Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. I have heard a lot about statin side effects, but my doctor was quite emphatic that they are mostly invented by people who have an axe to grind. This risk is true to … Then why do nearly half of patients stop taking the cholesterol-lowering medications against their doctors orders? They cause muscle pain in under 5% of the people who take them, and these pains often stop by themselves even with continued statin use. You will find more details in our Guide to Cholesterol Control & Heart Health. Good luck whichever path you choose! “This last year, I fell on hard financial times, and had to quit paying for my health insurance. Statins such as Lipitor, Mevacor, Crestor and Zocor are among the most widely prescribed drugs in the world and have helped millions of patients avoid heart disease and stroke. Some 8.5 percent of those who stopped their medication had a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke, within four years — compared to 7.6 percent of those who continued taking statins. “Patients need to understand that high cholesterol is governed by your genetics," said Nissen. Many Crestor users suffered kidney damage and studies show the risk of kidney damage could be a much as 75% higher for Crestor users. The new study concludes that most patients who initially experience statin-related symptoms can actually tolerate long-term use of the drug by either taking a lower dose, or by switching to a different type of statin. Join our daily email newsletter with breaking health news, prescription drug information, home remedies AND you'll get a copy of our brand new full-length health guide — for FREE! A new study reviews harms and benefits of statins treating patients with elevated LDL cholesterol; The benefits were were shown to greatly outweigh any harms of taking the drug But,"we also have to acknowledge that there are multiple reasons why people stop their statins.". We would also suggest some other options to talk over with your physician. I have been taking 5 mg. of generic Crestor for 4 months. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found people taking cholesterol-lowering drug Repatha cut their risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular events. The balance sheet for Crestor and other statins looks like this: These drugs cut the risk of heart attack, angina (chest pain), stroke, and death from cardiovascular disease by 30%. Guide to Cholesterol Control & Heart Health, Muscle aches, muscle cramps, muscle pain, fatigue, weakness, Liver damage, liver failure, kidney damage, Insomnia, sleeping difficulties, nightmares, Forgetfulness, memory problems, amnesia, confusion, Peripheral neuropathy, nerve tingling, nerve burning. Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Rated for High cholesterol Report . Misinformation, coupled with real side effects, can contribute to the "nocebo" effect, a phenomenon where someone is conditioned to anticipate a negative effect from an experience. Long story short, I was forced to stop taking Crestor. For High Cholesterol: “Crestor was the worse medication for me, I developed hip pain, leg pain, knee pain, trouble moving around, tired, not sleeping, can’t lay flat and to top it off it landed me in the ER with swollen throat, trouble breathing, swollen neck. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies. "This is called shared decision making and this might help patients buy-in," Nissen said. For all the scientific evidence that statins are safe and effective, common headlines that turn up during a Google search include: ‘5 reasons Not to Take Your Statin’; ‘The Grave Dangers of Statin Drugs—and the Surprising Benefits of Cholesterol'; and 'Why I’ve Ditched Statins for Good.'. “Those numbers are alarming,” said NBC lead correspondent Dr. John Torres. Not long after, I began to experience the side effects. ” I am 57 years old. James King-Holmes / Science Photo Library via Getty Images. After his emergency situation, Pinhas, a father of two, understands that. Related: Bacteria May Be the Reason Some Foods Cause Heart Disease, Stroke. Because I was 58 at the time, I don’t think these were old-age cataracts. Nissen believes that educating patients is key. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. ], “The kicker is that even though my husband does have high cholesterol, he does not have heart disease. "I go to the gym when I can and I take my meds," said Pinhas. Dad had an attack at 55) and the last 6 months of being on a Fenofibrate hasn't worked well enough. Statins such as Lipitor, Mevacor, Crestor and Zocor are among the most widely prescribed drugs in the world and have helped millions of patients avoid heart disease and stroke. “ I have been taking LIVALO daily ever since and my numbers have stayed … “Nonetheless, I was able to keep my cholesterol in check by nearly eliminating all sugar in my diet, and eating mainly vegetables, and lean meats (very little bread and pasta) and riding a stationary bike every day for 30 minutes. We'll see.". A family history of heart disease motivated Pam to advocate for her health and to find a statin that was right for her. Statins are lifesaving medications that lower cholesterol, but research says that half of patients quit taking them. Most doctors agree that high levels of unhealthy cholesterol are primarily influenced by our genes and lifestyle changes alone, while helpful, won't eliminate the risk of heart disease. Now I take everything I can to stay healthy including Red Yeast Rice supplement, flaxseed oil, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, garlic, etc. The Internet may also be to blame. "A third of patients don't even fill the script," he said. Statins are generally prescribed for life — with the exception of people who lose a substantial amount of weight through bariatric surgery and experience a dramatic decrease in unhealthy cholesterol levels. Q. A. Crestor (rosuvastatin) is one of the most potent statins on the market. Will statins increase my risk for diabetes or complicate my existing diabetes? My primary physician and my ophthalmologist both disagreed that Crestor could have caused it. Nissen isn't associated with the new research, but wrote an editorial for the journal against "statin denial". Daily pill container containing medication. There are many nondrug ways to get cholesterol under control and lower the risk of heart disease. He wasn’t having side effects and he knew that the medication was protecting his heart, but he didn't like that he would have to take the medication for the rest of his life. But new research published last week shows that only 61 percent of those who were prescribed a statin were still using the drug after three months — and only 55 percent remained on the drug after six months. To my surprise the cramps are totally gone! There is no way to predict how any given individual will react to a statin like Crestor. Four years ago I identified by vascular screening in one of my patients, a 65 year old woman a >50% blockage in the left carotid artery.