My wife and I have dumped statins. I've read before of a few dangers of statins drugs but recently we both have been increasingly plagued by the side effects - well documented by the way - of statins. Simvastatin is the particular one we tossed. I wish I'd have stopped sooner. There are so many testimonials about the bad things that happened to statins takers they couldn't be posted.
Fatigue
Joint pain
Short term memory loss
Depression
Muscle aches and cramps
There are many more that are affecting takers!
Statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Altoprev), pitavastatin (Livalo), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor).
Following is from Mayo clinic.
Very rarely, statins can cause life-threatening muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis (rab-doe-my-OL-ih-sis). Rhabdomyolysis can cause severe muscle pain, liver damage, kidney failure and death. The risk of very serious side effects is extremely low, and calculated in a few cases per million of patients taking statins. Rhabdomyolysis can occur when you take statins in combination with certain drugs or if you take a high dose of statins.
LIVER DAMAGE
Occasionally, statin use could cause an increase in the level of enzymes that signal liver inflammation.
Contact your doctor immediately if you have unusual fatigue or weakness, loss of appetite, pain in your upper abdomen, dark-colored urine, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.
BLOOD SUGAR
It's possible your blood sugar (blood glucose) level may increase when you take a statin, which may lead to developing type 2 diabetes. The risk is small but important enough that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning on statin labels regarding blood glucose levels and diabetes.
The FDA warns on statin labels that some people have developed memory loss or confusion while taking statins.
The following in depth article is very informative, dangers of statins.
http://www.anh-usa.org/the-grave-dangers-of-statin-drugs-and-the-surprising-benefits-of-cholesterol/
Just a few points from the above link...
I will not tell you to quit taking statins if you are... But I will advise you to seriously look into the reams of data and negative testimonies regarding the bad things that have resulted from their use.
A man I am acquainted with says in regard to a post I started on another site;
John Stiles, longtime friend, Vietnam vet.
Frank, I was hurting all over, hips, knees and shoulders/elbows when I quit Simvistatin and in a week or so my pains subsided almost 100%, my hippy P/C doctor immediately prescribed a different medicine but I never took a single pill...I don't know where my cholesterol is now, but it was 299 when I started the meds. I bet money it's nowhere near that now, at my age (69) and height; #167 is not outta the ballpark! And I don't eat near as much as I did back when I started the meds. But I don't really care either...my quality of life is better than it was on statins!
Another said yesterday;
I have considered my symptoms and noted tingling and burning sensation in my hands, leg cramps, and general fatigue. I stopped statin (40 Mg dose Simvastin) last week and I note that I have less fatigue immediately. My measured total cholesterol is 140. Why in the hell did that doctor think I needed Statins? I would like to keep this thread alive for a year or so as a forum to follow the results of abandoning statins. BTW, I stopped blood pressure medicine a short time ago as well. My blood pressure was staying 115/62 and <60 heart beat. I didn't need blood pressure medication either! I still have the symptom of being cold all the time. That may be 69 years old, or medication. I look forward to finding out. I will take Gout medication even though Uric Acid is at the low end of the measurement range. I DO NOT WANT GOUT ever again! I continue to take CQ10 for awhile.
Fatigue
Joint pain
Short term memory loss
Depression
Muscle aches and cramps
There are many more that are affecting takers!
Statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Altoprev), pitavastatin (Livalo), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor).
Following is from Mayo clinic.
Very rarely, statins can cause life-threatening muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis (rab-doe-my-OL-ih-sis). Rhabdomyolysis can cause severe muscle pain, liver damage, kidney failure and death. The risk of very serious side effects is extremely low, and calculated in a few cases per million of patients taking statins. Rhabdomyolysis can occur when you take statins in combination with certain drugs or if you take a high dose of statins.
LIVER DAMAGE
Occasionally, statin use could cause an increase in the level of enzymes that signal liver inflammation.
Contact your doctor immediately if you have unusual fatigue or weakness, loss of appetite, pain in your upper abdomen, dark-colored urine, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.
BLOOD SUGAR
It's possible your blood sugar (blood glucose) level may increase when you take a statin, which may lead to developing type 2 diabetes. The risk is small but important enough that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning on statin labels regarding blood glucose levels and diabetes.
The FDA warns on statin labels that some people have developed memory loss or confusion while taking statins.
The following in depth article is very informative, dangers of statins.
http://www.anh-usa.org/the-grave-dangers-of-statin-drugs-and-the-surprising-benefits-of-cholesterol/
Just a few points from the above link...
- Statin users have a higher incidence of nerve degeneration and pain, memory loss, confusion, depression, and a higher risk of ALS and Parkinson’s, according to Dr. David Williams in his July 2014 Alternativesnewsletter. Statins also decrease carotenoid levels. Carotenoids, which are found in fresh fruits and vegetables and act as antioxidants, have a number of benefits, including protecting against cell damage, aging, and chronic diseases.
- Statin drugs may also be driving Americans to overeat: a twelve-year study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that statin users increased their calorie intake by 9%, and fat consumption by 14.4%, over the study period, whereas those who didn’t take statins didn’t significantly change in either measure.
- An animal study linked statin use to muscle damage. Animals that exercised on statins had 226% more muscle damage than those not given statins.
- They affect the quality of sleep.
- Statins increase the risk of prostate and breast cancer.
- Statins are known to cause liver damage by increasing the liver’s production of digestive enzymes.
- Statins also speed aging and lower sex drive.
- Statins have been linked to aggressive and violent behavior in women.
I will not tell you to quit taking statins if you are... But I will advise you to seriously look into the reams of data and negative testimonies regarding the bad things that have resulted from their use.
A man I am acquainted with says in regard to a post I started on another site;
John Stiles, longtime friend, Vietnam vet.
Frank, I was hurting all over, hips, knees and shoulders/elbows when I quit Simvistatin and in a week or so my pains subsided almost 100%, my hippy P/C doctor immediately prescribed a different medicine but I never took a single pill...I don't know where my cholesterol is now, but it was 299 when I started the meds. I bet money it's nowhere near that now, at my age (69) and height; #167 is not outta the ballpark! And I don't eat near as much as I did back when I started the meds. But I don't really care either...my quality of life is better than it was on statins!
Another said yesterday;
I have considered my symptoms and noted tingling and burning sensation in my hands, leg cramps, and general fatigue. I stopped statin (40 Mg dose Simvastin) last week and I note that I have less fatigue immediately. My measured total cholesterol is 140. Why in the hell did that doctor think I needed Statins? I would like to keep this thread alive for a year or so as a forum to follow the results of abandoning statins. BTW, I stopped blood pressure medicine a short time ago as well. My blood pressure was staying 115/62 and <60 heart beat. I didn't need blood pressure medication either! I still have the symptom of being cold all the time. That may be 69 years old, or medication. I look forward to finding out. I will take Gout medication even though Uric Acid is at the low end of the measurement range. I DO NOT WANT GOUT ever again! I continue to take CQ10 for awhile.