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Post by MartinT on Aug 19, 2017 17:59:40 GMT
I've just taken myself off the second set of statins I've been prescribed. I'm diabetic and my consultant tells me that they try to put all diabetics onto statins to reduce their cholesterol levels and therefore the risk of heart disease. I don't have high cholesterol but I've gone with it twice now and have ended up questioning why I should give them any more attention.
The first lot were simvastatin. After a week of terrible muscle ache and sleepless nights, I took myself off them and told the consultant that I'd rather die younger than be on them for another day. He persuaded me to try the second drug, atorvastatin.
This spawn of the devil has made me so lacking in energy levels that I could hardly walk for 10 minutes without becoming breathless and, eventually, doubled over and unable to continue. So bad was I up to a week ago that I really thought I had something seriously wrong with my diabetes control and I was on the way out. Remembering my lesson from the first lot, I took myself off them four days ago. I'm already feeling a lot better and got through today without feeling like I'm at death's door.
So, what has anyone else on these drugs found? I'm going to tell my consultant 'thank you but no'.
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Post by tim1750 on Aug 19, 2017 18:11:36 GMT
I don't blame you Martin I to am diabetic and on statins but don't seem to have any problems.
I have a close friend living in Wales that take statins and they make him feel sick all the time (but he likes the weight loss he's getting)suss that out.
I'm type 2 and take the same statins you take (about 6 years now )I think it's luck of the draw but if my cholesterol was low I wouldn't take them either
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 19, 2017 18:22:42 GMT
Sounds like exactly the right move. Side effects like that are horrendous
I heard about statins a few years ago and they were the wonder drug. Thought we would all end up on them
In the past year or so statins seems to have become not so good at all. Thanks big pharma.
Glad to say I like my GP and get on well with him. I question him thoroughly whatever he recommends and I think he appreciates it.
Learned my lesson with varicose veins op a few years ago.
The specialists focus is doing the op. Waste of time and money.
I have mild asthma and have an inhaler. Don't use it.
Too much medical stuff is the docs and the industry only slightly ahead of us all. Sometimes they are taking a stab in the dark.
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Post by MartinT on Aug 19, 2017 18:35:04 GMT
Type 2 here, on insulin (which was the best move I've made and far better than metformin and gliclazide). My consultant explains that insulin is natural so doesn't count as a drug in that it's just what your pancreas is supposed to produce.
So, no statins for me. I feel so much better for it!
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Post by Rexton on Aug 19, 2017 20:19:16 GMT
Statins mess around with lipo-proteins and if you have normal cholesterol why bother chucking you on a statin when you seem to be regulating your levels nicely. It's another example of Polypharmacy gone bonkers and who know's the pharmacodynamics of statins on your insulin medications?
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 19, 2017 20:34:50 GMT
Yes, the mix of different drugs ups the ante and risks
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Post by pinkie on Aug 20, 2017 11:30:16 GMT
There is a great deal of controversy surrounding statins, and more and more mainstream thinking is coming round to not using them. I have high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and took statins for a while. Once this bloody ear problem clears up, and I can get a clear view of effect and side effect I am due to start some calcium channel blockers to reduce blood pressure
But really, I'd rather lose 2 stone (always tomorrow) and exercise more (better progress here) and stay off the drugs (My blood pressure is only slightly raised and tends to fluctuate to normal levels)
My GP agreed with my decision not to take statins, although DQ's recent news (one in a long line I know) gave me pause for thought again. A leading Harley Street cardiologist expressed his reservations about the merits of using statins, or even obsessing over cholesterol
"Yes, it may, in some circumstances, be an indicator of heart disease, but there is no evidence of a causal link. In my view, high total blood cholesterol or high LDL levels no more cause heart attacks than paramedics cause car crashes, even though they are present at the scene."
So I am off the statins for now. Aiming at drinking less, eating less sugar, exercising more and losing weight.
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Post by Slinger on Aug 20, 2017 14:01:52 GMT
I'm on Simvastatin. The biggest downside to me personally is not being able to eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice. I'm on another 7 prescribed drugs (that's not counting pain-killers) and a quarterly B12 injection for various things and haven't had any other complications or apparent bad interactions. I love(d) grapefruit though. More info |
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Post by MartinT on Aug 20, 2017 14:41:46 GMT
Vitamin B12 methylcobalamin (not the more common type) was my absolute saving to help neuropathy go away. Before that, I couldn't sleep my legs hurt so badly. This was after chemotherapy.
I still take B12. It's a wonderful vitamin.
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Post by SteveC on Aug 20, 2017 15:42:52 GMT
Type 2 here, on insulin (which was the best move I've made and far better than metformin and gliclazide). My consultant explains that insulin is natural so doesn't count as a drug in that it's just what your pancreas is supposed to produce. So, no statins for me. I feel so much better for it! Martin Did you have any issues with DVLC and your Driving Licence as a result of going on to Insulin for Diabetes control? I take Metformin for Type 2, coupled with Perindopryl (4mg) daily, which my GP prescribed me for high blood pressure/cholesterol. At my 6 monthly Diabetes Clinics, my cholesterol level is around 4.0 and I only just register on their chart for blood sugar, meaning that my Diabetes is well controlled. My blood pressure is always textbook, at around 120 over 80. My GP has never recommended that I take statins. |
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Post by MartinT on Aug 20, 2017 16:17:30 GMT
Steve, you have to declare being type 2 on insulin to the DVLA. After that, you must renew your driving licence every 3 years and your doctor has to sign the paperwork.
It's not great, but the alternative would be going back to metformin and I'm not doing that.
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Post by SteveC on Aug 20, 2017 16:33:10 GMT
Martin,
I'm sure I read that if you take Insulin, you must refrain from continually tinkering with the performance of your car and stop buying expensive add on bits for your engine and exhaust!
Of course, if you go back to driving a BMW like us normal folks, you won't have a problem!
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Post by MartinT on Aug 20, 2017 16:44:11 GMT
Hah! Nooooooooo, I don't think that's right. I read somewhere that I must achieve further performance gains  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2017 21:48:30 GMT
I'm lucky to not have been given statins yet, however as my heart condition progresses along its journey there is a good chance I will, so I'll keep your collective experiences in mind.
However, I do find a lot of the medication I take has quite annoying side effects, one drug I take makes me have quite lucid dreams, whilst another causes untold digestive issues, which can be both painful and embarressing.
Generally where possible I try to find more natural drugs, and I think pharmaceutical companies have far too much power for my liking.
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Post by MartinT on Aug 21, 2017 6:17:24 GMT
That's the best philosophy, Paul. It's also a good thing to self-analyse as some drugs can take their time to show any side-effects. Try never to take more than one new drug at a time.
I take two excellent non-prescribed drugs:
Vitamin B12 Methylcobalamin (reduces painful neuropathy to zero)
NADH Coenzyme 1 (gives me energy)
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2017 8:42:39 GMT
I take a number of Homeopathic remedies which help a lot with the heartburn I get, which is a side effect of the heart condition, as opposed to the medication. Additionally, one of their remedies helps with the lucid dreams.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2017 8:46:29 GMT
Hello Martin
gliclazide and Metformin for me did not work at all, same issues as yourself, statin's no problem though I have a low cholesterol rate anyway 3.5. Also long term use of gliclazide is not encouraged I believe.
I went over to slow release metformin cured all the issues.
However every one is different and what may work for one may not for the other.
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 21, 2017 9:12:42 GMT
Quite.
What is a wonder drug for some doesn't work for others or even causes problems.
Not only that your own body can change.
Two drugs that used to work well for me both caused me to be violently ill.
What I found amazing was reading a drug only has to work in around, don't quote me, 52% of patients to be allowed onto the market .
So half don't get any benefit or if unlucky drop dead.
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Post by kcc4323 on Aug 21, 2017 14:05:23 GMT
I do not take statins, but have worked with many people who do. One thing to note about statins is that they can lower CoQ10 levels. Our body makes CoQ10 to help us produce energy, which may be why those on statins sometimes have issues with energy and muscle pain. Even if you don't have side effects from your statin, it's a good idea to replenish low CoQ10 levels by supplementing with CoQ10.
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Post by MartinT on Aug 21, 2017 16:40:34 GMT
Makes sense and could have been the issue in my case. The change was dramatic.
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