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Monday 9 September 2019

Statins: Do they really work? Who benefits? Who has the power to cover up the side effects?




Mention the word statins and you will find there are some who applaud them, while others demonise them. On this blog if you put the word statins into the word search you will find a plethora of posts about them ... plenty of reading to digest and act upon or re-act to.

Each of us, as an individual, may find this interesting and informative reading, and at times some readers, in consultation with their medical team, could find it very helpful. 

Back in 2013 "Statins, the popular cholesterol-lowering class of drugs, were found to have a number of known side effects, including the potential for muscle pain, liver damage, digestive problems and, most recently discovered, memory loss"

In 2014 the UK's NHS were warning of the side effects of statins. 

In 2016 'Many women needlessly take cholesterol-lowering drugs' 

In 2017 when the question Should you take statins? was asked ...two guidelines offered different answers... the word confusing comes to mind! 

Now in 2019, Dr Aseem Malhotra a renowned cardiologist, believes, "It’s now time for a full public parliamentary inquiry into the controversial drug and fully expose the great cholesterol and statin con". 

Dr Malhotra works in the NHS and leads the campaign against excess sugar consumption in the UK. He speaks regularly at national and international events on matters of heart disease, obesity and diabetes. As a strong believer in evidence-based medicine, he urges the healthcare community to be more open and knowledgeable about scientific data. 

You may have already seen his recent article which appeared in European Scientist and why Dr Malhotra believes, " It’s now time for a full public parliamentary inquiry into the controversial drug and fully expose the great cholesterol and statin con"

Lots more to read here 

Also a related post, written by Dr Malcolm Kendrick
Review of statins needed : see it here

Have you had any experience of statins, do please share them in the comments.

All the best Jan

26 comments:

Sue (this n that) said...

Oh gosh, the trouble is... how do we know what is attributable to statins! I can only be guided by my Dr but I do worry. I shall take the time and read through these links Jan, thank you

Elephant's Child said...

Almost all drugs have a range of effects, some we want, others we don't. Side effects are generally just unwanted effects. Something which needs to be considered with any medication we take. Which effect is strongest, and what price are we prepared to pay...

Anonymous said...

I had bad experience with muscle cramps. In my opinion they can do more harm than good and I am happier not taking them.

Sheila

Tom said...

...I have been on statins for years, they work and I haven't had side affects.

Chatty Crone said...

I had a bad experience too - I just hurt all over.

Christine said...

Fortunately haven't had to take these.

Kay said...

I take them, but haven't had any side effects that I know of. Granted I'm forgetful, but that could be attributed to...sigh...aging.

peppylady (Dora) said...

It seem if your over weight and hitting middle age they will put you on statins here.
Coffee is on

dellgirl said...

This is an informative post, and it’s very interesting! Thank you for sharing it, I learned something helpful here tonight.

Wishing you a wonderful week!

Valerie-Jael said...

Thanks for the information! Valerie

Jutta.K. said...

Es ist so schwer, das richtige zu tun !
Mein Arzt empfiehlt sie, wei lich sehr hohe Cholesterinwerte habe, besonders das Triclycerin.
Da ich sowieso viele körperliche Beschwerden habe wie Muskelschmerzen, Gelenkschmerzen, Haut und Nervenschmerzen kann ich nicht bestimmen, ob sie von dem Statin kommen, welches ich nehme.
Es ist allerdings die niedrigste Dosis, 20 mg.
Was ist richtig - was ist falsch ?
Es ist schwierig!
LG
Jutta

mxtodis123 said...

Thanks for the info. I have been blessed with good cholesterol thank goodness, but one never knows what the future brings.

A Cuban In London said...

Such an interesting post. I confess that I was very ignorant of the effects statins had on the human body and mind. Thanks.

Greetings from London.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Is there a drug at all without side effects? What is the layman to do when even the doctors can't agree?

Chris Lally said...

i'm so sick of hearing "the benefits outweigh the risks" crap spewed by pharmaceutical companies & doctors who are on their payrolls.
An excellent reminder to take good care of your body!

Rain said...

I honestly have never heard of statins. But I'm pretty much against most modern medicine unless it's something that will save a person from dying. If taking statins is chosen over eat healthy and exercising, I'm totally against it.

CraveCute said...

Jan, years ago I took statins for several years and had terrible side effects. The Doctor tried several different ones. The muscle pain was terrible and I could barely walk... I stopped taking them and in a few weeks I started feeling much better. I told my Doctor I would not take them again. She thinks now that it was my undiagnosed psoriatic arthritis that was made worse by the statins.

William Kendall said...

I don't know enough about them to comment.

Sandy said...

I've fought against my Doc who wanted to be me meds a few years ago for cholesterol. I exercised more and was able to bring down my cholesterol signficantly. Later it went back up as I had broken my foot and couldn't exercise, but I still opted not to take the drug. Jury's out now to see how the next blood work will be.

Lowcarb team member said...

Jutta.K. said...
Es ist so schwer, das richtige zu tun !
Mein Arzt empfiehlt sie, wei lich sehr hohe Cholesterinwerte habe, besonders das Triclycerin.
Da ich sowieso viele körperliche Beschwerden habe wie Muskelschmerzen, Gelenkschmerzen, Haut und Nervenschmerzen kann ich nicht bestimmen, ob sie von dem Statin kommen, welches ich nehme.
Es ist allerdings die niedrigste Dosis, 20 mg.
Was ist richtig - was ist falsch ?
Es ist schwierig!
LG
Jutta

Google translate:
It's so hard to do the right thing !
My doctor recommends it, which is very high in cholesterol, especially triclycerin.
Since I have a lot of physical ailments anyway, such as muscle pain, joint pain, skin and nerve pain, I can't determine if they come from the statin I take.
However, it is the lowest dose, 20 mg.
What is right - what is wrong?
It's difficult!
Lg
Jutta

Barb said...

Hi Jan, After a heart attack 10 years ago, I started on a statin. However, even experimenting with lower doses had too many side effects so I was only on it for about 18 months (off and on). I watch diet and do daily exercise now to stay as heart healthy as possible. I will note that the article by Aseem Malhotra in European Scientist didn't seem very scientific! It had so many grammatical errors I was gritting my teeth and some of the footnotes don't line up with his "facts. Also, IMO, he uses too much anecdotal "evidence" to try and make his case. I, myself, am not convinced statins save enough lives to account for their wide use. However, I'd love if some of the naysayers would be more believable and scientifically consistent in their arguments. Anyway, thanks for bringing the article to my attention. I'll continue for now off statins.

I looked him up on Wikipedia and found this information: Dr Malhotra is a former clinical associate to the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. He was a cardiology specialist registrar at Harefield Hospital.[1] He is best known as a promoter of a fad diet called the Pioppi diet[2][3] and as one of the founders of Action on Sugar. He is a trustee of the King's Fund.[4]

Maholtra's views on diet and health have been criticised by the British Heart Foundation as "misleading and wrong", and his public questioning of the need ever to use statins have been condemned as a dangerous to public health.[5] His diet, the "Pioppi diet" was named by the British Dietetic Association as one of the "top 5 worst celeb diets to avoid in 2018".[2]

baili said...

this is useful and informative stuff Jan

i can't remember if i have ever used this drug

Magic Love Crow said...

This is very informative! Thank you Jan!
I think it's all so scary! All these side affects!

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

Side effects are awful for most drugs. I have refused to take some after I read the side effect. My hubby takes a cholesterol drug. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your day!

carol l mckenna said...

Refused to take statins ~ drug companies promote too much that does not necessarily work ~ listen to your own body ~ I find is the best info ~ 'Everything in moderation.' ~

Happy Day to You,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Crafty Green Poet said...

Several years ago, I was put on statins but they made me so dizzy I couldn't get out of bed. I stopped taking them and improved immediately. I then stopped eating so much cheese and that seems to have kept my cholesterol down.

I think it is inappropriate for doctors to prescribe statins so easily, goes for many other drugs too. For some illnesses and conditions there may be lifestyle changes to try making before reaching for the drugs.

Excellent article that you linked to on European Scientist website by the way