Statins

If you think it is an emergency can you see your GP the same day? He/she may want to do a blood test to check liver/kidney function and how the statins are affecting it.
My SIL was prescribed a much higher dose than she was on by the practice nurse! and thought she was having a stroke in the middle of the night after taking them.
DH's cholesterol is normal but he was asked by the GP if he was considering statins; he said 'no'. My consultant thinks that there is much pressure on doctors worldwide by the drugs companies to prescribe them.

Try reading The Great Cholesterol Con by Dr Malcolm Kendrick - might change your whole perspective on taking statins at all.

If you think that Statins might be causing your side effects then it is sensible to come off them for 2 weeks and then you will know! You can then tell your GP the results. Start a little diary, a small note book and write down how you feel.
You'll then see in black and white if you are still suffering the same in which case it was not the statins.
Statins work over many months they are not life saving drugs so you can stop them any time.

Sorry to hear that Harrigran , hope you are ok now x

Probably a good idea f77ms. I had similar symptoms but mine was bowel cancer and not caused by the drugs.

Harrigran thanks for your reply , just wanted to say that the stomach problems are only since taking the statins . Before then I had never had any problems related to nausea or stomach pain . I have decided to come off them until I have seen the Doc xx

I wasn't told either way - but I have colitis and i am wary of irritating my insides!

Certain statins work better when taken with a meal. Others work best when they’re taken at night. Depends which ones you're on.

Statins should not be taken with food, they should be taken at the end of the day when you are finished eating and drinking. Not taking statins for a few days will not make a great deal of difference, I have been off mine since January because of surgery and other drugs.
I think your symptoms are more likely to be related to your stomach problems.

Thanks very much for all the comments , I feel a bit better about stopping them until I see the doc . I went on line to look up side effects just before and was surprised to see that nosebleeds are also one which explains the week long nose bleed I had ! I also have recently developed tinnitus which is driving me potty and that is also a SE of statins , I will speak to the GP to see if there are any others I could try x

I was very reluctant to start on statins but so far have no ill effects....touch wood, I suppose. About 5 weeks now. I do always take them with food.

f77ms - statins work through the liver, working on the blood that passes through. And the liver has a big part in digestion, so that could be why you're feeling sick etc.
As others have said, definitely go back to your doctor. There are many different types of statins and another one might suit you better.

We can get a telephone appointment here which perhaps would help?
I took statins (after being "lectured" by doctor SIL along with DH and his parents) after being told they're so cheap and so good.
Well, I did as I was told and suffered awful shoulder pain which woke me in the night (on the rare occasions I sleep!) so after mentioning it to my doc he said stop taking them.
Not sure if he should have prescribed a different one.
I think I wouldn't take them for the duration f77ms but I don't know if any side effects stop that quickly.

I don't think there'd be any harm in coming off the statins for the duration of your holiday, f77ms. My DH did so to see if they were causing his muscle weakness - his GP said it was fine to give it a go. A lot of people are very sceptical about the benefits of statins anyway.

If I were you I would go to see your pharmacist for advice.

I have tried two different statins and the side effects were awful so I don't take them now.

I don't know if your GP practice is like mine but you can ask to speak to a doctor on the phone. They ring you back the same day, usually the same morning.