Complications with Statins

I had different statins in doses of 10mg - 40mg , except for minimal muscular pains, no other signs or symptoms. Presently, on Rosuvastatin 10mg , with
mostly normal and favourable reports of lipid profile, for more than 6 months to one year. As read about Coenzyme Q10 can help in relief of muscular pains,
trying to use though seems expensive, in India with a few limited brands available.

Hello @jackj,

Welcome back! Thank you so much for the update, and for starting this discussion. The pros and cons of taking statins is an ongoing conversation, and I'd like to invite @thankful @kevinking @ramakambhatla @garydoys @trpain @downhillbob @predictable @yoanne @lynnkay1956 @joem @frankad @susanjomu @elio to join this discussion and weigh in with their thoughts and insights.

@jackj, you mentioned, "...other vitamin deficiencies are evident in my latest blood panel, and statins may also be the cause of those." Would you be able to share a bit more information about that?

I had no noticeable symptoms with the 10 mg dosage. Since I've gone back to 10, my symptoms are almost entirely gone. There have been no other changes in my diet or health.

Hello @kishanvasekar,

Thank you for taking the time to share your story, and for your participation on Connect. I am happy to see that you have found many different discussions to partake in, and to know that the changes you've made are working for you. Keep in mind though, that everyone is different and their health situation may vary from your own. Members should not advise other members to stop taking their medication. Please see the first rule of Connect’s Community Guidelines https://connect.mayoclinic.org/community-guidelines/ The guidelines state:
1. Be careful about giving out medical advice

The value of a community like Mayo Clinic Connect, is in meeting people who have experienced similar issues, share information, encourage one another to learn more about their health, and for some, to take that information to their health care providers.
Mayo Clinic advises that people consult with their current care provider before making any changes to their existing medication or treatment plan. When considering complementary or alternative treatments, or lifestyle changes that can affect one's health, it is best to be open-minded, and learn about the potential benefits and risks.

I also thought you might be interested in reading this information from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF):
– There was insufficient evidence that statins benefit adults over age 75 with no past cardiovascular disease.

– However, it endorsed the use of statins in adults 40 - 75 years of age, without a history of cardiovascular disease, who have one or more risk factors for it (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or smoking) or a 10% risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or similar event within the next 10 years. This is a "B" recommendation which means that there is a high certainty of substantial benefit from statin use in preventing heart disease.

– USPSTF guidelines concluded that over all, potential harm from low and moderate doses of statins was small. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/UpdateSummaryFinal/statin-use-in-adults-preventive-medication1?ds=1&s=statins

@kishanvasekar, there is so much confusing information and debate about statins, which can make potential patients hesitant to take the medication. I am not a medical professional and cannot offer medical advice; however, I am concerned that people may be more worried about side effects and discomfort now, and not look at the effect high cholesterol may have on their health in the future.
I sincerely hope fellow Connect members and statin users – @yoanne @thankful @lynnkay1956 @fourof5zs @davelindemann46 @luckyg @botexas @mcphee @gibbs – will join this discussion, too; I'd really like to hear their experiences and insights about statins.

I survived severe heart attack about 7 years back.Surgery to remove clot, kidney failure, 35 days in ER and 4 days on ventilator support left me bedridden for 3 months.I picked up courage , prayed and prayed and recovered .It is almost miracle.Then as Chemical Engineer , I had to retire but I decided to study Heart Disease in detail including Alternate systems of medicine Ayurveda.I have developed simple formula , MYSPEED ie Medittaion, Yoga , Smile and Sleep well,Pranyam ( Indian system of breathing ) , Exercise , Entertainment and Diet control to prevent , cure and even reverse Heart disease.
After 2 years of intensive medication ,I started worried after getting muscle weakness of extreme type and looked for main culprit.It was Statin dose.I felt of developing Friendship with Cholesterol and worked consistently to reduce dependence on Statins.Ultimately I Stopped it about 4 years back.
I belive that Cholesterol by itself is friend and becomes foe only if in excess.So almost 80 % of heart patients can reduce Statin or eventually Stop and lead Statin free life like me.
If you are committed and can follow MYSPEED formula with BMW ie Balanced , Moderate and Worryfree life style you can join the discussion.I will be sharing my experiences as we progress.Thnaks

I survived severe heart attack about 7 years back.Surgery to remove clot, kidney failure, 35 days in ER and 4 days on ventilator support left me bedridden for 3 months.I picked up courage , prayed and prayed and recovered .It is almost miracle.Then as Chemical Engineer , I had to retire but I decided to study Heart Disease in detail including Alternate systems of medicine Ayurveda.I have developed simple formula , MYSPEED ie Medittaion, Yoga , Smile and Sleep well,Pranyam ( Indian system of breathing ) , Exercise , Entertainment and Diet control to prevent , cure and even reverse Heart disease.
After 2 years of intensive medication ,I started worried after getting muscle weakness of extreme type and looked for main culprit.It was Statin dose.I felt of developing Friendship with Cholesterol and worked consistently to reduce dependence on Statins.Ultimately I Stopped it about 4 years back.
I belive that Cholesterol by itself is friend and becomes foe only if in excess.So almost 80 % of heart patients can reduce Statin or eventually Stop and lead Statin free life like me.
If you are committed and can follow MYSPEED formula with BMW ie Balanced , Moderate and Worryfree life style you can join the discussion.I will be sharing my experiences as we progress.Thnaks

Hello @kishanvasekar,

Thank you for taking the time to share your story, and for your participation on Connect. I am happy to see that you have found many different discussions to partake in, and to know that the changes you've made are working for you. Keep in mind though, that everyone is different and their health situation may vary from your own. Members should not advise other members to stop taking their medication. Please see the first rule of Connect’s Community Guidelines https://connect.mayoclinic.org/community-guidelines/ The guidelines state:
1. Be careful about giving out medical advice

The value of a community like Mayo Clinic Connect, is in meeting people who have experienced similar issues, share information, encourage one another to learn more about their health, and for some, to take that information to their health care providers.
Mayo Clinic advises that people consult with their current care provider before making any changes to their existing medication or treatment plan. When considering complementary or alternative treatments, or lifestyle changes that can affect one's health, it is best to be open-minded, and learn about the potential benefits and risks.

I also thought you might be interested in reading this information from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF):
– There was insufficient evidence that statins benefit adults over age 75 with no past cardiovascular disease.

– However, it endorsed the use of statins in adults 40 - 75 years of age, without a history of cardiovascular disease, who have one or more risk factors for it (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or smoking) or a 10% risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or similar event within the next 10 years. This is a "B" recommendation which means that there is a high certainty of substantial benefit from statin use in preventing heart disease.

– USPSTF guidelines concluded that over all, potential harm from low and moderate doses of statins was small. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/UpdateSummaryFinal/statin-use-in-adults-preventive-medication1?ds=1&s=statins

@kishanvasekar, there is so much confusing information and debate about statins, which can make potential patients hesitant to take the medication. I am not a medical professional and cannot offer medical advice; however, I am concerned that people may be more worried about side effects and discomfort now, and not look at the effect high cholesterol may have on their health in the future.
I sincerely hope fellow Connect members and statin users – @yoanne @thankful @lynnkay1956 @fourof5zs @davelindemann46 @luckyg @botexas @mcphee @gibbs – will join this discussion, too; I'd really like to hear their experiences and insights about statins.

Lots of food for thought recently, which I appreciate. Some additional status info: I haven't been outside much the last six months, but I've always been an outdoor person so I doubt that a few months of reduced activity caused the large Vitamin D drop. But in any case, I'm working to restore my previous outdoor time along with the Vitamin D supplements. I exercise almost every day, aerobically 3 days a week, weight training in between another 3 days (so 1 day off). I further streamlined my diet compared to what I had been eating, which means now mostly vegetables, low quantities of meats (all lean, lots of fish), no fried foods, absolutely NO sweets. Kind of a combo of the Paleo diet and the Mediterranean diet, and I've been on this diet since shortly after my surgery (2.5 yrs). I've always worked to eliminate stress, and since I'm retired, I'm even more stress-free. I'm not a believer in prayer (open-minded about it's effectiveness) so that's about the only thing I haven't tried. That and Ayurvedic meditation, which I'm also open to.

I had mentioned that my symptoms lessened almost immediately after lowering my statin dosage. Still true (and still taking 10 mg per day vs. 40 mg per day before), tho I continue to have vision issues. I have recently completed an eye exam, and my eyes are fine. Still trying to figure that one out. I see my PCP again in 2-3 weeks so we will discuss that. The vision varies almost daily, which tells me my diet, or meds, or routine, et al, is making this happen. However, none of these changes much on a daily basis. The search continues.