Side effects of statins.

I do have muscle pain which could be a side effect of statins, however, as the statins can prevent heart attack or stroke I think for me it is worth continuing.

It’s good that your GP is thinking for herself and not just doing what a lot of GPs do and just keep prescribing them.

A well regarded British GP who has been against statins for many years is Dr Malcolm Kendrick and he has written books about The Great Cholesterol Con.

They caused dreadful forgetfulness, anxiety, muscle and joint pains within weeks of my Dad going on them. I worked with older people for nearly 20 years and met hundreds of people who they did not suit.

I was advised to go on them about 20 years ago but having done my own research decided not to. I have had no problems whatsoever with heart attacks, strokes etc and I feel fine.

I have mentioned on similar threads that I was put on 10mg of Atorvastatin and was getting regular heavy nosebleeds. It was horrendous. I couldn't figure it out and just happened to look at the leaflet and nosebleeds were listed as a possible side effect. This after visiting my GP regarding the nosebleeds where she said she couldn't see what was causing them.
I stopped taking them and was fine. However, my husband and sister are on 40mg of Atorvastatin with no problems. I think I was just unlucky.

I've been taking statins for many years with no ill effects whatsoever.

I’ve tried taking statins twice and both times I’ve ended up with optical migraines within a short time of starting on them along with brain fog.

I’ve had muscular pain, chronic constipation, migraine and the most hideous crushing pain in my shoulder.
I now take plant sterols, I will never touch another statin.

I've been taking statins for around 12 years now, and to date, have had no side effects. They also appear to be keeping my cholesterol nicely controlled. I know that there is some controversy about statins in general, but I'll stick with them.

Talk to your GP about your concerns annsixty, I was told by the practice pharmacist that Simvastatin should not be taken by over 65s and had my statins changed to Atorvastatin. I have never had any side effects from them or maybe I have and put it down to old age, who knows.

I have been taking statins since 24 years and have recently been changed over to Rosuvastatin.
I don’t have side effects so I feel lucky as they manage the familial cholesterol (and possible risk of stroke).

I’m on statins and suffer terribly with severe debilitating cramp. It can be so bad in thigh or calf, I have been known to rush out of a restaurant etc as suddenly attacked.
My family has a strong history of strokes and heart attacks so I want to continue, but possibly a change of statin might help.

I literally couldn’t get out of bed in the morning after taking statins. Every part of my body ached. It wore off during the day until the bedtime dose when it all started again.

I had never suffered from aches and pains and I still don’t, six years after stopping them.

I don’t have a cholesterol problem, but even if I did I think I’d rather feel well for a few years less.

I won't take Statins - they made my late mother ill, and make me feel so unwell.

I have no heart disease history, my cholesterol is low, so I'll plod on without medicating for it.🙂

I've had no problems with being on statins for several years now. And my cholesterol is well under control.
It seems they suit some people better than others.
I take Atorvastatin. 10mg.

I have been taking statins for 30 years now but stick to a lower dose, despite medical advice,because I find the higher dosage recommended gives me such painful rheumatic type pain it just isn’t worth it for me. I can cope with the lower dose and it does lower my cholesterol to a certain extent. I have tried different versions but the one I am on now is best for me. All my family had high cholesterol and they all died from heart attacks so I don’t see I have much choice. We are all different and we must all judge what suits us, with the help of a good GP , hopefully.

I've been on 20mg of Pravastatin for several years. I started to get a lot of muscular leg pain but my doctor put it down to my bad knee but it's not only on that side. I read recently about this muscular leg pain side effect. I have prescription only co-codamol tablets but I only take them when it's bad as they are very strong and only take one. I will mention this next time I go because I don't want to suddenly stop taking the statins. I don't have any heart problems and non in my family.

I'm on statins and have pains in my ankles and hands,also severe stomach problems. I put it down to being 70. I'd be frightened to stop taking them as mum died of a heart attack aged 67.

I take my statin at night as prescribed but when I get up in a morning my legs are hurting. I tried to make an appointment for next week at my surgery and after 20 questions was told that I can only make an appointment on the day. So now I will have to ring first thing Monday morning and will no doubt be 10th in the queue and by the time it gets to me all the appointments will have gone.

I've been on statins now for about five years, and have cramps, sleep problems but worst of all, after having perfect sight for 69yrs, developed cataracts, which I was told, was a side affect of the statins. Wish I'd been told this by my GP in the first place. Want to stop taking them but have been advised not to. However the cramps and no sleep are driving me mad. Had one cataract done, now waiting for the second one. Should I come off them?

Something that is rarely noted is that there is no evidence of benefit for statins in women! All of the research has been done on men and due to hormonal differences etc, you can’t simply extrapolate the results to women.

I was prescribed statins last year although my cholesterol level was only 5.1 but only took two as I suffered from severe stomach problems. Since then I have modified my diet and cut out high fat food and hope this will remedy the problem.

I think most GP's are pretty clueless about side effects from the array of drugs the prescribe. Also, we are individuals, not text book cases and respond differently. I tried just about every statin on the market and they all made me violently sick with the runs too. Each time I'd dread being a guinea pig for a new one - advised because I have diabetes too, and the docs want us to have a lower than recommended cholesterol level owing to higher risk. Finally was able to tolerate one, Rosuvastatin but only at a very low dose of 5 mgs which I've been taking for 6 years, but as more meds have been added due to age, auto-immune illnesses, etc, I'm keen to ditch the lot. So many side effects now and unable to work out which is causing what.

I can't take Statins and it seems to be a familial thing as one of my family was actually hospitalised after taking them. After trying a few different ones, I refused to taken them as the pain was awful. I'd sooner live a shorter, better quality life thank you. I was eventually prescribed something that isn't a statin but has helped my cholesterol levels. I am happy with that.

I was first prescribed statins 15 years ago but suffered depression (I was on the verge of tears all the time) and muscle pain. My GP tried two further types but still I experienced the same side effects and she referred me to the hospital where I was prescribed Rosuvastatin. I think my GP was more relieved than I was when I went back to her for a repeat prescription as I had not experienced any side effects with it.

If you’d experiencing difficulties with statins I would ask your GP to prescribe a different one, I only got the right one on the fourth attempt. A friend of mine was advised to take statins but didn’t because she’d heard about the side effects. It was only when she suffered a mini stroke that she started on them without any problems.

Stella14

Something that is rarely noted is that there is no evidence of benefit for statins in women! All of the research has been done on men and due to hormonal differences etc, you can’t simply extrapolate the results to women.

That's not true.

openheart.bmj.com/content/9/1/e001900