Statins

Thank you,thought would be feeling better by now.Some days i can't even be bothered with anything.Just wish it would all go away

Aww thanks,yes thought i would ask for a lower Dosage first.It dosn't seem fair,to suffer a Heart Attack then have to put up with more pain

Hi,i am on lots of tablets,yes this is my first Heart Attack.Doc has lowered the dsage today to 40mg,see if that hlps me.

Thankyou,been doc today,lowered dosage.Just see if that helps a bit.80mg is quite strong.

Hi Lynn, firstly so sorry to hear of your heart attack, I wish you the very best in your recovery.  It's quite likely the bruising is as a result of other medication rather than statins, blood thinners, anti-platelet, etc.  The statins are however known to cause severe side effects related to muscle damage so if you have any symptoms of joint or mucle pain, it's very important you raise this with your doctor.  The jury is out on whether statins have any real effect on preventing heart attacks or strokes by just reducing cholesterol readings.  I personally have refused to take them any more as the muscle damage they caused me was horrendous and some irreversible.  I truly believe doctors over prescribe them on the advice and guidance of NICE, who in turn are excessively influenced by drug companies and their profit margins.  As you have spoken to your doctor and they have reduced the dosage, the best thing is to keep a very close eye on continuing symptoms and urgently go back to them if you continue to experience muscle or joint pain.  Also insist strongly on very regular liver enzyme function tests as they are known to cause liver damage also.

Whether it has anything to do with the reduced cholesterol or whether it is some other action they have, there is evidence that statins do SOMETHING that prevents some cariovascular events. There is not a lot of evidence that they prevent primary events in women but they do change something after you have had one: i.e. it probably won't prevent a woman having a first heart attack but probably will reduce the chances of her having a second one. It is different for men. Statins seem to reduce primary and secondary events for men.

I had muscle problems on half the dose of Lipitor - after 10 days I couldn't walk. The cardiologist was perfectly happy about me stopping and not trying anything else - but I have atrial fibrillation and that doesn't count as a "cardiac event".  

Did they do a blood test when you were on 80mg and will you be having one, once the lower dosage has kicked in?  You need to see what's happening to your cholesterol levels on the different doses. 

My cholesterol was 4 on 40mgs of atorvastatin and 5 on 20mgs.  Am sticking to 20mgs for the moment but doc would prefer me to take 40mgs.  The docs do say that, if you've had a heart attack, it is important to stay on statins.  I'm sure statins are over-prescribed and I've known a number of people come off statins but these people haven't had heart attacks.  Who knows what's the best thing to do.

Will say again that it is hard to isolate the tablet which is causing the side effects when you are taking a mixture of meds.  You haven't mentioned muscular pain.  Lots of us on this forum experienced and experience fatigue as a result of beta blockers.  Are you one of those too? 

7 weeks is early days Lynn.  It's taken me 6 months of medication tweaking by the docs (and me doing a bit of my own on the side whilst keeping a close watch on my blood pressure) plus daily walking and all the other lifestyle stuff to get my act more or less together.  Were you offered cardio rehab at the hospital?  I found that helpful too. 

Having a heart attack is a bit of a shock to the system, especially if you weren't expecting to have one. Tweaking the meds in conjunction with your GP if possible is one way forward likewise building up on exercise if poss.  Gentle walking is good for starters and might counteract fatigue. 

All best

Alex

You're right Eileen, they would seem to be useful in preventing recurrence of cardiac events in women.  I wouldnt try to persuade someone following a heart attack not to take them against doctor's advice but it's critically important that the patient taking them is monitored closely, particularly in respect to liver and muscle reaction.  GP's are terribly remiss at reminding patients to book regular liver enzyme tests and almost never mention that they should report back re side effects such as muscle and joint pain.  It's probable that Lynn's symptoms are not related to the statins she is taking but from one of the other medications - unfortunately the necessary cocktail of meds that need to be taken following such an event as a heart attack mean it's confusing to know which one is causing which issue.  I hope Lynn that you continue to recover well and that the meds you have to take calm down soon and your side effects ease off.  Best wishes. xx

Absolutely loxie - but you'd be amazed how many GPs don't believe the muscle/joint pain complaint even when the patient has pre-existing problems! Or when they start a new medication and problems appear within days. I can excuse not picking it up when it is a late consequence - but a few days later? 

I was supposed to be monitored - but the state I was in after a week made the blood tests fairly unimportant and I made a unilateral decision although it was after discussion with a doctor - and was amazed when the cardiologist was fine about it.

But then, I don't live in the UK and our healthcare system isn't quite a broken as the UK is currrently. I turn up and wait to see the GP same day, bloods at the latest next morning. If she thought it needed to be sooner I'd get a letter in the hand for either the lab or the ER - not a private system either, state funded with a small co-pay. 

At the mo i am taking,Atorvastatin 40mg,Bisoprolol 5mg,Ticagrelor 90mg and Asprin,75mg,the Pharmacist said the Bisoprolol causes fatigue

 

Thank you Loxie X

 

Yes Bisoprolol causes fatigue and Ticagrelor is probably causing the bruising.  I think the latter is an anti-platelets med which they'll probably keep you on for one year.  Lots of us have been unable to stay alert (in my case awake) on Bisoprolol.  Mine was reduced 3 months after the heart attack.  That's the next  tablet to discuss with your GP or consultant if you have a hospital appointment.

 

Bisoprolol doesn't always cause fatigue - I've been on it for over 2 years with no problems at all. I do also take Losartan, an angiotensin 2 inhibitor I think, so I imagine both are at lower doses than one would be alone. That is a common way of managing side effects in hypertension therapy and maybe worth exploring with your consultant? 

Oh ok thanks for that Eileen.I havn't got the best of Gp's.They don't seem to listen.Going back to work on Mon,ony few hrs,also a Phase return,Doc didn't assess me to see if i was ok for work,or do any checks ie Bloods.

Thank you,Alexandra.Got app in February with a Cardiologist.

That's great, Lynne - both re work and cardiologist.  Might be an idea to make a few notes before seeing cardio and take them with you.  Apart from anything else you need to describe your side effects, give the date you cut down on the statin and ask who will take a blood test and when.  Remind them to take your blood pressure and pulse rate and, if you wanted, you could ask if you can reduce Bisoprolol.

I found that my Consultant was far more willing to reduce dosages than my GP.  My Consultant said I could stop taking Biso and halve the statin dosage.  Only problem was that all my levels increased after doing so (BP, pulse rate and cholesterol!) so then saw GP on a weekly basis for quite a while being checked out and having meds tweaked.  Went back on a lower dose of Biso (1.25) but trying to stick with half the statins' dose for now and attempting to carry on walking although have been a bit slack over the holidays. 

A pity your GP not up to much.  Is there another you can see in the surgery?  How's your blood pressure?  Are you on a separate BP tablet in addition to Biso? 

Good luck, take care and keep us posted.

Alex

 

Have you been signed off work? Because if you have then you usually require a "fit to go back to work" line - unless things have changed.

As Alexandra has said - any chance of a more useful option at the practice? No wonder GPs seem to miss so much...