Important information about statins that I’m going to ask my doc about
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.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.
My PCP prescribed Pioglitazone several years ago while at the same time referring me to an endocrinologist for treatment of my diabetes. At my visit in January (I go every three months for A1C, etc) the PA discontinued the Pioglitazone because it causes fluid retention & weight gain! I asked her why then had no one taken it away sooner? I've taken it for several years! Very frustrating when even with regular evaluations of medication the physician or his PA aren't sharp enough to stop a medication that wasn't doing me any good & was doing harm. I've told the PA my legs ache. The PA ordered a circulation test which showed the circulation is normal for someone my age. The PA had no solution to offer since the test was "normal." That doesn't mean my legs stop aching though so now I'll ask the PA about the statin. I take Atorvastation and Ezetimbe.
I sat down with a pharmacist in two different hospitals. Then based on what the pills are actually for, I stopped taking the ones I may not need
Hi, @gator123
My doctor put me on pravastatin a couple of years ago. I did not check side effects so it never occurred to me that my aching legs could be from that. I was exercising a lot so I assumed that was the problem.
My bathroom is about a dozen steps from my bed and there were mornings when that walk seemed so difficult! I mentioned that to a friend and she immediately asked if I was on a statin! Of course, I said yes and then I called my doctor. He told me to get off of it for a week or two and see if the pain went away, which it did, so I am now on nothing. I know it doesn't affect everyone, my sister is on a statin with no problems. I do have another friend though who has tried a number of statins and always had the same problem.
She is on Repatha now which is not a statin and does not give her any problems. It can be very pricey if there is no assistance available. That can vary depending on whether you are on private insurance or Medicare, and possibly on income. I have not looked into it myself.
JK
Hello @gator123, it's nice to meet you. Statins are really tough on the body, no doubt about it. I'm not sure if I have tinnitus but I had to stop 2 other statins before I could tolerate Rovastatin because they did make me achy. Have you asked your doctor what is next for you to try?
Hi @gator123 I see you are having issues with statin medication just like several other members in this discussion where I moved your post. This is so you can connect with people like @contentandwell, @thankfull, @merpreb, and @nla4625
Have you talked to your doctor about getting off of the medicine?
Play goodbye I had open heart surgery almost 8 years ago I was taking pravastatin for blood cholesterol now I take rosuvastatin 5 mg a day for the last year-and-a-half legs body hurts a lot and anybody having this problem with this medicine also I have tinnitus seems to be getting worse does anybody have the same issues with this medicine please help
Hello @readingweeder, Welcome to Connect. It sounds like you have made some diet and lifestyle changes to help with your health. I'm wondering if you might also be interested in the Low-carb healthy fat living. Intermittent fasting. What’s your why? discussion here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/low-carb-healthy-fat-living-intermittent-fasting-whats-your-why/. There are also other discussions in the LCHF Living & Intermittent Fasting group that you might find interesting or helpful - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/lchf-living-intermittent-fasting/
Do you mind sharing how you found Connect, what you were searching for?
If you go vegan, it has an adverse effect on your brain because it's hard to get the amino acids from your food. You can buy liquid amino acids but an easier way is Keto: drop all grains and sugar except a few berries daily, eat lots of leafy greens, eat lots of good proteins and fats, especially olive oil, fish, and avocado. My triglycerides were 95 at my last check-up, the best ever!
@nla4625 That's surprising that your PCP didn't take you off of the statins when you had problems. I see an endocrinologist about my cholesterol and he first tried reducing the dosage and when I still had problems he took me off of it. I see him in December so I'm not sure what he will have me do then.
I'm glad that you are happy with your treatment now. If we find ourselves questioning a doctor, and not in agreement, I think it's time to find a different doctor.
JK
I've spent the last year learning about functional medicine and food as medicine and knew I had become totally out of sync with my conventional PCP. He refused to even discuss taking me off the statin I was on, even though I attributed leg muscle pain and memory problems to it. It took a long search to find a functional medical doctor who believed food is medicine and practiced medicine that way, but I thank my lucky stars every day that I did. When I mentioned at our first videoconference that I wanted to get off my statin, she told me to stop taking it. She tested me for all sorts of vitamin and mineral deficiencies that older people are often missing, did a full thyroid panel (which my former PCP refused to do), and found that I was deficient in D-3 and was overmedicating on the thyroid medication I'd been on for 20 years. These things did not show up on the conventional blood tests my former PCP ordered. We're working to get me off my blood pressure medicine eventually too and changing my diet and sedentary ways. I wasn't willing to quit my statin without medical supervision and would not recommend that. However, if you are unhappy with your doctor, you can probably find one who will help you get off statins.