General Chat

Statins - ah yes ..............................but................................... Whilst in CCU due heart attack in May one of the meds I was started on was Simvastatin 40mg my chol then being 5.2. About a month or so after I had a natter with Pharmacist at GPs and went on to a 20mg dose - only one kidney so don't want to upset that. My chol result from couple of weeks ago is 3.8 so I'm planning to see pharmacist again and drop the statin to a 10mg dose and see how that goes. So to Anyone on statins might be worth your while reviewing dosage. My view is as few meds as possible.

Oh yes, if daughter comes I have to get butter. even though I think Benecol tastes like butter (sounds like an ad!!)

I didn't see that, Ann, but I can imagine what was asked:-) I always have the watery skimmed milk and use Benecol, except when I am entertaining when I rush to buy butter and 'proper' milk! lol

Ann in Glos - it was Teddys, I was just going to add that I use Alpro Soya milk for cereal, but don't like it in a drink eg. tea or coffee. I can't take their cream, but then can't really take any cream these days. I couldn't drink Baileys these days, if my life depended on it. Too rich for my pallete
Julia in Derbyshire

Who did I just reply to who has deleted, mine looks daft now.

We prefer skimmed milk but yes we watch our fat intake too. we use benecol as a spread.

ann
Glos

BC, better one little tablet a day than the alternative if you find out you really needed them when it is too late.

So you have joined the pill poppers association!!!!

Thank you so much Ann and Julia. I really didn;t want to take them (well, who does?) but am giving in gracefully and your words of encouragement are making me feel so much better:-) BC XX

BC - I knew before I went to my doctor's some months ago, that I may be prescribed this drug. I read this thread, and it gave me confidence to take them. I have had no side effects, and avoid anything to do with grapefruit.
Julia in Derbyshire

BC that is the one we are on, with no side effects at all. Just remember not to eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice. Baileys is fine though.

Ann
glos xx

This is one of the reasons I love GR, I remembered this thread and how very informative and useful it was! I have reluctantly (I hate medication of any kind) gone on Simvastatin due to a moderately high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and the recent sudden death of my brother from cardiac arrest. But reading this thread again, I don't feel so bad:...better than the alternative as somebody said...-) Thanks folks....BC XX

My wife has non-insulin dependent diabetes and is advised to keep her cholesterol levels below 5.

She is currently on Simvastatin, but gets prescribed whatever is currently the cheapest, or most readily available.

This is fine for many people but for a small few, certain brands do cause adverse side reactions, so your GP needs to be told.

If you are on any long term medication then you should be having a review with your GP every three months or so, where you can discuss any issues you have, and he/she can check on the effectiveness or otherwise of the medication being prescribed.
.

Rosuvastatin me...no side affects.

just realised I've posted twice on here - didn't realise it was an old thread!!!

Well this makes very comforting reading! I have been advised to go on Simvastatin but I refused and asked if I could try and do it myself, by diet etc. So if that doesn't work then I can go on the pills. Thank you, everyone:-) BC XX

I was originally on Simvastatin after registering a level of just over 9 - I initially refused medicaton in order to cut out all the wrong food I was eating. After a month of doing so reading was 11.5!!! Proving that it was famililial - parents must have had it - not what I eat. Went on Simvastatin for a number of years with no side effects and then got switched to Atorvastatin with no side effects on that either and latest annual reading for 4.5

nudge

A high cholesterol level, even if you have a healthy diet and exercise, can sometimes be connected with an underactive thyroid.
It is always worth getting that checked out with a blood test.

Just woke up.....

Simvastatin he is on.....

Deanna X

My husband is on them and has been for a couple of years... can't remember which one.
AND he is asleep so I can't ask him... sorry. ;-0)

He is 74 and he thinks that his legs get weary and numb because of them.
I think his legs get weary and numb, because he has an ARRYTHMIC heart beat which he is waiting to have fixed.
his cholesterol was boarderline when the doctor phoned us, but because of his heart he wanted Allan on them.

As Brenda says..... better than the alternative.

Take the tablets, and good luck.
I hope they make a great difference to you.

Deanna X