Side effects from Statin?

[Anonymous]

My LDL cholesterol has been creeping up with meno, now at 112 (my HDL and total cholesterol is fine). I got a calcium score and they found some plaque so my cardiologist suggested 10mg of Crestor to get my LDL levels below 100. If you are on a statin, do you experience side effects? Just wondering what to expect.

[Anonymous]

I had vivid dreams the first wek or so.

[Anonymous]

Nono

[Anonymous]

My mom was an early user of a statin. She had leg pains that, initially, her cardiologist did not want to attribute to using the statin. Later, this was found to be a not uncommon side effect. Ask your doctor if this is a concern.

[Anonymous]

Memory loss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Memory loss

Yikes! How did you know that was from the statin?

[Anonymous]

NP, I took a statin for years with no problem and then developed brain fog. It went away when I stopped the simvastatin but then recurred every time they prescribed a different one. Now my cholesterol numbers are elevated which makes me nervous with my family history of MI and stroke.

I’m trying many other approaches, but nothing works like the statins, also with stabilizing plaque that has already accumulated.

Our bodies make cholesterol and that is something that can’t be controlled.

I’m not on any other meds so that narrowed down what was causing the brain fog

I am jealous of those who can tolerate the statin!

[Anonymous]

10 mg is a tiny dose; you are very unlikely to have any side effects. And on the flip side, a low dose can bring down your numbers a lot. Nothing to be scared of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Memory loss

+1 same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10 mg is a tiny dose; you are very unlikely to have any side effects. And on the flip side, a low dose can bring down your numbers a lot. Nothing to be scared of.

I don't know how true this or how it works but I've been on a statin for over 20 years now. Started with 10mg of Lipitor and then 20mg, then 40mg because they wanted the LDL lower and lower. Last year my cardiologist changed it from 40mg of Lipitor to 10mg of Crestor...so OP said she is starting with 10mg of Crestor which is where I am. Not so sure this is a low dose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My LDL cholesterol has been creeping up with meno, now at 112 (my HDL and total cholesterol is fine). I got a calcium score and they found some plaque so my cardiologist suggested 10mg of Crestor to get my LDL levels below 100. If you are on a statin, do you experience side effects? Just wondering what to expect.

OP I'm a registered dietitian and I regularly read these lipid panels. I would need to see your total profile, but I would not go on a statin for a 112 LDL, especially if your HDL is WNL. Have you tried addressing this with diet and exercise?

These drugs are no joke and IMO are prescribed too frequently as a first-line intervention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Memory loss

Yikes! How did you know that was from the statin?

It's a common side effect.

[Anonymous]

Are you on HRT?

My cholesterol numbers were edging up, not yet considered “high”, but getting to the higher part of acceptable. Went down quite a lot after starting HRT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My LDL cholesterol has been creeping up with meno, now at 112 (my HDL and total cholesterol is fine). I got a calcium score and they found some plaque so my cardiologist suggested 10mg of Crestor to get my LDL levels below 100. If you are on a statin, do you experience side effects? Just wondering what to expect.

OP I'm a registered dietitian and I regularly read these lipid panels. I would need to see your total profile, but I would not go on a statin for a 112 LDL, especially if your HDL is WNL. Have you tried addressing this with diet and exercise?

These drugs are no joke and IMO are prescribed too frequently as a first-line intervention.

OP: Total cholesterol 188, HDL 71, LDL 112. I have high LipA which is 100% genetic as you likely know. The CT coronary calcium score was 14. My cardiologist initially did not suggest a statin but changed her mind when I got the calcium score.

I run 3 - 4x/week, eat mostly vegetarian, almost no fried food (rarely eat out), and eat very little sugar. I'm not sure there's much more I can do diet and exercise-wise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP, I took a statin for years with no problem and then developed brain fog. It went away when I stopped the simvastatin but then recurred every time they prescribed a different one. Now my cholesterol numbers are elevated which makes me nervous with my family history of MI and stroke.

I’m trying many other approaches, but nothing works like the statins, also with stabilizing plaque that has already accumulated.

Our bodies make cholesterol and that is something that can’t be controlled.

I’m not on any other meds so that narrowed down what was causing the brain fog

I am jealous of those who can tolerate the statin!

I couldn’t either. My doctor put me on Wegovy instead, and it’s lowered the cholesterol levels considerably.