Statins

[hc4361]

In the news now, but what is the downside of statins?

[Everhelpful]

In my case,Bloody aching legs.!!

[Bazile]

Plenty , on the information leaflet that comes with the medication

[Bazile]

What are they saying on the news ?

[Mamyalynne]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26132758

[vulcan42]

Don't know, I've been using them since 1998 and have never suffered any side effects.

[cupid04]

side effects can sometimes cause joint pain.

[penelope2]

There are non-statins that can be used for control of cholesterol, i.e Ezetimibe (Ezetrol).

[jno]

aching arms for me.

[Mamyalynne]

This is slightly more in depth re the proposed new guidelines


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10632047/Statins-12-million-Brits-will-be-advised-to-take-cholesterol-lowering-drug.html

[jamesnan]

Lots of muscle pain which disappears when the statins are stopped. This happened 3 times to me, using a different statin each time - now found one which works and has no side effects. My cholesterol has come right down.

[Sqad]

There is only one downside to statins and that is unacceptable side effects which have been highlighted in the posts above.

Some doctors think that these side effects are over exaggerated and other doctors think that the side effects are under reported.

Penelope in her post above makes a good point.

[penelope2]

Squad ^^^ I see I've changed sex! That's not a side effect of Ezetimibe I can assure you.:-)

[Sqad]

pene...LOL ooops!...sorry Sir.

[LazyGun]

Not entirely happy with proposals which amount to mass medicalisation of the general public, unless the known side effects are minimal,and I do not think that statins fall into that category.

[hc4361]

Muscle pain in the arms? My arm muscles seem to lock very quickly and it is painful to move them.

[gness]

I did try statins and my legs became very swollen. I have been given a different one to try but can't summon up the courage to start the course.
I'm never sure that "one size fits all" and my gut instinct tells me to stay away from them.....I could be wrong and live.....or die....to regret my decision but I trust my instinct more than I trust the doctor who wants me to take them.

[Fusion5]

I agree with you, gness. I tried a couple of different ones but they upset my tummy so I stopped them. I now take Omega 3 capsules every day.

[Old_Jim]

There are various common side effects like aching muscles and cold-like symptoms. We simply don't know the long term effects of taking them. Personally, I prefer to keep my lipids in check by taking fish oils. We've been eating fish for millions of years and they seem to be mostly harmless.

[boxtops]

Acute muscle pain in the upper arms, hc - it took me nearly 2 years to recover, all due to the statins I was on when I was first diagnosed.

[gness]

Hi, Fusion...in my teens I developed a duodenal ulcer which did heal and I've had no problem at all for many years now until I took the first course of statins despite having to take Omeprazole at the same time.

I could feel the same symptoms developing again...quite badly.. and that is another reason I don't want to take pills.