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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Everything I hear about statins makes me not want to take them. My mother had high cholesterol numbers…. total cholesterol 300+. She lived to be 94 years old with no heart problems or strokes. No statins for me.

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@tracyo

Has anyone had experience taking Nexzilet as an alternative to statin intolerance? It’s fairly new I believe and GP has suggested it (taken in place of statin) to lower cholesterol. My cholesterol is only borderline elevated, but calcium score is high for my age. Thank you

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If you have only borderline cholesterol i dont know why you need to take anything only healthy food . Cholesterol is necessary for everything in the body and even the brain 🧠 does not work without . Are statins good ????

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Thanks for the discussion, reply’s and suggestions. I’ve had such poor care overall which is another whole story but Lipitor was prescribed to me to prevent a stroke, although my cholesterol has never been very earth shattering I subsequently had two strokes because of nurse/medical student/.’doc’’ incompetence.I took it a couple of months, had bloodwork which showed ALKP of 1036! Normal 120! I would never take a statin again! Be careful, stand up for yourselves when the medical community demonstrates its incompetence.

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@thankful

@sueinmn, @karen1945 I have taken Statins now for about 13 years and seemed to have similiar side affects from them which were more related to numbness in my lower leg and feet.
My cardiologist told me that was unlikely contributing to that, but I was convinced it was.
I went to Mayo Clinic down in AZ. for a 2nd opinion for Ejection Fraction issues, but also brought up the statin issue. The Mayo Cardiologist was wonderful and recommended that I try the generic form of Crestor because he has had the best results lowering LDL with it.
My LDL was 82 at that point and he wanted to get it closer to 70. He started me on the 10mg. dose a day whereas in the past I was always placed on the 20mg dose for all other statins.
I had a Lipid profile done 4 momths later and my LDL had dropped to 65. In addition my numbness was mostly all gone as well. I continue on that lower dose and have been able to stay below 70. I have not had any other side affects. Jim@faithful

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@thankfull I am on Crestor also after years of trial @error with others having leg pain Crestor is the only one that doesn't give me muscle pain and has kept my cholesterol ct low altho my triglycerides are still high Any suggestions

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@sueinmn

My PhD Nurse Practitioner of over 20 years is my "General Practitioner" - and my daughter's. Even after referral to a specialist, I go over the results & recommendations with her before I act.

Here is why I am so avidly pursuing an alternative to statins. My total cholesterol panel is good, except my LDL is at the higher end of normal for an "at risk" person. Age, heredity & mild to moderate heart changes and chronic pulmonary issues put me in the risk category for stroke, myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. The cardiologist is quite put off by my refusal of statins, but a single trial years ago, plus watching the side effects in my Mom, siblings and husband has totally put me against them.

I have a note in to my NP about giving the bergamot a try, and which to use. She has agreed with my reluctance to use statins so far, but says we need to find an alternative. Diet & exercise haven't quite done the job.
Sue

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I love bergamot but hadn't yet seen it mentioned in reference to cholesterol. It sounds interesting though. If you try it, please share results.

I also love Earl Grey tea so, just thinking here, one could in theory make a green-tea-based Earl Grey tea and avoid the caffeine from the black tea. Or try lemongrass-and-bergamot tea. Though I'd try the latter with some caution in case they both axtually do lower cholesterol?

Will ask herbalist about this idea and report her comments if any.

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@thankful

@sueinmn, @karen1945 I have taken Statins now for about 13 years and seemed to have similiar side affects from them which were more related to numbness in my lower leg and feet.
My cardiologist told me that was unlikely contributing to that, but I was convinced it was.
I went to Mayo Clinic down in AZ. for a 2nd opinion for Ejection Fraction issues, but also brought up the statin issue. The Mayo Cardiologist was wonderful and recommended that I try the generic form of Crestor because he has had the best results lowering LDL with it.
My LDL was 82 at that point and he wanted to get it closer to 70. He started me on the 10mg. dose a day whereas in the past I was always placed on the 20mg dose for all other statins.
I had a Lipid profile done 4 momths later and my LDL had dropped to 65. In addition my numbness was mostly all gone as well. I continue on that lower dose and have been able to stay below 70. I have not had any other side affects. Jim@faithful

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It's frustrating when some doctors are so dogmatic. Yet alone also wrong. Good news that the new doctor listened and helped and solved a problem you needn't have had in the first place.

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@sueinmn

My PhD Nurse Practitioner of over 20 years is my "General Practitioner" - and my daughter's. Even after referral to a specialist, I go over the results & recommendations with her before I act.

Here is why I am so avidly pursuing an alternative to statins. My total cholesterol panel is good, except my LDL is at the higher end of normal for an "at risk" person. Age, heredity & mild to moderate heart changes and chronic pulmonary issues put me in the risk category for stroke, myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. The cardiologist is quite put off by my refusal of statins, but a single trial years ago, plus watching the side effects in my Mom, siblings and husband has totally put me against them.

I have a note in to my NP about giving the bergamot a try, and which to use. She has agreed with my reluctance to use statins so far, but says we need to find an alternative. Diet & exercise haven't quite done the job.
Sue

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@sueinmn, @karen1945 I have taken Statins now for about 13 years and seemed to have similiar side affects from them which were more related to numbness in my lower leg and feet.
My cardiologist told me that was unlikely contributing to that, but I was convinced it was.
I went to Mayo Clinic down in AZ. for a 2nd opinion for Ejection Fraction issues, but also brought up the statin issue. The Mayo Cardiologist was wonderful and recommended that I try the generic form of Crestor because he has had the best results lowering LDL with it.
My LDL was 82 at that point and he wanted to get it closer to 70. He started me on the 10mg. dose a day whereas in the past I was always placed on the 20mg dose for all other statins.
I had a Lipid profile done 4 momths later and my LDL had dropped to 65. In addition my numbness was mostly all gone as well. I continue on that lower dose and have been able to stay below 70. I have not had any other side affects. Jim@faithful

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I haven't explored them but there are plant sterols that some people take instead of statins. Does anyone have info on plant sterols and any recommendations of good ones? Thanks in advance.

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My cholesterol is always just a little high, but that runs in my family, and nobody has ever had a stroke. I cannot tolerate statins. I think I must have been put on five different ones before I refused to take one again. They gave me pain everywhere, even into my fingers and toes, but the worst part was the effect on thinking and memory. I was a Mayo medical interpreter. I've been retired now for some time, but I was still working the last time I was persuaded to try a statin just once more,

After a week on the statin, it was increasingly difficult to find words in my second language while interpreting. One morning in the language department, I told another interpreter I was scheduled for a colonoscopy, but instead I said a colectomy! In my first appointment that morning, I searched for words embarrassingly. As the patient left the room afterward, I noticed he was forgetting his hat. In his language, I called after him, "Sir, you left your head on the chair!"

I immediately told my supervisor I was in no condition to work, and would come back when I was better. I went home and stopped taking the statin. As usual, the pain went away within two days, but it was two weeks before I trusted my memory enough to go back to interpreting. Since then I've refused to take statins. Instead, I lost a lot of weight and watch my diet carefully.

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@sueinmn

@cantab, @karen1945 & @vic83 - There are a lot of issues with the pharmaceutical companies and how drugs (prescription & over the counter) are promoted.

But, there is an UP side as well - the deep pockets allow research that would never otherwise occur. I know the motives is profit, but my niece (a research nurse specializing in post-stroke recovery) tells me at least 50-100 ideas are discarded for every one that becomes a marketable product. So....?

Also, there are efforts to rein in the freebies and resulting over-prescription. The large clinical/hospital practice where I am a patient only allows pharma reps to approach a specific team in the organization. All literature and samples are given to them for evaluation, if they pass muster, the care team gets them. There are NO freebies - lunches, trips, etc - for the team or any employee. My ortho practice has the same policy. As a result, we are not constantly prescribed newer, "better" & more expensive drugs. As a matter of fact, I often learn about them on Mayo Connect or from others, and ask my docs about them! Some state legislatures have also taken steps to limit the drug (and medical appliance) promos, as have some medical associations.

It pays to be a cautious consumer when new meds are prescribed "Is there something else I can try first? Like physical therapy, diet, exercise or a supplement?" "Why is this better than the old one?" How long has it been around?" Is there a generic alternative?"

I just submitted this question, regarding statins, to my primary when I felt like I was being pushed by a cardiologist who is new to me.

Have any of you asked your care providers for a non-prescription alternative treatment?
Sue

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Don’t forget all the subsidies for research from the federal government.

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