High LDL and statins... - Page 3

chanel 5 · ‎08-27-2012

Hi! Has anyone noticed any deficiency in memory while being on Statins?

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

stayn off the statins and start a low fat diet and exercise program to lower your cholesterol.

willdob3 · ‎11-01-2010

On 3/6/2014 chanel 5 said:
Hi! Has anyone noticed any deficiency in memory while being on Statins?

It is a very common side effect. From what I've read, in most cases memory returns to normal after stopping the statins. People say that statins made them "stupid." You can Google that & find lots of info.

I would never take statin drugs but I know people who take them and have bad side effects. It is sad when the drugs do nothing good and do so much harm.

chanel 5 · ‎08-27-2012

Thank you ladies for responding. I have naturally hi cholesterol and do try to eat well although not vegetarian. My family has started noticing the memory issues. I'm glad to hear it returns when statins are stopped. Will google.

Katmary · ‎03-10-2010

If you DO stay on statins, one idea to treat the symptom of muscle spasms/pain that may be worth trying is Magnesium. I take it for muscle spasms from nerve pain/back problems and it helps a lot.

My cholesterol and triglycerides are a lot higher and unfortunately, have been so since I was a teen. My doctor's trying to get them down through Niaspan (prescriptions Niacin). The flushing shocked me but I found through taking my allergy medicine (Claritin) first and/or aspirin, it tends to keep it in check. I was scratching in my sleep and then once I went up in dosage I was ready to quit the flushing was so intense! I'm so glad I found ways to prevent it as it's one of the first things to make a significant difference.

I was eating old fashioned oatmeal (Heart Association said it was one-and-a-half servings that seems to help) plus would add ground flax seed into the oatmeal and my good cholesterol is high. I'm temporarily putting this on hold as I'm trying to get my weight down and my doctor wants me to stick with protein and veggies as I keep plateauing after gaining a lot of weight post-back surgery.

It's frustrating when it runs on both sides of the family. I rarely eat things with cholesterol and yet I have enough for three people, it's tough when things on the list to try don't make much of a difference.

Lacey1 · ‎03-09-2010

The reason people have muscle pain from statins is this: The statins confuse muscle tissue with cholesterol deposits. The statins are destroying the muscle, hence-pain. They always give it a quick, 'a rare but serious condition may occur, so tell your physician if you experience muscle pain'. They are right about it being serious but it's not so rare. Statins can be very dangerous. Do a Google search about 'Statins side effects'.

The insurance companies make the physician start the patient on the least expensive medication. If it works-fine. It the medication doesn't control the problem, or if the patient has side effects-then the doctor can prescribe the next medication in the tier. There are other medications of lowering cholesterol but they frequently start on Niaspan, then statins.

Taking other pills to control the problems caused by one pill is buying trouble. Lot's of patients 'think' that they are eating right and their cholesterol problem is genetic. Check out the Dr. Dean Ornish books on cholesterol and heart disease.

crush · ‎03-09-2010

Thanks for the thread; my husband suspects his cholesterol may be high (was in years past), so he is going to get a preliminary home test before going to doctor. He has never taken statins and does not want to start. If his is high, he will try to do things the natural way. He is in the insurance business and has heard many horror stories from clients who took statins and quickly came off. I know there are many who take them with no side effects...that's great. My mother's doctor is very against statins just for high cholesterol. He only prescribes it if there are other serious factors (heart problems, etc.) He does prescribe medications if absolutely necessary, but he's also told us that our society is an overmedicated one and he thinks most of the drugs prescribed are just a big "racket"!!!

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

On 3/9/2014 crush said:
Thanks for the thread; my husband suspects his cholesterol may be high (was in years past), so he is going to get a preliminary home test before going to doctor. He has never taken statins and does not want to start. If his is high, he will try to do things the natural way. He is in the insurance business and has heard many horror stories from clients who took statins and quickly came off. I know there are many who take them with no side effects...that's great. My mother's doctor is very against statins just for high cholesterol. He only prescribes it if there are other serious factors (heart problems, etc.) He does prescribe medications if absolutely necessary, but he's also told us that our society is an overmedicated one and he thinks most of the drugs prescribed are just a big "racket"!!!

Suspects he has high cholesterol? What exactly does that mean? Now to someone like myself that knows my body very well and has for decades, I "don't suspect anything". What I do is get it checked and find out what is happening, not what I think/or suspect.

Not many people if they live long enough that don't hear tons of "horror stories" about just about any physical ailment. Unless one goes through one personally they have not real knowledge of what "is horror or what is not horror". There are many that like to "make a mountain out of a mole hill" when it comes to something they experienced related to a health or physical injury.

I'd like to have a discussion with you mother's doctor about meds equal "a big racket". Sure there are many taking meds that are not necessary, in my opinion. But to say it is "a big racket"? I have doctors in my family and I have many very close friends that are also doctors and they only medicate when necessary. And in this I am including my Cardiologist who has had me taking Lipitor/Atorvastatin since 2003. And me one that has not had a high cholesterol reading since the 1960's when they first learned about what cholesterol meant in relation to heart disease.

What has your husband got against getting a full lipid panel blood draw?

hckynut(john)

bells4me · ‎03-13-2010

If I didn't agree with my doctor I would ask for a second opinion. I would never ask for medical advice on a shopping board.

mousiegirl · ‎03-09-2010

I take a regular aspirin every day, took two a day for most of my life, but cut down to one. I would never take statins, and with an aspirin, the blood stays on the thin side. Statins were mentioned to me once, and I said never, my blood is thin enough due to the aspirin.