Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Do most people experience side effects with statins?

23 replies

irritablehead1 · 12/03/2022 18:31

I might have to take statins and i'm worried about the side effects. How much of it is bad press and how common are side effects?

OP posts:
Bunnyfuller · 14/03/2022 00:14

Mostly media hysteria.

I have been on top dose since 2019 and no side effects.

VimFuego101 · 14/03/2022 00:19

I had a really dry mouth and insomnia. Make sure to drink loads of water.

NannyR · 14/03/2022 00:19

I've taken them daily for over ten years and never had any side effects.

ginislife · 14/03/2022 00:43

I got really tight calf muscles and couldn't run. Stopped when I stopped taking them. I've given up running now so I'm back on them.

FlipFlops4Me · 14/03/2022 16:03

I had side effects to the point where the doc took me off them and I take a very much second best alternative - bezafibrate. With all the various statins I tried my skin went numb. It started with my fingers, crept up my hands and along my arms. I felt I was turning into a plastic person. I couldn't sew, crochet or type and writing wasn't easy.

With the substitute I do have feeling in my hands and am very grateful for that. My cholesterol is higher than I'd like, but it's a trade-off.

Giggorata · 14/03/2022 16:13

I've been taking them for several years now. I have some minor things going on, which I think are from meds, but as I am on a few, it is difficult to say for sure which drug is causing which effect.
Not enough to stop or vary the drugs - yet.

RandomMess · 14/03/2022 16:19

Had a friend that had dreadful side effects came off them after a few days. I have h the same ones no side effects at all 🤷🏽‍♀️

TheVanguardSix · 14/03/2022 16:38

I can't for the life of me remember the side-effects (I was on them for 3 months, two years ago), I just remember the side-effects really had a negative impact on my life.
My artery suddenly tore (very much a crazy, rare fluke thing called a SCAD) and in my case, caused a heart attack and cardiac arrest. So, protocol says that after ANY heart attack, you go on statins, even though my cholesterol going into that heart attack was low. So, there I was. On statins for a bit.

What's your cholesterol, OP? I'm wondering if statins are really necessary.

TheVanguardSix · 14/03/2022 16:39

With all the various statins I tried my skin went numb. It started with my fingers, crept up my hands and along my arms. I felt I was turning into a plastic person. I couldn't sew, crochet or type and writing wasn't easy.

YES! You've brought it all back. I had this as well. Oh it was awful. And I had the leg cramps, dry mouth, insomnia.

VariationsonaTheme · 14/03/2022 16:44

My dad went from being the most chilled, laidback bloke ever, to suicidal with severe clinical depression after starting statins. Not a chance in hell I’ll ever take them.

OnceAgainWithFeeling · 14/03/2022 16:56

They were hideous for my dad. The doctor said the benefits of taking them weren’t worth the impact they were having on him and told him to stop.

Akite · 14/03/2022 17:02

I also might have to take statins (waiting to discuss with doc), I'm interested to find out what your cholesterol is and what you've been told so far if you don't mind sharing?
I'm anxious about side effects but have a strong family history of heart disease and high cholesterol that seems to be genetically predisposed.

DoWhatYouLike · 14/03/2022 18:15

I'm on Atorvastatin and haven't had any side effects. My husband was on the same thing and kept having a cough. He stopped taking them, the cough went.

LesLavandes · 14/03/2022 18:29

I haven't noticed any side effects

Theblacksheepandme · 14/03/2022 18:43

I have no side effects.

nearlyspringyay · 14/03/2022 20:03

My mum and step dad have no side effects

MountainDweller · 14/03/2022 23:50

My GP is trying not to put me on them as she says it will be tough. I'm on 13 other medications though, so interactions are likely!

StrawberryPot · 14/03/2022 23:53

DH has been taking them for about 20 years. No issues.

Mimijamroll · 15/03/2022 11:11

Dad has grumbled in the past about them causing localised itching.

However I suspect they've done a lot more good in terms of maintaining his health over the years, so worth it.

Original poster
irritablehead1 · 16/03/2022 21:19

Thanks all. Sorry for delay in checking in.

My cholesterol is a bit above the high end of the range. My overall profile - I can't remember what tests the GP did, but it's looking at lots of different factors - was excellent and I was very low risk.

My issue is not diet - I'm healthy and exercise a lot - it's familial high cholesterol. I could make drastic changes to an already good diet and would probably not make any difference.

I've assumed I'll be fine and won't have to take statins but had a panic the other day and thought, perhaps it's in the post. And I hate taking any medication, especially that with lots of negative press around side effects

OP posts:
CountessOfSponheim · 16/03/2022 21:24

I have a dry mouth and a slightly stuffy nose, but that's all and those are very livable-with. It took me a while to realise that they WERE side-effects.

Clarabe1 · 16/03/2022 21:27

My mum cannot tolerate them, she gets every side effect going but her sister has no side effects at all. I don’t think you will know until you try them because everyone is different.

monkeycat · 16/03/2022 21:32

I've taken them for the last 2 years for familial high cholesterol and haven't noticed any side effects.

They have been extremely effective at reducing my cholesterol.

You probably just need to give them a try and keep a note of any negative reaction you may have so that you can explore other options if need be.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page