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I keep relapsing when I try to get off prednisone
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Jul 11 12:42pm | Replies (82)Comment receiving replies
Statins have become controversial in many quarters. They mess with blood sugars and cause Type2 diabetes requiring medication for insulin resistance. They lower our natural production of CoQ10 (Co-enzyme Q10), an anti-oxidant that helps reduce harmful free radicals. They can harm the liver.
The sellers of statins have always expressed the miniscule benefits of taking them in terms of relative risk rather than absolute risk, to make the benefit sound bigger. It's an old trick. I dumped my statin over a year ago after reading up and discovering the benefits are grossly overstated and the harms are understated. My doctor did not object.
This article from the website of the respected RACGP (Royal Australian College of General Practitioners) says:
"Cholesterol-lowering statins are one of the world’s most commonly used medicines.
They were first approved for people with a high risk of cardiovascular disease in 1987. By 2020, global sales were estimated to have approached US$1 trillion (AU$1.35 trillion).
However, there has been an ongoing debate about whether or not statins are over-prescribed. Does everyone who takes them really benefit from them?"
https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/have-the-benefits-of-statins-been-overstated
Replies to "Statins have become controversial in many quarters. They mess with blood sugars and cause Type2 diabetes..."
I have taken statins since 2020. I started with pravastatin and after extreme hair loss was changed to rosuvastatin. I can say my cholesterol has dropped yearly, but I do not know if it is due to the medication solely or my change in lifestyle. During my last visit with my GP, he told me that older folks are frequently able to drop medication as they are no longer needed. He was unable to explain the reason for this, but I found it to be true. Sadly, if we don’t say anything about this, the prescriptions will continue to be written. I also dropped an antacid that I was certain after three years had been giving me stomach pains and have felt no symptoms of Gerd at all since I did this six months ago. Last month I stopped taking the beta blocker that supported my Losartan. Evidently, two different types of BP meds are frequently described. My blood pressure has been fine and my heart rate has moved into a much more acceptable number, as the beta blocker had taken it to the 50s most days, which is not good. So, sorry for the long story, but to finally answer your question… I honestly cannot say for sure how many points the statin has helped to lower my cholesterol. I do know that the initial number in 2020 was about 150 points higher than it should’ve been. It is now completely under control. I may go without it for a year and see what happens. I am 72 years old and because I have an ascending aortic aneurysm, it is imperative that I control blood pressure especially, but cholesterol as well. I feel like my age has brought about enough good eating habits for other reasons that my cholesterol may fall in line without medication. I no longer drink alcohol, I don’t eat many bad fats at all, the only fried foods are air fried, and my beloved sweets are no longer part of my diet, except in a rare exception. Sweets and wine used to be a food group for me, but I’ve gotten used to living without them. I’m sorry if I ramble and I’m really no help at all, but this has been my experience. I hope you find what works for you and that it is a statin free world! Good luck!
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I the genetic version of cholesterol Familial hypercholesterolemia. They put me on lipitor when I was 48. I took it for 4 years with constant stomach disorders. First said I had IBS. Then changed it to Crohn's disease. Finally my colon started bleeding. Luckily my family Dr said lets take you off medication. Cleared up in a week. When I contracted PMR my Mayo Dr ran all these tests and found a carotid blockage. So I had to get serious about doing something they put me on Repatha and Zetia. I have been having hip pain, headaches, and fatigue. I quit the zetia about a week ago and already feel better. The Repatha works. PMR caused my cholesterol numbers to go from 250 to 300. Repatha dropped it to 110. My LDL is 53. Just waiting on the side effects.