder if our impaired metabolism due to being hypo is part of the problem.