Statins are a class of medications that are highly effective and safe for most people, but they have been linked to muscle pain, digestive problems, and mental fuzziness in some individuals. Rarely, statins may cause liver damage. Common side effects include headache, dizziness, feeling sick, feeling unusually tired or physically weak, and digestive system issues.
Puritus is another common side effect of statins, which can be determined through a complete history and laboratory studies. Although the benefits of taking statins generally outweigh the side effects, they can still be bothersome for some people. In most cases, they are reversible but sometimes require stopping therapy for a while.
Statin-associated dizziness or pruritus is not limited to rosuvastatin, as dizziness and pruritus have also independently been observed in patients. Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may also occur, especially when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position.
Statins are known to be safe and well-tolerated, but evidence suggests that their use could be related to poorer balance. While headaches, digestive issues, and dizziness are common complaints when taking statins, there is one more serious side effect that warrants consideration: poorer balance.
Statins can cause dizziness, muscle damage, liver damage, dark-colored urine, urinary tract infections, and other rare side effects. It is important to consult with a doctor if you suspect any of these side effects.
📹 12 Causes of Dizziness
This video goes over 12 different but common causes of dizziness. Conditions described include the inner ear to the heart and …
What is a rare but serious adverse effect that can occur with statin use?
Statins have been associated with a number of rare adverse effects, including muscle weakness, peripheral neuropathy, and tendon problems. The majority of individuals tolerate statins without adverse effects. Prior to initiating statin therapy, it is advisable to consult with a qualified medical professional to ascertain the potential benefits and risks associated with this treatment option. In the event of the occurrence of adverse effects, it is recommended that a consultation with a qualified medical professional be sought, with a view to either modifying the dosage or exploring the potential for switching to an alternative statin.
How to stop dizziness from medication?
To prevent falling and serious injury from dizziness, it is important to be aware of potential balance issues and avoid sudden movements. Fall-proof your home by removing tripping hazards, using nonslip mats, and using good lighting. Sit or lie down immediately when feeling dizzy, and if experiencing severe vertigo, lie still in a darkened room. Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery if dizziness occurs without warning. Avoid using caffeine, alcohol, salt, and tobacco, as excessive use can worsen symptoms.
Drink enough fluids, eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, and avoid stress. If dizziness is caused by medication, consult your doctor about discontinuing or lowering the dose. If dizziness comes with nausea, try over-the-counter antihistamines like meclizine or dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) to reduce drowsiness. If dizziness is caused by overheating or dehydration, rest in a cool place and drink water or sports drinks. Your family doctor or primary care provider can diagnose and treat dizziness, and you may be referred to an ENT specialist or a neurologist.
What foods cannot be eaten with statins?
Grapefruit juice can affect statins and increase side effects, so doctors may advise against it or consume small amounts. The doctor will also inquire about alcohol consumption before prescribing statins, as regular heavy alcohol consumption increases the risk of serious side effects. If prescribed a statin, alcohol consumption should not exceed 14 units per week. For more information on cautions and interactions, consult the patient information leaflet accompanying the medication.
Will high cholesterol make you dizzy?
High cholesterol does not cause dizziness, but it can lead to conditions and diseases that may cause it. An increase in cholesterol levels and LDL cholesterol can cause plaque buildup, which can cause dizziness. High blood cholesterol increases the risk of conditions like coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke, which may cause dizziness. Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that the body requires for healthy cell and bodily processes. Lipoproteins carry cholesterol through the blood, with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) being “bad cholesterol” and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) being “good” cholesterol.
Why did the UK ban statins?
The UK’s “statins war” began in 2013 when the British Medical Journal (BMJ) accused two British medical journals of overprescription of statins, a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs, and that their side effects were worse than previously thought. The controversy began when the Daily Mail called it the “statins war”, and nearly three years later, the controversy continues to revolve around this often misunderstood but highly effective class of medication.
Can statins make you feel spaced out?
Despite the numerous health benefits and safety profile of statins, they can cause a range of side effects, including muscle aches, memory loss or brain fog, liver damage, allergic reactions, and confusion. In accordance with the recommendations of Robert Rosenson, MD, director of the Cardiometabolic Unit at Mount Sinai Hospital, the FDA has approved label changes for statins, which now list these as non-serious and reversible side effects.
What are the two most common adverse effects of statins?
Statins, a drug used to treat muscle aches, are safe and effective, but they can also cause muscle soreness and tiredness. A 2022 study published in The Lancet found that over 90% of muscle aches were not related to statins, indicating that the risks of muscle problems are low compared to the health benefits of statins. While studies have evaluated various therapies for resolving statin muscle aches, such as vitamin D and coenzyme Q 10, there is no compelling evidence that any of these therapies are effective. Therefore, it is essential to consult a healthcare professional before taking statins to manage these side effects effectively.
Why do statins make me feel weird?
Statins are medications that block an enzyme in the liver that makes cholesterol, causing the liver to remove it from the blood. They are generally safe for most people but have been linked to muscle pain, digestive issues, and mental fuzziness in some individuals. While they may not cause liver damage, they can cause muscle pain and damage. If you experience side effects from statins, consult your healthcare team to discuss adjusting the dosage or type of medication. Muscle pain is a common complaint among those taking statins, ranging from mild discomfort to severe damage that can hinder daily activities.
Do statins cause balance issues?
The study indicates a correlation between statin use and an elevated risk of balance issues and falls in adults over the age of 40. The risk appears to be greater in individuals under the age of 65 compared to those aged 65 and above.
Why do doctors not like statins?
Individuals aged 65 and above are at an elevated risk of experiencing adverse effects associated with statin therapy, including muscle pain, fatigue, and a reduction in physical activity levels. These individuals frequently present with multiple comorbidities and may be taking other medications. The presence of chronic conditions such as ASCVD can contribute to a decline in functional status and an increased risk of mortality. For individuals over the age of 75 who do not have ASCVD, it is recommended to consult with a medical professional regarding the potential benefits and risks of initiating statin therapy.
Is it normal to feel dizzy after taking statins?
Statins can cause various side effects, including headaches, dizziness, feeling sick, unusual tiredness, digestive system problems, muscle pain, sleep problems, and low blood platelet count. Uncommon side effects include being sick, memory problems, hair loss, pins and needles, liver and pancreas inflammation, skin problems, and sexual problems like loss of libido or erectile dysfunction. These side effects can vary between statins and may vary between different types of statins.
📹 Statins Explained in 10 Minutes (by a cardiologist)
I’ve tried to boil down one of the most complicated topics in medicine to a YouTube length. Let’s hope it worked! Statins are the …
If you’re coming here to shout “paid shill” at me, welcome! However do please try perusal the article too. If you still feel statins are a money grab, consider that a 1 month course of Atorvastatin costs £1 in the UK. I’ll try to answer a few questions, if you have any, over the next few days, please put them as new comments, not replies to this one. Thanks for perusal 🙂 Edit: yes I got the lottery odds wrong, dammit Jim I’m a doctor not a gambly risk man! Edit 2: Apologies to those who weren’t aware of what statins are, this article wasn’t really intended to be an intro to the field but more a guide for those who might be taking them. I agree with comments that I could’ve put a quick paragraph saying what they are.
I appreciate your information and perspective, doctor. I am a 74 year old woman In Canada who has congestive heart failure and afib. I also have familial cholesterol and although I eat carefully, I have been unable to bring it down. In consultation with my doctor, we decided to go on a low dose statin. I have no side effects, and as you say, I won’t “feel” the benefit, however, I am hoping to live longer and be well. I have my first granddaughter who is 2 and I would like to live long enough for her to get to know me and remember me. I will do my best. Again, many thanks. All the best.
While I can appreciate your education and background, the fact remains when people like me are taking a statin and get NEGATIVE side effects, stop taking the statin and immediately the negative side effect stops, that isn’t nocebo effect. I wish it wasn’t true, especially in my case. My cardiologist and I have even tried Zenia, a drug that works differently on the body but still works to lower cholesterol and after 2 months of taking it, just like the other 4 different statins I took, I developed odd, increasing and debilitating joint and muscle pain to the point where I was calling my primary care doctor about pain management and thinking I had injured my knees, but then it spread to arms and shoulders to the point where lifting a cup mug was excruciating. So at what point does the pain level of these side effects that affect so many people and destroy their current quality of life justify 7 months, 7 years or 17 years longer life span? The pain caused made it so I no longer wanted to go outside, get out of bed, or live really. What kind of life is that? I think the medical profession should do more research into the real reason of stroke and death, and have the balls to come out against it. Processed foods and sugar. You are welcome to use me as a Guinea Pig.
As someone with 7 plus years experience taking Simvastatin after a “minor” heart attack at age 55, I can only tell you of my personal results. I began to suffer severe joint pain in both of my hands after 2 years on the drug. I battled high blood glucose levels almost immediately ( one of the many listed side effects of statins is diabetes!). Cognition was diminished ( I would find myself confused as to my location on the drive home from work). Concentration became difficult at times. Diarrhea became a way of life and I felt nauseous for most of the day. After reading many articles on the negative effects of statins, I quit taking the drug. Within a short time ALL of the negative effects went away. I felt human again. My blood glucose levels dropped 30 points! Most remarkably, my cholesterol levels were now in a normal range and my triglycerides are damned near perfect. I truly believe that the best thing that you can do for yourself if you have heart disease or are type 2 diabetic is to eat a healthy, low carb or no carb diet, exercise a bit, and throw the freakin pills away!
I will sum up my feelings about statins in 3 words – quality of life. The first statin I took caused me to have leg cramps that were literally rolling on the floor in tears. The second one caused so much weakness in my legs that I could not stand up out of a chair without help. The third one was not much better – made it difficult to maintain my balance. As such, I refused to take any more statins. What is the point of extending life if it is to be lived as a borderline cripple? Since I quit the statins, I feel better, am more active, andhave an all around better life.
Also, could you address the issue of relative risk vis a vis absolute risk? And the number to treat in order to achieve a positive outcome? Also, is there statistical correlation between lowering LDL cholesterol and preventing death from cardiovascular events, or strokes? I understand that there isn’t such proof of a correlation. Perhaps the whole issue of cholesterol and heart and cardiovascular disease is more complex? Maybe inflammation and insulin intolerance are also factors? Thanks for your help with sorting this out.
My dad took himself off his statins. He’d been on them for years. I was rather worried. The thing I noticed first was he could sudden move more easily. Next was his conversation ability. He had been very depressed for years, now he was upbeat, his conversations were more logical. In the last few months I’ve had the best conversations I have had with him in years. He says he’d rather die feeling alive, than live wanting to die. His inspiration came from cardiologist Aseem Malhota who explains how statins work somewhat differently. It is so hard to know what is right. In the end I think each of us should find out all we can, pay attention to our bodies and make our own minds up.
When I started losing my vocabulary, losing muscle mass, and experiencing random pain in my abdomen, I quit taking statin. My cholesterol is very high, but I have no other health problems. My blood pressure is 120/73, my A1C is 4.9, and I no longer have stomach problems, muscle pain, edema, or depression.
I’m a physician in the U.S. and I appreciate you pointing out that you don’t have a conflict of interest because of the structure of health care there. Here in the U.S., the incentives are totally screwed up due to the over reliance on procedures and de-emphasizing of preventive care. U.S. physicians salaries are the highest in the world (specialists only higher in Holland). This attracts the wrong type of person to the profession. We’d be well served to expand access to and collectively fund medical training thereby allowing the reduction in reimbursements, spreading out of work, and eventual nationalizing of healthcare. This for profit system kills 68K Americans yearly (probably an underestimate).
In the USA, according to one of my doctors, those of us who are diabetics and on Medicare always receive a brief discussion of the possible need at some future point to address high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I needed neither for a few years until I needed both; we tested. Thanks for confirming that we did the right thing.
I can only share my personal experience with statins. I had a quintuple bypass at age 55 after a lifetime of not eating meat or chicken and very little dairy. (Go figure) I was placed on statins after surgery and was OK for 1 yr then bang! I started having night cramps that soon progressed to full blown 24 x 7 myopathy. To the point that I had to retire from nursing and change the way I lived. The serious effects lasted about 2 yr then started to ease up to just generalized muscle weakness. It took me a few more years to realize what the problem was. The problem was that I was on Omeprazole for years (and before that another blocker for many years) and steroids since my teens. They (and other drugs) also have the potential side effect of causing myopathy and can have a potentiating affect. (A different kind but in the end same same as an actual experience). Bottom line do your homework and don’t expect the doctor to have your particulars in mind… they don’t. Check out Statin Deception (Truth about Cholesterol Medicines) New Study!! on YouTube
First time I have seen your post and found it very honest, straight to the point and informative.Your not my doctor but after this short article as well as clearly and concisely giving the facts about statins you come across to me as honest and trustworthy which is a gift not many people have.I have subscribed to your website on perusal this because finding honesty without having an angle and constant bull crap is very refreshing. I am male 59 no cardiovascular problems and am relatively fit and healthy and taking a 20mg Atorvastatin statin as my doctor informed me after a blood test that my cholesterol level was 10.3 and with it being over 10% was required to inform me about the risks and possible use of statins good/bad in the future. For me any chance to increase my cardiovascular health with little or no side effects is a no brainer but my go to thought is, if this gives me more time with my wonderful wife, kids and grandchildren then I’ll take it. Thanks again
Two years ago I was laid up with some bug for six weeks, fatigue, tiredness wiped out. Then after six weeks I had a chest infection for two weeks. After the chest infection my heart rate when standing went up to 180 bpm. This went on for a week then I woke with a pain in my chest and stomach and my heart rate dropped to 44 bpm, with escape and miss beats. I went to the Hospital they said this is normal. No way, your heart do not change like that suddenly. With the history of illness for the last Eight weeks. Some thing has gone wrong with my heart. But they will not listen. At the time I was doing keto diet, which lately have proved heart scaring. I firmly believe my heart problems is from this keto or I have had a virus hit my Heart. I’m 57 and before this I never had any heart problems. Now I’m fatigued, shortness of breath and sleeping a lot.
I’m generally active, of a healthy weight, and relatively young; however, my LDL is through the roof. The doctors I’ve spoken with are pretty sure the bulk of my LDL cholesterol is of genetic origin as it’s extremely high for someone of my age and “health” and my parents both have extremely high LDL despite not being obese. This article reassured me to take the situation more seriously as the side effects I thought I experienced and resulted in me ceasing use of the drugs were probably of different origin. I’m going to get back on my statin today.
I think your “it’s your choice; and, there are things you should be trying to lower your risk” sort of approach is what goes the longest way with people. Laying out the facts, connecting the dots with the patient, and helping them understand things how you see it is the most professional way you can act.
According to this article, side effects are not caused by the statin, but simply by taking tablets. How does everyone know to report the same side effects when the tablets are labelled statins compared to when taking other tablets? And for the few people who apparently derive a benefit – wouldn’t they be better off exercising instead? Shouldn’t a healthy lifestyle be promoted ahead of pill-popping?
Fun fact – I got the worse muscle pain I am ever had taking red yeast rice (had to take antiinflamatories for several days to get rid of it). Subsequently have absolutely no problems taking pravastatin. I am curious : one of the concerns about statins is the reduction in K2 and coenzyme q-10 when taking them – what is your opinion on supplementing with these?
Research Biochemist here – not selling any books or diet plans. I get paid to develop computational models of membranes although all my systems contain cholesterol so maybe that is a bias. I don’t believe that statins work the way you think they do. Statins are an antibacterial defense strategy developed by fungi who develop most of our best antibacterials. In bacteria statins inhibit the mevalonate pathway that doesn’t just make cholesterol molecules but also a molecule called menaquinone which is an essential molecule in the electron transport chain of bacteria (it plays a similar role to ubiquinone in eukaryotes like us). The mechanism of action to prevent heart attacks in humans probably has nothing to do with starving our livers of cholesterol causing an upregulation in LDL receptors – which is the generally held mechanistic explanation. Studies showing a link between reduction of LDL to reduce cvd have been disappointing. RCTs that have used nutrition to lower LDL (eg Sydney Diet Heart Study, or Minnesota coronary study) saw a decrease in LDL but not a decrease in heart disease, and an increase in all cause mortality. A more likely mechanism is when you take a statin, the bacteria in your gut making menaquinone also take it, and we can actually use menaquinone as an essential cofactor – Vitamin K2. So in those who have inadequate dietary sources, production by the gut biome may be why it is conditionally essential. Poison that production and those people become deficient.
I know a lot of people are suspicious about statins. I had a couple of reasons to start taking them. My bad cholesterol was on the high side, and didn’t budge, even with consuming no sugar for almost a year, walking every day, along with a 50 pound weight loss. Also, there was my family history, a lot of sudden heart attacks causing death at younger ages (my mother included). The statin with the lowest dose, has improved my stats. I have no side effects and will continue to take it.
At 63, having had 2 heart attacks and a couple of stents, and being on a handful of tablets a day including a statin, i went full carnivore. 14months later, im 75lbs lighter, cured diabetes, arthritis, ibs, gastric reflux, depression, anxiety, prostate problems, joint pain, bloating, diarrhoea and a plethora of other health issues. Im med free, my calcium score returned at zero. I eat only steak, bacon, eggs, butter. Ive had zero fibre for 14months, and i feel wonderful. Cholesterol is not the enemy. Insulin resistance is, caused by sugar and carbs.
I’ve been following a Ketogenic lifestyle for almost three years…combined with 18 to 20 hours daily intermittent fasting and my consultant recently advised me to follow a plant based diet, because keto was extremely dangerous and would massively inflate my cholesterol levels. I asked him to which cholesterol he was referring… HDL or LDL? Long story short, I’ve maintained a weight loss of 103 pounds, reversed prediabetes and my recent A1C blood test scored me with a healthy 3.7 while my LDL cholesterol was at the lower end of the healthy range and my HDL was right on the money. Needless to say, I walked away from the consultant…who I believe is ten or more years behind the current science. Finally, I implore anybody to search for the new scientific evidence that shows that people with lower levels of cholesterol are at greater risk of death…highlighted by Dr Ken Berry.
This article is exactly what I was looking for. As someone who has been taking statins for over 25 years due to high cholesterol that didn’t respond to diet and exercise, (i am a trim and fit 72 year old), I was having doubts due to all of the YouTube doctors who queation its efficacy. I clearly fall onto the group that stands to benefit the most from statins. Thank you for granting me peace of mind
I had a minor infarct before 5 years 172 cm tall at 105kg… at that time I was 45 years old and do no sports. I take Atozet 10mg/40mg, ass 100, Bisoprolol 2,5mg and Ramilich 2mg. After the heart attack I go to the animal shelter and get the wildest little dog I Could find…. Today Im still172cm (why im still small???) 🙂 but make 10.000 tu 15.000 steps every day with this little dog and weight only 80kg and feel great… Message: Don’t take only little Pills…get a dog and move your lazy butt!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
I took statins for at least one year. I wasn’t told about side effects. I discovered from other people who suffered from the same pain it could be related. I thought it was related to my back, but after discontinuing the medication the pain went away. I tried them again at the lowest dose about 3 years later because of a Doctor friend’s recommendation. Again with the pain. I was miserable. That was enough for me. I am much more skeptical of bright eyed medical professionals now.
I’m back! Dude! I have to challenge you big time on saying the side effects are caused by taking a “pill” and reacting to the act of taking a pill. My side effects were very pronounced and the soreness and aches and memory loss were quite real. My suddenly not knowing my dog’s name was rather shocking. Also, my lying in bed and saying to myself “it really doesn’t matter if I wake up in the morning” was absolutely unlike me. Best of luck and thanks for sharing, but maybe ponder softening what you said about the placebo.
My cardiologist after my heart attack: “lets look at your risk factors: 1) weight?” “10 lbs over weight?” “crap…. 2) ever smoke?” “no” “crap…. 3) drink?” “teatotaler” “crap.” “so what can I do now?” “your liver hates you, take a statin and don’t let it happen again.” (then proceeded to walk out in a huff.)
I’m 67, not overweight, have good cholesterol numbers, do not smoke, drink alcohol only rarely and get a decent amount of exercise. I was advised to start statins last year. I experienced very debilitating dizziness and so, with agreement of my doctor stopped taking them and the dizziness disappeared. I have, nevertheless, introduced plant sterols to my diet (in the form of nuts and plant sterol spreads) in an effort to further improve my cholesterol figures by 10 percent or so, which, I have just learned has been achieved. If you can not tolerate statins there are other ways to reduce cholesterol.
You might consider a follow-up article on statin dosing. There are recent studies showing that you can lower LDL by more than 20% with only a 1/4 dose of common statins. Even someone who has decent numbers from diet and exercise interventions can still benefit from a very low dose. I think a lot of people would be very encouraged to hear that they could cut their dose in half if they are unhappy with the side effects, and might be more willing to stick with it for the long-term. The same is true for ezetimibe, a non-statin cholesterol lowering medication that is pretty effective at a mere 1mg dose. (Standard dose is 10mg.) Combining very low doses of both drugs should produce very significant effects with very low risk of side effects.
The side effects of statins is real. When I suffered my first heart attack, I was placed on Lipitor. Within weeks, my knees were in so much constant pain, I had to use crutches to get around. I couldn’t even attend my cardiac stress test because of it. When I stopped taking them, my symptoms vanished within a week or so. I also suffered from leg and foot cramps. Therefore, let’s all agree that certain people do deal with severe issues from the drug. Let me also make clear that my cholesterol values have always been perfect. Thus, the idea of using a drug to treat a problem that doesn’t exist seems rather dubious and uncalled for. After eight years, I ended up with a second heart attack, got a bypass and placed on another statin. Same joint issues again, but not quite as severe. (It was a different type of statin.) I remained on them for over a year and gradually reduced the dosage. I got off them again many months ago. All of my lipid tests show perfect numbers including cholesterol. Statins may not be “poison” but they sure don’t agree with me and since my cholesterol isn’t really an issue, it just irks me how cardiologists prescribe pills in a manner that doesn’t jive with blood test results. Believing that you’re the lucky one who will get those extra six years is a bit presumptuous. Statistics can be manipulated in all kinds of ways that “prove” whatever they want to prove. Until the day doctors truly understand heart disease and its root causes, I’ll bank on the notion that statins are probably bad for the majority of patients.
My husband was on Simvastatin for over 15 years only to find his carotid artery was about 96% blocked. Mind you, he eats no processed foods i.e., he eats fresh greens and fresh fruit daily and a healthy clean diet. Furthermore, he does not consume anything with sugar, he is an avid runner (with a strong heart), and does not lead a sedentary lifestyle. After his surgery cleaning out his artery, his doctor insisted he continue with the statin “aggressively” and my question to her was; “if statins were so great, why after 15 years of being on them, was my husbands carotid artery 96% blocked?” Her response; there are no guarantees with anything. With this said, I did a deep dive (I’m a researcher), and found a plethora of information (studies, data, etc), that would counter your statements. It all makes sense now why my husband has been losing his memory, muscle strength and was getting horrific cramps in his hands and legs.
I’ve been on Lipitor 80 mg for probably 20 years. I’m 66 years old. 12 years ago I had a heart Cath and had 40% blockage in my descending aorta. I’ve been taking Niacin every night on the advice of a friend who had 4x by pass. In two weeks I’m having a treadmill. It’ll be interesting to see how my blockage has progressed.
The side effects were intensifying, not lessening. That poison was going to cripple me in a matter of months. I’ll skip the 70 months of full body unlockable cramping. I’ve kept some consistently good habits. My LDL is the lowest it’s been since I was in my late 20’s. Thanks for the breakdown. I’m still taking a hard pass. P.S. I’m 61 and I’ve NEVER had high blood pressure. That fucking stroke when I was 37 was directly attributable to coercive psychiatric drugging with Jannsen’s cash cow drug Risperdal. Being a Psychiatrist is a choice. Choices have consequences. I am not yet compensated for that greedy abuse of authority.
Most online statin commentators work for supplements companies, Rogan etc. The biggest of these is called The Wellness Company. Someone who is selling a diet or a book who criticises statins is a con artist. This is the best explainer article I’ve seen. At age 59 I had a calcium score of 43 which is the 38th percentile for my age group. My GP advised lifestyle mods and further blood tests in 6 months to see if I can get my LDL of 3.8 and total cholesterol of 6.3 down by 15%. If not he suggests 20mg atorvastatin for primary prevention, but he also says this is absolutely my choice, as my results are slightly better than average for a man my age who has never smoked and is tee total. Thanks for a great explainer. I’ve subscribed. 😊
Very helpful article, thank you. I have been on statins for about 20 years. Because of all the negative reviews concerning statins, I thought of coming off them, especially as I have chronic A-Typical neuralgia, diagnosed in Scotland, the last 8+ years on the left side of my face/head. MRI’s are clean. Neurologist basically in simple terms said my brain is broken. It is receiving signals that there is pain, but no signals that the pain is gone. Anyway… I was considering stopping statins to see if it will hopefully lessen this constant painful, burning sensation in my head.. But now, I will stay on it.
Isn’t it the case that studies like the SPARCL trials show that statins do not decrease overall mortality? i.e. that the groups on statins did have less heart attacks and strokes, but that mortality in that group was not lower than the placebo group- more people died of other things and, in the final analysis, mortality was the same in both groups. What are your thoughts on this?
When i hear doc putting “lifestyle factors” into equation, it almost always assures me i am in good hands. Those that have and spare time to know their patient, how does he eat, what is his job like, how is the sleep quality, does he have any other seemingly unrelated issues are doing the magic. Sometimes even chat like this can do wonders alone. It’s so tempting to chase easy solutions without adressing the lifestyle issues that brings one to visit the doc in the first place.
When they put me on statins my Doctor started me at 10mg and rapidly went up from there till he hit something like a 60mg dose. That is where I lost my short-term memory. I was living on a notepad and pen. Now back when I did this there was no controversy about statins and no hoopla over side effects. So, nocebo probably was not the case. I thought statins would be great, have my double bacon cheeseburger and eat it too! And, they did lower my cholesterol…substantially. Three days after I went off the statins my short-term memory started to come back, within 14 days I was back to normal. (may have been less days, your mileage as always may vary). Great article though!
The overall cause mortality reduction is basically less than 1% if statins are taken for a number needed to treat on the 70:1 patients for 4 years of medication. This is basically insignificant, the best you could do is change your habits, stop smoking, cook your own food, move a little, drink water and most important of all sleep until fully rested. Humans would rather take an expensive medication that most likely give you side effects than dropping what’s actually killing them.
I had a cardiac event 10 years ago. I was religiously taking my statins and other drugs for a year, but my mood and physical well being was low..I read about the 7 months life extending stats and I decided to stop statins and came back to “normal”. This article made me reconsider my decision of stoping statins. I will go back to my doctor and restart my treatment. If I can add 2 or 3 years of life, it is worth it, 70 months, and I am golden.
Good information. Thank you. Two questions please. One, I understand that statins significantly increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, muscle wasting, and even issues with one’s brain (possibly related to the fact that the brain uses a lot of cholesterol and statins lower cholesterol in an indiscriminate matter). Can you address these issues? I doubt that diabetes, for example, could be caused by a nocebo effect. Second, why don’t doctors simply look to see if their patients’ arteries are calcified with plaque by using an ultrasound of their carotid arteries? Wouldn’t that be definitive proof of the need to take action to remove the plaque and prevent the laying down of more? I have never gotten a satisfactory answer to this question from my doctors. They just look at me blankly and suggest that I take a statin. BTW, my total cholesterol is around 200, my LDL is
I wish you were my GP, my science teacher, and my explainer in chief I could travel around with and use when people ask me questions about medicine. I want you to replace our entire Covid task force spokespeople here in the U.S.A. Thanks for this article, especially the explanation using the example beginning at 3:35.
I’m almost 73. In 2014 I was in the group of people who probably should take statins. My numbers didn’t look good whatsoever. But instead, I changed my diet. I eliminated all sugar, and nearly all carbs. I started eating KETO and all my numbers have come into line again. In the meantime, I’ve watched one after another of my family and friends take statins and die of heart attacks or diabetes or other metabolic syndrome ailments. One neighbor has been hanging on by a thread for years now, unable to live a quality life. The way I have seen it explained is that cholesterol is a bandage that builds up to try to repair the damage from the real culprit, inflammation. Even taking statins, the inflammation marches on. Now I take no meds and spent two days this week digging a drainage ditch and today welding a roof structure on an outbuilding. So rather than weigh the risks of taking statins or not taking statins, I changed the way I eat. It wasn’t easy and sugar and carb addiction is a tough thing to overcome. Do I wish I could have a piece of birthday cake? Yes, until I realize how sugar and empty carbs ravage the body. Thanks, but no thanks to statins.
I took a statin and within 10 days went from my 30 minute cardio workout to not being able to walk at all. Had to use a cane on day 10. Entire thigh cramped up and became weak and two years later I still have muscle pain and had to stop the cardio workout. We have a friend who now has rhabdomylosis so severe he cannot even walk and had to give up working due to the severity of it. The issue was the statin and not a generic or any other reason for rabdo.Now he has to take chemo for the next six months.
Excellent lecture. I have taken Statins for years after I had a stent put in, Yes sometimes i do get cramps at night and during the day, usually after i do a lot of walking and standing I like to bake and spend a lot of time in the kitchen but I always had cramps, even as a teenager.. I do take an over the counter external preventative for the cramps I am 86 years old now. My BP is very good about 125 over 70. I would not tell anyone to take something they don’t need. The best advice i would give is look at your family medical history and see how long they lived and what they died from, that is a good way to see if you need statins.
Thank you for a clear explanation. I am a well controlled diabetic with no family history of heart disease. My mother is 96 and everyone in our family lived into their late 80’s and died of cancer. I have marginally elevated LDL and cholesterol. Ten years ago, I had a cardiac CT that showed a zero calcium score, and my coronary arteries are 1 to 2mm are larger than normal. This CT was offered for free to physicians so they could calibrate the new CT machine. I have no cardiac disease presently. I tried a statin for a few months because of the recommendation of my endocrinologist. I had minimal muscle symptoms, but my LFTs became elevated. I elected to not continue the statins. My LFTs returned to normal. I hope I have made the correct decision. I am 68 years old. I think I will have another cardiac CT when I turn 70 and reevaluate my decision based on the results. I hope I am in the 90% that wouldn’t have any benefit to the medication.
Excellent discussion! As a physician with a significant family history of CVD, and positive coronary calcium scan, I too have done substantial investigation into when statins should be prescribed. I have come to the same conclusion that you have so eloquently presented above. At 69 I am the last surviving member of my immediate family! All of my siblings and parents having died of, or with significant cardiovascular disease. I am a lifetime practitioner of daily exercise, have been on a low carb diet and statin for over 20 years, and weigh in at my weight as a senior in high school. One might ask, ‘then why are you on a statin, you have a positive calcium score, so it didn’t help’? To this I would point out that I am still alive, in perfect health…no hypertension, diabetes, pulmonary, or renal disease; nor ever having had a cardiovascular event. All of my metabolic numbers are perfect including cholesterol (which was elevated at age 40 prior to statin) and maybe most importantly my ApoB. All of us will develop some degree of atherosclerosis as we age and I suspect that I would have had some significant health issues absent my lifestyle and the use of a statin to further reduce my risk. Do I think everyone with an elevated LDL should be on a statin, no. But certainly many patients will benefit. This is something to be determined after a thorough evaluation with your health care provider. It is equally important to reduce carbohydrate consumption and exercise on a regular basis to improve health and longevity.
Typical experience; 1) typical middle aged patient with poor lifestyle health risks comes in for first non-emergency annual wellness check 2) screening tests reveal one or more high risks for cardiac disease, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, smoking. 3) prescribe appropriate medications 4) patient starts some lifestyle changes such as exercise (never ready to quit smoking) 5) patient returns with muscle pains and wants to stop statin……. 6) me spending a ridiculous amount of time exploring that pain and explaining that exercise causes muscle pain, exiting cvd can cause claudication, side effects even if not nocebo effects typically improve after 2 weeks. This is a good article that I need to add to the top of a statin pamphlet I hand out to everyone that walks in the door. Maybe just pamphlet bomb the town, or disguise them as religious tracts and leave them everywhere.
Total Cholesterol was a bit high although LDL was within acceptable levels..Was prescribed statins. Tried 2 different types and although I never had muscle pain I had intense nightmares on both statins once I went up to 15 MG. I’ve decided I’m going to monitor my blood every 6 months and and eat properly/exercise. Question: My LDL is acceptable but my HDL is high, so why do they prescribe statins based on the total cholesterol number rather than just the LDL ( bad cholesterol) number?
What about in the elderly? My Mom went from being sharp and mobile to having intense muscle pain affecting her mobility and being extremely confused. One serious documented side effect is dementia. Considering she could be in the 9 out of 10 getting NO benefit from statin drugs, is it worth such adverse side effects?
Thank you. This was excellent. I will be 80 in 4 months. I have been on statins for five years. With all the media frenzy about statins, I was worrying that I should stop. Your article explained it all clearly and my fears are gone. I will continue my statins and hope to be a lucky one. I’m already lucky to get to be 80.
I’ve been taking 20mg Pravastatin for 31 years. I’m 72 next month. I am not aware of any side effects. I’m from a family that does suffer from cardio vascular disease but I’ve been fine, I believe this is down to the statins. Twice yearly check- ups show that my liver and kidneys are functioning fine. I think that the bad publicity puts people off, and people have on many occasions tried to warn me about the long term side effects, but I’m staying on them.
I monitor my metabolic syndrome (which are all okay): fasting blood sugar, HDLs, Triglycerides, waist size and blood pressure. I walk at least 2 miles a day and do not follow any particular diet but I eat balanced meals. I am 82 years old and do not have any medical problems, except for seasonal allergies. My vitamin D level was extremely low so I take 2,000 D3 units a day,
I’ve seen one meta-study that found statins really do prolong lifespan. By four days. The rates of non-CVD events increased in the statin group. So….on balance…there seems to be no net benefit in terms of lifespan. I think there is more to learn about this specific intervention and the complex causes of CVD. Keep up the articles!
Hi Rohin, Physician Associate in the UK here! The stats are great for helping me disseminate the information in a handy package to patients, but what about those that have a strong family history of CVD? Will they likely be in the 9/10 category because they will probably have a premature life anyway or do you think the statins can shift them into the 1/10 category. Or like everything in medicine is it just case by case basis i.e yes strong FHx of CVD but not all related to hypercholesterolaemia and therefore statins may be of little benefit. Keep the great quality content coming!
Do you think the n=1 study you referred to provided sufficient evidence to categorically state that all side-effects from statins are a result of the nocebo effect? I’m on a plethora of tablets because of my other health conditions, but when I started taking a statin I suffered from a severe set of side effects that I did not even think to attribute to the statin because I was already experiencing some really nasty symptoms and I thought those side-effects must be a further extension of those. Once it occurred to me that the statin might be having a negative effect, I stopped taking it, and immediately started to improve. I don’t doubt that some side-effects from statins may relate to a nocebo effect, but it seems implausible to me that those nocebo effects must account for all of their side effects. Why wouldn’t people experience those same side effects as a result of just taking any pill at all?
My concern as a Woman of a Certain Age is my concern about the wisdom of introducing a drug that affects my body’s natural ability to make cholesterol. It seems arrogant to believe we know better than millions of years of evolution. How will statins, over time, affect the brain,which needs cholesterol to function properly? I am much more fearful of living the end of my life with cognitive impairment than dying of a heart attack. Statins have not been in use long enough to answer to my satisfaction the long-term questions of how they might impact all cause mortality or quality of life. I admit, that I am more likely to look to medicine to solve an existing disease/injury state and not for prevention. For that, I prefer to turn to diet and lifestyle. Not a fan of medication except to deal with an existing condition. Beyond that it still seems like gambling to me.
My mum became very confused and my brother thought she had dementia. When I asked him what medication she was on, he told me that she was taking statins. I begged him to get her off of them. I sent him some research that I had found, and he showed it to her Doctor Who stopped the statins. Within two weeks, she was back to normal And she lived for a further three years till she was 93 and she did not have any further signs of dementia.
You state that individuals on statins for primary prevention, long term, “0ne third of people who will die from a cardiovascular cause will have an average of 70 months additional life”. But elsewhere (BMJ Open 2015 the effect on average survival…I read that even in those who were high risk or had suffered a heart attack and had taken statins for 5 years there was a median increase in life expectancy of 4.2 days. How can anyone (cardiologist or patients) possibly make informed decisions when the information out there is such a muddle? Please could you cite the source of this 7 month estimate. Thanks.
My dad has a statin intolerance (which is very rare). He takes Repatha (an expensive alternative to statins) because it’s the only way he can manage his cholesterol without major side effects. Unfortunately, it was not on the market before his first heart attack, but he hopefully won’t have a second anytime soon. This isn’t to say that I’m anti-statins, I’m very much in favor of them and would recommend people listen to their doctor if they recommend it. This is to say that, for the very small % of patients who cannot take statins, there are alternative medications and they can be used in addition to a healthy lifestyle.
The BEST explanation of how to evaluate claims made for or against a medication that I have ever seen! (I am an RNBSN.) Statistics are easy to misrepresent for someone’s own gain, and statistics are hard for most of us to analyze so we can make the best informed decisions about taking them. Thank you!!!
Thank you. I was a statin sceptic until an appointment with a new cardiologist today. The whole exercise is about risk not the numbers. Population studies dont apply to the individual necessarily. As an engineer when considering risk its about likelihood and consequences of an event. If the consequences are extreme then it doesnt matter about the likelihood. You have to mitigate thr risk. Family history of CVD, pre diabetes, insulin resistance, lack of exercise all cause CVD. Statins have a place. Crestor is better than lipitor as it is water soluble. Modern science recommends a lower dose of a statin combined with ezetimibe. Yes statins were over prescribed and the marketting was criminally negligent. But if you are at risk you should educate yourself and decide on treatment. Get a second opinion from a well researched cardiologist.
Great article. Started statin 15 years ago or so(20 mg). Then went on diabetes not long after(metformin(2000 mg a day). A couple of years ago started 10 mg of high blood pressure then Doctor put me on Jardiance to supplement diabetes(10mg). I always had a pretty good build and played a lot of hockey growing up. Eventually when I worked as a construction Electrician I reached a weight of 300 lbs(not good) but whittled down to 250 lb for the most part. Dr.told me years ago I would never see 210 lbs. Anyways the last 5 years or so I have been having issues with serious cramps in my lower parts especially legs and such. I’ve had headaches off and on and I have always felt like I was in a fog or stupified. Well About 2 months ago I started to whittle myself off of the drugs and I have stopped taking all the drugs for the last month in a half. I have been pretty much on a whole 30 diet for the last month in a half with my wife and my sugars have been pretty darn good and I have measured my blood pressure to be normal. I gotta say that it hasn’t beeen easy but I do feel better. I have to start getting more exercise however. That is the last thing I have to start. Whatever happens to me is in the Great Spirits hands. I really do not want to go back to them drugs. I am currently 58 years old and I currently weigh 215 lbs.
can you comment on statins and memory / cognition? i seem to remember a study concluding that if you’re below a certain age threshold (i think around 60), and you’re taking a statin, your cognitive performance is more likely to be poorer than the average control subject, but if you’re older, the correlation flips, and you perform better than the average control. i take this to mean that everyone takes a hit to their cognition, but in seniors it’s outweighed by the increasing prevalence of cerebrovascular disease in non-statin users. can you set me straight? dementia scares me more than anything, but my father had a heart attack in his mid-forties, and he was extremely athletic. meanwhile, i’m 38, obese, high cholesterol, sedentary (all of which also correlate with poorer cognitive outcomes), and having a really hard time sustaining lifestyle changes for more than a few weeks at a time.
I was on Creston, one of the well known statins for 12 years. I have hypercholesterolemia, or chronically high, cholesterol and lipids. I suffered from extreme muscle pain, enough to make me suffer from chronic exhaustion. I did my own study, where I stopped my statin for three months. What a difference. Muscle pain and some of the muscle atrophy has reversed. I do realize the benefit of taking the statin, as it significantly lowered my cholesterol. I have an unusual diet, extremely low fat high protein. Boneless chicken breasts, 2 x week, fresh salmon 3 x week, extra lean centre cut pork loin(no fat) 1 x week. Day seven is usually meatless. I also have fresh fruit every day, usually a combination of blueberries, blackberries, grapes, honeydew melon or cantelope. I also take a COQ10 with omega 3 supplement to offset the reduction of same from prolonged statine use, in addition to vitamins and minerals, as determine by a nutritionist and dietician. I am in good health. Aged 66, still working 50+ hrs a week. Ride a motorcycle HD Roadking. I do hope all this will give me that extra time. After viewing this, I will be talking with my physician to develop regiment, maybe with lower level statin combined with B12 (niacin) to keep the lipid levels down. Wish me luck.
Great article, Rohin. Restores confidence in the way I was taught to practice. I would love to hear your thoughts on some of the statin content some of our colleagues from across the pond are putting out. I recently came across the interventional cardiologist Nadir Ali on YouTube and his article on “Do statins prevent or cause heart disease?”. Given the insulin resistance epidemic it’s quite thought-provoking. (Also I did watch your article, and I do heed the warning re taking any advice from YouTube … irony-inception here!) Thanks once again. Hope nights were kind!
I thought you would talk about the side-effects more. I’ve definitely had adverse reactions to them and had to try different ones and combinations to finally find a set of pills that give me the right numbers without making me spend all day on the toilet, overly fatigued, or unable to use my left arm. Still working on that last one a little.
I’m on a statin due to majorly high cholesterol (total level was a 350 at one point), which is most likely a heriditary factor. My dad died after his third heart attack (happened at home, and I was giving him CPR), and knowing all the trauma that caused, being on a statin has given me some peace of mind in terms of helping me bring my numbers to a normal level, even with eating fruits and veggies, and being physically active. Keep in mind that I’m only 42, and my dad had his his first major heart attack at 46, resulting in a quadruple by-pass surgery. High blood pressure, heart conditions, and high cholesterol all run high in my family. BTW, $1 for a month’s supply of the drug? Dang! I had to pay $25 the last time I got mine refilled, and I know I shouldn’t complain there, but since my insurance switched at work this past year, and it being a new “level” of drug, I have to pay for it. It sucks.
Wow I could launch into this one! My GP recommend I take a statin. I’m 70 and had slightly raised BP and my A1C suggested my cholesterol was elevated and I was approaching pre-diabetic. I declined and rather than add to the trillion £ the pharamceutical industry gets from statin sales I decided to go to the library rather than the pharmacy. Over 4 months I read every book and published articles, articles etc I could get my hands on. Im educated to Phd level I should add so no dummy. Whilst my GP said I could not reverse things he agreed to re test my bloods 3 months later. I reduced my carb intake to 30mg a day or lower, stopped eating anything remotely connected to sugar went on a carnivore diet of grass fed meat only. I had my bloods re-done recently and hey presto every single indicator AIC etc was down in the normal range and I lost 8 kgs. When I discussed cholesterol with my GP I knew more than he did. When I asked about my HDL/Triglyceride ratio – a much better indicator he said that wasn’t tested!!! You average GP has 6 minutes to tell you you lab results and put you on a statin. Would you buy a car or take out a loan in 6 minutes??
Well I stopped taking my 20mg astorvastin tablet as it was creating bad side effect for me,I was put on statins 8 weeks ago and I noticed I was getting light headed every time I bent over,muscle aches and pains,my chronic back pain was worse,I was having alcohol cravings and I’m not a drinker,and sleep disturbances ! My cholesterol was only slightly elevated 8 weeks ago and I’ve cut out sugar and a lot of carbs from my diet. I go to see my doctor in 2 weeks time,will be interesting to see what he says and I have a blood test next week before I see him the following week.
Reasonable presentation, but implying statin effects are the nocebo effect ( your last slide) seems naive. Crestor list the side effects, which include diabetes, fatal and non-fatal hepatic failure, kidney failure, increase glucose levels and insulin resistance, the list goes on. In return you get this —”CRESTOR significantly reduced the risk of myocardial infarction (6 fatal events and 62 nonfatal events in placebo-treated subjects vs. 9 fatal events and 22 nonfatal events in CRESTOR-treated subjects….MORE Deaths than the placebo “CRESTOR significantly reduced the risk of major CV events (252 events in the placebo group vs. 142 events in the rosuvastatin group) with a statistically significant (p<0.001) relative risk reduction of 44% and absolute risk reduction of 1.2%". ….Absolute risk reduction o only 1.2%….so the possibility of a year or maybe five years of what could be absolute misery of adverse side effects.