Important information about statins that I’m going to ask my doc about

I too, could not tolerate any type of statin. Could not even lay down to go to sleep, because every bone in my body or not to mention muscle tendons even my hair! My doctor put me on Repatha It has very few side effects and no pain. Just a little fatigue and swollen sinuses at times. My number for LDL is way below normal which is fantastic. You might want to talk to your doctor about this medication EpiPen I am only paying $25 For my two doses. I inject every two weeks.

I've always told my doctor No to Statins! I find if I stick to trying to get at least 5 servings of a combination of fruits and vegetables a day, that helps reduce my LDL level. To reduce Triglycerides I take salmon oil gel capsules because it's easiest for me. Fortunately my HDL levels always seem to be on the higher side of normal which I'm told can offset a slightly high LDL level. Now if that intake if fruits and veggies could result in a weight decrease I would be a happy camper. 😁 Alas, my constant battle is with hypothyroidism.

Welcome to Mayo Connect. Whether or not to take statins to lower cholesterol levels is a complex and highly personal question.

I resisted for years, arguing that I had reached age 65 without any evidence of the heart and artery diseases that plague my family. I reluctantly tried a couple of statins then on the advice of a cardiologist and found then intolerable so I turned to diet and exercise. Suddenly at age 70, my Cholesterol and LDL levels began an upward trend anyway, so again I agreed to try statins - 2 different ones caused severe symptoms, no matter how low the dose.

This September a sharp Nurse Practitioner spotted an irregularity in a routine ECG that led to the ER, testing, and diagnosis of a heart blockage. Shortness of breath, chest tightness and low energy I had been attributing to my lung diseases were diagnosed as angina! Now I am taking Repatha as well as two heart medications. My Lipid panel looks great, the pain is gone - we shall see if this is enough to avoid having stents placed.

My takeaway? If your numbers are high and your thyroid doesn't function perfectly (mine does not) consider having a cardiologist take a look at your total risk profile. I might have avoided the plaque that has buikt up in my arteries if I had only listened 12 -15 years ago.

I do mostly holistic medicine and natural supplements. About 2 years ago I went to pick up a prescription and the pharmacist came over and said my insurance company felt I should be on a statin as a preventative at my age (I was 68). I told him absolutely not, and he agreed. My holistic doctor told me to get Opti-Lipid. Here's the link:
https://naturalheartdoctor.com/optilipid/ He takes it and it's been a great alternative. Hope this helps.

What does your most recent lipid panel show compared to before the Opti-lipid? All of the wholistic solutions I tried didn't stop my numbers from rising.

I'm within normal range.

Interesting discussion. I had high triglycerides in my 40s (I'm 71 now). They put me on a statin and even eventually had me on it twice a day! I finally said I'm done and went off. My numbers were definitely improved but I needed to try. I was a normal weight & physically active so they thought the high lipids were genetic. So I'm off the statin for 3 mos and when they rechecked my lipids they were great! I stayed off the statins for a long time. I only went back on in the last few years but only because in my 60s I learned I had aortic atherosclerosis. My doc said I should at least go on a very low dose statin as it helps the blood cells slide over the plaque and can help avoid clot formation. I agreed to take crestor 5mg every other day. Still on that regime. It's worth it to me. But here's another thing. A nurse practitioner told me after I had another test result with high numbers (in my 50s). She said that it's the RATIO of 2 lipid values that really matters. My ratio was excellent at 2.5. Whatever that means. I've since read a lot about this and even currently there are cardiologists who agree and do not advise statins based on individual numbers alone. That's when I decided to go off the statins. Anyway, it's a difficult situation when there are so many theories and opinions amongst doctors. I guess we have to be our own advocates, do our research and then do what feel is right.

I would like to start a discussion about all of the positive effects of statins.
They definitely prevent major cardiac events in those of us who are aging.
Aortic atherosclerosis and aneurysmal dilation are definitely strong indications to be on statin. They help our carotids and other arteries in our
bodies. They are anti inflammatory for those of us with systemic rheumatic
Inflammation. Good for the heart and our brain function as well. Likely
forestall dementia. Ask your middle age primary doc or cardiologist which statin they are on. I resisted for years with borderline lipids, I got educated
when psoriatic arthritis and PMR added on my risk profile. So far good in
late 70s.

I was prescribed statins a few years ago because my cholesterol numbers were elevated due to the medication I was on. Now my doctor is decreasing that med and started talking about whether or not to keep me on statins. I have a family history of heart attacks and strokes, so I’m not very eager to get off. I don’t have any side effects from my statins med I take.

Why does your doctor want to take you off the statins? Are your numbers in range now? Some doctors will put/keep a patient on statins as a preventative measure because of a family history of heart attacks and strokes.