Statins

[longdistanceclaraclara]

Any one on statins? Husband has been on them for a week and is a grumpy fucking pain in the arse. Is this a standard side effect?

No. I’ve been on them for around 10 months with no side effects that I’m aware of

No side effects like that are recorded or normal.
Maybe he's just a grumpy fuck.

My DH has been on them a few years, more trips to the loo - but no change to personality

On them years. No side effects at all.

My husband's been on them for years and has no side effects at all. My Dad was the same. I think people who don't like being on medication and/or hate being reminded about their actual or potential health problems are more likely to blame medication for issues that are probably unrelated. I see this with my Mum.

My husband has been on a lowish dose for years, with zero side effects.

Was prescribed them years ago. I don’t take them anymore. Never noticed any side effects though.

He does have grumpy fucker tendencies. Complaining lack of sleep. 44 ffs.

My husband was reluctant to go on statins but was finally persuaded by a doctor saying that if they didn't suit him there were different types he could try. So maybe there's an alternative type of statin that would suit your husband better? I'd probably give it more than a week though.

Well sleeplessness is a known side effect. Would make me a bit grumpy tbf, but he should go back to the dr if he's having problems.

Not me but clients of mine had to come off them as they caused horrendous muscle and joint pain and insomnia. Absolutely fine when they stopped taking them but although I've heard of many people suffering similar side effects, the doctors refused to accept they were possible.

Muscle is known and acknowledged side effect BUT in my experience a lot of patients stop statins due to this, even if they had muscle pain before they started statins and still have them when they stop. Needs proper discussion.

DH was put on them in February with a cholesterol level of 6.2; he lasted 1 week on them as was waking up in the middle of the night with stomach pins and felt dreadful. Told GP in July that he wasn’t prepared to take any medication that wasn’t helping him and left him sleeping badly.

He has also been on metformin since the same time and has yet to have any support from the surgery diabetic team, apart from a phone call telling him he “HAS” to go on another drug (despite them having no idea if he fits the criteria to be prescribed it as they’ve not monitored him in 6 months!!) which he has refused to go on and has told them he will be coming off the metformin as soon as his bloods are within “normal” levels

Been on them for 3 years.

Started with Arvostatin but got muscle/joint aches so my GP switched me ot Simvastatin and no side effects whatsoever.

I took them for a few months but by the time I gave up on them I felt as if I was turning to concrete. It was horrible. Never again.

I've been on them for years and have had no side effects whatsoever.

I have osteoarthritis everywhere so when I read they cause joint pain I was really concerned, extra pain I do not need. For a week I did have extra joint pain in my arms in areas that don't usually bother me but after a week, it all settled down. I have no additional pain now.

My dad was super fit and had a heart attack at 42. He recovered but it turns out my extremely high cholesterol is genetic so I'm glad i persevered.

We're you not offered an alternative?

Are you not worried about the increased risk of stroke or heart attack?

Due to familial cholesterol risks, my husband was on simvastatin for years and is now on atorvastatin. He’s never had a single side-effect.

Different people metabolise different medicine in their own unique way... therefore meaning that I might be a poor or ultra rapid metaboliser of statins and they will give me loads of side effects, compared to someone who can metabolise them slower. (I think I got that correct lol 😆)

As far as I know, a pharmacogenetics test will show you how much you might be affected by different drugs. It will help you to get a general idea about the types of medication that you can safely use without having adverse reactions to. I had a pharmacogenetics test after I was injured permanently by an off label antipsychotic prescribed for severe insomnia and anxiety... it showed (of course!) that I shouldn't ever take anything like this type of medication as I'm very sensitive to the side effects. Basically, they aren't safe for me.

I took other steps to improve my health and my cholesterol is normal and has been for years now.

My mum has been on atorvastatin since may. Recent blood tests have shown that they seem to be really affecting her liver so they've told her to half her dose for 4 weeks and then repeat blood tests again as they want to check for hepatitis?? I think that particular statin can cause liver issues although it's rare.