Statins

Sunday Greetings from the USA. There is a test you can get here that will determine your true health risks If you get diagnosed with high cholesterol. Called a calcium scoring program or Coronary Artery Calcium Score Test. See if they have that over there. I get diagnosed with high cholesterol a lot because I don't eat a lot of cholesterol and when you don't eat cholesterol i'm told your body will manufacture it. So I refused to take statins, had this test done and found out that I have a zero chance of any heart problems in the next 10 years and I am 72. It made a difference (and it shut my doctor up about Rx statins!)!.

He should just say he doesn’t want them .Ghey are costing the Tax payer money if just putting in the bin …And people man about what Young people do and don’t do 😫

I've just bought Dr James le Fanu's book 'Too Many Pills' on Amazon. I'll report back...

I hope he's only binning the paper prescription and not the actual drugs as they are expensive. I'd encourage him to tell his GP he's not going to take them. Personally I'd give them a try before deciding and wonder if he has done so and had side effects? What are his reasons?

I have been taking statins for 20+ years and my cholesterol has stayed low. There are many manufacturers of statins, if he has problems with one he can ask for a different make. My first one gave me weird nightmares. The one I am on now Atorvastatin has no side effects.

NHS is in dire state because the model is no longer fit for purpose. Taking or not taking our medication will not make a blind bit of difference. But it’s safer to hide behind the myths than face the reality. In its present format, structure and funding it has no chance of surviving and delivering what we expect it to.

Maybe 10 years ago I discussed with my GP whether or not I should take statins, based on my age and family history. We
agreed they were not necessary. Five years ago I had a TIA and now take 80mg of statin a day. Fortunately they have no side effects for me but I do wonder if I would have had the TIA if I'd been taking 20mg 10 years ago.

And we wonder why the NHS is in such a mess with money….

At our Surgery, repeat prescriptions are ordered either online or by submitting the paper prescription issued by the pharmacy with the medication - the Surgery then send the request on to our pharmacy. If anyone doesn't want their prescription they just don't order them. Throwing away medication is another nail in the coffin of the NHS.

Kazz94 why do you need to ask if what your partner is doing is wrong ? Yes on several counts.
He is being dishonest, lying to the GP. He is also wasting scarce NHS resources, taking GP time and wasting medication.
If he were to have a heart attack because of his actions would he take treatment ? I’m sure he would. He is selfish as well as a lier. Why not be a man, tell the GP that he doesn’t want the medication ? Because he is a coward too !

kazz94

Anyone on here scared to refuse statins amid pressure from their Gp and getting regular prescriptions and binning them? My partner just told me he does this and I want to know if this is widespread? I have refused them for a multitude of reasons. Is what my partner doing wrong? My gut says yes but would be good to hear opinions

Are you serious? of course it will show up in the blood test and they will give him a higher dose again and again. How stupid is this. Either take them or decline them, is he like that about everything. Tell him to man up.

I take a 5mg tablet and in 4 months my cholesterol dropped from 8.6 to 6.5, so getting there. I have the familial type. I don’t see how he can get away with not telling the GP as he will be expected to have a blood test at some point and then what? What is his family history and risk level. I sometimes think Drs should tell people they can’t have statins as there would then be a public outcry.

Are statins sometimes recommended automatically at the age of 80. A doctor greeted me saying I had a 33.3% chance of a heart attack at my age and it would probably be a good idea to start on statins. In the end I agreed to this even though I was doubtful about it.

I don't know why your partner is doing this, but as you have refused statins why not suggest you both start looking at different ways to lower your cholesterol? Tell him he has to be honest with his GP before you can start and ask him to get a test. Then change your diet and add the anti-cholesterol drinks. I've done this and lowered my cholesterol level. Encourage him by telling him how great it will be when he can go back and tell his GP he has done it. Good luck

I’d like to point out that my GP told me that not everyone can lower their cholesterol with diet. She said that it’s best to control it with diet but if that doesn’t work statins are the best option. This was nearly 2 years ago and I’ve been taking them successfully since. My cholesterol has come down to an acceptable level. I would never have accepted the prescription if I hadn’t intended to take them. That is irresponsible and disrespectful.

kazz94

Anyone on here scared to refuse statins amid pressure from their Gp and getting regular prescriptions and binning them? My partner just told me he does this and I want to know if this is widespread? I have refused them for a multitude of reasons. Is what my partner doing wrong? My gut says yes but would be good to hear opinions

What peculiar behaviour! Apart from the waste of NHS resources, where did this fear of statins come from? There are loads of different brands, if one doesn't suit, another one might.

I wonder how many more people do this? Such A waste of NHS resources.

Listen to Dr Aseem Malhotra on statins, he's on Youtube. I understand your husband's fears. Some doctors are open, others do not like their dogmas to be disagreed with (and please remember that the drug companies fund their training, as I understand it, if you dig deep into where the money comes from, to universities etc - and certainly they pay for some wonderful holidays and perks) When we are ill we are vulnerable and no-one wants to have a GP that's not 100% on their side. I have even heard of some doctors saying they will not help people who do not 'do as they are told'. I don't think it's a matter of 'growing a pair' as one poster said. This is how to manage life as well as we can. Personally I would never touch statins, or even have my cholesterol assessed. I take my BP at home and if that were high I would turn to the ayurvedic remedy, moktavati, and see how that goes. The whole good/bad cholesterol thing is also up for debate. Good luck, and good health!

A bit rude , Mabon 1. !!!

Missed a word - should SEE -

Maybe your husband should the London based cardiologist that my husband saw a few months ago- my husband had refused to continue with statins because of various side effects - well - one appointment with Chris Baker was enough - absolutely firm - gimlet eyes - raw truth - he went back on a different sort and has been taking them like lamb! 🤗🤗😂😂

After my last blood test I got a fairly urgent message from the surgery saying they NEEDED to see me asap. I was seen the same day - expecting awful news. What they wanted was to ask why I wasn’t taking statins. I asked if my blood test tesults showed that I needed statins to control something . Well … No but most people in their 70s have been on them for years. I asked my pharmacist why statins were being pushed onto people and he told me that the drug companies PAY GPs a dividend for high numbers of patients on repeat prescriptions for all sorts of stuff. Statins are a big earner for doctors. I don’t take them because I don’t need them although , as the doctor admitted, they’re fairly harmless.

My cholesterol level was too high I was put on stating which didn't gave me muscle pain and cramps in my legs ....my GP referred my notes to a specialist Lipid Clinic who advised a different statin im on only 5mg per day my cholestorol has come down to a healthy level (I do eat a healthy diet always have)
but why would I put myself at greater risk of a stroke or heart attack .
Your husband needs to talk to his GP get the facts and if he's not happy tell him he doesn't want to take them not waste precious NHS time and money .

Does he know how much it costs to write a prescription? Throwing them away is a total waste of NHS services, that man is a really stupid coward who cannot face up to telling his GP the truth. I've been taking statins for over 30 years, my family has a background of sudden death from cardiac arrest at a young age. I have reached the grand old age of 82

It's best to own up I think. Such a waste to bin them. It's your body, your choice not to take them. So just tell the surgery.