Statins

I was having 6 month blood tests as a result on being on blood pressure tablets. I was put on simvastatin early in 2013. A previous blood test showed no other problems. A few months later a blood test showed elevated sugar levels and after additional tests I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In September 2013 I had loss of most of the site in my right eye. Often a complication attributed to Diabetes and high blood pressure. For some reason the specialist did not think that was the cause but could offer no other explanation other than it can happen and we don't really know why but there is a 30% chance of the same happening with the other eye. 

Over a period of time I developed walking difficulties. (My hips have not been good since before I was 55 but I still was able to walk 14 miles with a few stops to enjoy the scenery. Often walked 4 or 5 miles when I retired at 55.) This was not my hips though but I suspect that they somehow masked the symptoms. We met up with a lady who is mid 80s and a friend of ours in Exeter mid last year and as we walked up into town from the old dock area it was her that left me standing. I had to keep stopping to rest and admire the views.

December last year we went off to Southport with the caravan. We sited the caravan and after setting it up I walked a couple of hundred yards to the wardens office and had to stop a couple of times on the way. I stopped taking the statins, (might have stopped slightly earlier). In April my tablets for diabetes were reduced following a blood test and tablet review. In August I was told that I was no longer diabetic, Last blood test a few weeks ago confirmed that my sugar levels were fine and my cholesterol level was 4. My walking has also improved - slowly. 

Some seem fine on simvastatin. I have enough problems with arthritis 

Write your comments here...SIMVASTATIN They put me in a wheelchair eleven years ago.I feel I would not be here today if I had not insisted on stopping them.

I was put on Simvastatin three years ago without any evident side effects that I noticed, although after a bit of horse-trading with my GP, I persuaded him to reduce from 40Mg to 20Mg as I dislike any medication if avoidable. A couple of months ago, following my stroke/TIA, I was switched to Atorvastatin 40mg plus Indapamide and Clopidogrel. Haven't noticed any side effects but then I didn't notice the stroke either! Only take paracetamol in desperation so this new regime is decidedly alien.

I was put on Clopidogrel after a suspected TIA early this year. It seems likely however that the blurred vision that I suffered for around 7 hours but which had cleared after a futher 5 hours whilst I was asleep might well have been due to a doubling of dosage with one of my blood pressure tablets as this was a known side effect as I discovered later by checking out NHS info. On that occasion the person that completed the discharge form mentioned tha tI had been advised not to drive for a month. I had not, I had a telepone consultation with the consultant that I had seen and he believed that it was not a TIA. I still refrained from driving for a month as that was no inconvenience. Must have been mid Feb as the caravan was due for a service 1st April and we were away from 7th.

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I think it was Val that mentioned that doctors are paid to issue these drugs. I think that is a bit of a simplification of the situation. Surgeries got extra money for setting up monitioring programs, especially for people of a certain age in order to reduce the risks of early strokes and heart attacks. That monitoring involved blood pressure, sugar levels and cholesterol all of which impact on those problems. The trouble is that if people take themselves off such medication without discussing it with their doctors they could be putting themselves at risk so think carefully about it. 

David 

I think it was Val that mentioned that doctors are paid to issue these drugs. I think that is a bit of a simplification of the situation. Surgeries got extra money for setting up monitioring programs, especially for people of a certain age in order to reduce the risks of early strokes and heart attacks. That monitoring involved blood pressure, sugar levels and cholesterol all of which impact on those problems. The trouble is that if people take themselves off such medication without discussing it with their doctors they could be putting themselves at risk so think carefully about it. 

David 

Agreed David, however if the drug is crippling one then time to speak to the doctor. The hospital would initially have prefered me to be on statins as I have a partially blocked artery in my neck even though my statin level is 4.  However they say that it does not require action. When I discussed the effects they had they agreed to my not taking them.

If I cannot walk without stopping every 100 yards then that is unnaceptable to me as is increased sugar leel and diabetes. Yes I have discussed with the doctors. 

What an unhealthy lot we are .   ....  

Speak for yourself   I'll take something in the morning after the night before if needed ..... but that's it in the way of medication 

Lucky you, MM!

We have both done a lot of reading today!  There seems to have been a lot of research regarding the effects of statins which we were unaware of 

OH has decided that he will no longer take statins until his GP can assure him that taking this drug is not the cause of his current health problem.  He is going to phone his GP first thing tomorrow.

Great that this thread has caused so much discussion. My OH put on them and blood pressure pills as well as asprin  after heart attack 22 years ago. Told it was precautionary. For first years took them but got worse and worse remembering, then when he did similar to others side effects. On one of his check ups he spoke to our, now retired GP, he said he wasn't going to take them any more. 10 years or so on all seems fine, fingers crossed. Really GP should diuscuss trouble giving them out or not, the biggest thing is a GP who will discuss and except we can understand our own bodies too.  Definitely a regular annual check up, or more frequent if any changes in meds seems reasonable.