Statin Intolerance: What did you do?

I also had that reaction to a statin, I compared it to someone pulling a thread inside my leg to make a gather., everything pulled inward. I stopped the meds , so my cardiologist suggested Praluent, but of course, insurance will not pay.

Forget to mention that red yeast rice can also remove calcium from arteries and can add calcium to bones. At least, this is what I’ve picked up on the web.

I tried red yeast rice for a couple of months, but had the same side effects as a statin and also experienced fluid retention. I’m stopping it today to see if the muscle aches and fluid retention go away. Has anyone tried Bempedoic Acid? If so, has your insurance company covered it if you are statin intolerant?

Red Yeast Rice has the same chemical structure that is used in prescription Statins thus explaining our same symptoms when using prescription statins. You might want to look into Repatha to avoid the muscle cramps. It cut my cholesterol almost in half and not muscle pains. It works a little different than oral statins and that is why it does not cause the muscle issues and frankly works much better. Best of luck!

Red Yeast Rice has the same chemical structure that is used in prescription Statins thus explaining our same symptoms when using prescription statins. You might want to look into Repatha to avoid the muscle cramps. It cut my cholesterol almost in half and not muscle pains. It works a little different than oral statins and that is why it does not cause the muscle issues and frankly works much better. Best of luck!

The Repatha side effects look pretty bad. Once you have the injection how do you deal with side effects for the two-four weeks before it leaves your system? Did you have any side effects? Thanks.

I felt the same way. I tried all the oral Statins and ALL gave me muscle cramps. I was offered Repatha when it first came out and thought like you. But my self and my doctor agreed to give it a try and low and behold no issues at all. I understand your concern but Statins have along with all drugs a whole list of POSSIBLE side effects. If you try it and it works you will be glad you used it to lower your cholesterol. Personally, for myself it was worth the gamble. Best of luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Hi @cindyt63,

There is no denying that many of the statin trials are funded by pharmaceutical companies, but it does raise the question if we are seeing the whole picture.
I thought it might help to post a few key notes from the most recent guidelines, (ACC/AHA), which emphasize that having high cholesterol “at any age” significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. http://www.onlinejacc.org/content/73/24/e285?_ga=2.18947835.275792085.1564661742-2093008911.1564661742

– There is now a class I indication for reducing LDL cholesterol levels by 50% or more with a high-intensity statin (atorvastatin 40-80 mg and rosuvastatin 20-40 mg), or a maximally tolerated statin dose, in all patients with clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

– For ASCVD patients at very high risk, such as those with a history of multiple events or one major ASCVD event and multiple high-risk conditions—and with LDL cholesterol ≥ 70 mg/dL—the guidelines recommend adding ezetimibe to maximally tolerated statin therapy in order to lower LDL levels.
If LDL still remains ≥ 70 mg/dL, adding a PCSK9 inhibitor such as alirocumab (Praluent; Regeneron/Sanofi) or evolocumab (Repatha; Amgen) is reasonable although the long-term safely of PCSK9 inhibitors is unknown.

– In the patient 40 to 75 years with diabetes, the guidelines recommend starting treatment with a moderate-intensity statin without assessing the 10-year risk of ASCVD (class I). If the diabetic patient has multiple high-risk features, or is 50 to 75 years old, consider using a high-intensity statin.

– For the first time, the new guideline also includes a Value Statement that underscores the need for clinicians and patients to factor in the cost of drugs in determining the most appropriate treatment rates.

With regard to Repatha (thanks for the suggestion), it is more often used to treat patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, or with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH), who need additional lowering of their LDL cholesterol. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/evolocumab-subcutaneous-route/side-effects/drg-20152627?p=1
Unfortunately, the cost of this drug (and others in the same class) is prohibitive – which is why the new guideline about statins includes a Value Statement.

I certainly don’t mean to inundate you with more reading:) but I’m hoping this article might shed some more light on the statin debate:
"AHA’s Statement on the Safety Profile of Statins: Big Benefit with Low Risk” https://professional.heart.org/professional/ScienceNews/UCM_503181_AHAs-Statement-on-the-Safety-Profile-of-Statins-Big-Benefit-with-Low-Risk.jsp

The treatment for high cholesterol is not one size fits all, and I wish we could get a conclusive answer. But it’s absolutely okay to question and disagree –as long as we do it in a way that is based in science. I hope to hear more from you and fellow Connect members - continue to further the conversation.