Lipid Lowering :: Reasons Behind Refusing Statins?
I am trying to do a bit of research behind why is it difficult to keep patients on a prescription of a statin drug.
I am aware of all the side-effects caused by the statins, but i would like to know the reasoning behind the choice to come off your prescribed statin or to try and change drug;
Is this because you feel your quality of life is lowered on a statin.
Is it lack of evidence behind the efficacy of a statin to lower cholesterol etc?
I am trying to find out if there is anything that could be done to convince patients to continue on their prescription of statins, or whether they would prefer to be offered an alternative medication.
Atorvastatin And Amlodipine - Nausea, Muscle Pains, Kidney Pains And Total Lack Of Energy
MY GP recently prescribed Atorvastatin to deal with high(ish) cholesterol. I have been taking Amlodipine, Losartan and Bezafibrate without any problems but in the past 3 weeks since starting the statins I feel like crap - Nausea, muscle pains, kidney pains and total lack of energy.
The blurb with the statins indicated there could be problems with Amlodipine but I started taking them.
Muscle Aches And Pains - Do Not Want To Be On Statins
My cholesterol has been high recently and my doctor keeps putting me on statins..it was 300 and I went on Lipitor.. some time after started to have muscle aches so I stopped taking it myself and the pains went away...went to doctor and he put me on pravastatin 20 mg and I tried it for a while but again had muscle aches and pains..i stopped the pravastatin and the pain has been totally gone..i feel great...I need to go to the dr again in about a month but my problem is my doctor won't listen that I don't want a statin..he says a non statin drug won't help..told the dr I don't want to be on statins but he is not listening to me...I have now tried to modify my diet..i weigh about 150..cut out all pasta and sweets...can I really lower my numbers without statins.?
View 5 RepliesStatins / Lipid Lowering :: Side Effects - Muscle Pains (ezetrol)
i have been taken ezetrol for a long time now and have complained about muscle pains especially in my legs and as a runner it has restricted the amount of exercise i can do. I have had blood test and the enzymes seem to be ok. I have stopped taking them and the symptoms get better and i can run for longer but have restarted taking them. Also i have been told and am in the process of trying it out that the most effective amount to take is the first 10-20 mg after that the reduction is very limited and is not worth taking any higher dose. I was on 40mg and level was 4.6 am now on 20mg and level is 4.9 but the side effects have got slightly better. Overall i feel that these drugs have had a detrimental effect on my fitness
View 1 RepliesFatty Liver And Gastritis With Stomach Pains Upper And Lower Abdominal Pains
I been having stomach pains to the point for about 3 months which is really scaring me a lot I went to the hospital I thought I was my appendix but it wasn't they did x-Ray and ct scan and blood work everything come out normal but they told me I have fatty liver I also had h.pylori but don't have h.pylori no more took antibiotics and also have gastritis but still they don't find nothing but I'm still in pain it comes and goes to me it feels like it's air in my stomach it goes everywhere around to my left side to my chest but it doesn't goes away. Lately I been feeling nauseous wanna throw up I just wanna feel normal again as I write this. I have discomfort in my stomach right side I can push down with one finger on my stomach and hold it, it hurts and it feels like it's burning I don't know what to do.
View 4 RepliesNausea :: Past Few Months, Random Nausea Lasts A Day Or Two
Over the last few months I've been randomly getting nauseated. It usually lasts a day or two and only has actually caused me to vomit a few times. However recently it has become more severe, and more common and even more recently has become paired with an uncomfortable dizziness and weakness in my legs. My mother believed it was morning sickness so I took a pregnancy test which proved negative and haven't missed any periods in the 3 months since I was last sexually active so I'm fairly certain I am not pregnant.
View 1 RepliesStatins :: Depression And Lethargy
I had a TIA back in February which was terrifying.
I have been prescribed 20 mg Simvastatin daily but feel dreadful.
I am also taking an SSRI drug for anxiety & am currently unemployed so is this just depression due to circumstances or the drug?
I have been taking the statin for just over two months and am becoming increasingly lethargic, aching all over, headaches and a feeling of just wanting to go to sleep for ever..almost like I have not the energy to care anymore which is an irony as faced with the prospect of dying 2 months ago I was terrified now I don't care. My cholesterol was 5.9 which is not exactly high but in the circumstance I was advised to get it lower with meds. Is anyone else in a similar position?
10% Risk Of CVD In Ten Years - Still Statins?
Has anyone started taking statins or been offered them because their doctor has told them they have a 10% risk of Cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years? I think people get offered 20mg atorvastatin at this level? What are people's experiences at this level?
View 15 RepliesStatins - Wean Off OR Cold Turkey?
I have reached LOW triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels after 6 months of zero-bad-fat diet. I am now ready to ditched my prescribed statins. Is it safe to cold-turkey statins or do I need to wean off?
View 1 RepliesLipid Lowering :: Haemochromatosis And Use Of Statins
I was diagnosed homozygous C282Y in 2001 and have managed my HH successfully since with therapeutic venesection as a regular blood donation. I have to take statins after a recent heart attack and I'm concerned about their detrimental affect on my liver. Does anyone have experience and advice on this issue, please?
View 3 RepliesHigh Cholestrol :: Are Statins THAT Dangerous?
I'm a 18 year old female, currently taking 20 mg of atorvastatin every day due to familial hypercholesterolemia. I have tried to control my LDL doing only diet, but it didn't help much, the reason why my doc prescribed me the pills.
I've been taking the medication for three or four months now and I didn't notice any side effects.
However, seeing people complaining about side effects on the internet, especially pain or muscle damage is making me seriously consider stop taking them. Nobody here has any good or tolerable experience with statins to share?
Cholesterol Is 6.4 - Scared To Take Statins - Diet?
I've just been diagnosed with hardening arteries in my legs, the GP said I must take statins but I also suffer from fibromyalgia and chronic back pain so don't want to. Cholesterol is 6.4 with high LDL. Can I reduce this with diet?
View 7 RepliesCholesterol Level :: Familial Hypercholesterolaemia And Statins
I have been diagnosed with Familial Hypercholesterolaemia at the age of 5, after around 30 years of battling with doctors over my diet. Up until now, my combined cholesterol has never gone below 7.0 (without statins which I took for a few months around 5 years ago - it went down to around 4.0), and doctors continually insisted that my diet was at fault.
After another round of insisting that I take statins, I refused and was sent to the lipid clinic, where they looked at my history and proudly announced that my diet was not at fault and it was hereditary.
They then insisted I go on statins, as in their words, I have nearly 50 years worth of <fat> lining my blood vessels.
They did no cardiac tests or ultrasounds or stethoscope on my neck, etc., to find out if I was "furred up", and they then referred me back to the GP.
The GP didn't get in touch with me, so I made an appointment to see him, where he put me on a low dose of steroid.
I asked him about whether I should find out if I WAS at risk of heart disease before he shoved me on them, as in my mind, if my cholesterol had been so high ALL my life, then why did I not have any of the associated symptoms of FH, such as early heart disease, fat deposits on eyes etc?
Also I have reduced thyroid function (not reduced enough to be treated under the current guidelines however).
So, a couple of weeks later, at a pre-op for an upcoming gynae procedure I am to have, I mentioned about not having my heart looked at in years, and the kind nurse did an ECG and listened to my heart with a stethoscope. I was told my heart was ok.
What I would like to know is, would that "OK" on my heart health be a good reason not to take statins, or would further tests need to be done to ascertain whether I am at increased risk of heart disease - other than my cholesterol level.
I have read recently that if your heart and vascular health is OK, it doesn't matter what your cholesterol level is, it will still lower your risk - is that correct?
Statins And Fibrates - Severe Leg Cramps At Night
I have tried all the above. The cholesterol went down from 9 to 5 but at a price: severe leg cramps at night, muscle pain in legs (and arms?), heat sensation in lower legs, severe constipation, insomnia etc.
This has been going on for the last 6-7 years. Want to stop altogether. I am also on 75mg aspirin which I have to take with Omeprazole to prevent stomach bleed. Otherwise healthy 64yo. Does anyone have some wise words to share?
Lipid Lowering :: Risk Calculators - Do I Really Need Statins?
I am a healthy 49 yrs. old man and usually very active. I do not take any medicines besides Ramipril (Tritace) due to my high blood pressure. Unfortunately for many years I have rather high cholesterol level – 6.1 mmol/l total, 1.2 HDL and my doctor wants to put me on statins.
I am not a physician, but I have been working with information for many years so I did my homework and now I am absolutely confused!
The fact is that I have used many online cardiovascular risk calculators and I found a few rather odd things:
1. I have a probability of developing cardiovascular disease in next 10 years between 8.0 and 10 % despite my with high level of cholesterol. I can not explain this!
2. I was playing with the risk calculators putting different numbers and I have found, that even extremely high cholesterol level like 7 mmol/l just slightly increases the overall risk to 11% in next 10 years I can not explain this!
3. The most interesting thing is that even if I would manage to reduce my cholesterol numbers with statins to recommend level, my cardiovascular risk reduce very slightly!
So I have to take statins during very long period of time just in order to reduce the risk up to 7-8% instead of 8-11! Could you help me to understand where I am wrong?
Any Tablets To Reduce Side Effects Of Statins?
Are there any tablets that can help with side effects of statins. In my case they are quite severe and have had to stop them. Now my cholesterol is very high. I have been on every statins over the last 12 years with the same effect. I've had a heart attack and stents. My diet and exercise is very good and I am not overweight but I need statins to keep my cholesterol down?
Statins Therapy Caused Erectile Dysfunction?
Anyone feel that statin therapy has caused ED?
View 1 RepliesStatins :: Lowering The Mood And Causing Depression
As well as severe muscle pain, STATINS are to blame for lowering the mood and causing depression. Why are the nation being prescribed them?
View 3 RepliesStatins - Pravastatin - Cannot Cope With The Side Effects
Having suffered all the problems connected with statins I have requested to stop taking them as my life is so different without them for the better.
However I have a condition called Subclavian steal syndrome which is basically a blocked artery that cannot be operated on as its too dangerous. On the advice of my doctor I am trying Pravastatin. Has anyone been prescribed this drug and had any of the usual side effects with it. If it is just like all the rest of the statins I am prepared to give them up altogether whatever the risk as I cannot cope with the side effects.