Thread: People on cholesterol tabs, yay or nay??

I just wanted to ask anyone here who is on cholesterol-reducing drugs, have you had any major problems or side effects? do you feel better or worse being on them?

my total cholesterol about 2 yrs ago was 5.4 my diabetes consultant said my good cholesterol (HDL) was high which is good and the bad cholesterol (LDL) was a tad high which isn't so good. she didn't prescribe meds for me.

my latest result is 5.19 (so in effect a wee bit lower) and my gp is hellbent on getting me onto a tablet as he says i am high risk for heart attack and stroke (wow, I didnt know that!) he says it should be 4 or under. he prescribed crestor (I think) in dec 09 which i took for 3 days and quit and is now looking me to go back on them.

tbh, I don't see how a tablet to lower chol. could help me when I smoke heavily and am massively overweight? also there's no mention of good and bad chol. it's all about the total number but that ain't the whole picture. I would prefer to bring the LDL (bad stuff) down whilst keeping my HDL (good) high. How do i know a tablet wouldn't deplete the HDL?

Sorry if this sounds like a rant folks but I am so fed up trying to remember to take my meds, I am on 5 different tabs a day plus 2 inhalers and i know if i ate well i'd likely be able to come off most if not all. I should use this resentment to eat better and exercise and lower levels naturally myself.

Hi Lynella, It is an interesting point about cholsterol as there are such differing views on this subject.
There was a documentary on TV about it and the main thing that stood out in my mind was the fact that soo many people were suffering aches and pains from taking these tablets (known as Statins) and one man had actually been disabled by the drastic affects to him.
I was given them and had to have various ones changed as they had started to affect my kidneys and then when I saw the prog I opted out of taking them altogether. I was amazed at the result as I had not only been suffering from a lot of pains in my arms but also had nettle rash on my arms every night which used to drive me mad.

Some people manage to take them without any side effects but I consider it much better to eat healthily and lose weight which will then bring your cholesterol level down.

All the best to you in whatever you decide to do ...

Originally Posted by Emmaline

Hi Lynella, It is an interesting point about cholsterol as there are such differing views on this subject.
There was a documentary on TV about it and the main thing that stood out in my mind was the fact that soo many people were suffering aches and pains from taking these tablets (known as Statins) and one man had actually been disabled by the drastic affects to him.
I was given them and had to have various ones changed as they had started to affect my kidneys and then when I saw the prog I opted out of taking them altogether. I was amazed at the result as I had not only been suffering from a lot of pains in my arms but also had nettle rash on my arms every night which used to drive me mad.

Some people manage to take them without any side effects but I consider it much better to eat healthily and lose weight which will then bring your cholesterol level down.

All the best to you in whatever you decide to do ...

hi emmaline, thanks for your reply. was the programme Horizon:Pillpoppers on bbc2? I saw it a few days after I'd been prescribed chol. tabs and decided to stop taking them. that must have been early 2010.

I have an appt today at the diabetic clinic ans I'll be asking the consultant what he/she thinks. my dad just dropped off some tabs he collected from chemist a few mins ago and the simvastatin is among them...gonna read leaflet, bad idea lol.

I am cutting out trans fats and see how I go.

Good for you Lynella.

Can't remember the name of prog but guess it could have been, altho' I think this one was further back than that.

Just one other point about docs advice - the majority of them are advised to prescribe these and about 75% of the population are taking them. AND doctors only treat symptoms they do not aim to cure you! ..

Originally Posted by Emmaline

Good for you Lynella.

Can't remember the name of prog but guess it could have been, altho' I think this one was further back than that.

Just one other point about docs advice - the majority of them are advised to prescribe these and about 75% of the population are taking them. AND doctors only treat symptoms they do not aim to cure you! ..

Yeah thats true, treat the symptoms not the cause. dunno why docs are still parroting the 'fat is evil' line, I reckon it's sugar does the damage!

My husband's on them, and hasn't reported any side effects, except for getting his cholesterol down! His cholesterol is now down to normal levels, but the GP wants to keep him on him cos he's overweight. I'd prefer him to lose weight and keep his cholesterol low that way, but he likes his beer and kebabs too much.

I suppose your GPs way of thinking is because you're also diabetic that they're trying to cover their back by ensuring you don't get another health problem alongside your diabetes, as this and your weight is already putting you at risk of health problems? I maybe wrong, but doctors do tend to cover their backs.....

Hi, I was put on cholesterol pills a few years ago as it was 8, for past few months, I kept forgetting to take them and cos I didn't notice a difference in myself, I wasn't bothered. 3 weeks ago i got bad chest pains and went to drs, luckily turned out to be a pulled muscle but he said I needed my cholesterol checking.....it came back 14!!!!! Dr said he'd never seen it as high on anyone and has referred me straight to a specialist!! I'm now in panic mode and joined a gym and eating healthily. Fingers crossed it lowers :-)

Sorry to hear that jo. Obviously a case where you needed to get something done a.s.a.p.
What had your diet been like tho' up to this occasion? Perhaps that is the area where a long term benefit would be to cut out fats from your diet.

Hi i have been on statins for the past 6 years ( i am 42) my cholesterol was 12.5 and i was referred to a specialist it turns out that i have FH (familial hypercholesteroleamia) genetically inherited high cholesterol. I started on 40mg of simvastatin and have recently been changed to atorvastatin. I have no side effects except from a few minor aches and lethargy. I was advised to take a CoQ10 supplement which really helps with the energy levels.

My 8 year old has also been diagnosed with the condition, so it is very important for me to set an example with healthy eating and exercise.