Cannot tolerate statins, help please!

Why were you prescribed Statins in the first instance?

Hi Elaine

firstly let me say I cannot believe your doctor did not take seriously your liver problems and continued to prescribe statins.

Your cholesterol level of 7 does not mean anything really, do you have a break down? Like LDL, HDL and Triglceride levels? 

A total cholesterol level is not an indication of anything so please don't worry.

mine is 7.8 and Ive never felt so healthy, when taking statins it dropped to 3.1 and I was so ill, that tells me something.

please google the " cholesterol myth' and you'll see that high cholesterol means you could actually be healthy.

I would be interested in the breakdown of your numbers if you have them?

I too had a reaction to Atorvastatin. I was put on the highest dose for over 2 years and then had awful pains in my legs. My GP was a bit sceptical about the connection but changed me to Simvastatin 20 g and after a few days my leg pains disappeared. I keep my cholesterol in check also by eating a vegan diet with no added oil or fat. Hope you manage to solve your problems soon.

If my cholesterol was 7 and I reacted to statins as you have I would be refusing to take them. When patients at high risk of cardiac problems with a cholesterol or 9 or so are on statins most doctors are happy when it gets to 7. If that's OK - there is no reason IMHO to crucify yourself to get lower than 7.

After 10 days of half dose atorvastatin I could barely walk 50 yards. I stopped taking them with the cardiologist's (later) blessing.  I have lost weight since then (a lot, 37lbs) and changed my diet to do so. There is a fair amount of evidence that it is sugar and carbs that lead to raised cholesterol levels, not too much fat so a low fat diet often won't achieve much but cutting processed carbs, the junk food, will. It took me months to be able to walk properly again.

If you think it was your rubbish diet that got you where you are then tell the doctor that first of all you want to try with diet. Don't go all "low fat", if you don't eat cholesterol your body will make it and they have now rehabilitated eggs for example as a good food! My rule is don't eat it if it comes in a package and/or contains white carbs of any sort (flour, sugar). All the carbs I need come from leafy veg and any veg that don't grow underground (simple rule, although I eat carrots). I also used the 5:2 diet to start my weight loss - and it definitely helps you reassess portion sizes quite quickly.

You are worried and frightened - so you have the trigger to redo your diet. I was told by one doctor my cholesterol was "extremely high". It wasn't, it was about 7 - but if it had been 10 I still wouldn't have taken a statin again. There isn't much point reducing your chances of a heart attack with a pill that leaves you stuck in a wheelchair and in constant pain. 

It won't change overnight - give it at least 6 months and start to do some exercise too. Lifestyle changes are more important than a pill - but I suspect your doctor gets paid more for signing a prescription than for telling you to go out and walk for an hour or so. Start with what you can and increase it gradually as you get fitter. And really eat healthily - not fruit juices either, full of sugar...

Hi Elaine.  so sorry to hear you've had this added stress which I also went through with statins.  My cholesterol reading was 9 which was a real shock to me, very upsetting.  I blindly followed my doctor's advice and took the statins prescribed.  I got to the point of calling an ambulance one day as I was so ill I literally couldnt move and it was the ER department who told me it was due to the statins.  I heartily agree with Sonya's comments below, totally!  A high cholesterol reading alone is not proven to be a sign you will have a serious vascular or cardiac event - in women it's now documented that only those with previous events show any benefit from statins.  Sonya has explained it very well in her reply - there are numerous other factors to be taken into consideration not just a global cholesterol reading figure.  My view on statins is that they are poison and I have lasting damage from being stupid enough to blindly follow my doctors advice to take them.  However, I wouldn't dream of saying they should never be considered as for those with previous stroke or heart attack problems, they may well be a lifesaver.

Hear hear to what everybody has said before me!

Please stop those statins before they do you permanent and irreparable damage  ....believe me I should know and I was only on Simvastatin for six months.... I am nearly chairbound nowadays as a result.

Your Drs cannot force you to take those tablets you know the final choice is yours and yours alone.

I totally agree  a cholesterol level of seven is not a dangerous level in fact every particle of cholesterol one has  - one needs ....so forget cholesterol and enjoy life.  

If you want to improve your lot -  just get your diet back on track and you'll be fine..... And what is more you will then feel like taking more exercise -  like simple walking which is all you need to do to keep fit!

CHEERS  and all the best....

just a quick added comment following other posts - stress will raise your cholesterol quicker than anything else, even diet.  I was told my diet was good and not to blame, I had 'familial' ie hereditary high cholesterol.  However, what the doctor didnt tell me in his rush to prescribe toxic statins was that because I was under severe stress my adrenal gland was in hyperdrive and he didnt test my cortisol levels, which I've since found out will have a major impact on cholesterol.  I had an allergic reaction to SSRIs prescribed for anxiety so I'm now trying more natural methods, ie meditation, exercise (the very very best cure for a whole range of illness!) and keeping my eye on what food I eat - I've never eaten junk but some quick release carbs do cause problems.  I haven't had my cholesterol tested again, mainly because I cant face fighting with the GP about statins but I feel fine, so I'm willing to accept the risk of stroke as to me its less than the risk of permanent disability by taking unnecessary pharmaceuticals.