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Statin side effects
I've tried statins 4 times since my heart attack last May. I was put on Pravastatin in the hospital and immediately started having muscle weakness, joint pain, bladder pain and urgency. This continued until I took myself off of it. Then the pain and urgency went away. I waited 6 weeks to have labs done and my numbers are higher than they should be considering I'm a heart patient. So, back to the statins and the side effects for the 3rd time. I asked to be tried on a different statin, Simvastatin. Started it on a Thursday and by Friday evening I felt like my lower back was broken. It continued to get worse to the point of me hardly being able to move off the couch for a week. Everything in my body hurt. Of course I quit taking it. My sister went through the same thing with statins and just can not take them. I'm wondering what I can take that's natural. I do take Plavix and a baby aspirin everyday. I know Krill Oil is out. Already checked on that. My Cardiologist is'nt being of much help. He keeps pushing the statins but I'm really afraid of what can happen if I try another one. I am on a pretty strict diet. I've been a vegetarian for many years, so no meat. Fat free organic milk, lots of veggies and fruit. Any advice someone could give me would be great. I'll run it by my Dr first before I try anything. Sorry this post is so long. I'm just at a loss as to what to do to get my numbers where they should be and it looks like I can not take a pharmaceutical statin.
The Ornish diet I think only from a book store or Library It's in paperback!
Ask your doctor about trying Nature's Plus Herbal Actives Red Yeast Rice Extended Release -- 600 mg.
Ask your doctor about trying Nature's Plus Herbal Actives Red Yeast Rice Extended Release -- 600 mg.
Thank you Jon.
After my last attempt with Simvastatin I am so afraid to try another statin. I hurt so bad that all I could do is lay on the couch and cry. My husband had to help me shower, dress, get on and off the couch.
There is no doubt it was the statin causing all of this. I felt great the day I took it and then the next day the pain started in, like before, only this was the worst by far.
I've talked to 3 different pharmacists who all said the same thing. Your one of the "lucky" ones who can not take a statin. What your feeling with the muscle and joint pain can become permanent.
I guess it's time to give my Dr a call. His nurse wanted an update on how the Simvastatin worked out so I need to report what happened. I'm just starting to feel much better and my last dose was more than a week and a half ago.
My LDL is almost twice what it should be. Yes, they want it at 70 or below.
I'll talk to him or his nurse about what else I can try that is not a statin. Can you tell me the names of the meds you know about?
Thank you for commenting on my post.
After my last attempt with Simvastatin I am so afraid to try another statin. I hurt so bad that all I could do is lay on the couch and cry. My husband had to help me shower, dress, get on and off the couch.
There is no doubt it was the statin causing all of this. I felt great the day I took it and then the next day the pain started in, like before, only this was the worst by far.
I've talked to 3 different pharmacists who all said the same thing. Your one of the "lucky" ones who can not take a statin. What your feeling with the muscle and joint pain can become permanent.
I guess it's time to give my Dr a call. His nurse wanted an update on how the Simvastatin worked out so I need to report what happened. I'm just starting to feel much better and my last dose was more than a week and a half ago.
My LDL is almost twice what it should be. Yes, they want it at 70 or below.
I'll talk to him or his nurse about what else I can try that is not a statin. Can you tell me the names of the meds you know about?
Thank you for commenting on my post.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Sorry to hear of your continued issues, I can understand your frustration. I would take my doctor's advice, if they feel a statin is necessary I would try to stick it out. Since you have heart disease, you need to have your LDL under 70. I had an interesting discussion with my Father's cardiologist last week during a visit to Phoenix, he said that in any person with previous heart disease it is imperative to keep their LDL under 100 at the very least and preferably under 70. How high were your levels?
I agree with much that has been posted above, there are many things you can do to help, however you must remember that you have heart disease and now is the time to attack it aggressively. There are still other drugs to try, including some that are not statins and work by blocking the absorption of cholesterol in your intestine, you should ask your doctor about that.
Fish oil will not really lower cholesterol, but ask you doctor for their opinion as you should before starting ANY supplement including Flax Seed oil.
I hope this helps,
Jon
I agree with much that has been posted above, there are many things you can do to help, however you must remember that you have heart disease and now is the time to attack it aggressively. There are still other drugs to try, including some that are not statins and work by blocking the absorption of cholesterol in your intestine, you should ask your doctor about that.
Fish oil will not really lower cholesterol, but ask you doctor for their opinion as you should before starting ANY supplement including Flax Seed oil.
I hope this helps,
Jon
I'm wondering if I can take fish oil. Does it thin your blood? Like I mentioned in my post, I do take Plavix and baby aspirin. Yes, I know about flax seed and plan to get some at my local health food store.
Are there websites for the 2 diets you mentioned? I'm willing to read about anything that might help get my numbers down.
You talked about stress and I do believe it can have an effect on your heart, along with genetics, diet, inflammation and lack of exercise. Ive really worked on getting my stress level down since the heart attack. Little things that used to bother me before are really just not that important and not worth stressing over.
Are there websites for the 2 diets you mentioned? I'm willing to read about anything that might help get my numbers down.
You talked about stress and I do believe it can have an effect on your heart, along with genetics, diet, inflammation and lack of exercise. Ive really worked on getting my stress level down since the heart attack. Little things that used to bother me before are really just not that important and not worth stressing over.
Here are Steps that will give you the best chance of living statin free.
The Dean Ornish heart-reversal diet the Ornish diet is better because it
most effectively cleanses the system of excess fat.
The Ornish diet puts no restriction on calorie intake mainly because it’s hard
to consume too many calories eating fruits and vegetables. Aim to keep your calorie intake to 1,500. Maintain your ideal body weight. One way to judge your ideal body weight is by body mass index (BMI). Start exercising five days a week for one hour per day. Walking is generally the best exercise available because it doesn’t place too much stress
on the knees, hips, and back. If you like to run, you may want to mix running into your walks,Tennis, swim, or ride a bike.
You must get plenty of sleep much more than our culture commonly believes. Not just eight hours a night, but eight to 10 hours on a regular basis. Sleep is the body’s main way of dealing with stress.
Specifically, and lack of sleep results in the liver pumping out excess
cholesterol. Besides sleeping more, it’s important to take additional
measures to reduce stress. The greatest of these is the support of your family. Talk to your husband, or others in your life about
your desire to live in a healthy way. Rely on them for the encouragement and accountability you need.
Slash your cholesterol counts. Remember, there are only two ways to reduce your cholesterol: Stop the production of cholesterol in your liver, or stop its absorption in the small intestine.
Adding supplements to your diet can help reduce cholesterol, but most people have to be at their targets, eating right, and exercising before
supplements can help them stay there.
One supplement works through the liver just like a statin because it is a statin, a natural one. Mevastatin is produced naturally by red rice yeast. You can add red rice yeast by picking up a container at the health foods store. Be careful of the provider, however. In the past couple of years there have been problems with red rice yeast produced in China. Suppliers were adding pravastatin to their product to heighten its cholesterol-reducing
properties. This posed a health risk as the amount of statin people were taking unknowingly varied wildly. I recommend Nature's Plus Herbal Actives Red Yeast Rice Extended Release -- 600 mg
You will have to work with your doctor to find the right dosage
Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and vitamin B3 (niacin), remain the champions of the supplements. Both fish oil and niacin boost HDL,
plump up LDL particles, and reduce inflammation. Fish oil even has a mild analgesic effect, New evidence is emerging that flaxseed contains
three ingredients that aid in maintaining heart health. Flaxseed is rich with the plant form of omega-3 fatty acids, lignans, which contain both plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities, plus soluble and insoluble fiber. Flaxseed seems to help not only with a person’s cholesterol profile but
even in maintaining heart rhythm. Organic grape juice, apples, and other foods that contain pectin help eliminate cholesterol
through the gut. Garlic has a mild effect.
The Dean Ornish heart-reversal diet the Ornish diet is better because it
most effectively cleanses the system of excess fat.
The Ornish diet puts no restriction on calorie intake mainly because it’s hard
to consume too many calories eating fruits and vegetables. Aim to keep your calorie intake to 1,500. Maintain your ideal body weight. One way to judge your ideal body weight is by body mass index (BMI). Start exercising five days a week for one hour per day. Walking is generally the best exercise available because it doesn’t place too much stress
on the knees, hips, and back. If you like to run, you may want to mix running into your walks,Tennis, swim, or ride a bike.
You must get plenty of sleep much more than our culture commonly believes. Not just eight hours a night, but eight to 10 hours on a regular basis. Sleep is the body’s main way of dealing with stress.
Specifically, and lack of sleep results in the liver pumping out excess
cholesterol. Besides sleeping more, it’s important to take additional
measures to reduce stress. The greatest of these is the support of your family. Talk to your husband, or others in your life about
your desire to live in a healthy way. Rely on them for the encouragement and accountability you need.
Slash your cholesterol counts. Remember, there are only two ways to reduce your cholesterol: Stop the production of cholesterol in your liver, or stop its absorption in the small intestine.
Adding supplements to your diet can help reduce cholesterol, but most people have to be at their targets, eating right, and exercising before
supplements can help them stay there.
One supplement works through the liver just like a statin because it is a statin, a natural one. Mevastatin is produced naturally by red rice yeast. You can add red rice yeast by picking up a container at the health foods store. Be careful of the provider, however. In the past couple of years there have been problems with red rice yeast produced in China. Suppliers were adding pravastatin to their product to heighten its cholesterol-reducing
properties. This posed a health risk as the amount of statin people were taking unknowingly varied wildly. I recommend Nature's Plus Herbal Actives Red Yeast Rice Extended Release -- 600 mg
You will have to work with your doctor to find the right dosage
Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and vitamin B3 (niacin), remain the champions of the supplements. Both fish oil and niacin boost HDL,
plump up LDL particles, and reduce inflammation. Fish oil even has a mild analgesic effect, New evidence is emerging that flaxseed contains
three ingredients that aid in maintaining heart health. Flaxseed is rich with the plant form of omega-3 fatty acids, lignans, which contain both plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities, plus soluble and insoluble fiber. Flaxseed seems to help not only with a person’s cholesterol profile but
even in maintaining heart rhythm. Organic grape juice, apples, and other foods that contain pectin help eliminate cholesterol
through the gut. Garlic has a mild effect.
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