Statin tablets

[gavroche]

Although it does a good job to control high cholesterol, I believe it also damages your liver and increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease. What is the truth in that? Any doctors on here to enlighten me?
By the way, the title should read Statin.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

By the way, the title should read Statin.

It does now.

 

[numbnuts]

I've been taking them for years............what was the question again

 

[Illaveago]

That is a good question. I have also been taking them for years, but how do you tell if it was the drug that was causing the problems or just a natural ageing process.

 

[rich p]

I'm intrigued as to the original title...

...was it, Stalin tablets?
Pills that turn you into a mass murdering moustachioed despot? Look out Rhyl...

 

[Crackle]

Statins are either wonderful or evil depending on which report you read.

Stalins are definitely evil or heroes, depending on which historian you read.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Apparently they give you an erection.

 

[tyred]

Josef Stalin

Statin Tablet

Definite family resemblance I think

 

[Dave7]

20 years ago a test showed my cholesterol as 8.9.
I asked "what does that mean"?
The Doc said "you are a heart attack waiting to happen". She wanted me to go on Statins.
Bearing in mind that I am reasonably fit and eat a good diet (love my veg & salad etc) I went to a naturlist/herbalist type person who said in effect"load of b****ks.. depends if its good or bad cholesterol.
Anyway.....aged 69 I'm still here and enjoying cycling, walking, golf, booze and life in general

 

[wisdom]

They made my joints ache told the doc and they took me off em.

 

[Dan Morinary]

GPs have prescribed statins to practically all the men I know who have been for their 50 year old "male MOT."
GPs get "rewards" for prescribing statins.

GPs prescribed anti depressants to all my old client group when I worked within the voluntary sector. Most of whom had enrolled with a practice to get treatment for physical ailments.
GPs got "rewards" for prescribing anti depressants.

I avoid visiting GPs as much as I can.

 

[nickyboy]

20 years ago a test showed my cholesterol as 8.9.
I asked "what does that mean"?
The Doc said "you are a heart attack waiting to happen". She wanted me to go on Statins.
Bearing in mind that I am reasonably fit and eat a good diet (love my veg & salad etc) I went to a naturlist/herbalist type person who said in effect"load of b****ks.. depends if its good or bad cholesterol.
Anyway.....aged 69 I'm still here and enjoying cycling, walking, golf, booze and life in general

When you had your cholesterol tested the 8.9 would have been the addition of your HDL ("good" cholesterol) and LDL ("bad" cholesterol). My combined number was similar and I also am fit and eat a healthy diet, don't smoke. However, my LDL was high enough to warrant a course of statins.

My LDL (the bad stuff) went from 6.0 (much too high but it's a hereditary thing) to 2.2. No side effects. Result is I am at a significantly lower risk of a heart attack.

It's up to you of course but I would recommend you revisit the decision to ignore your doctor's advice. Presumably your Doctor's advice was based on an elevated LDL

 

[raleighnut]

I'm the only one in my family (apart from the kids) who isn't on Statins.

 

[mjr]

My LDL (the bad stuff) went from 6.0 (much too high but it's a hereditary thing) to 2.2. No side effects. Result is I am at a significantly lower risk of a heart attack.

Probably, but we don't know for sure.

And are you sure there's no side effects? I think it took mine five years to show up badly enough and be linked to the statins.

I've now been through all the current statins except one, they all farked up my cycling (which is itself worth a 20% drop in cholesterol), so I'm on a cocktail of other drugs. We'll see how they work...

Oh and don't worry about statins for much longer. They'll blow over soon. They're starting to move on to PCSK9 inhibitors which, at something like £15k/year per person for fewer doses until the patents run out, could be far bigger business.

 

[postman]

Well over the years i have tried and taken myself off them.I think i annoyed the Doc.But after my recent dizzy spells,i contacted a mate of mine who has been on and off them also.I valued his input.I asked him what he was on,EZITIMBE .So i requested to try the same.A couple of months have passed and things are ok.