Do doctors really know the effects of statins?

Greyrider · 16-07-2007, 21:23

For the last seven years my wife has been taking statins -her cholesterol came down to 'normal' levels some time ago, but the GP insisted she stay on them. For some while now she has been continually tired and 3 months ago she started to be really ill. Upon reading the leaflet with the tablets she had a 'full house' of all the listed side effect symptoms. Her liver function went completely out of control and she contracted hepatitis A. Drug (statins)induced according to the senior partner of the GP's practise, who took over the case. Now she's in hospital with auto-immune hepatitis. The medics, generally, but not all, refuse to accept that statins were the cause, saying she must have picked up a hepatitis virus somewhere - despite there being no information as to the long term use of statins. So, if your doctor suggest statins for you - tell him where to stuff them.

16-07-2007, 21:25

Im sorry and hope she is better soon. Just refusing the drug may not be a good idea as high cholesterol is a very real danger. Side effects should always be reported of course but I wouldn't be so quick to tell everyone not to use these drugs after all who wants a heart attack

Ramrod · 16-07-2007, 21:35

Statins are of great benefit in lowering cholesterol but I'm also seeing people with various side effects as well. Muscle pains are the most common....

---------- Post added at 21:35 ---------- Previous post was at 21:33 ----------

This book might be of interest to you Greyrider...

Greyrider · 16-07-2007, 21:56

In the last few days I've found out it can be contolled by diet. However, there must be more to it than meets the eye because my brother had high cholestrol too, and neither him nor my wife consumed much in the way of what have always been thought of as cholesterol inducing foods. I, on the other hand have spent many years shovelling cream and chesse (not simultaneously) down my neck and all my cholesterol tests have shown me in the 'normal' range. Plus did you see in the papers the other day that full fat milk has been found to LOWER the risk of strokes etc. I read it in the Telegraph.

---------- Post added at 21:56 ---------- Previous post was at 21:51 ----------

Just another thought - wasn't the contraceptive pill the most wonderful thing once, before it was discovered it increased the risk of thrombosis. I was a very young married man when it was introduced so I remember the euphoria about it.

16-07-2007, 22:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramrod

Statins are of great benefit in lowering cholesterol but I'm also seeing people with various side effects as well. Muscle pains are the most common....

---------- Post added at 21:35 ---------- Previous post was at 21:33 ----------

This book might be of interest to you Greyrider...

Interesting read but its also true that high fat diets will lead to obesity and this in turn puts strain on the heart or is that a lie also?

---------- Post added at 22:39 ---------- Previous post was at 22:38 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greyrider

In the last few days I've found out it can be contolled by diet. However, there must be more to it than meets the eye because my brother had high cholestrol too, and neither him nor my wife consumed much in the way of what have always been thought of as cholesterol inducing foods. I, on the other hand have spent many years shovelling cream and chesse (not simultaneously) down my neck and all my cholesterol tests have shown me in the 'normal' range. Plus did you see in the papers the other day that full fat milk has been found to LOWER the risk of strokes etc. I read it in the Telegraph.

---------- Post added at 21:56 ---------- Previous post was at 21:51 ----------

Just another thought - wasn't the contraceptive pill the most wonderful thing once, before it was discovered it increased the risk of thrombosis. I was a very young married man when it was introduced so I remember the euphoria about it.

full fat milk does not have that high a fat content anyway now butter that has a high fat content and dripping that does

Jules · 17-07-2007, 01:21

Hope your wife improves very soon Greyrider

Greyrider · 17-07-2007, 06:30

Thanks Jules. She appears to be getting better slowly - fingers crossed.

Tinky · 17-07-2007, 08:19

Greyrider happy to hear your wife is improving, certainly must have been a very worrying time for you both. Hope she makes a full and speedy recovery.

Ramrod · 17-07-2007, 08:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

Interesting read but its also true that high fat diets will lead to obesity and this in turn puts strain on the heart or is that a lie also?

I'm not sure if it's quite that simple. You have to consider the type of fats consumed, if they are hydrogenated etc..

17-07-2007, 08:47

Fats are high in calories yes? consuming more calories than the body uses in a day leads to a gain in body fat? take it from someone who has spent most his life obese .High fat diets turn ya into a lard ass

Alanmelon · 17-07-2007, 10:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greyrider

In the last few days I've found out it can be contolled by diet. However, there must be more to it than meets the eye because my brother had high cholestrol too, and neither him nor my wife consumed much in the way of what have always been thought of as cholesterol inducing foods. I, on the other hand have spent many years shovelling cream and chesse (not simultaneously) down my neck and all my cholesterol tests have shown me in the 'normal' range.

As I understand it, high cholesterol levels tend not to be as a result of cholesterol consumed, but how much the body naturally produces itself. Apparently this is the dangerous stuff which can lead to heart attacks and (more scarily IMO) strokes.

Nugget · 17-07-2007, 10:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

Fats are high in calories yes? consuming more calories than the body uses in a day leads to a gain in body fat? take it from someone who has spent most his life obese .High fat diets turn ya into a lard ass

The way we work it is that fat contributes to calorific content (although, granted, according to the calculations, it contributes more than Protein and Carbs).

As such, fats themselves aren't high in calories, but contribute significantly to your calorie intake

Blimey, a technical post from me - who'd've thunk it

MetaWraith · 17-07-2007, 12:16

Wow, Nugget resisted temptation and didnt make a joke about only Welsh Doctor's knowing the effects. (particularly those from Prestatyn) so I'll make it for him.

Ramrod · 17-07-2007, 13:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

Fats are high in calories yes? consuming more calories than the body uses in a day leads to a gain in body fat? take it from someone who has spent most his life obese .High fat diets turn ya into a lard ass

Oh absolutely. It's just that some of those fats are worse for you than others in terms of other effects on the body.....not just weight gain.

Chrysalis · 18-07-2007, 01:51

Generally I would have thought muscle pain and liver problems are favourable to a situation that can give you a fatal heart attack, the problem with side affects is drigs have to list all possibilities even if the possibility is very remote.

An example a drug I have been prescribed includes both stroke and angina as side affects and scared me very badly so I refused to take it and was given alternate but less effective drugs. I would guess those 2 side affects are very rare else they wouldnt be allowed to be used but I just didnt want to take that chance.