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Statins Love'm or hate'm I have a lot of pressure from my PCP to resume taking a statin. I stopped and felt the side effects had decreased. But one can't tell for sure.
I asked the PCP which she would recommend I start on again. So many of the side-effects are on going issues I do not know if going back on Cestor would make any difference. The issue is not dropping dead but having a stroke and being disabled. ---
Altoprev (lovastatin)
Crestor (rosuvastatin) unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness; confusion, memory problems; fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine; swelling, weight gain, urinating less than usual or not at all; increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss; or nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Less serious side effects may include: headache, depressed mood; mild muscle pain; joint pain; sleep problems (insomnia), nightmares; constipation; mild nausea; or stomach pain or indigestion.
Zocor (simvastatin) Constipation, nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, cramps, muscle soreness, pain and weakness; possible interaction with grapefruit juice
Scientific American and many other publications have been reporting that many people taking statins experience memory loss and cognitive impairment. Do a Google search for "statins and dementia" and you will find a lot of information. These drugs destroyed my husband's muscles and almost killed him. His function never came back, and now he is an invalid Now they are reporting statins dramatically increase the development of diabetes in people who never had it before. I think these are terrible drugs that are over-prescribed.
I agree! Statins were causing serious problems for me but fortunately I stopped them before they became permanent. You need to get a lawyer and start a lawsuit against the drug company who manufactured your husband's statin. It won't bring him back to normal but it will help you care for him!!
I think you really have to weigh the pros and cons here. My mom was prescribed Crestor after a series if TIAs and possible small strokes. Her neurologist was doing a study and did extensive mapping of her carotid arteries before and after, and I was astonished at the decrease in the plaque buildup a year after beginning medication. It made me mad at the time that someone had dropped the ball and not prescribed something much earlier, because by then the damage had already been done. She generally tolerates her drugs well and never complained of any side effects though, and also has the complicating factor of having atrial flutter from previous heart damage. (Our neurologist also believed in a vegan diet, but most people aren't going to go there!) As her physical condition has deteriorated the doc has gradually removed almost all her meds so she is no longer on it, and at first I was very anxious about a debilitating stroke, now I just pray for a massive one to end her suffering :-(
I took lovastatin for many years and it was stopped around 70. My cholesterol is now borderline but because of other issues i eat very little and even less fat. My general health has declined greatly over the past 10+ years, due to OA,heart and digestive issues. No one can find a cause. I had never heard that muscle wasting could be due to these medications so will have to do some research
In response to your question-has anyone stopped a statin and noticed an improvement in mental status. A resounding yes!!! I am a clinician and observed significant changes in my husband's cognitive status after he was prescribed statin. My husband is a very intelligent man, and was always very skilled at solving "mental" math problems. When he was unable to perform simple math calculations, I was concerned. I consulted with two independent cardiologist, inquiring about the possibility of the statin being a contributing factor. We were informed "no," it was definitely not a statin issue. I decided to do my own independent research, and consulted with my husband's primary MD. We agreed it will be best to rule out the medical, before we suspect dementia, etc. Under my husband's primary doctor's guidance, my husband stopped the statin, and my husband's cognition returned to normal!!!! I believe that there is documentation to support cognitive decline as a possible side effect of statin medications. We are very thankful that we were advocates for ourselves in this situation.
I stopped statins and noticed a big difference in myself..My cholesterol and triglicerides are down over 100 points each since I started taking Neo 40 a nitic oxcide tablet. I was going to have a stroke and now I'm very well pleased. I'm middle 70's. I defied my DR. and he still can't believe the results
Many drug side effects occur after many years, not just in the first few weeks. For this reason they are often not connected to the drug which the person took for years "without side effects." I was told an interesting story by a dental professional who had a patient in his 60's who was about to be admitted into a nursing facility because of severe balance problems. After stopping his long term cholesterol drug his balance returned and he avoided the nursing home. Yes, drug pushers (Pharmaceutical Reps) will discount such anecdotal stories as "unscientific" but for this person, and many others the link is clear. User beware! Perhaps, over time, Statin drugs will turn out to be the greatest fraud in Medical/Pharmacological history or not, but money and profit corrupts the medical system and this seems like a big experiment and patients are the unwitting Guinea Pigs. And frankly, good cholesterol values can be achieved easily with changes in diet and exercise. It is just that "taking a pill" while maintaining an unhealthy life style is easier, and many people are unwilling to change bad lifestyle habits. (Sorry, this was posted first in the wrong question)
Discuss w/MD lower doses. Anecdotally: 3 people I know gradually decreased 80mg doses of statins to maintenance 20mg. Done 6 months at a time, with no effect on lab results. 2 did so for financial reasons to make Rx last longer, 3rd did research finding that lowering doses was indicated for certain patients. He tried it and had labs drawn every 6 months with no change from baseline. All 3 still on lower doses 10+ years later. Drugs is site I use for med info, has professional as well as layman reviews plus pill identifier for those whose parent or spouse have mystery drugs in bottles.
Did my research after my previous post and am totally horrified. totally agree with Rocketjet and nothing would persuade me to restart a statin. Now I know I can look forward to progressing advancement of my symptoms. some people improve others don't. I have been off Lovastatin for over 6 years and only get weaker and more emaciated. Yes I need a cane or hubby's arm. Do your research and talk to your MD!
The sad fact is many people will suffer irreversible muscle and nerve damage before they find out that statin drugs caused that damage. My mother did before she stopped them, and now my whole family is using diet and exercise to control their cholesterol. I could not believe the AMA recommended statins for "everyone over 50"!!! Big Pharma must be laughing all the way to the bank! For a real eye-opener, read The Truth About Statins by Dr. Barbara Roberts.
We stopped the statins when mom's bloodwork showed elevated liver enzymes. It did help her memory slightly, but she continues to decline for many other reasons. As for nitric oxide supplements, forget it, they are free radicals and often promoted as an over the counter cure for erectile dysfunction. I see absolutely no evidence that it will reduce cholesterol and trigylcerides. Sounds like snake oil to me.
My husband was on statins for over 20 years. Still is. I believe that he may have diabetes due to statins, also memory decline may also be caused by the statin. He does have dementia don't know the cause. He has type two diabetes, sleep apnea, drank heavily for years, so these contribute to dementia. I took him off statins for a while, didn't help as his high cholesterol is genetic the help is statins. I had my cholesterol high, and my doctor put me on several supplements which seem to help me, I can't tell you, as I don't know if it would work for you. Also you might to go to a doctor who is more of a homeopath. Mine prefers trying natural supplements, before prescribing medication.
With statin drugs it is not go to stop them all together but I noticed an improvement in my mom's mental health when the doctor split up the dose on the Lopressor. If the dose is small enough and the pill can be cut in half you stand a better chance of getting the meds you need without having to deal with Sun downers syndrome at night. I noticed when they put my mom on Lovastatin and then took her off of it and put her on the split up dose of Lopressor she is doing much better and in better spirits. If you need to take a statin drug do ask your doc about Lopressor and don't hesitate to tell the doctor about your problems with Lovastatin and the side effects you have.
Very interesting. My Mom has been off hers because of Graves desease. The med she is on for that effects the liver as do statins. Dr. put her on Welchol and that constipated her bad. Not on that anymore.
I'm bad about drs. and pills. Last time my cholesterol was checked it was 245. Think I get that Medicare check up and try that Neo 40.
JoAnn29 - May I suggest you just change your eating habits to lower your cholesterol to below 200. Taking a drug for cholesterol is not an answer. Eat well and lower it naturally.
I feel I need to add something about the whole cholesterol issue. I firmly, adamantly believe much of the effect of high cholesterol foods is genetic. My father has always been very active and very, very slender. He ate what he wanted including foods that I couldn't or wouldn't. Yet his cholesterol levels have been what one of his doctors described as better than his own (and mine). My father has never had to worry about this.
As to statins, if I had known how powerful and dangerous they are when a doctor prescribed them for my mother, I would have intervened. But that was over 15 years ago and we weren't aware at that time of the many side effects.
Caregiving is such a learning process and I wish often I knew 20 years ago when this started what I know now.
I've read in my favorite herbal magazine that red yeast rice is effective in lowering cholesterol, and know someone who did experience that when taking it. However, I also remember that the magazine article warned of side effects that need to be monitored.
I think if we eliminated all the processed, junk and so-called foods which are in part an amalgamation of chemicals, it would be a lot easier to be healthy and not be so focused on cholesterol.
On the other hand, doctors I think should focus more on environmental effects on the body, especially lead and its remediation, which has become so entangled by oppressive regulations that it's going to be hard to even find or pay for a remediator. And that's not even addressing the host of other chemicals in foods, including the ones discovered years ago to be carcinogens, and those such as MSG, sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate (which cause anaphylaxis for me).
Ferris, I agree about diet. If my husbands shows high (205-225) he cuts out certain things and it goes down. I'm not as good as he is. But, I have heard of peoples bodies that produce it and then meds r needed. I knew mine would go up after menopause because I was 195 before. Estrogen helps to keepit down. And no, I didn't do estrogen replacement because it makes me deathly sick.
My cousin takes red rice yeast, available at health food stores for her cholesterol. I learned recently that the statin drugs are made from that natural product. They have the bad side effects, the red rice yeast doesn't.
Sherry, interesting and helpful information. Has your husband had any side effects? I'm wondering if the article I read drew on information prepared by drug companies to convince people that more natural products aren't as safe as their own chemical compounds.
The reason I posted this question is because when my Mom first started showing memory problems we took her off her statin med and for about 2 weeks she was almost back to normal then the memory problems returned. It was a brief but very impressive change. After her doctors "if you want your mother to live you'll put her back on the statin" lecture we did restart the med. Mom is now at I would guess stage 6 on the dementia road so in March we decided that we would stop the statin med in an effort to decrease the meds she has to take. Again, noticed after she'd been off the statin a brief but not as impressive improvement in her mental status lasting only a couple days. Not sure if she was just having a couple better days or if it was due to being off the med. We won't be restarting the med and regret having restarted it the first time. At this point high cholesterol is the least of her worries. Anyway, that's why I posted the question. Just really curious to see if others had a similar experience.
I was put on Mevacor (lovastatin) after a heart attack 14 years ago, and developed most of the classic side effects, including memory problems. I was forgetting customer orders at work, and did some research on cholesterol and statins. Your brain NEEDS cholesterol, and if you read the research studies carefully, you will notice that the actual :benefits are very small--in one study, the mortality rate from all causes was actually worse with statins. I noticed a lifting of my mental fog within two weeks of getting off of them, and several other things improved drastically as well--muscle pains in the upper arms and loss of motion, a hand tremor, vision issues. I suspect that some dental gum issues are related as well. I don't even care what my cholesterol numbers are. I eat little red meat, few carbs, lots of avocado and nut butters, and am keeping most of my numbers down on my own. (Had to change doctors; when my longtime primary dr retired, the first replacement I got wanted me back on lots of meds. I told him no, and he put me down as "noncompliant" and asked the office to get me another dr. This one is very nice, and willing to let me take care of myself. BTW, check up on red rice yeast, it is what lovacor was developed from. Also, when I had the heart attack, my cholesterol was within a normal range, as are half of the people who have heart attacks. They have also found that there is NO benefit of low cholesterol in older women, and a higher mortality rate. A cousin of mine, a couple of years younger than me, had a heart attack at about the same time, and his dr has him convinced that he needs the meds. The last time I saw him, his mental functioning was very impaired--took over 3 hours to find a place that is normally a 45 minute drive from where we started out, and a place he's been to a number of times with me over the years.
My mother's dementia seemed to go hand in hand with the statin drugs she took for years. I took her off them last year. That didn't cure the dementia, which is fairly severe, but its advancement seems to have slowed down. After her initial heart attack, she had another while on TWO statins and with very low cholesterol numbers.
The brain needs fat to function, especially in the elderly. The secret is in the KIND of fat. My brothers and I have Mom on a fairly high fat diet, but we make certain that it is high quality fat from grass fed animals, also coconut oil. At 94 she is enjoying better overall physical health since taking her off ALL prescription drugs and giving her supplements of whole food multi-vitamins, Ubiquinol, fish oil and probiotics.
Statins aside, however, what puzzled me was that for several decades before the obvious dementia took hold and long before she was put on cholesterol meds, she was exhibiting irrational behavior, making poor decisions, disastrous financial mismanagement, etc., and in general not functioning like the efficient mother I had while growing up. I recently came across a list of popular costume jewelry brands with high lead content. (Can't find the reference right now.) My mother has always liked to deck herself out with earrings, bracelets and necklaces, and I'm wondering if her "fashion statement" was the beginning of cognitive malfunction. Lead was the downfall of the Roman civilization. While we don't eat off lead plates or use lead pipes for plumbing any more, perhaps advancing mental decline can be traced to lead in jewelry, as well as the paint in older houses.
Dejavu, your post and the implications of lead gave me shivers, in part because I've wondered about this myself but thought that I perhaps was being overly concerned.
I recall being shocked when learning some years ago that lead in cans was involved in the death of men in John Franklin's 1845 Arctic expedition. I believe there might have been another expedition which suffered a similar fat also attributable to lead.
As to not having lead in plumbing any more, it's my understanding that older houses could still have lead in the pipes, and that only a full change out would replace them.
Our local community has advised in its annual water quality reports not to drink hot water because of the possibility of lead contamination. I haven't researched why hot water would be more likely to contain lead than cold water; I'm almost afraid to but don't use hot water for cooking anyway. Still, I've wondered often if the residue of hot water left on dishes after rinsing is enough to affect a person's lead levels.
The other frightening issue about lead is the prevalence of it in products from China. The Environmental Working Group has been raising these concerns for quite some time.
I find it incongruous that homeowners here are put in the position of paying a fortune to remediate lead, but that Chinese products with lead aren't treated with such an aggressive response.
And you make a good point that the brain does need the right kind of fat to function. It's a fact frequently not addressed in all the hype about cholesterol.
Since finding this forum, I've wondered often about what seems to be, or is becoming, an epidepic of dementia in the US. When we have some rainy weather this week and I can't garden, it might be a topic for some research.
I've just read one of Dr. Duane Graveline's articles about the dangers of statin and am shocked at the toxicity and side effects they can cause, especially Lipitor, which a doctor had prescribed for my now deceased mother. I do recall problems after she began taking them but at that time none of us ever thought to question Lipitor. Now I wonder how much of the symptoms she experienced were in fact medication related.
Dejavu, thank you for this recommendation. I knew statins were bad but had no idea how frighteningly dangerous they are.
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I have a lot of pressure from my PCP to resume taking a statin. I stopped and felt the side effects had decreased. But one can't tell for sure.
I asked the PCP which she would recommend I start on again. So many of the side-effects are on going issues I do not know if going back on Cestor would make any difference. The issue is not dropping dead but having a stroke and being disabled.
---
Altoprev (lovastatin)
Crestor (rosuvastatin)
unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness;
confusion, memory problems;
fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine;
swelling, weight gain, urinating less than usual or not at all;
increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth,
fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss; or
nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite,
dark urine, clay-colored stools,
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
headache, depressed mood;
mild muscle pain;
joint pain;
sleep problems (insomnia), nightmares;
constipation;
mild nausea; or
stomach pain or indigestion.
Lescol (fluvastatin)
Lipitor (atorvastatin)
Mevacor (lovastatin)
Pitavastatin (Livalo)
Pravachol (pravastatin)
Zocor (simvastatin)
Constipation, nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, cramps, muscle soreness, pain and weakness; possible interaction with grapefruit juice
tablet. I was going to have a stroke and now I'm very well pleased. I'm middle 70's. I defied my DR. and he still can't believe the results
Do your research and talk to your MD!
I had my cholesterol high, and my doctor put me on several supplements which seem to help me, I can't tell you, as I don't know if it would work for you. Also you might to go to a doctor who is more of a homeopath. Mine prefers trying natural supplements, before prescribing medication.
I'm bad about drs. and pills. Last time my cholesterol was checked it was 245. Think I get that Medicare check up and try that Neo 40.
As to statins, if I had known how powerful and dangerous they are when a doctor prescribed them for my mother, I would have intervened. But that was over 15 years ago and we weren't aware at that time of the many side effects.
Caregiving is such a learning process and I wish often I knew 20 years ago when this started what I know now.
I've read in my favorite herbal magazine that red yeast rice is effective in lowering cholesterol, and know someone who did experience that when taking it. However, I also remember that the magazine article warned of side effects that need to be monitored.
I think if we eliminated all the processed, junk and so-called foods which are in part an amalgamation of chemicals, it would be a lot easier to be healthy and not be so focused on cholesterol.
On the other hand, doctors I think should focus more on environmental effects on the body, especially lead and its remediation, which has become so entangled by oppressive regulations that it's going to be hard to even find or pay for a remediator. And that's not even addressing the host of other chemicals in foods, including the ones discovered years ago to be carcinogens, and those such as MSG, sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate (which cause anaphylaxis for me).
Mom is now at I would guess stage 6 on the dementia road so in March we decided that we would stop the statin med in an effort to decrease the meds she has to take. Again, noticed after she'd been off the statin a brief but not as impressive improvement in her mental status lasting only a couple days. Not sure if she was just having a couple better days or if it was due to being off the med. We won't be restarting the med and regret having restarted it the first time. At this point high cholesterol is the least of her worries.
Anyway, that's why I posted the question. Just really curious to see if others had a similar experience.
How much more can we endure
We take them hoping the change is good
And we give them cause we're told we should...
We know not if they cause more grief
Instead of hopes of found relief
Of guilt we sometimes hold within
Our hearts so saddened,yet intend
To comfort and to soothe the one
With hope our best is always done.
marymember
I don't even care what my cholesterol numbers are. I eat little red meat, few carbs, lots of avocado and nut butters, and am keeping most of my numbers down on my own. (Had to change doctors; when my longtime primary dr retired, the first replacement I got wanted me back on lots of meds. I told him no, and he put me down as "noncompliant" and asked the office to get me another dr. This one is very nice, and willing to let me take care of myself. BTW, check up on red rice yeast, it is what lovacor was developed from. Also, when I had the heart attack, my cholesterol was within a normal range, as are half of the people who have heart attacks. They have also found that there is NO benefit of low cholesterol in older women, and a higher mortality rate. A cousin of mine, a couple of years younger than me, had a heart attack at about the same time, and his dr has him convinced that he needs the meds. The last time I saw him, his mental functioning was very impaired--took over 3 hours to find a place that is normally a 45 minute drive from where we started out, and a place he's been to a number of times with me over the years.
My mother's dementia seemed to go hand in hand with the statin drugs she took for years. I took her off them last year. That didn't cure the dementia, which is fairly severe, but its advancement seems to have slowed down. After her initial heart attack, she had another while on TWO statins and with very low cholesterol numbers.
The brain needs fat to function, especially in the elderly. The secret is in the KIND of fat. My brothers and I have Mom on a fairly high fat diet, but we make certain that it is high quality fat from grass fed animals, also coconut oil. At 94 she is enjoying better overall physical health since taking her off ALL prescription drugs and giving her supplements of whole food multi-vitamins, Ubiquinol, fish oil and probiotics.
Statins aside, however, what puzzled me was that for several decades before the obvious dementia took hold and long before she was put on cholesterol meds, she was exhibiting irrational behavior, making poor decisions, disastrous financial mismanagement, etc., and in general not functioning like the efficient mother I had while growing up. I recently came across a list of popular costume jewelry brands with high lead content. (Can't find the reference right now.) My mother has always liked to deck herself out with earrings, bracelets and necklaces, and I'm wondering if her "fashion statement" was the beginning of cognitive malfunction. Lead was the downfall of the Roman civilization. While we don't eat off lead plates or use lead pipes for plumbing any more, perhaps advancing mental decline can be traced to lead in jewelry, as well as the paint in older houses.
I recall being shocked when learning some years ago that lead in cans was involved in the death of men in John Franklin's 1845 Arctic expedition. I believe there might have been another expedition which suffered a similar fat also attributable to lead.
http://www.historytoday.com/sheila-rowbotham/canned-food-sealed-icemens-fate
As to not having lead in plumbing any more, it's my understanding that older houses could still have lead in the pipes, and that only a full change out would replace them.
Our local community has advised in its annual water quality reports not to drink hot water because of the possibility of lead contamination. I haven't researched why hot water would be more likely to contain lead than cold water; I'm almost afraid to but don't use hot water for cooking anyway. Still, I've wondered often if the residue of hot water left on dishes after rinsing is enough to affect a person's lead levels.
The other frightening issue about lead is the prevalence of it in products from China. The Environmental Working Group has been raising these concerns for quite some time.
I find it incongruous that homeowners here are put in the position of paying a fortune to remediate lead, but that Chinese products with lead aren't treated with such an aggressive response.
And you make a good point that the brain does need the right kind of fat to function. It's a fact frequently not addressed in all the hype about cholesterol.
Since finding this forum, I've wondered often about what seems to be, or is becoming, an epidepic of dementia in the US. When we have some rainy weather this week and I can't garden, it might be a topic for some research.
Dejavu, thank you for this recommendation. I knew statins were bad but had no idea how frighteningly dangerous they are.