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

My cholesterol has been off the charts since my 30s. Over the years I tried several different statins, and every single time had horrendous side effects, very weak muscles and pains and aches in my legs and would refuse to take them. Now, at age 70, the Cardiologist convinced me to try Pravachol. I have absolutely no side effects whatsoever from it and my numbers are dropping.

Many people can successfully take Atorvastatin and other statins with no side effects. I had to get off one statin, wait a month or two, then try another. There are other LDL lowering drugs available that are not statins. When I started Atorvastatin, it was at a moderate dose. When I started with rosuvastatin, I took the lowest dose, once a week, then gradually increased to the highest level I could tolerate (4X weekly). This 'low and slow' process took 9 months.

@tim1028 Thanks for posting this info on Atorvastatin which I'm on. These statins are awful and not sure if they truly help cholesterol. Had side effects with other statin drugs so no other options for me.

Interesting. I had muscle weakness and fatigue with Atorvastatin and Pravastatin, so had to stop. Rosuvastatin works well for me at a low dose and has dropped my LDL to 60. No side effects;

@bijouxb My cholesterol was around 300 then finally Dr found a statin that has brought my numbers way down without any side effect it is rovustatin or Crestor this is the only one that will work for me and no side effects have you tried others?

My cholesterol has been off the charts since my 30s. Over the years I tried several different statins, and every single time had horrendous side effects, very weak muscles and pains and aches in my legs and would refuse to take them. Now, at age 70, the Cardiologist convinced me to try Pravachol. I have absolutely no side effects whatsoever from it and my numbers are dropping.

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.