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

Posted by Barb @amberpep, Aug 10, 2020

Just a bit of information I discovered last week. One of the side effects of taking "simvistatin" is temporary memory loss. It is the only statin that has this effect. I am going to talk to my .doctor about stopping it, with his guidance of course. I have had some short lapses in memory .... forgetting part of my phone number, etc.

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I'm within normal range.

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@barbfe

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.

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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.

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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.

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@sisu1222

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.

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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.

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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.

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@bijouxb

I was put on Atorvastatin, and in less than 2 months I developed: (a) TERRIBLE muscle pain in both feet and legs; (b) partial tears in both my tibial tendon and plantar fascia; (c) sudden onset of Stage II CKD; (d) Pre-Diabetes; and (e) brain fog from hell. Statins almost killed me. And now, I am being told that "if I do not take statins, I risk death" because my cholesterol is NOT good. So I am being told to pick between one hideous disease that might kill me, or the absolutely certainty of Kidney Failure and Diabetes - that will also kill me, but not before it turns me into a Dialysis patient, and THEN kills me.

This is 2020. There have to be alternatives to the type of medical care that says "We'll fix (sort of) this problem, but the cure will kill you" type of scenario I am facing. Or put another way: right now, I have one hideous disease that might kill me. If I take Statins, I'll have three hideous diseases that will kill me. Because they don't "cure" heart disease. They just slow it down. Supposedly. And I have also read that there is little evidence of an increased life span from statin medication. Especially for women. The Statin Pharma Lobby is a really powerful organization. Biggest moneymaker in history. And that is fact.

By the way, my cholesterol was perfectly normal. Then I hit Menopause and Holy Mother of God. And I have discovered - the hard way - that the medications doctors are fond of giving to anxious patients (especially women) cause my cholesterol to surge even higher. Prozac was a biggie. 100 points. In less than a month of usage. I stopped the Prozac and that 100 point increase disappeared. I have since watched my numbers from BEFORE cholesterol was a problem to now. I have also been able to see what triggers spikes in cholesterol AND the sudden onset of potentially debilitating disease of other organs. I stopped taking Atorvastatin because I was practically crippled in less than 2 months. My "out-nowhere" Kidney Disease disappeared, as did my Pre-Diabetes. Not so lucky with the muscle pain, but it is getting better. I'll never be a power-walker ever again, however. My days of hiking are over. And it hurts to lose function like that. Not being able to really exercise is just as hard on a person's heart as the dreaded "Cholesterol" debate. I still wonder how a substances that is essential to healing the body (Cholesterol) has been so demonized. Isn't it inflammation to blood vessels that Cholesterol is generated to try and repair damaged arteries? Input from cardiologists without skin in the game would be really helpful.

What are patients like myself supposed to do? It would appear that we are damned if we do, and damned if we don't. I live with someone who has End Stage Renal Disease and has to endure the rigors of dialysis thrice weekly, and I will NEVER allow that to happen to me on purpose. It is a living hell. You never "get used to it" and your life, plans and EVERYTHING that matters(ed) to you take a back seat. And being told these are my only options are not sitting well with me.

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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.

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@sueinmn

Repatha is usually a "prior approval" medication in most Medicare plans. My doctor had to show I failed with at least 2 different statins, had increasing LDL, and either had or was at elevated risk of a heart attack. Now I get it but must pay $135 copay every 12 weeks.

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I pay $25 for two EpiPen’s of it which last me one month.

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@gussie

Since I've been on Medicare I have learned that it hardly covers any new drug at all. Or such a small part that it excludes me from getting any new drug.

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Repatha is usually a "prior approval" medication in most Medicare plans. My doctor had to show I failed with at least 2 different statins, had increasing LDL, and either had or was at elevated risk of a heart attack. Now I get it but must pay $135 copay every 12 weeks.

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Since I've been on Medicare I have learned that it hardly covers any new drug at all. Or such a small part that it excludes me from getting any new drug.

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@gussie

My cardiologist is thinking of putting me on Repatha. I don't know if Medicare covers it.

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I have Aetna Medicare advantage plan through a teacher retirement system and I only pay $25 per two injections. My numbers are so fantastic now and no side effects like the statins! My sinuses to get a little swollen and I have a runny nose at times but other than that it’s just great.

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