Statins - should otherwise healthy people take them?

[Mosaic]

OH is agitated as the practice nurse at the GPs wants him to go onto statins. He is overweight but losing weight, bp consequently on the high side but dropping as the weight goes, very fit and active, no heart disease or family history thereof.

He questioned the advice and was told that 'research is' that all people over 50 should take statins whether they have problems or not.

What's the view from the AB community on this issue?

[WELSHYORKIE]

I am 56 and been on statins for the last 11 years since being diagnosed with familial hypocholestrolaemia. When first tested, my cholesterol was well over 10 and is now hovering around 5. I am on Lipitor 40 and I don't believe that I am sufferring from or have suffered any side effects.

[rojash]

Squad, I didn't understand which part of my post your remark referred to:
"that is a popular concept..........but what is the truth?"

[Sqad]

rojash..........I feel that the side effects are exaggerated and I assumed form your post that you thought that the side effects were understated and hence my comment........"what is the truth?"

If my assumption was incorrect, then forget my comment.

[rojash]

Ah, I see.
It's not that I feel that the side effects are understated, but that they are under-reported, which makes getting at the truth difficult. If GPs don't record their patients' claims, then obviously, the statistics will be inaccurate. In the specific example that I cited, the GP is convinced that my MIL no longer suffers side-effects, and that the statins have improved her cholesterol levels. Neither of which are true.

[Sqad]

rojash...I cannot comment specifically about your MIL, but it is not easy to decide if the symptoms are indeed "side effects" or totally independent of statins.

People who take statins are often overweight, have a sedentary life style and are "sitting ducks" for musculo-skeletal disorders and when they start on the drugs, the muscular pains commence. Coincidence or not?

"Night terrors" are also very common.....particularly in people who are in a state of anxiety and not taking statins.

All very difficult.