Statin Drugs

[Sourdough]

I know there is bound to be several people here that takes Statins.  In the last 12 years I have taken Lipator, Crestor, Lovastatin, and all the rest of them.  With each I start having leg cramps.  At first they were not too bad, I just had to get up and straighten out my legs, then they went away.  Then it got to where I had to walk a bit to make them go away.  I complained to my Doctor and quite taking them all together.  After a month or so he wanted me to try a new one just out on the market.  Lovalo.  The cramps came back, but were very mild, I could deal with those.  Then Tuesday night my muscle on the inside of my thigh started cramping.  First time the cramps had been above the knee.  I got out of bed and started walking.  Nothing I did relieved the pain.  At 3 AM I'm out walking the road in front of my house, trying to stop the cramping.  I finally came in and took a Vicadin, It's got to be an emergency for me to take one of those, they knock me out usually for two days.

all day yesterday I was sort of in a daze due to the Vicadin, but the muscle still hurt, just not as bad.  Today I'm still a bit fuzzy, but that muscle is still hurting whenm I move and use it.  All the way from the groin to the knee.  I called the Doctor's office and told them to let him know I was off the statins, and I will not take anymore.  Period.

anyone have similer experience?  Rog

[SHOOTALL]

I tried all of them with same effect so I stopped taking them. Now I take a Shackley product that works .

[streak]

I got off of Zocor and take the supplement Red Yeast Rice!

[blind ear]

I had cramps and constipation. I quit the statins. I eat little beef or pork. I use olive oil, grape seed oil and coconut oil for cooking. Heart cath showed no blockages and cholesterol numbers are good. Above average ejecton fraction/pump delivery. Have occasional cramps. I keep vinegar, sugar and salt mixed in water to drink at hand. Always had cramp problems since dehydrateing in high school. ear

[Cuts Crooked]

I've been on Simvastatin for five years now. No problems that I can associate with taking it. But then I'm very physically active all the time.

[oldandslow]

I've been taking a very low dose of lovostatin for a little over a year now with no problems. It's done it's job so well the doctor told me to only take it every other day now.

[KIMBER45]

Check with your docs first, but try fish oil and stay away from red meat. It works for alot of my friends.

[Old Fart]

Check with your docs first, but try fish oil and stay away from red meat. It works for alot of my friends.

Like SD I had problems with the statin drug (Zocor).
I took it for 10-15 years without problem, then the pain started.
 
Now I take the fish oil.

[Spirithawk]

I too have been on a variety of Statins since a year after my triple bypass in 05. Everything was clogged up again.  I get cramps in both my arms and legs and have to stop taking them, now taking Pravastatin, for a week or so and then start again. On the plus side Statins can actualy disolve blockages and they saved me from another bypass.

[ironglow]

  I tried them for a few months ..then got so achy sore in all my muscles and joints I could hardly move.. My veteran's clinic PA checked by blood test, said the statins were attacking my muscles..quit them right away, my civilian doc never warned me of the side effects.  Things cleared for me... after about a year and a half my civilian doc asked me to try a new statin..one that required only one or two pills per week, instead of every day.
  Like a sucker, i tried them..within a month and a half.. they about killed me..blew up my righht knee and put me in auch pain, i could hardly endure it. I don't want to hear the word "statin" again.  I use fish oil and although my cholestrol readings are not perfect...they aren't bad. ..Plus, I'm not really convinced that cholestrol is nearly the killer they say it is..
   Some can take statins witrh impunity..others, like myself can't begin to handle them.  If you're taking statins and have aches nad pains in all your joints & major muscles..better check it out..
 
    http://www.thecholesteroltruth.com/pages/about-the-cholesterol-truth?gclid=CKyjr_-smrACFYFo4AodViIoaQ

[powderman]

I've taken the simvastatin for many years. I do have trouble with my legs hurting and my rt knee has been swelled up for several months. I believe that was from a fall though. The legs I was told years ago was PAD. Patty can't take the statins at all. Her heart dr put her on it and I had our family dr take her off since it was already on her no can do list. Can it cause swelling?? Like my knee?? POWDERMAN. 

[Victor3]

 Shortly after Lipitor came out my Mom's doc out her on it. Not too long thereafter one of her pinky fingers became paralyzed. Nerve damage can be a side effect of statins. She still can't move it today.
 
 Earlier this year a new doc convinced Mom that the paralysis probably had nothing to do with the Lipitor and put her on Lovostatin. Almost immediately she had severe confusion and short term memory loss. Took her off of it and the confusion was less, but still there. I don't know if it was the statin or just old age kicking in (she's 85) but it sure was a coincidence that it happened just after she started taking it.
 
"Feb. 28, 2012 -- Memory loss, confusion, high blood sugar, and type 2 diabetes are possible side effects of the popular cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins, the FDA warns.
 
Brand name and generic versions of statin drugs must carry these warnings on their labels, the FDA today announced."
 
http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/news/20120228/new-warnings-on-cholesterol-lowering-statins
 
 One thing's for sure; I'll never be taking the stuff...

[ironglow]

I've taken the simvastatin for many years. I do have trouble with my legs hurting and my rt knee has been swelled up for several months. I believe that was from a fall though. The legs I was told years ago was PAD. Patty can't take the statins at all. Her heart dr put her on it and I had our family dr take her off since it was already on her no can do list. Can it cause swelling?? Like my knee?? POWDERMAN. 

  One morning I woke up to discover my right knee swollen to a much greater size..and so tender to the touch (pain & burning) that I could only walk with help..very difficult driving..working the accelerator....rest of body had aches also but the right knee was a killer.  For 2-3 weeks, I drove using cruise control as much as possible.
  Statins rob CO-Q10 from your heart and if it is attacking your muscles..remember, your heart is a muscle.
 
    Here's a doctor worth listening to, he's not a snake oil type guy    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FulwC5yvgvc&feature=related

  Fox News  http://video.foxnews.com/v/1481613462001/fda-warns-statin-users-of-side-effects
 
 Here's one of the many risks of statins, from MSNBC          http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/45934573#45934573
 
  Sometimes we just have to read our own body..and heed it..

[P.A. Myers]

It seems to be leaking out that statins are overprescribed. Tinkering with liver function is not indicated unless treating a specific vascular pathology. If you're not clogging up, you probably don't need it. General inflammation seems to be responsible for most of these problems. The main irritant is elevated blood sugar. Controlling that is beneficial in many ways. A supplement that may help reduce inflammation is turmeric.

Fish oil [omega 3] is an important supplement for all graybeards.

Statins may be helpful , so be carefull. I like the fact I can enjoy a nice big Ruby Red Texas grapefruit [anti-oxident]. 

[Bigeasy]

I guess each persons reaction to just about any drug is different.  I never had high cholesterol, but an injury about 4 year ago (a busted rib thru the heart) caused me to undergo an open heart surgery that left a lot of scaring.  The heart surgeon's insisted I take a statin (Simvaststatin) afterwards.  They explained that besides reducing cholesterol, it also helped reduce the chance of blockages in areas of scar tissue, even in persons with already normal cholesterol levels.  So far, so good...
 
Larry

[hunt-m-up]

I'm taking Lipitor due to family history and have had no issues with it. My brother however has tried several statins after 4 bypasses about 7 years ago and all have given him some sort of muscle or joint pain. He has gone the red yeast route and seems to be doing well with it.

[gstewart44]

I have genetically high cholesterol and triglycerides.  My doc started me on Lipitor 10 years ago.   Immediately started having severe cramps in my calf muscles at night, sometimes so severe that the pain would last several days as if the muscle was torn!
 
In addition,  my liver enzymes started spiking extremely high.  I told the doc that I wouldn't take Lipitor anymore and stopped.    Later I started reading about natural alternatives. 
 
As mentioned above,  I discovered RED YEAST RICE and FISH OIL.    The RYR has a naturally occuring form of Lovostatin in a low dose.     The Fish Oil ( I prefer the Alaskan Salmon Oil personally) helps lower the triglycerides.    After taking the RYR and FishOil for 6 months my cholesterol went from 399 down to 198,   Triglycerides went from 400 down to 180.   This was without any prescriptions..... and NO LEG CRAMPS .    This has worked for me.    If you decide to try it let us know how you do.     

[ironglow]

I'm taking Lipitor due to family history and have had no issues with it. My brother however has tried several statins after 4 bypasses about 7 years ago and all have given him some sort of muscle or joint pain. He has gone the red yeast route and seems to be doing well with it.

)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
 
  Right;  as I said we each probably have to pay heed to our body and what it is telling us.  Some folks can take a bee sting and shake it off..others can be in bad trouble.

[BUGEYE]

pravastatin has worked well for me.

[Conan The Librarian]

I googled leg cramps statin drug side effect, and there are a lot of hits on it. It looks like that's a common side effect.
 
http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/c/question/52851/30819
 

[AtlLaw]

I googled leg cramps statin drug side effect, and there are a lot of hits on it. It looks like that's a common side effect.
 
http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/c/question/52851/30819

All this is news to me!      I have terrible leg cramps which now I realize started after I began taking lipitor.  When I mentioned it to my GP she perscribed another drug to ease the cramps but I never thought it did much good.   
 
My cardiologist and I gwanna have a talk 'bout this!      These leg cramps are really bad!  So bad that I been thinkin about giving up riding my bike cause I don't know if I could control it if one hit while I was in the saddle!   

[Lost Farmboy]

  Statin drugs block an enzyme that your body uses to make cholesterol. The same enzyme CoQ10. It is the deficiency of CoQ10 that causes the muscle cramping. Red Yest Rice blocks the same enzyme. I believe it is much safer, but still blocks CoQ10 production. The lack of CoQ10 can cause heart failure. Finding a CoQ10 supplement that readily absorbs into the body could be difficult.


Balancing your cholesterol is a better solution than lowering it. HDL to LDL ratio. Wild caught cold water fish are high in Omega 3s. Salmon, herring and sardines help. Do not be fooled by farm raised. Grass fed beef is high in Omega 3s. If the cow eats only grass it will give you a healthy heart. If it eats grains it will harm your heart. Butter is only good if it comes from grass fed cows. The only way I can find to get it is make my own. Free range chickens lay eggs high in Omega 3s because they eat grass.


Olive oil, flax seed oil and avocados will help. Peanut oil is OK, coconut oil is best for cooking. Avoid all fake and damaged fats like margarine and hydrogenated oils. Trans fats are the worst and are now disguised as Mono and Dy-gliserides.


Fermenting soy beans creates an enzyme called nattokinase. It will dissolve blockages in your arteries. If I would have gone to a doctor 7 years ago with my daily chest pains, I would have been given bypass surgery and put on statin drugs. A spoon full of Miso paste with nattokinase a day in a cup of hot water cured the problem in about six months. Avoid all unfermented soy products unless you like low T and ED.


Statin drugs cause alzheimer's disease.


Trust modern medicine at your own risk. It is the biggest scam perpetrated on mankind since the garden of eden.

[DeckH]

Several years ago, my Doc had me on a statin.  Told him I didn't like the side effects--muscle pain, etc.  Ended up trying 4 different ones; none of which I liked.   Ended up taking NIASPAN which has worked well for years.  Blood lab work is normal.   A friend tried taking NIASPAN but he had side effects.  I take mine at night before beddy by  and avoid hot flashes that some people experience when taking NIASPAN.  You might want to try it. 

[45-70.gov]

NIASPAN   1000  for me......plus atorvastatin 40


stain added after    4 bypasses in march


had problems with statins in past but not bad

[ironglow]

Big Pharma has stated that the normal state of the human being is not healthy, and that their goals are to have most every person on 3 or 4 prescriptions for life.....That's what they have stated.
.
..TM7

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
 
  I believe TM has something here.  My daughter-in-law keeps tabs on that kind of health related stuff, and she sure says it's true.
  Even your friendly doctor can get pulled into this game.  Just look what AtLaw said...  He winds up with terrible leg cramps while taking statins.. his doctor doesn't accuse statins, but instead starts to write another prescription ..to fix the cramps..
 
The meds which nearly killed me were lipitor and Crestor..the pain I had with that latter stuff, still sends shivers up my spine..one year hence.
 
   Here's an interesting discussion with Dr Lundell, whom  I saw him one morning on Fox news.  Yes, he has a product to sell but at least hear his theory which is being adopted by more docs.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV1TTuYerMk
 
  Now here is a website by a doctor who worked for years with NASA..his website is VERY interesting...and with plenty of medical backup. http://www.spacedoc.com/   
A "must read" with extensive professional backup...Just click below the space Doc's picture onto "statin side effects"..I dare you...
 
     

[ironglow]

I googled leg cramps statin drug side effect, and there are a lot of hits on it. It looks like that's a common side effect.
 
http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/c/question/52851/30819

All this is news to me!      I have terrible leg cramps which now I realize started after I began taking lipitor.  When I mentioned it to my GP she perscribed another drug to ease the cramps but I never thought it did much good.   
 
My cardiologist and I gwanna have a talk 'bout this!      These leg cramps are really bad!  So bad that I been thinkin about giving up riding my bike cause I don't know if I could control it if one hit while I was in the saddle!   

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
 
  Atlaw,
   Many docs are practically in denial concerning the side effects of statins.  My primary doc (civilian) is that way and I think they are schooled in favor of "drug therapy".  Note how your own doc, instead of rooting out the cause of your severe leg cramps..simply wanted to prescribe more drugs.  http://stopped_our_statins.webs.com/stoppingstatins.htm
  I had severe leg cramps and he didn't even  seem to relate it to statins.. On statins, cramps woke me every night..since stopping the statins I still have an occasional leg cramp..maybe once in 3 months. I eat some potassium rich foods fairly frequently..bannanas or raisins..
 
  My VA doc..actually a female PA seems to understand my old bod better than my GP does..she has given me consistently good advice.
 

[KIMBER45]

  Statin drugs block an enzyme that your body uses to make cholesterol. The same enzyme CoQ10. It is the deficiency of CoQ10 that causes the muscle cramping. Red Yest Rice blocks the same enzyme. I believe it is much safer, but still blocks CoQ10 production. The lack of CoQ10 can cause heart failure. Finding a CoQ10 supplement that readily absorbs into the body could be difficult.


Balancing your cholesterol is a better solution than lowering it. HDL to LDL ratio. Wild caught cold water fish are high in Omega 3s. Salmon, herring and sardines help. Do not be fooled by farm raised. Grass fed beef is high in Omega 3s. If the cow eats only grass it will give you a healthy heart. If it eats grains it will harm your heart. Butter is only good if it comes from grass fed cows. The only way I can find to get it is make my own. Free range chickens lay eggs high in Omega 3s because they eat grass.


Olive oil, flax seed oil and avocados will help. Peanut oil is OK, coconut oil is best for cooking. Avoid all fake and damaged fats like margarine and hydrogenated oils. Trans fats are the worst and are now disguised as Mono and Dy-gliserides.


Fermenting soy beans creates an enzyme called nattokinase. It will dissolve blockages in your arteries. If I would have gone to a doctor 7 years ago with my daily chest pains, I would have been given bypass surgery and put on statin drugs. A spoon full of Miso paste with nattokinase a day in a cup of hot water cured the problem in about six months. Avoid all unfermented soy products unless you like low T and ED.


Statin drugs cause alzheimer's disease.


Trust modern medicine at your own risk. It is the biggest scam perpetrated on mankind since the garden of eden.

I'm with you on all you said. Corn fed beef has a chemical change that harms us. Grass fed is the only way to go. The problem as I have been told is, certain " farmers" feed their beef, corn the last few months to fatten them up. This is the same as corn fed beef. I eat beef " a good steak " 2 to 3 times a year. I don't touch it other than that. In fact the only red meat my wife and I eat are venison and hot spicy goose sticks . I only use soy milk.

[ironglow]

  I have a farmer friend who raises Highlander Cattle.  This tough, smallish breed of cattle have made the hard-scrabble highlands of Scotland their home since time immemorial.  They thrive on roughage with virtually no grain and the beef is lean and tasty.  I have a standing order whenever he butchers...quality beef, right from the farm.

[KIMBER45]

My friend had problems with statins. His Cardiologist suggested he take 1200 to 2500 units of Vit. D a day. It helped with his cramping . Vit D. is also an excellent anticancer vitamin. Most men with prostate cancer also have Vit D. deficiencies.Check with your docs and see what they say about vit D.

[streak]

  I have a farmer friend who raises Highlander Cattle.  This tough, smallish breed of cattle have made the hard-scrabble highlands of Scotland their home since time immemorial.  They thrive on roughage with virtually no grain and the beef is lean and tasty.  I have a standing order whenever he butchers...quality beef, right from the farm.

Everytime I see one of these Highlander Cattle reminds of the movie" Rob Roy" where they hide in the carcass of one of these cattle !! That was one good movie and great scenery of the Scottish Highlands.