Somebody tell me about Statins

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finesse

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Lipitor in particular.

My doctor is suggesting that I start on it to reduce heart attack and stroke risk. I don't have any one big risk factor but a combination of things, according to some formula they use, says I have about a 1 in 4 chance of one or the other in the next 10 years. Since I'm almost 73, that actually sounded pretty good to me. She thinks Lipitor could drop it to about 10%.

Are there any notable drawbacks or side effects? I only take Vitamin D3 and a minimum dose of HTZ so I don't really have any drug interactions to worry about. While I've been fairly catholic in my approach to recreational drugs in my lifetime, I've always been leery of pharmaceutical drugs. I'd appreciate any input.
 
finesse said:
Lipitor in particular.

My doctor is suggesting that I start on it to reduce heart attack and stroke risk. I don't have any one big risk factor but a combination of things, according to some formula they use, says I have about a 1 in 4 chance of one or the other in the next 10 years. Since I'm almost 73, that actually sounded pretty good to me. She thinks Lipitor could drop it to about 10%.

Are there any notable drawbacks or side effects? I only take Vitamin D3 and a minimum dose of HTZ so I don't really have any drug interactions to worry about. While I've been fairly catholic in my approach to recreational drugs in my lifetime, I've always been leery of pharmaceutical drugs. I'd appreciate any input.
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what symptoms/labs caused her to suggest it? High Tri’s, Cholestrol? Did she stress a better diet and more walking? I’ve had some friends have no issues with it and some said they were too fatigued after they took it and stopped taking it.
 
Borderline cholesterol issues in terms of total numbers although my ratios are good because I have high levels of good cholesterol. Borderline high blood pressure under the current medication and my age are also factors. Neither diet or exercise are an issue. She didn't push it very hard. It's just that when I bother to ask a professional what to do and pay them to advise me, I seriously consider their opinion.
 
finesse said:
Lipitor in particular.

My doctor is suggesting that I start on it to reduce heart attack and stroke risk. I don't have any one big risk factor but a combination of things, according to some formula they use, says I have about a 1 in 4 chance of one or the other in the next 10 years. Since I'm almost 73, that actually sounded pretty good to me. She thinks Lipitor could drop it to about 10%.

Are there any notable drawbacks or side effects? I only take Vitamin D3 and a minimum dose of HTZ so I don't really have any drug interactions to worry about. While I've been fairly catholic in my approach to recreational drugs in my lifetime, I've always been leery of pharmaceutical drugs. I'd appreciate any input.
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When I had my valve replacement surgery in 2009, I went on a statin. My physician, Dr. Chad Hughes, a surgeon at Duke, put me on a statin at that time, and said something to the effect that if it were up to him, statin would be on the water supply, like fluoride. It is important to note that at the time, they had done a good look at my circulatory system to see if there was any other repair work, and found I was remarkably free of any buildup or narrowing of the veins, etc. Still the statin. A week later, I could almost not move, called the doc's office, they changed the change immediately, and I was fine. I am now on Pravastatin.
I actually had this conversation with my primary doctor last week. I told him my primary fear, like yours, is a stroke. Although my family has been blessed genetically, my sister had a stroke (probably a result of a lifetime of health issues) and my father's dad died of a stroke. My BP is slightly elevated, but I have reduced my drinking substantially, picked up my exercise, and it was 128/78 during that visit. I will take that.
So, in short, my doc thinks statin is a miracle drug, and yes, you might experience side effects until you find the right one. Good luck.
 
About a decade ago, my doc put me on Lipitor. My total C was 360+ with the LDL 200+. Within 90 days I was sub 200 total with low density sub 100. My HDL only really improved when I started to exercise seriously. To my knowledge, I haven't had a single side effect. Maybe they are poisons as the no reference poster boasted, but my doc seems tickled to death with my blood chemistries since I started.

Several year ago, my managed care switched me to a generic and Walmart has it at zero dollars co-pay. I can't say I can see any differences.
 
heel79 said:
When I had my valve replacement surgery in 2009, I went on a statin. My physician, Dr. Chad Hughes, a surgeon at Duke, put me on a statin at that time, and said something to the effect that if it were up to him, statin would be on the water supply, like fluoride. It is important to note that at the time, they had done a good look at my circulatory system to see if there was any other repair work, and found I was remarkably free of any buildup or narrowing of the veins, etc. Still the statin. A week later, I could almost not move, called the doc's office, they changed the change immediately, and I was fine. I am now on Pravastatin.
I actually had this conversation with my primary doctor last week. I told him my primary fear, like yours, is a stroke. Although my family has been blessed genetically, my sister had a stroke (probably a result of a lifetime of health issues) and my father's dad died of a stroke. My BP is slightly elevated, but I have reduced my drinking substantially, picked up my exercise, and it was 128/78 during that visit. I will take that.
So, in short, my doc thinks statin is a miracle drug, and yes, you might experience side effects until you find the right one. Good luck.
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What type of valve replacement did you have? I just had an aortic tissue valve replacement back in April. They put me on a statin and my cholesterol levels have been good.
 
I have taken low dose simvastatin for 5+ years with no notable side effects. My situation was similar to yours with borderline combined cholesterol numbers. X-rays taken for a back issue showed some moderate plaque in my abdominal aorta so my PCP at the time recommended the statin. My new PCP recommended a switch to atorvastatin (Lipitor) but couldn’t really give me a good reason to change. I couldn’t figure out why I should change from a statin that has successfully lowered my numbers for several years with no side effects to an unknown. And I trust my PCP from Cleveland who cared for me for 12 years more than this new guy who just took over for the PCP I started using when I moved back to Charlotte, but who retired last year.

I’m just a couple years younger than you and taking the statin has been a non-event. It has lowered my cholesterol and seemingly arrested the plaque buildup in my abdominal aorta (which I’m told is not unusual for an ex-smoker.)
 
I’ve been on statins for about 5 years now. I’m currently 49. My issue is mainly genetic. My dad also has high cholesterol (prior to taking statins) and has been on statins for a number of years. I maintain a relatively healthy diet (most of the time; though having kids has certainly made it a little worse that it would otherwise be) and run regularly; always have.

I have not had any noticeable side effects, nor has my dad or other people I know who are on statins.
 
I started taking it a couple months ago. My doctor was concerned about my family history of men having heart attacks. My cholesterol was a little high, and I got a scan done that shows the calcium buildup around your heart. I went back to my doctor a couple of months later and my total cholesterol was good, the bad cholesterol was down and in the normal range, and my good cholesterol was higher. No side effects.
 
I will turn 73yo this month and I've taken statins for several years to control my cholesterol levels including LDL and triglycerides. Also, there is some data that indicates statins reduces the risk of dementia for which I am at risk given that my mom and maternal grandmother suffered dementia.

No side effects for me and my cholesterol ,LDL, and triglycerides have been well within normal limits.

If your MD recommends it, I suggest you do so.

Better living through chemistry !
 
heelinhell said:
I will turn 73yo this month and I've taken statins for several years to control my cholesterol levels including LDL and triglycerides. Also, there is some data that indicates statins reduces the risk of dementia for which I am at risk given that my mom and maternal grandmother suffered dementia.

No side effects for me and my cholesterol ,LDL, and triglycerides have been well within normal limits.

If your MD recommends it, I suggest you do so.

Better living through chemistry !
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Dancing With The Stars GIF
 
theel4life said:
What type of valve replacement did you have? I just had an aortic tissue valve replacement back in April. They put me on a statin and my cholesterol levels have been good.
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Aortic. I actually pm'd you when you first shared what you were facing offering to talk by phone but didn't hear back which is fine. But I shared me experience on that thread. I had no issues and my tissue valve turns 16 on jan. 15
They guessed a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
 
finesse said:
Lipitor in particular.

My doctor is suggesting that I start on it to reduce heart attack and stroke risk. I don't have any one big risk factor but a combination of things, according to some formula they use, says I have about a 1 in 4 chance of one or the other in the next 10 years. Since I'm almost 73, that actually sounded pretty good to me. She thinks Lipitor could drop it to about 10%.

Are there any notable drawbacks or side effects? I only take Vitamin D3 and a minimum dose of HTZ so I don't really have any drug interactions to worry about. While I've been fairly catholic in my approach to recreational drugs in my lifetime, I've always been leery of pharmaceutical drugs. I'd appreciate any input.
Click to expand...
Statins are great meds, particularly atorvastatin and rosuvastatin. You may get some muscle aches as the biggest side effect- Coq10 can sometimes help that.
Your risk is a calculation of your cholesterol numbers, BP (the fact that you are treated for bp), age, sex, race, if you have diabetes, and if you smoke.
Of course we also recommend lifestyle changes, but it is definitely recommended for you to be on a statin
 
heel79 said:
Aortic. I actually pm'd you when you first shared what you were facing offering to talk by phone but didn't hear back which is fine. But I shared me experience on that thread. I had no issues and my tissue valve turns 16 on jan. 15
They guessed a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
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Yes I remember. I appreciated that. When your aortic valve finally wears out do you just get another one? Have they discussed that with you? My doctor says when mine wears out(10-15 years) I will probably get a TAVR replacement.
 
theel4life said:
Yes I remember. I appreciated that. When your aortic valve finally wears out do you just get another one? Have they discussed that with you? My doctor says when mine wears out(10-15 years) I will probably get a TAVR replacement.
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The big call for me was artificial or tissue. I knew my stuff when I met doc and knew I did not want artificial because I did not want to go on blood thinner at age 51. Best decision I ever made. Doc says he would not be surprised if I got 20 out if it .. the plan is to replace it not through open heart but by going through vein. He explained how that works and it is amazing. That technology did not exist in 2009 but when I opted for tissue he told me he believed by time of replacement they could do by catherization. I gambled and won.
 
heel79 said:
The big call for me was artificial or tissue. I knew my stuff when I met doc and knew I did not want artificial because I did not want to go on blood thinner at age 51. Best decision I ever made. Doc says he would not be surprised if I got 20 out if it .. the plan is to replace it not through open heart but by going through vein. He explained how that works and it is amazing. That technology did not exist in 2009 but when I opted for tissue he told me he believed by time of replacement they could do by catherization. I gambled and won.
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Yes that’s the TAVR procedure. Did he say how long he thinks you can get out of the second valve procedure?
 
theel4life said:
Yes that’s the TAVR procedure. Did he say how long he thinks you can get out of the second valve procedure?
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No and we actually had a laugh about it. I sorta asked and the implication was it would get me to the finish line so to speak
 
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