General Chat

My doc agrees with you Buttercup, anything under five he says is fine. If the level reaches six he would increases the statin dose.

Ann, the level varies from doctor to doctor. According to the Cardiac Unit at my local hospital, the high level is over 5. BCXX

If you have muscle problems with one statin it doesn't follow that you'd have the same if you changed. Half the problem is that people don't go back to their doctor after a reasonable time and tell him/her the problem. Also as mostly people are put on statins over a 'certain age' it is difficult to know if the aches and pains are due to age or drug.

Keith you have to inform your travel insurance firm of any drugs you are on and also your recent medical history or you will invalidate any claim put in, not just a claim related to the drug. And statins didn't put my premium up, as long as they have controlled the high cholestrol. It is high cholestrol that will increase the premium. And that, according to my doctor is over 4.

I too had joint pain and cramps taking simvastatin and another one added to this too I have heard a lot of people have muscle problems.

I have been taking statin tablets for 2 years. My chloresterol level is down to 4 ish and the doc is happy with my health. My only regret is that when you take statins you must not have grapefruit. I loved grapefruit and really miss it but heyho, that's life, (I hope).

Jane,I too have a very healthy life style,I don't smoke, drink in moderation and exercise everyday,I do cardio workouts and yoga and Pilate's plus i walk my dog for 2 hours a day.
My Cholesterol has always been borderline (around 5.4) I have excellent blood pressure 100/ 60 and my heart beat is 50 beats a minute,My doctor said that I am extremely healthy. but he said cholesterol is a silent killer and that because my life style is so good that it must be genetic,there have been several people in my family who have died from heart problems.
He advised I take statins I only take 10mg a day but already my cholesterol has been reduced.
High cholesterol does kill,your lifestyle does have a lot to do with it but genes are a huge part too.

In Spain they seem to Think that prevention is better than a cure,I would be seriously asking questions from your G.P ,Jane

I have high blood pressure usually around 146/96 and a cholesterol of 6.5 and my Gp wont put me on statins. At our surgery you have to have 3 high risk factors before they perscribe Statins. These include high blood pressure, lack of exercise /over weight, drink a lot of alcohol, bad diet and smoke. As i dont smoke, drink a lot of alcohol, i exercise a lot, i have a good diet they said there was no need to put me on statins. I have to drink cholesterol lowering drinks instead and try and improve my diet by eating more fish.

Jane

I saw a different gp at our practice when i went to update my repeat prescription form, when he looked at the items he said why am i not on statins as i'm over 50 & have high blood presure, didn't know i was supposed to be says i, he then told me that it was a directive from government that gp's must put over 50's with high bp on these as a prevention & that they cost pennies to produce, were perfectly safe, well i ain't taking anymore, i feel much better without them.

Could statins also be responsible in some way for shoulder joint and arm muscle pain?
Bob

I was put on Simvastatin because my cholesterol was 5.6 and two of my brothers had died from heart attacks. Within weeks I could hardly walk with joint and muscle pains so my Dr took me off the statins immediately. He also said that changing to another type of medication would not make much difference as my body was reacting so badly. I lead a fairly healthy lifestyle anyway, so I have decided to take my chances rather than spend the rest of my life in pain with muscle wastage.

I would suggest that you read everything you can on the Internet (there are masses of Forums for and against statins) and discuss with your Dr, before you take that step.

Good luck! BCXX

please dont stop taking them
unless you have spoken to your doctors
they are used to treat and prevent some serious stuff

OH is on them due to having a heart attack and he has been feeling quite sick lately so made a appointment with GP , didn't get the answers l wanted but he's the doc so have to do as he's told, lol
When l asked doc why OH was on them as his heart attack was due to smoking ( which he has given up...10 weeks now) and his cholesterol was 3.5, he is 5ft 10 and weighs 10 stone 5lb was told better to take them as a preventitive, oh bruise so easily now, even gets up in the morning and has a black eye and his arms are always covered in bruises. As for feeling sick doc has now made a appointment for him to have the camera down the throat but l'm sure its the statins making him ill, wish this could be sorted.

Good grief, if it's 5 - there's no REAL reason for McB to be taking them - apart from the NHS encouraging everyone to be on some form of drug or other! Apparently the ideal choesterol level according to various websites is: 4, below 5. Of course various other factors and the amount of 'good' and 'bad' cholesterol has to be taken into account. Handy for drugs companies that the average cholesterol level in the UK is 5.7!

Aspirin - a few years ago everyone over 50 was encouraged to take them - that's the very expensive 'lower' (75mg) dose rather than the painkiller - in an effort to prevent heart attacks, strokes & angina.
Over the past few years there have been conflicting reports about the effectiveness versus side effects. I was on them for all of 6 weeks (before I found out about my lack of kidney), had my first ever nose bleed and haven't taken them since!

Grapefruit contains certain chemical compounds called polyphenolics that inhibit the metabolism or break down of some medications, statins being one of the most notorious. Statins are highly effective and one of the most commonly prescribed cholesterol lowering medicines. This class of medication inhibits a liver enzyme and can lower LDL by ~50% and raise HDL. Drugs in the statin class include lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, fluvastatin, atorvastatin, and rosuvastatin. Although generally safe, statins have the potential to cause serious side effects such as muscle injury and liver damage.

Enzymes called cytochromes metabolize many drugs such as statins. Most of these enzymes are concentrated in the liver, but some of them are found else where in the body such as in the gut. One cytochrome in particular called CYP3A4 is quite predominant in the small intestine and significantly participates in the breakdown of statins. Grapefruit can inhibit the activity of this intestinal cytochrome thereby increasing the level of statins in the blood stream. More drug can therefore lead to a higher risk of side effects. As little as 8 oz. of grapefruit juice can have a significant effect on drug levels. And, the effect of eating a single serving of grapefruit may last as long as 24 hours.
Mangos, oranges, and orange juice do not effect statin levels. Although other citrus fruits such as limes and Seville oranges (sour oranges) do contain some similar chemical compounds to grapefruits, there have been no significant reports of them leading to harm with statins. Also, not all statins are subject to the effects of grapefruit. Pravastatin undergoes little breakdown by the intestinal cytochrome and is safe to take with grapefruit juice. Whether these alternatives will be satisfactory to my mother-in-law waits to be seen. But it saddens me to see two kindred spirits separated by one cholesterol medicine."

i took this from a question on another site

I understood the ideal cholestral was 5. Had mine done last week and was told it was 5 and it was fine. As I had a stroke in April am now on several heart pills but because it was a bleed not given statins

Me! but I might stop soon!

I now have joint problems in my hand that I never had before, I think I'll increase the Lecithan granuals.

Dee x

Why are you on them then?
I hate the way doctors put people on drugs as a 'just in case' and cause more problems!
I have high blood pressure, was put on one drug - which was okay. Then they upped the dose and I felt awful - like I was 'stoned' without any of the nice bits! couldn't remember anything from one moment to the next.
Went back to doc who was reluctant to take me off them - apparently they're the 'best' LOL - but I wasn't prepared to live my life in that state! Turns out my body doesn't like Ace inhibitors!
My doc then wanted to put me on statins. I asked him what the 'ideal' cholsterol level was - he said 3. What was mine? 3.5. I declined!!!

The 'ideal' level of anything isn't set in stone - it's usually a level decided by a group of 'specialists'.
I am not allowed to drink the 'ideal' daily amount of water - it will kill my kidney! (found out 2 years ago I only had the one)
I was terrified of telling my kidney specialist I don't drink water at all - but do drink coffee (instant), tea, and enjoy quite a bit of plonk.
'Good ' she said - 'Water will only wash out any minerals in your body and damage your kidney'. Lots of minerals in wine PMSL
My kidney has survived (quite healthily it appears) 53 years with my liquid intake - so I'll just carry on LOL

I'm 58 fairly fit don't drink or smoke & my colesterol is 2.7.

McB you are not alone,statins have a lot of very unpleasant side effects for a vast number of people I personally believe they will go the way of drugs like Vioxx very soon.
If I were you I would modify my diet,exercise and increase cholesterol lowering foods.
And most of all if you are a smoker STOP

Why no grapefruits ?