My GP wants me to start taking statins even though my cholesterol is 4.3mmol/l (167mg/dl)...

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Permalink Reply by microwave on February 18, 2009 at 9:08am

Is that your total cholesterol? What is your HDL,LDL and triglyserides?

DM is a big risk factor in coronary artery disease, I think he is right.

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Permalink Reply by iroseland on February 18, 2009 at 9:46am

no way.. .


if you are maintaining good numbers already you only really gain the side effects of being on statins by taking them.

I would argue with him, because "I told you so should never be an answer"

Ivan!

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Permalink Reply by Roman on February 18, 2009 at 9:52am

From what I understand, statins are extremely low risk and have a large benefit for people already at risk for artery disease (i.e. us diabetics). Many physicians joke about statins, saying they should even be in the drinking water. Even when your cholesterol is in the normal range, your risk goes up as your cholesterol goes up, so lowering it even more can't hurt.

-Roman

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Permalink Reply by Dave   _ on February 18, 2009 at 11:40am

you are wrong, and I'm one patient to prove it. I had to discontinue usage due to liver damage, which is an all-too common issue with statins. You might want to read up on the subject before making pushing your incorrect views on the subject. :)

I spent more than 7 months battling liver issues due to taking Pravachol. The idiot doctors thought the liver issues weren't due to the statin but I proved them wrong quite easily. I went off them twice, my liver numbers improved, went back on the Pravachol (1/2 dosage), only to see the numbers go way over the lab limits. Then my chol number hit 208, so my endo made a last ditch effort to get me back on a statin. This time, he switched me to Simvastatin. My liver numbers are fine, after 3.5 weeks of taking a low dosage (every other day, 10 MG pills).


Another issue with statins is muscle weakness. There are other issues as well. Do your research, Roman.,


TO THE OP: I strongly suggest you not take statins unless your numbers are over the lab limits. Drugs are NOT without their own issues.

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Permalink Reply by Roman on February 18, 2009 at 2:00pm

Dave,

The issue with muscle weakness and joint pain that you mention does occur, but is relatively benign and can be corrected for by changing the prescribed statin, reference here: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/538448

As for your liver disease, this is also relatively rare although it can be very debilitating. I'm not sure when you were first prescribed statins, but doctors know to test for liver enzymes soon after prescribing to test for any rise in liver enzymes that could indicate pathology.Just like in your case, a switch to a different statin helps alleviate the problem.

Statins can also cause problems in pregnant women because it robs cholesterol from enzymes that need it to synthesize developmental factors. This depends a lot on the cholesterol level that the person who is on statins is maintaining.

The last problem I've heard of with statins is neuropathy which should be checked for during any doctor's visit and the statin can be changed.

The risk of these problems occuring increases with quantity of statin given. Because she has a normal cholesterol level to begin with, her doctor would likely prescribe a low dose.

I assume that the physician explained the common side effects and told Sam to contact them if there were any issues. Statins are one of the most prescribed classes of drugs and there is a lot of health data available to back up their efficacy and value, especially to diabetics who should take any steps they can to lower heart risk. Its unfortunate you had a bad experience, but lets not generalize that the unlikely will happen to everyone, and lets not insult other people's intelligence; I wouldn't write a post with information synthesized from my own imagination.

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Permalink Reply by Dave   _ on February 18, 2009 at 5:22pm

I agree with much of what u wrote, but I'd prefer if you not put words in my mouth, in the process. I never claimed that liver damage will happen to "everyone" as you wrote. Your imagination wasn't at issue here, either. :) Only your words, which glossed over the very real possibility of side effects. Fact. Not insult.

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan on February 18, 2009 at 1:09pm

My cholesterol levels are very low -- below 100 (that's the total number), and that is with the help of statins. My endocrinologist, gp and cardiologist all recommend that I keep the cholesterol as low as possible, well below the numbers recommended for people not otherwise at risk for cardiovascular problems.

I've been on statins for 8 years, without any adverse effects (yet). I did not have high cholesterol before the statins, and I have only gotten better with them.

So long as you do not have liver problems and are otherwise being monitored, I would go along with the recommendations from your GP, subject to your endo concurring.

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Permalink Reply by Dave   _ on February 18, 2009 at 1:49pm

I had no liver issues for more than 4 years on statins. That's part of the reason why the docs didn't think my recent issues with bad liver test results were due to statins. Thankfully, I'm sometimes smarter than the doctors and proceeded to prove them wrong, for MY BENEFIT. :) Just because a drug seems harmless for a few months or years, does NOT mean it can't induce organ damage (or other negative consequences) at a later date.

WHat I'm trying to get through to you all here is: DON'T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS that can impact your health.

Fortunately for me, I'm quite adept at problem solving, so I took over when three doctors (GP, endo, gastro) couldn't provide answers to the high liver results that made sense to me. Had I simply gone along with their narrow-mindedness, I'd be in a world of hurt by now.

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Holko on February 18, 2009 at 5:26pm

Dear Dave.

What kind of liver tests should one have? I am taking 20 mg of a generic simvastating.

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Permalink Reply by Dave   _ on February 18, 2009 at 6:53pm

Be sure to have a hepatic panel test (it's a group of tests which measure various liver functions). "Comprehensive Metabolic panel" will include the hepatic panel (except for direct bilirubin test). Any endo worth his/her salt will schedule diabetics for this test periodically.

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Holko on February 18, 2009 at 9:33pm

Thanks Dave.

Hope the same terminology is used in Canada. Dont know much about livers. Had some problem when I was 12 not sure what. I can't survive metformin for more than 3 weeks think the liver does not like it but have no objective data. Again I am not sure you want objective data for liver damage. My friend Cox said you can live with diabetes but he said you cant live without a liver.

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Permalink Reply by Dave   _ on February 19, 2009 at 9:47am

"My friend Cox said you can live with diabetes but he said you cant live without a liver."

LOL! I said the exact thing, verbatim, to my endo when he wanted me back on statins. It's a sad fact that often times, "cures" are worse than the disease. AAMOF, just consider insulin for a moment: it can either keep you alive for a number of years, OR it can take you down in a matter of minutes/hours, if one gets a far higher dose than is needed at the moment. Like I wrote earlier, we all need to STAY INFORMED. Get follow-up blood tests for any medication that requires such monitoring,.

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