Statins side effects

[whitbybabe]

My Mum takes medication for quite a few ailments and was recently prescribed Simvastatin aswell. The problem is they give her ' the runs ' quite badly, well, she is blaming them for it anyway. I have looked on the net at side effects but nowhere does it mention this as one of them. Can anyone confirm this ?

[Sqad]

\\\Can anyone confirm this ?\\\

Yes, I can.

[whitbybabe]

Tonyted, can you elaborate please ?

[whitbybabe]

Thanks so much for that. My Mum (68) has decided to stop taking them until she gets to see her doctor.She is also suffering from painful joints, especially the feet and knees. I have heard so many bad things about statins in general, my father in law suffers from blood clots, and he is a retired doctor, and HIS gp tried to put him on statins, and he refused. Glad to hear you recovered anyway, all the best.

[bednobs]

in the BNF (the bible that health professionals use) it says the side effects:
The statins can cause various muscular side-effects, including myositis, which can lead to rhabdomyolysis. Muscular effects are rare but often significant (see below and CSM advice (Muscle Effects)). Statins can cause gastro-intestinal disturbances, and very rarely pancreatitis. They can also cause altered liver function tests, and rarely hepatitis and jaundice; hepatic failure has been reported very rarely. Other side-effects include sleep disturbance, headache, dizziness, depression, paraesthesia, asthenia, peripheral neuropathy, amnesia, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, arthralgia, visual disturbance, alopecia, and hypersensitivity reactions (including rash, pruritus, urticaria, and very rarely lupus erythematosus-like reactions). In very rare cases, statins can cause interstitial lung disease; if patients develop symptoms such as dyspnoea, cough, and weight loss, they should seek medical attention.
Gastro-intestinal side effects include the runs!

[grasscarp]

This was discussed on here recently (I was interested as my husband had all the classic bad side effects)
http://www.theanswerb...e/Question903775.html

[smurfchops]

Well I take 40mg Simvastatin daily and have been for around six months, with no side effects. How long before side effects can start ?? fingers crossed ..

[Wak]

Like Smurfchops, I have been on 40mg Simvastatins for years now with no ill effects.
They first put me on some other kind of Statin which gave me severe stomach cramps and so I complained and got changed over to Simvastatins.
Everybody is different so what suits one person doesn't suit another. Just a case of trial and error until you find the right thing that suits the person's own metabolism.

[boxtops]

I've been on 40mg simvastation for the last two years - it has considerably helped my cholesterol levels and I can't say I have had any tummy upsets (no more than usual, anyway). I do get achy muscle joints but my GP pre-warned me, and I was advised to take CQ10 supplements which help to counteract the muscular problems which this drug can cause. I know many people on statins and I would say that for me - thus far - the benefits counteract the potential risks (although I acknowledge from previous discussion that tonyted suffered a particularly bad experience on them). As wak says, everyone reacts differently to medication.

[boxtops]

^^simvastation? I don't remember writing that!

[lardhelmet]

How many have you had boxy? lol

[jno]

it's on the GWR, boxy... what's CQ10 and should I take it? I have slightly achy joints and I do take Simvastatin but I don't think they're connected.

[askyourgran]

I stopped taking Simvastatin because of the aches and pains in my muscles and joints. I'm taking Ezetrol now and there has been no side effects. Having said that I may have to change the dosage when my cholesterol results come out next Monday.

It may be possible that the combination of tablets has given your mum the runs, I'd see your Doctor about it.

[boxtops]

Have a read (one of many articles) jno - they say it maintains healthy heart muscle, counteracts potentially wasting effects of a statin. There is risk with every medication - my view is that the benefits of the statin regime outweight the risks as I understand them. I wake up with stiff ankles which may or may not be connected with the statin. I get the CQ10 either from Holland & Barrett or Tesco, on the supplements counter. My GP did say aches could be a side-effect as he is on a statin himself, so I told him about CQ10 and he said he'd give it a try - it felt odd to be advising the GP rather than the other way round!

[boxtops]

Oops, here's the article http://www.omega-3-fi...nd-heart-disease.html

[Sqad]

whitybabe....for my opinion....for what it is worth:

1) For men who have had a heart attack, it MIGHT be worth taking statins.
2) If they have not had a heart attack, taking statins will not prolong their life. one day.
3) For a woman statins do NOTHING to prevent caurdiovascular disease.
4) The side effects of statins mah be significantly disabling.
5) High cholesterol and heart disease...for me the jury is still out.
6)High HDL (High density cholesterol) is good for your heart.
7) I would never take statins.

Please note that these are personal comments, a minority opinion in the Medical profession.

[waterboatman]

I agree with you sqad
I was taken off statins by my GP. A change of diet sorted out the 'naughty' cholesterol.

[woofgang]

My DH was put on statins, they made him feel dreadful. The GP absolutely said it couldn't be the statins doing it!!

[jno]

thank you, Dr Boxtops, I am going to think about this. (Needless to say, my real doctor has mentioned none of this, but he is in the chocolate teapot league.)