Statins and Depression

[InAStatinState]

Anyone else had a bad experience with a statin?

I do have depression and anxiety, was in a bad way last year and had to increase my Mirtazapine dose but have been doing ok the last few months. My cholesterol and triglycerides are sky high and doc wanted me to try a statin. Well, with the first pill I felt very odd, depersonalisation, strange, depressed and anxious, shaking, so, so down and irritable. I felt like I was sent right back to the dark place of last year. I only took a few days and then stopped the statin, it has taken me a week to feel "right" again.

I tried a statin years ago and thought it was interfering then with the Mirtazapine but on reading online statins can block serotonin pathways or something.

It was awful. I have not contacted my doc yet but I am never trying another statin again so not sure if I will just have to live with the high cholesterol

Has anyone else had this problem with statins?

I haven’t but I have bipolar and since having olazapine have high cholesterol. Have been considering statins but don’t want to if they can impact depression. I’ve never gone very low and I’m really keen to avoid that if possible. Has your GP got a pharmacist they can consult with. I’ve found out that pharmacists know a lot more about drug interactions than doctors - consultants or GPs since I was recently diagnosed.

Good luck getting it all sorted. I’m glad to hear you’re starting to feel a little better.

I’m about to start on statins and I am on citalopram and Quetiapine at the moment. I’m feeling suicidal already so I’m scared about feeling even worse on the statins. I’d be interested to hear if anyone else has had the same experience as the OP?

I haven’t started statins yet. I’m monitoring and having some success after introducing psyllium, flax and oats every morning. My gran had vascular dementia so I want to stay on top of it.
I am currently really in the shit with menopausal depression and didn’t know statins could have this effect so this was helpful to read. Sorry you’re going through it.

There are other drugs to lower cholesterol, statins aren’t the only option. There’s one called ezetimibe and another called bempedoic acid. No idea how they might interact with anti depressants, but might be worth looking into.

Hope you find a way forward.