1. < Heart & Blood Health

Statin Intolerance: What did you do?

Posted by tim1028 @tim1028, Jun 4, 2019

I've developed statin intolerance over the 6 months I've been taking daily 40 mg atorvastatin. I'd like to hear from those of you who also have statin intolerance about what your next steps were. Did you lower the dose of the same statin? Switch to another statin? Stop statins altogether? Other approaches?

In my case, I developed muscle weakness, energy loss, shortness of breath and noticeable brain fog. I've stopped the statin until I am able to discuss the issue with my PCP. I started to feel better after the statin had washed out of my system. Risk factors that indicate that I should be on a statin are low HDL and a high coronary artery calcium score.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

HomeAgainLA | @llynch17056 | Apr 21 9:29am

Sounds like a good way to do it. Even if it does lower cholesterol, it’s still a very healthy way to eat.

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mayoconnectuser1 | @mayoconnectuser1 | Apr 22 8:59am
In reply to @rochelle369 "Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. Esselstyn were the first ones to show you can halt or..." + (show)
@rochelle369

Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. Esselstyn were the first ones to show you can halt or reverse heart disease and say no oils (which damage the endotheial lining.

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Wiki on Esselstyn - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caldwell_Esselstyn

Wiki on Ornish -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Ornish

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bbonchek | @bbonchek | Apr 23 6:47am

There are many different statins to try. Please talk to your doctor about other options. I also could not tolerate Atorvastatin. After trying other statins which I could not tolerate also, I was put on Repatha, a bi-weekly injection. That has worked well for me with no side effects.

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degarden_girl | @degarden_girl | Apr 24 7:08am
In reply to @jeridenn "I have high LDL cholesterol and my doctor has prescribed several different statins for me, all..." + (show)
@jeridenn

I have high LDL cholesterol and my doctor has prescribed several different statins for me, all of which I could not tolerate. The latest one he's prescribed is ezetimibe which I have yet to try.

I feel like a guinea pig with all these tests. The side effects are not anything I care to experience, either. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/20153-ezetimibe-tablets. They include skin rash, face, lips and throat swelling, joint pain, diarrhea, and possibly others not mentioned.

I'm trying to find a natural alternative. The high LDL cholesterol is the only negative in my labs. Everything else is normal. After losing 60 pounds over the course of a year, I had to go back on 1 50mg Losartan tablet daily for blood pressure. My BP is now very good - in the 116/74 range daily.

I exercise an hour daily walking and stationary bike and have a good diet eating mostly chicken, turkey, and fish and lots of fruits and vegetables. I cook from scratch, use avocado oil and ghee, and read labels. Even my husband does since I am gluten intolerant and have some food sensitivities. We don't buy products (condiments, etc.) with unhealthy additives or that are high in saturated fats. I'm reducing my salt intake even though it's normal (140 and the range is 135-245) which may help according to my doctor. My glucose is 83. My calcium is 8.9 (range is 8.7-10.4). So all labs are good except this high LDL. My father had blocked carotids due to triglyceride build-up, but he had a high fat diet, which I don't.

Any suggestions about natural alternatives to reduce high LDL are welcome.
Thanks!

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I have high VLDL and Lp(a) which seemingly cannot be affected by diet. It is genetic. I was unable to take statins due to muscle issues with every type. I was put on Praluent which worked like a charm in lowering overall cholesterol and especially LDL. No side effects. Then my insurance ceased covering Praluent and I was switched to Repatha. I have not had a blood test since I went on Repatha to be able to assess its effectiveness but I haven't had any side effects.

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2 replies
rainerhans | @rainerhans | Apr 24 7:13am

My husband is on Repatha since a month and his LPA is dropping already now from 279 to 170…
(Side defect from Rovustatin possibly)
No need of statins anymore.
No side effects until now.

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hollywoodal | @hollywoodal | Apr 25 6:54am
In reply to @degarden_girl "I have high VLDL and Lp(a) which seemingly cannot be affected by diet. It is genetic...." + (show)
@degarden_girl

I have high VLDL and Lp(a) which seemingly cannot be affected by diet. It is genetic. I was unable to take statins due to muscle issues with every type. I was put on Praluent which worked like a charm in lowering overall cholesterol and especially LDL. No side effects. Then my insurance ceased covering Praluent and I was switched to Repatha. I have not had a blood test since I went on Repatha to be able to assess its effectiveness but I haven't had any side effects.

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They had me on statins for eight years, my leg muscles got so bad I had trouble getting around. I researched statins and could not find one positive article. When I challenged the cardiologist he said, "Well, we can take you of them, you really don't have high cholesterol anyway. I've been off statins for 3 plus years and my cholesterol is 20 points lower than when I was on statins. Diet/supplements, do your homework.

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ddn | @ddn | Apr 25 6:57am
In reply to @degarden_girl "I have high VLDL and Lp(a) which seemingly cannot be affected by diet. It is genetic...." + (show)
@degarden_girl

I have high VLDL and Lp(a) which seemingly cannot be affected by diet. It is genetic. I was unable to take statins due to muscle issues with every type. I was put on Praluent which worked like a charm in lowering overall cholesterol and especially LDL. No side effects. Then my insurance ceased covering Praluent and I was switched to Repatha. I have not had a blood test since I went on Repatha to be able to assess its effectiveness but I haven't had any side effects.

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Thank you for sharing this life saving information. God bless!

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ddn | @ddn | Apr 26 6:38am

I was taking Rosuvastatin but developed severe back pain. My physician ordered a creatinine kinase test to see if the statin is causing my pain. For now, I stopped taking it. But I have very high cholesterol due to genetics. I don't really have any answers, I just wanted you to know you are not alone. Waiting on blood results.

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2 replies
hollywoodal | @hollywoodal | Apr 26 7:23am
In reply to @ddn "I was taking Rosuvastatin but developed severe back pain. My physician ordered a creatinine kinase test..." + (show)
@ddn

I was taking Rosuvastatin but developed severe back pain. My physician ordered a creatinine kinase test to see if the statin is causing my pain. For now, I stopped taking it. But I have very high cholesterol due to genetics. I don't really have any answers, I just wanted you to know you are not alone. Waiting on blood results.

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There are plenty of natural resources out there that can help reduce cholesterol. Simple things like nuts can help reduce cholesterol. Cinnamon can help reduce cholesterol, it goes on and on. If you do some research, it will blow your mind how much medical discourse. My cholesterol is 20 lower than when I was on statins. I am not a doctor, or a herbologist.

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marsden | @marsden | Apr 26 9:19am

In recent weeks I have had frequent attacks of what I figure to be Reynaud's disease: freezing cold, and insensible white fingers. Although I have dealt with this annoyance in the past occasionally, the frequency has increased sharply. I thought it might be just another part of aging. I am 87, and in pretty good health - except for a blockage in a coronary artery for which my MD has just put me on Atorvastatin. Now I am wondering (thanks to letters I have just read here) if this is a reaction to the statin I am taking. I will check with my doc. And thanks to this support group.

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