I'm worried about taking statins and side effects

I tried statins; bad reactions. Tried Zetia; no luck there either. No killer side effects, but rash and itching, which I have a bit of already with Eliquis. Paid out of pocket for a cardiac calcium score: 322. Not great, but not the end of the world either. My cardiologist even admitted it! Then I was diagnosed with SMM, so the cholesterol is on the back burner, where it can stay as far as I'm concerned. THIS IS MY OPINION ONLY: it's more genetics than diet. My wife's sister and father were on statins their whole lives. Both had to have stents put in! Good luck to you all. We all have to make our own decisions, with the input of medical professionals. The doctors' word is only their opinion.

I was put on a statin drug for my cholesterol. One day I went for an INR I told her I was chilling and not feeling well and and ask the phlebotomist to do blood work on me. I am sure she called the doctor for an order. A bit later the Dr. came in and said "I want to see you in my office as soon as I get a room". She said my liver enzymes were very high and she was going to have to hospitalize me. I was in the hospital for 6 days with elevated liver enzymes. Since, I have never taken any cholesterol medication with statin in it, and have not had any more problems with elevated liver enzymes. It really pays to be watchful of yourself when you are on any medications, because side effects can occur. The cholesterol medication I take now has no statin in it.

I took Prevastatin for 20 years. I now have calcification....it seems all over the body. The Prevastatin is good But, when I spoke to the doctor 20 years ago I asked him to put me on only 10 mg...because I felt the way you do now..
I wish I had said 40 mg's

@ibchispas i have been on a statin for 20 plus years. Never had a problem

@gator7649
After about 5 years of Lipitor I developed acute pancreatitus that turned out to be from the Lipitor and now my pancreas is extremely sensitive to all cholesterol lowering drugs save Repatha so far...I've only been on Repatha since March of 2025 but still doing good. My cholesterol and triglycerides are all in range.

I've been taking atorvastatin for years. The only dents I have comes from running into things, falling down, etc.
However, My Nero Doctor recently had me reduce from 20mg to 10mg per day due to my cholesterol was so low on my last blood test. So that tells me something. I'll get the details on my next visit with him.

Took Atorvastatin for 2.5 years, you should always slowly increase the dose! I had severe pain problems when the doctor put me straight on a high dose. I asked another doctor to prescribe the lowest dose and then I slowly increased the dose, when I had pain problems I went back to the previous dose, it worked for 2 years then I got very high liver values and I have never drunk alcohol and had a healthy liver. As soon as I had pain problems I stopped Atorvastatin for a month and then slowly increased the dose again to a level where I didn't have pain. At the turn of the year a new doctor said that it is better for me to take the "newest" statin Rosuvastatin with Ezetimibe. It works better for me. I have to have statins due to a very high stroke risk.

There were two duplicates, sorry

I take lots of vitamins and they never helped. I need the statins and have been taking them for 20 years.

I’ve been on them for probably 10 years now and never had any problems with them. And my cholesterol levels are always low.