Research paper says that statin drugs used to lower levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood can cause calcium leakage from muscles and lead to muscle cell death. It also says that moderate exercise may be protective against this effect.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452302X19301317
Could I just eat massive amounts of ice cream to build up my calcium?
From 1993 to 1999 (early 40s) I was taking 40mg of a statin (Mevacor or Zocor) a day. From 1999 to present I have been on 80 mg of Lipitor a day. I once had a MD describe me as a cholesterol making machine. I understand there can be some very serious side effects of statins, but I am believe, in part, I am alive (age 71) because of statins. Luckily I never had any adverse effects.
I quit taking statins after trying two different ones and waking up nightly with leg cramps. My NP has me trying turmeric for 90 days to see if LDL decreases.
I’d like to hear what you do with the Turmeric!
I took statins for a short time and had unbelievable muscle pain. My doctor said, “oh, was it like pain after a gym workout”? My answer: “No, it was like take me to the ER and amputate my arm please.”
Needless to say, I haven’t gone back on them. Fortunately, I am instead on an injectable cholesterol lowering drug which seems to work really well for me.
I have very, very high cholesterol, and doctor has wanted to put me on statins for years. he only relented after I had two heart CT scans (done a couple of years apart) that showed zero calcium buildup in my heart arteries. My insurance had a special deal, so the scans were only 75$ out of pocket. I wonder how many folks with high cholesterol have similar situation and don’t need to be on statins, despite their cholesterol numbers?
I fully expect to go on statins at my next drs appointment and I’m ok with that. Heart disease is the main cause of death in my family. I wish we could change this thread title to add a “may” in there, as in “why statin drugs MAY cause muscle pain”. From what I have read most people on statins do not have muscle pain. I see no reason to suspect that I will have any problems there. My parents had no problem tolerating statins, my brother and sister have no problems with statins (they take Lipitor), my nephew has no problem with statins. They are very active people, btw. My sister and her family are marathon runners (and yet we still have high cholesterol in our fam).
I have read the research and do think it’s interesting and hope it will help with treating other diseases. But I’m expecting to be fine on statins.
Same for me. Cholesterol ranges from 258 - 300. Cardiologist did an EKG, echocardiogram, stress test - all good. I am not overweight, do not have high blood pressure and have no family history of heart disease. He sent me for the coronary calcium scan and I had zero calcium buildup in my arteries.
Repeated everything 5+ years later with the same results.
Something of interest: I drive an 86 year old lady to yoga once a week. She has high cholesterol. The last medicine prescribed was injectable and cost has rocketed in the last six months or so. She asked her cardiologist if she could try something else (not a statin). He took her off cholesterol lowering medicine completely. He told her that there isn’t any research on cholesterol lowering medicine for ages 65+. He said that he couldn’t say with any honesty whether it should or shouldn’t be prescribed for someone her age as there’s no research to back it up either way.
Me too – 0 buildup at one scan and super low on another 9 years later.
I mentioned earlier that I was trying turmeric to lower my LDL. The good news is that it did lower it, but the bad news is that it gave me gallstones. Time to try something else.
My LDL is already low…it’s my HDL that isn’t…
Ack about gall stones! Hope you mend well.
Low LDL and high HDL are both good, right?
I forget. One of my levels is the good…and it’s at a great level. The other isn’t.
Which one is bad? That was actually lower with turmeric.
LDL is the “bad cholesterol” because too much of it in your blood can contribute to plaque buildup in your arteries. Foods with high amounts of saturated fat (like full-fat dairy and red meat) can raise your LDL. A heart-healthy diet, exercise and quitting tobacco use can help lower your LDL
Ok…so what exactly did you do with the turmeric? I guess that is what I have that is high.
LDL is bad, so lower is generally better.
HDL is good, so higher is generally better.
I took 1000mg of Kirkland brand’s turmeric, but don’t recommend because now I’m looking at surgery to remove my gallbladder. This is my first time taking any kind of supplement.
My doc has me trying Bergamot to help with my high LDL.
I also have no family history and had a perfect calcium score so I am not going on a statin any time soon. But I’d still like the LDL to be lower. Everything was great until menopause.
Does your doctor say the turmeric was the cause of the gall stones?