Statins wonder drug or dangerous?

[nickiredcar]

So much contradictory information on them. My dad has been advised to start taking them as his cholesterol is high but so much different information online.

Anyone looked into it for their own family?

My dad (85) developed leg cramps and started hallucinating while he was on them.

He no longer takes them.

Leg cramps is a somewhat common side effect, MIL has recently had this start up and has come off the statins.

They are a wonder drug for reducing cholesterol, which is potentially fatal. Doesn't surprise me at all that there are other biological results of such an effective drug. It's all tradeoffs, innit.

I only have second hand experience: if they’ve been prescribed then presumably his gp thinks they will benefit him. Some people do have side effects, but others don’t. What are you concerned about?

Definitely have side effects. My dad got lots of hip pain so couldn't walk far but changed to a different one and much better now.
It's a case of what is worse though potentially fatally high cholesterol or side effects??

My siblings and I, and my dad take them as we have familial hypercholesterolaemia in the family. We've taken them for years and had no side effects at all.

I'm taking them not because of high cholesterol (mine's fine) but because I have developed cardiomyopathy and severe heart failure.
I haven't had any side effects whatever.

I was on statins, not now, my sister had awful muscle pains, and i had too,
When i talked to my local chemist,she said she would never take statins, that was good enough for me to come off and stay off, but your diet can help you control your cholesterol
I think Drs are told to give you statins whther your choleterol is high or not, mine wasnt so why was i given them, it was said at one time everyone over 40 should be taking them

My oh had been on them for about 2.5 years. Not cholesterol related but because he has developed heart problems. He doesn't have any side effects.

My concern is the reports saying high cholesterol and heart issues is a myth. That cholesterol is a bodies natural defensive measure and trying to lower it could make things woorse.

Muscle pain is most common side effect but you know, better than a stroke or heart attack. I didn’t think they should be blanket prescribed to everyone but Sometimes it does take time to find the correct dose/type/brand to suit you, this need to be managed carefully by a Dr.

If you have high cholesterol the lower you can reduce it the better in terms of your cardiac outcomes.

This American article is an interesting read:drhyman.com/blog/2012/01/19/why-women-should-stop-their-cholesterol-lowering-medication/, it explains better than I can the myth of high cholesterol.
I'm 71, and was prescribed simvastatin 10 years ago, when my GP felt that my cholesterol was higher than the NICE recommendations. Within a week, I had severe muscle pain, and decided to stop taking them after doing a bit of research.
While statins have a part to play in someone who has already had a heart event, I feel strongly that they shouldn't be prescribed for normal, healthy people whose cholesterol levels are higher than the arbitrary figure set by NICE.
It should be remembered that Big Pharma has a vested interest in statins, there is an awful lot of money to be made!

This is an American article that explains the myth of high cholesterol better than I can : drhyman.com/blog/2012/01/19/why-women-should-stop-their-cholesterol-lowering-medication/.
While statins have a place for those who have already had a cardiac event, it's my belief that they shouldn't be prescribed for normal, healthy people.
I'm 71, and was prescribed simvastatin when my cholesterol level was a bit higher than the NICE recommended level (which is an arbitrary figure). I had severe muscle pain within a week, and after doing some research, stopped taking them.
It should be remembered that Big Pharma has a vested interest in the statin market - lots of money to be made, and GPs were incentivised to prescribe them.
The real culprit is sugar - it is sugar that causes damage to blood vessels, and cholesterol is the bodies' defence mechanism to repair the damage.

Another article by the esteemed cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra whom I have a lot of time for: www.bewell.com/blog/dr-aseem-malhotra-cholesterol-heart-disease