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Statin alternatives
Due to a 70% blockage in my LAD I had 2 stents inserted. I had no symptoms. I was put on Rosuvastatin and after a year of 5 mg was trying to increase. My statin levels were not at the level the cardio wanted. BUT they wanted me at the level as if I had had a heart attack. When trying to increase I went to feeling a few side effects to becoming a person who thought twice to climbing stairs and working out due to hip, back and leg pain. Foggy brain a bit too. Rosuvastatin was my third try of a different statin. I had border line high cholesterol before statins. So my question is, has anyone who has not had a heart attack but has stents just gone without a statin. I am sure my cardio will treat me like I am crazy to not take them, but what is worse, sitting around because you hurt or being active and happy.
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How do you think you got a 70% blockage to begin with? What do you think is going to happen if you stop taking statins? I'll tell you what will happen: you will get another blockage, in a different place. You won't be "active and happy", in fact, you'll end up getting yet another stent, or worse, bypass surgery. Stopping the statin is a terrible idea .
Talk to your doctor about using a combination of 10mg rosuvastatin and 10mg ezetimibe. Adding ezetimibe has a better effect on LDL than does increasing the statin dosage.
Also look into CoQ10 supplements - it may help with muscle pain. It's worth a try.
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2 ReactionsTrust me i hear you. Unfortunately i am allergic to ezetimibe and the Q10 did nothing.
So do i sit around or stay extremely active which is good for my brain and heart. That is why i have written this piece. It is a real dilemma.
Being active is not enough. Your blockages were severe enough to warrant stents. What is your Lp(a) and LDL? If those are high, you could be running marathons and it won't prevent trouble. What about Repatha? You need to discuss all this with your doctor.
@swilkins1974, I am sorry you are finding out how difficult it can be to figure out how to manage your coronary artery disease. Straightforward answers are difficult to find.
I have been trying to manage high cholesterol since my mid-20’s. I say “trying” because I believe I have tried every drug and even aphaeresis, and it has been only recently that it has been controlled level. I am taking a couple medications currently that I previously had problems with, ones that I had said I would never take again.
My encouragement is to continue talking to your doctor and asking questions. Cholesterol is just one risk factor and rosuvastatin that you take, as an example does more than just treat cholesterol. If I am correct your side effects started after increasing your dose. You could go back to the original dose you were taking and consider adding another medication to help. You also mention an ezetimibe allergy. I had a problem taking ezetimibe. Now I take 1/2 pill. After being off of it and honestly, pretty apprehensive about trying again…I started twice a week and worked up to daily. I have learned that taking a full tablet doesn’t help much more than taking 1/2.
The latest episode of Mayo Clinic Cardiology’s continuing medical education podcast series may be fantastic for you to listen to. It fits in with your question and discussion with @njx58. The audio is short (11 minutes), addresses questions you have, and may be good information to help have more conversation with your doctor. You’ll need to scroll down the page and find the September 16, 2025 episode.
- Mayo Clinic Statin Myopathy: https://cveducation.mayo.edu/store/pages/podcasts
(Teaser) Let me know if you draw a stick person! 😀
The more little things you continue to adopt, the better. In the meantime, are you staying active eating healthy?