Statin tablets for high cholesterol

[Booked4Being-Ugly]

I got a call from the doc this morning saying my cholesterol levels are higher than normal and I’m in the amber zone for heart attack risk, great!

He recommended going on statins and I must admit I never really knew much about them or the benefits/risk etc.

I read a few things online and been wondering if they’re a good idea or not. My theory being if the doc recommends them then I’ve got to listen to the advice.

Without wanting to dig too deep into peoples personal health circumstances does anyone have any thoughts to share?

I’m only asking as I realise you have to take there’s tablets for the rest of your days!

I know it’s probably no a big deal but just wondered if people had any of their own experiences/advice.

Does improving your diet or exercise work for example as although my diet isn’t great it’s not too bad and I’m reasonably fit as I go cycling quite a lot.

Still overweight though so looking to get that down.

[cabbageandribs1875]

i was on Simvastatin for several years before statins(especially simvastatin) started appearing in news articles etc a few years ago so i discussed with my GP my concerns about them and he said any risks attached are very much outweighed by the Benefits from taking them, he then put me on another statin called Atorvastatin saying they were a little less "direct" than the simvastatin, that was approx 5 years ago and i don't seem to have any "side effects" from using the Atorvastatin. it's more a risk not to take them

[Moulin Yarns]

I got a call from the doc this morning saying my cholesterol levels are higher than normal and I’m in the amber zone for heart attack risk, great!

He recommended going on statins and I must admit I never really knew much about them or the benefits/risk etc.

I read a few things online and been wondering if they’re a good idea or not. My theory being if the doc recommends them then I’ve got to listen to the advice.

Without wanting to dig too deep into peoples personal health circumstances does anyone have any thoughts to share?

I’m only asking as I realise you have to take there’s tablets for the rest of your days!

I know it’s probably no a big deal but just wondered if people had any of their own experiences/advice.

Does improving your diet or exercise work for example as although my diet isn’t great it’s not too bad and I’m reasonably fit as I go cycling quite a lot.

Still overweight though so looking to get that down.


Been on Simvastatin for a few years. Prevention is better than cure in this instance. Also a change of diet and lifestyle helps. Side effects include flatulence :greengrin

[lapsedhibee]

I got a call from the doc this morning saying my cholesterol levels are higher than normal and I’m in the amber zone for heart attack risk, great!

He recommended going on statins and I must admit I never really knew much about them or the benefits/risk etc.

I read a few things online and been wondering if they’re a good idea or not. My theory being if the doc recommends them then I’ve got to listen to the advice.

Without wanting to dig too deep into peoples personal health circumstances does anyone have any thoughts to share?

I’m only asking as I realise you have to take there’s tablets for the rest of your days!

I know it’s probably no a big deal but just wondered if people had any of their own experiences/advice.

Does improving your diet or exercise work for example as although my diet isn’t great it’s not too bad and I’m reasonably fit as I go cycling quite a lot.

Still overweight though so looking to get that down.

Here's my tuppenceworth.

(1) GPs are too busy to explain all the things you need to do to get your cholesterol level down, so they prescribe instead.

(2) Don't look to get your weight down - get it down, now. No ifs, buts or excuses. Day 1: Eat less, exercise more. Day 2: Exercise more, eat less. Day 3: See Day 1.

Good luck!

[Jack]

I've been on them for over 10 years. Can't say I've noticed any difference.

I think the idea of GPs prescribing them is to keep you healthy enough to keep you out of hospitals for as long as possible and for each visit to be as short as possible.

It's all about healthy life expectancy.

Whereas not so many years ago your average life expectancy was, say 68, you could expect to spend the last 5 years being dependent quite heavily on NHS care. And that's very expensive.

With things like statins, very cheap, and other improvements in healthcare people are living longer and only being lightly dependent on NHS care towards the end of their days.

[Smartie]

I got a call from the doc this morning saying my cholesterol levels are higher than normal and I’m in the amber zone for heart attack risk, great!

He recommended going on statins and I must admit I never really knew much about them or the benefits/risk etc.

I read a few things online and been wondering if they’re a good idea or not. My theory being if the doc recommends them then I’ve got to listen to the advice.

Without wanting to dig too deep into peoples personal health circumstances does anyone have any thoughts to share?

I’m only asking as I realise you have to take there’s tablets for the rest of your days!

I know it’s probably no a big deal but just wondered if people had any of their own experiences/advice.

Does improving your diet or exercise work for example as although my diet isn’t great it’s not too bad and I’m reasonably fit as I go cycling quite a lot.

Still overweight though so looking to get that down.

My thoughts...

We live in a very dangerous age where there is all sort of information readily available for public consumption and not all of it is of merit.

Your concerns have merit though and would be worth discussing with a GP (rather than us) to get a proper opinion.

The concerns raised by others about an underfunded NHS putting pressure on GPs to take certain cheaper options have merit... but in my experience a short chat isn't out of the question. You're not going to get a 2 hour long consultation to go into everything in great detail but a 5 minute phone call to answer a few questions (ie obtain fully informed consent for the treatment he's considering giving you) isn't too much to ask.

[Stairway 2 7]

One of the finest medical improvements of our age, take them. Yes try and improve diet and fitness but certainly population wide some won't and these things save thousands of lives

[Fuzzywuzzy]

I started taking a red rice yeast supplement and that seems to lower cholesterol. I was just below five I think and after taking it went back down to under four

[McD]

I’ve been on Atorvastatin for several years for high triglycerides, not had any side affects at all

[BSEJVT]

After a heart attack which led to a cardiac arrest last year, I was prescribed Atorvastatin alongside 3 other tablets which I expect to be on for life.

It is impossible for me to be unequivocal about this as fact, but having researched matters in the light of my symptoms my feeling is that the statin has led to mild joint and muscle pain and has also increased my blood sugar levels.

For reference I have lost a fair bit of weight over that period and kept it off constantly and diet is very much improved, so blood sugar levels should be declining, albeit age and family history of diabetes mitigate against that.

It's not a difficult decision for me to keep taking them though as it is by far the lesser of evils.

Good luck to you, having undertaken the journey they are trying to save you from it is well worth avoiding, survival numbers for out of hospital cardiac arrests are brutal at less than 1 in 10 and it is not something I would be prepared to roll the dice over.

I am told one of the first things I said to my wife when I came out of the several days of sedation I had after the event, was you think you can get away with murder till one day you don't.

I would like to think that had I known the risks to my health my work and eating habits were putting me at I would have changed course long long ago.

As it is my wife and children still struggle with the trauma of what happened and I am one of the very very lucky ones.

[Edina Street]

I got a call from the doc this morning saying my cholesterol levels are higher than normal and I’m in the amber zone for heart attack risk, great!

He recommended going on statins and I must admit I never really knew much about them or the benefits/risk etc.

I read a few things online and been wondering if they’re a good idea or not. My theory being if the doc recommends them then I’ve got to listen to the advice.

Without wanting to dig too deep into peoples personal health circumstances does anyone have any thoughts to share?

I’m only asking as I realise you have to take there’s tablets for the rest of your days!

I know it’s probably no a big deal but just wondered if people had any of their own experiences/advice.

Does improving your diet or exercise work for example as although my diet isn’t great it’s not too bad and I’m reasonably fit as I go cycling quite a lot.

Still overweight though so looking to get that down.

I am only 47 and in 2017 I had what was described by the professors of RI ward 114 a major to massive heart attack. I am now on Spironolactone, Bisoprolol Fumerate, Ramipril, Lansoprazole & Atorvastatin.

I was initially on 40 mg Atorvastatin, but I began to neglect my Atorvastatin as it is a night time tablet and I only ever remembered to take my morning tablets. on 6th October 2023 I deeply regretted this error, as I found myself admitted to RI ward 204 (or was it 205?) diagnosed with blood clots on my left leg, and blue toe syndrome on my left toes. Gangrene had already began to set in on the tip of my big toe.

Amputation of my entire left leg was a possibility, however after 6 days of being wired to two cannulas and being overdosed on Deltaparin, the clots dissolved, and I left hospital with my 40mg Atorvastatin increased to 80mg Atorvastatin, and I will never forget to take my Atorvastatin again.

Due to my neglect of my Statin, I am now also on Warfarin for the rest of my life.

And yes, diet is a major thing. It is not quackery. After every meal have a fruit dessert. Have it with Custard, Semolina, Rice Pudding, Angel Delight, Tapioca, or Yogurt. Salad once per week. Fish meal at least twice per week. A Cullen Skink is also a good starter before any meal.

So unless you want to end up like me, self injecting Deltaparin and having to go for weekly Warfarin level checks, take your Statin.

P.S

What the doctors do not tell you, is that if you are at high risk of Heart disease, you are also at high risk of other blood related diseases, including blood clots (PAD) which could strike anywhere from the toes, the legs, lungs to the brain, causing amputation or stroke. It is not necessarily your heart that will fail first.

[Booked4Being-Ugly]

I would like to thank everyone that replied to my post.

When the doc called I did have a 10/15 conversation with him. I went online to do a little more digging and you get the obvious pages where seeds of doubt, or seeds of over-optimism regarding self cures can be planted quickly. I guess they threw up a few more questions that I would liked to have asked the doctor but in actuality it's probably more because of slight denial of the condition and how I got there albeit age, diet, lifestyle or genetics etc.

I never came on here looking for medical advice but more general advice on peoples experiences, habits or life-style changes.

Anyway, I didn't want to make this too self centered (poor me) as i'm fully aware I've absolutely no worries compared to so many people, even the few I've read on this page alone. Hopefully it never came across like that.

I was especially touched by the two posts above and it certainly brings home the importance of looking after oneself and not to ignore these early warning signs, not that I was doing that personally. I'd like to thank you for sharing your personal situations and would like to wish everyone the best of health and good luck.

[Bridge hibs]

Im on 20mg Atorvastatin that I take at night, been on them for around 18 months, no side affects of note. I have forgotten to take them from time to time but I think that was because I went through most, if not all of my adult life hardly ever putting a tablet in my mouth other than an Askit powder for toothache, paracetamol for a hangover induced headache or a Lemsip for Man flu

Now I take around 60 tablets a week 😣

[Booked4Being-Ugly]

Im on 20mg Atorvastatin that I take at night, been on them for around 18 months, no side affects of note. I have forgotten to take them from time to time but I think that was because I went through most, if not all of my adult life hardly ever putting a tablet in my mouth other than an Askit powder for toothache, paracetamol for a hangover induced headache or a Lemsip for Man flu

Now I take around 60 tablets a week 😣

Tell me about it, I’ll be needing one of those plastic tubs to remind me the days to take my tablets soon, like my mum!

[Bridge hibs]

Tell me about it, I’ll be needing one of those plastic tubs to remind me the days to take my tablets soon, like my mum!I have one and I still forget 🫣

[hibee]

I signed up to the Scot Heart trial a couple of years ago as I have family history of heart problems.

They take you in for a CT scan which shows amongst other things your arteries and what percentage of them are blocked by cholesterol. It’s quite scary to see the blockages and I’ve ended up on a statin to go with my blood pressure medication but in times like this when it’s so difficult to even see a doctor these scans could save someone’s life.

Looks like the trial is still open, here’s the website:

https://www.ed.ac.uk/usher/edinburgh-clinical-trials/our-studies/ukcrc-studies/scot-heart-2/the-scot-heart-2-trial

[MKHIBEE]

I have been on statins for 22 years, since my heart attack. I haven’t had a problem with my heart since. The most striking difference medically was the effect reducing my salt intake had on my blood pressure. It dropped dramatically to the point I didn’t need medication to control it

[Booked4Being-Ugly]

I have been on statins for 22 years, since my heart attack. I haven’t had a problem with my heart since. The most striking difference medically was the effect reducing my salt intake had on my blood pressure. It dropped dramatically to the point I didn’t need medication to control it

That’s what I don’t get, my blood pressure is really low and my cholesterol levels are high! I thought both would go hand in hand, unless I’ve somehow defied science. :)

[Edina Street]

That’s what I don’t get, my blood pressure is really low and my cholesterol levels are high! I thought both would go hand in hand, unless I’ve somehow defied science. :)

I also had low blood pressure combined with high cholesterol when I had my heart attack. In fact, doctors said that it was my low blood pressure which saved my life. Low blood pressure might not be good most of the time, however low blood pressure is good if you are having a heart attack, as your heart can pump it much easier than it can normal or high blood pressure.

My heart attack was described as a very serious heart attack. Was not just a warning. So there is a strong possibility that had it not been for my low blood pressure, I almost certainly would have suffered a Cardiac Arrest.

[heretoday]

I take a dozen tabs a day for various conditions. According to my doctor (ie whoever is on duty) I'm lucky in that regard for a 70 year old.
One of the pills is Simvastatin and it's not caused any bother in six years.

The main thing though is to lose weight and keep active. Sitting around quaffing wine and eating rubbish is not an option.

[BSEJVT]

I also had low blood pressure combined with high cholesterol when I had my heart attack. In fact, doctors said that it was my low blood pressure which saved my life. Low blood pressure might not be good most of the time, however low blood pressure is good if you are having a heart attack, as your heart can pump it much easier than it can normal or high blood pressure.

My heart attack was described as a very serious heart attack. Was not just a warning. So there is a strong possibility that had it not been for my low blood pressure, I almost certainly would have suffered a Cardiac Arrest.

Tbh until it happened to me I couldn’t have told you the difference, but my heart attack, led to cardiac arrest which was by far the more serious of the two.

Mine was caused by plaque restricting blood flow into an artery, which they think came loose and blocked it.

Like you my blood pressure has never been as issue.

[cabbageandribs1875]

for those that take multi-tablets every day get yourself a 28-day pill organiser :cbtakes me about 10 mins every every month to fill them all up when i get my bi-monthly tonne of Tablets :greengrin

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[Booked4Being-Ugly]

I started taking my statins 2 weeks ago.

There is someone close to me (unqualified) saying “you shouldn’t be taking those, I’ve heard bad things about those tablets”. They’ve also said to me “you’re doctors talking rubbish if he says you can’t lower your cholesterol through diet/exercise. Again, I asked my doctor about this at the time and he said that although those things obviously help they’re not going to reduce my cholesterol to healthy levels though diet/exercise alone.

I’ve now lost 10lbs in weight but started my diet before I got the call from the doc. I’m hopefully on the right track now.

I’m feeling some mixed emotions and touched reading some of the posts above and tbh heart health never really came into my forethought’s until recently. I guess it’s one of those things you disregard until it happens.

Best wishes to everyone that may have been affected one way or another and best of health to all.

[CropleyWasGod]

About 10-12 years ago, I got a fright with my cholesterol levels. Turns out it was a side-effect of the anti-depressants I was on... and nobody had told me :rolleyes:

The doctor offered me statins, but I did a deal with her. I came off the ant-d's almost immediately, and joined the gym. "Give me 3 months" was the agreement.

When that period was up, my cholesterol had come right back down again. And, of course, going to the gym regularly heloped to sort my depression out too.

[Booked4Being-Ugly]

About 10-12 years ago, I got a fright with my cholesterol levels. Turns out it was a side-effect of the anti-depressants I was on... and nobody had told me :rolleyes:

The doctor offered me statins, but I did a deal with her. I came off the ant-d's almost immediately, and joined the gym. "Give me 3 months" was the agreement.

When that period was up, my cholesterol had come right back down again. And, of course, going to the gym regularly heloped to sort my depression out too.

Glad you managed to sort yourself out. I think that’s what I was trying to find out. Generally speaking and not aimed at yourself, can one lower their cholestorol levels drastically through diet/exercise/lifestyle alone?

I tried looking online but the information goes from one extreme to the next where you don’t know what to believe.

[CropleyWasGod]

Glad you managed to sort yourself out. I think that’s what I was trying to find out. Generally speaking and not aimed at yourself, can one lower their cholestorol levels drastically through diet/exercise/lifestyle alone?

I tried looking online but the information goes from one extreme to the next where you don’t know what to believe.

Obviously, I have only my own experience to go on, but it scared the **** out of me so I went for it. I have no idea how that would work for anyone else.

On reflection, it was probably a combination of stopping the meds and hammering the gym that did it for me.

Like a lot of things these days, it can be difficult to get a GP who has the time and patience (and most of all, empathy) to give you proper advice. I was lucky.

[hibee]

I started taking my statins 2 weeks ago.

There is someone close to me (unqualified) saying “you shouldn’t be taking those, I’ve heard bad things about those tablets”. They’ve also said to me “you’re doctors talking rubbish if he says you can’t lower your cholesterol through diet/exercise. Again, I asked my doctor about this at the time and he said that although those things obviously help they’re not going to reduce my cholesterol to healthy levels though diet/exercise alone.

I’ve now lost 10lbs in weight but started my diet before I got the call from the doc. I’m hopefully on the right track now.

I’m feeling some mixed emotions and touched reading some of the posts above and tbh heart health never really came into my forethought’s until recently. I guess it’s one of those things you disregard until it happens.

Best wishes to everyone that may have been affected one way or another and best of health to all.

It’s true that you can lower cholesterol by changing diet and exercise, I’ve done that with good results but another important benefit of statins is they stabilise the plaque that’s already built up on the walls of the arteries making it less likely to break off and cause a heart attack or stroke.

[Booked4Being-Ugly]

Obviously, I have only my own experience to go on, but it scared the **** out of me so I went for it. I have no idea how that would work for anyone else.

On reflection, it was probably a combination of stopping the meds and hammering the gym that did it for me.

Like a lot of things these days, it can be difficult to get a GP who has the time and patience (and most of all, empathy) to give you proper advice. I was lucky.


It’s true that you can lower cholesterol by changing diet and exercise, I’ve done that with good results but another important benefit of statins is they stabilise the plaque that’s already built up on the walls of the arteries making it less likely to break off and cause a heart attack or stroke.

Thanks both. I've lost a bit of weight through diet and exercise so hopefully my numbers are down when i see the doc next time.

Conscious i could be beginning to sound like a hypochondriacal diva now so will shut up. :eek:

[J-C]

Some cholesterol can't be done through diet, my wife lost 2 stone and is on statins, her dad and 2 aunties had it, its called familial hypercholestrolemia.

[Booked4Being-Ugly]

Some cholesterol can't be done through diet, my wife lost 2 stone and is on statins, her dad and 2 aunties had it, its called familial hypercholestrolemia.

Thanks for the info. I take it that condition is hereditary then, as I’m not aware of any heart issues in either my mum or dads side?

[overdrive]

Thanks for the info. I take it that condition is hereditary then, as I’m not aware of any heart issues in either my mum or dads side?

Yep, it is hereditary.

[cabbageandribs1875]

and talking about Statins

the Japanese Scientist whose work led to the creation of them has died Statins pioneer Akira Endo dies aged 90 - BBC News (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crggxl5dl87o)

god bless him

[Stairway 2 7]

and talking about Statins

the Japanese Scientist whose work led to the creation of them has died Statins pioneer Akira Endo dies aged 90 - BBC News (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crggxl5dl87o)

god bless him

Up there with Fleming.

A disgusting disaster of our age is the heroes who invented covid jags aren't treated like the d day heroes like they should

[superfurryhibby]

My cholesterol levels were too high. GP said I needed to change lifestyle and/or consider taking statins. I wasn't exactly man mountain, at 6ft and 13 st. I was also reasonably fit.

Since then I've been on a Vegan diet (Vegetarian before). I last had my cholesterol tested in Nov 23 and was told that my cholesterol levels are lower than they were in June 2019.

There has been a family history of heart disease and there must be a genetic predisposition, as my auld man and his brother both died from heart related illness.

Diet and lifestyle can make a difference

[Booked4Being-Ugly]

My cholesterol levels were too high. GP said I needed to change lifestyle and/or consider taking statins. I wasn't exactly man mountain, at 6ft and 13 st. I was also reasonably fit.

Since then I've been on a Vegan diet (Vegetarian before). I last had my cholesterol tested in Nov 23 and was told that my cholesterol levels are lower than they were in June 2019.

There has been a family history of heart disease and there must be a genetic predisposition, as my auld man and his brother both died from heart related illness.

Diet and lifestyle can make a difference

I’ve lost almost 1.5 stone since April. I started taking my statins but got whooping cough about a month ago. Was on anti-biotics and steroids but apparently you can’t take statins at the same time so came off the statins. I never went back on them and looking to loose more weight.

I’m hoping I can go back to the docs and get another test. My plan was to loose about 2 stone and then go back to the docs and see if it’s made any difference.

Don’t know if I’m being stupid or whether the docs not going to be happy but if I go back and he says my levels are still high then i will concede it’s a for cop and get back on them.

Couple of things I’ve noticed by loosing weight - my issues with gout have diminished to the point I’d say it’s gone and my acid reflux isn’t as bad!

[heretoday]

Statins are fine.

You need to stop eating so much and take some exercise.

It's going to take willpower. Boring eh?