Statins

[Bazile]

Er indoors has a cholesteral reading of 3.4.

The doc has suggested that she starts taking a statin 

What's the current medical thinking on the use of statins ?

 

 

[Patsy33]

That's not high, Baz. Why on earth do they want to start her on stating for?

[Buenchico]

https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/behind-the-headlines/who-should-be-offered-statins

[Buenchico]

See also
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-cholesterol/cholesterol-levels/

[pastafreak]

I agree with patsy. It's been said that levels flagging the 'need' for statins have been lowered.

Also, statins may not be as useful if over 75...with muscle pain more likely too.

 

[Barsel]

Bazile, there are 2 parts to cholesterol, HDL and LDL.

HDL is good LDL is bad.

If your wife's total cholesterol is 3.4, that is very good. 

The last time I had mine tested it was 6.4 which is high, but it was my choice not to take statins as they can cause trouble with your liver, and I already have a liver disease.

[dustypuss]

I take one a day . My cholesterol is as steady as a rock with no side affect at all. 

[wolf63]

I am on Statins and spoke to my Renal consultant about them.

She advised that since I was fat, diabetic and have HBP they are going to help me and I should take them even if I have low cholesterol.

So it depends on your wife's overall health.

 

[Barsel]

Susan, I think it depends on lots of things.

Those you've mentioned and age, whether other members of your family have had a heart attack or stroke etc.

[jourdain2]

Not a medic, of course, but OH's experiences may help.  He has had heart problems and a triple bypass in 2000.  His blood clots far too easily.  He's been on statins for - he can't remember when he began them.  His doctor rang a few weeks ago  to say that they didn't think he needed to take them any more.  He's 90.

I believe that instead of the blanket use of statins that was being recommended, there is now a more targeted approach.  Don't know if this helps.

[jourdain2]

^^PS he's thin, not diabetic and generally healthy - apart from the heart, skin cancer, faulty circulation etc..  Sounds awful - but h'll walk most folk off their feet!

[barry1010]

We've all been on them for years, no side effects, all good re cholesterol 

[NoseyNose]

I am Type 2 diabetic.

My GP, put me on Atorvastatin,(bad side effects)but it(and the alternatives I tried) clashed with my Metformin.So being pragmatic,she just took me off of the statins,and left me on the Metformin alone,which was the better choice(according to her).

She said it was more inportant for me to take Metformin,rather that the statins.

[barry1010]

I'm diabetic, too, Gordon (type 2) and was on three drugs including metformin to control it - I was put on Simvastatin and due to go on insulin but decided to lose weight first. Thankfully I control the diabetes by diet and exercise these days - all results within normal range for the last few years - but continue with the Simvastatin.

[Hymie]

Many years ago (about 40), a colleague of mine changed careers and became a medicine sales rep.  He said that the job involved getting to see GPs, encouraging them to prescribe drugs made by his employer, and that the drug company monitored dispensing of their drugs in the geographical area he covered, to see how well he was performing (and pay bonuses).

 

Given the money made as a result of dispensing drugs, the company would also invite GPs (dispensing their drugs) to attend conferences where the benefits of their drugs would be presented.  The transport and accommodation (for the GPs) would be paid for by the drug company and would invariably be held in such locations as the Bahamas, the Caribbean or some other exotic foreign land.

 

It looks like my ex-colleague is still in gainful employment.

[jno]

I was on one for a few months in my 50s but they gave me muscle pains, so a locum GP took me off them. When I asked what this would do for my cholesterol she said my cholesterol was fine, there was no reason I should have been put on them in the first place. But back when they were new, docs thought they were a wonder drug that would cure anything including problems you didn't have.

There are non-statin alternatives like Ezetimibe.

[jno]

Hymie, as I recall they cracked down on a lot of those freebies. I don't know if they're still doing so.

[barry1010]

Statins are very cheap and save lives.  If I paid for mine privately they would cost under £5 a month, less if I bought in bulk.

GPs prescriptions are monitored by their NHS trusts and are accountable.