Simvastatin - Help!

Hi rosco

Let me first assure you that side effects from statins is definitely not scaremongering, I took simvastatin 40mg for 6 months and it was hell. I and many others have suffered terrible effects from statins. That's not to say there are a few who take them and appear to be absolutely fine, although I wouldn't like to hazard a guess the percentages.

If you are asking for advice as to whether you should take them then I'd say no, try diet and exercise first, others may disagree and advise you to try them. If you do decide to take them then please read enclosed leaflet thoroughly and at the first hint of any side effect stop.

I'd be interested to know what diet your doctor has recommended?

Hi Sonya

Thanks for the quick response. I'm not aware of any past problems in the family but the doc led me to believe that there must be for such a high reading. I am a bit overweight but stopped smoking last year and am trying to eat more healthily. My doc basically told me that because of my reading that diet and exercise weren't enough and I would have to take these tablets - to be fair it's the first I'd heard of them but after reading some of the comments on here I am a bit worried.

I wasn't given masses of detail about diet just general things like eat brown bread, avoid hard cheese and fatty foods, takeaways etc...

I feel like I have no option but to take them as I'm worried about my cholesterol staying at it's current level (never even knew I had a problem with my cholesterol before this test) but I will defintiely take your advice and return to the docs if there are any severe side effects. I just hope I'm one of the lucky ones!

Hi!

I am 67 and had to stop being on statins 2 years ago, after being on them since 1984. I started off on 10mg

and had my doseage increased slowly to 80mg. About 3 years ago I started getting severe muscle pain.

When I was first put on statins the UK NHS used to test my Creatin Kinase readings each year. In 2010 this

was stopped as a cost saving measure. In 2012 I could hardly move because the muscle pain was so bad. I was due a routine blood test for high cholesterol and persuaded the nurse to carry out a CK test. The result

revealed that I had a CK reading of 14000ui. It should have been 150ui max! I subsequently had a muscle

biopsy which confirmed that I had Statin Induced Myositis. Two years on - after being treated with

Prednisolone and

Methotrexate my readings are about 400ui and I feel a lot better(; that said I get very breathless and my legs and arms are very weak. I doubt that I will ever fully recover. Statins are wonderful but are not for everyone. If you start to experience muscle pain I suggest that you insist on a CK check. I have been told that I can

never take statins again.

I was on 40mg of Simvastatin for 5 years. I didn't realise I was getting side effects as they came on so gradually I thought it was just the ageing process. General Aches & pains, deteriorating memory & mental sharpness and eventual depression. The Simvastatin has been replaced by Artvastatin but it is too early to say if is any better.

You may get no side effects, some people don't, so it is worth trying it, but be aware that the side effects can be slow to develop and therefore not obvious to spot. If you suspect something go back to your doctor, don't just soldier on, I tried to ignore it and ended up in trouble.

Thanks for all the advice guys, I will certainly be much more aware now if something doesn't feel right I will be straight back to the docs. I'll let you all know how it's going. Thanks a million.

Hi Rosco

Shall tell you my story. On 5th February this year My doc said my cholesterol was 8.6 and he put me on

Atorvastin.

Hi Rosco

Sorry my connection went.

As I was saying I was put on Atorvastin. I couldn't bring myself to take the tablets after reading so much

about the side effects, very scary. This is what I did

Every morning I have rough porridge with blueberries

Lunch.... I had home made vegetable soup .... with a slice of seedy bread with proactive spread plus Benecol

or proactive drink.or mackerel sandwich and benecol drink.

Evening meal ..... chicken or fish with more veggies

In-between meals. apples, figs, nuts, I love almonds there the best, dates and oranges.

I cut out added sugar completely. lots of water.

In the evening a small bowl of oat bran about 25 grams. made with water, takes a couple of minutes to make.

I am 67, I lost 7 lbs in weight, and yesterday my cholesterol was 5.7.

So from February 5 ....8.6.to March 21..... am now 5.7. It was quite strict what I ate, but I never felt hungry, and I actually enjoyed my food, I feel healthier, but most important I did it without Statins.

No side effects.oh and I used to have flashes in both eyes, one eye no flashes at all and the other hardly

any now.

If this helps you ...... or anyone ....... Good luck.