Statins

[jackrussell]

A year ago I was prescribed Atorvaststin , 20 mg,however I found they were giving side affects that were troublesome,I had muscle aches and cramp in my calves , a continuous feeling that I had a cold , and headaches .

At the time my G P suggested if they didn’t agree with me I should stop taking them .So after a month I did stop.

However, now a year later after my annual review ie: blood test , blood pressure etc with the nurse, the results suggested I take Statins. This was relayed to me by a nurse at the surgery by phone and not by the GP so I was unable to voice my concerns

My cholesterol Reading is 56 which it has remained at for some years

I have tried cutting down the tablet to take 10 mg ,but the symptoms remain the same .

I also have an Under Active Thyroid ,and Osteoarthritis ( have had 2 hip replacements and surgery on both feet ).

My Vasculitis presents mainly in my face , sinuses , ears , head and chest, so really don’t need the extra problem with extra facial and cold symptoms .

I would like to ask what other statins do Vasculitis patients take and which appear to give the least side affects .and which seem more tolerable.

[jackrussell]

That should read a cholesterol count of 5.6 and not 56 .

[Ruadh]

Hi Jack Russell - Suggest checking this out - Excellent information. Could also join the adherents to the blog - sanity in a pretty daft world -

drmalcolmkendrick.org/books...

[jackrussell in reply to Ruadh]

Thankyou for your reply, I found the report interesting. ,have to say , I do lean toward not taking Statins especially in my case , as I now have upsetting symptoms that I didn’t have . My GP did say initially last year, that Statins are supposed to be helpful , however if you get symptoms that you didn’t have before then they are not ,so stop taking them, which I now have ( for the 2nd time ) done

[BronteM]

My last test put me at a level of around 6 at the moment, down from 7.8. Like you I was reluctant to take any statins, as I didn’t enjoy the side effects, and didn’t think they were worth it. Last year my GP persuaded me to take rosuvastatin on alternate nights and that has worked well....no discernible effects. In fact I now take one most days and am still having no problems.

[jackrussell in reply to BronteM]

Sorry Bronte M ,I intended to reply to your message,but I appear to have replied to myself. Don’t think I will ever get the hang of this technology .

[jackrussell]

Thankyou for your reply, I will need to speak to my GP at some time,but didn’t want to do that until I had weighed up the pros and cons, especially through people that have the same other conditions that I myself have, it is good to be able to have other people’s experience of these drugs .Each GP will have their own favourite ,however thats not the same as Personal experience . Atorvaststin can irritate Vasculitis,and Simavastatin seems to cause primarily muscle aches and coughing. So I need to think this through,I don’t feel ill at the moment , so don’t want to start something that will alter that . I will make a note of the Rosuvastatin .

[Borderblue in reply to jackrussell]

Hi jackrussell you could be me as I had/ am having similar problems. First on Atorvastatin which I stopped for a long time but recently been told by consultant and GP that I needed to go back on them. (Cholesterol) I take Rosuvastatin 10mg. The problem is that I am also tapering prednisolone so not sure if the issues I’m having are down to that. Dizziness, bloated, wind, awful aches in knees and hips which consultant said could be age and shielding (not going out to exercise much) the dizziness last week was scary.

I don’t know whether to try alternate days or up my steroids again. Good luck

[Paprika60]

Have you thought about adjusting your diet to help your cholesterol level?

I was also advised that I should be on statin and low dosage aspirin for the rest of my life after I had a stroke on my brainstem. Within a year I discontinued statin as I had extra side affects. Also over 5 years my stomach got very sensitive and I decided to discontinue aspirin. Instead I have adjusted my diet and I eat lots of fresh greens (both cooked and raw) and take extra fish oil pill on the day I don't have omega 3 rich fish meal. So far so good. You may not believe in changing diet but food plays an essential part of our condition. Worth trying. Wishing you all the best

[Investigator1]

Hi Jack. 2 years prior to being diagnosed with GPA my GP suggested I try a Low Carb Plan to reduce cholesterol and bring blood sugars down, I embraced it and in 2 years lost 4 stone and bring my weight and bloods to normal. Little did I know how this would get me through treatment once diagnosed, I was on high dose steroids for 5 months and only gained 9kg, once I got down to 20mg of Prednisolone after Cyclophosphamide the weight flew off. My specialist has told me, keeping fit and sticking to my plan is one of the reasons I have got through it so well (for now), people say I can’t do low carb, you can!

[jackrussell in reply to Investigator1]

Thankyou for your reply, I feel having seen the replies that I will be looking into diet, It does seem to be the better alternative to statins.

[Investigator1]

A low carb diet isn’t for everybody, it all depends on your willpower and your pallet, I don’t have a sweet tooth so lucky but I loved my carbs but waved goodby in the most to bread, pasta, spuds, rice and there are alternatives and we have both got used to it, I am quite a good cook so after a bit of research found out how to do things like Low Carb Pastry and cakes etc. My wife and I stuck to 50 Carbs a day, when we started my cholesterol was high at 7.8, within 6 months it was 5.6 and it’s been under 5 for 18 months and I feel great. Like I say it’s not for everybody, just an option to be considered. We have our treats once a fortnight like a takeaway or fish and chips, it’s not a life sentence just a change of plan. Please please take care and stay safe Jack and if you need to pick my limited brain cells you know where I am mate.

[jackrussell in reply to Investigator1]

I can well understand it wouldn’t be easy, for many years ,in my youth , I didn’t have a sweet tooth and my cholesterol was only ever 4.8 Sadly as one gets older things change , I am not ,and never have been a big eater , and not into fancy foods , , so the amounts are not the problem ,it would be the content !! I also have an under active thyroid which isn’t helpful

. I will have to study what I can and can’t eat,

I am of the opinion ,that if you like it , it probably means you can’t have it, So not an easy task. And now , not in my youth, the willpower isn’t what it was either . However I am going to look into it, because I really don’t want to take the statins. Thank you for the reply.