statins - the dangers
- Jun 11
- 6 min read
I have a bad left hip. Gives me a lot of shooting pain and soreness.
I also have a bad back, and have had since a teenager. Arthritis doesn't help.
I have learned to monitor my back and how to bend and lift accordingly so not to put my back out in spasm of pain.
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My hip though, besides excerises given, which doesn't appear to do much, was getting worse and worse recently and I was having difficulty going up stairs and walking and it was becoming increasingly painful - from my hip right down to my knee and up through my groin was qbecoming quite severe - and it was the nagging constant pain even when laying in bed.
No joy from the NHS who just keep telling me it is my responsibility to exercise the joint correctly and - basically - if I don't and it gets worse, it's my fault ( fuck off ) not that it might just get worse on its own, any negative progression was indicated to be registered even beforehand, as being my fault.
That didn't go down too well with me as we see the NHS avoiding responsibility.
I stopped taking my statins and within days - the runny nose stopped and the hip and bad back myseriously went and while I still have hip problems, the pain has reduced by at least 80% and my back - is back to normal, and all - I feel - brought on by the statins I was prescribed by my doctor.
Is it a coincidence my hip and back both reduced in pain thresholds dramaticaly within days of stopping the drug. Is it coincidence ?
The statins did reduce my cholesterol levels by half, while I also changed my diet so that probably had a contributing factor - however small - and it wasn't all down to the drugs, but what a lazy and easy way to better health than just taking a tablet daily - but not when it comes with such bad side affects and not when you know you will be on them for life and the pharmacutical companies love you until death - literally - as they benefit financially from your bad health. It's all about money.
Side effects of atorvastatin
Like all medicines, atorvastatin can cause side effects in some people, but not everybody gets them. Different statins affect people in different ways. Some side effects may improve after the first few days, as your body gets used to the medicine.
Common side effects
These common side effects of atorvastatin happen in more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:
Feeling sick (nausea) or indigestion
Stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food. It might help to take your atorvastatin after a meal or snack. If you continue to get symptoms of indigestion, ask your pharmacist to recommend an antacid. Contact your doctor if your symptoms continue for more than a few days or if they get worse.
Headaches
Make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. It's best not to drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking atorvastatin. Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe.
Nosebleeds
If you get a nosebleed, sit down and lean forward, with your head tilted forward. Pinch your nose just above your nostrils for 10 to 15 minutes and breathe through your mouth. You could also try holding an icepack (or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel) on the top of your nose to help reduce the blood flow.
Sore throat
If you have a sore throat, try gargling with warm, salty water (children should not try this), or ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller to ease any pain or discomfort. Drink plenty of water, eat cool or soft foods, and avoid smoking or smoky places.
If the symptoms last longer than a week ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice.
Cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, blocked nose or sneezing
Make sure you rest, keep yourself warm and drink plenty of fluids. Your pharmacist can recommend a suitable cold medicine and a decongestant spray or tablets to help relieve a blocked nose.
Constipation or farting (flatulence)
Try to eat smaller meals, eat more high-fibre foods such as fresh fruit, vegetables and cereals, and drink plenty of water. Drinking peppermint tea can be helpful for farting. Try to exercise more regularly, for example, by going for a daily walk or run.
If this does not help, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
Diarrhoea
Drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
If this advice does not help and any of these side effects continue or bother you, keep taking the medicine, but tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Drinking a lot of alcohol regularly increases the chance of you having side effects with atorvastatin, and liver problems.
If you think that atorvastatin is causing side effects and they're making you want to stop taking it, talk to your doctor first. They may be caused by another problem and not the medicine. Your doctor may suggest lowering your dose or changing your medicine.
If the physio guy had looked like this nurse I might have paid more attention
Serious side effects
Stop taking atorvastatin and call a doctor or call 111 straight away if:
You get unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, weakness or cramps – these can be signs of muscle breakdown and kidney damage
The whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow, although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin, or if you have pale poo and dark pee – these can be signs of liver problems
You get a skin rash with pink or red blotches, especially on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet – this could be a sign of erythema multiforme
You have severe stomach pain – this can be a sign of acute pancreatitis
You have a cough, feel short of breath, and are losing weight – this can be a sign of lung disease
You have a weakness in your arms or legs that gets worse after activity, or if you get double vision, drooping eyelids, problems swallowing or shortness of breath - these can be a sign of myasthenia gravis.
Please : Never just take the tablet and assume the doctor know what they are doing. as many are so full of ther own self importane and some live the 'God Complex,' assuming they are always right and we, the comon folk, should bow down to these God's and that attitude makes me laugh at them.
ALWAYS ASK A MILLION QUESTIONS - to the doctor - in his / her face - and don't let them palm you off with an excuse that all this is available on the internet - as then our answer is ' Well what do we need you for then, if it's all on line ?'
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SOME OF YOUR ANSWERS CONCERNING STATINS
Dear John.
Firstly, I love the newsletter and always look forward to it landing in my box each Sunday.
Thank you for sharing your experience with statins last week. What you describe sounds so much like what I'm experiencing. I've been taking them for years and have simply accepted some of the side effects you mentioned as part of getting older. I've even spent a small fortune on body scans, only to be told there's nothing wrong.
Your disclosure has made me wonder whether my medication could be contributing to some of these symptoms, so I think I will have a conversation with my doctor about it. It would be interesting to see whether there is a connection. Sadly, I think I know what he will say so I might have to go it alone.
Thanks again for sharing your experience, it was really helpful. Ron.
Dear John - Same thing happened to my dad and when I was first put on them. My gp. Decided to put me on the highest dose. Bonkers. After two weeks I said I need to stop. He prescribed 0.5mg and that I could start by only taking half of the tablet and work up to the 0.5mg dose.
Had no problems since and even with that low dose my cholesterol is now excellent.
Sharing in case this could be an option to discuss with your gp.
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