Docs want me on statins and I don't wanna

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Mr-Tunacan@reddit

Two things, first, I'm on rosuvastatin and it's been fine. But, it didn't actually do much. I'm also on Repatha and it is insanely effective. My LDL reading a few months after starting it was 13. Not 130, 13. No side effects, been on it almost a tear now. It's not a statin, it's a monoclonal antibody that you inject every two weeks. the injections suck, but they come in "pens" so they are idiot proof. Neither have much of an effect on Lp(a), which is unfortunate (for me), but Repatha is super effective on high LDL.

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here_now_be@reddit

Right, but while high LDL is associated with plaque, haven't studies shown it doesn't change health outcomes? I'm not interested in getting my numbers down for the sake of getting numbers down. More concerned about high trigs and low HDL.

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AssistantAcademic@reddit

NotAHomemaker18@reddit

I take a very lose dose, 3x/week, and also Zetia every day. My doc told me to take CoQ10 as well. (It prevents symptoms from the statin.) I had a calcium score—not super-high, but any number above zero isn’t good. Anyway, without a calcium score, I think you can wait. Cut out deep-fried foods and limit saturated fat (especially processed). Eat more fiber. Drink filtered coffee.

I’m not a doctor! I would recommend finding a holistic cardiologist who is interested in prevention. Also, I would definitely do strength training if you aren’t already.

RaspberryOhNo@reddit

Consider a whole food plant based diet. It is different and potentially better for you.

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pmbpro@reddit

Yep, I can totally feel you on that. I have diabetes in my family (on my mother’s side) and lost my grandparents and two aunts (mother’s sisters) to it. The moment I started peri-menopause, I also noticed my blood pressure rising, despite being active and eating right. I’m not taking any chances, especially seeing peers my own age dying of these things.

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Chawp@reddit

You can have a perfectly healthy lifestyle with diet and exercise and still get high LDL cholesterol due to genetics. This is a perfect reason to take a statin. Maintain your healthy lifestyle, and lower your bad cholesterol with the statin. It’s super easy to try out, you can always stop if you want to, but give it a shot why not?

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AMTL327@reddit

Taking a statin is not a big deal and it’s not a sign of failure or anything. I have a few cardiologist friends who think it’s so helpful for avoiding cardiac problems that 100% of adults over age 50 should be taking it.

My cholesterol is great, but I’ve been on hypertension meds since I was 50. I had two parents who had serious hypertension and my mom died at 62. So when my BP started creeping up - despite doing all the things right (diet, exercise, healthy weight), you bet I started to take the meds.

Water soluble statins include rousuvastatin (Crestor) and pravastatin (Pravachol). These have been shown to be equally or just slightly less effective than the others.

On a personal note, my mom and I had the same primary care doctor, and he put both of us on Zocor. My mom had no problems at all. I, on the other hand, had so much muscle pain I could barely move. My doctor switched me to Crestor, and I've now been on it for 5 years with no issues.

How in hades have I not heard of this supplement?

I’m willing to give it a shot. Can you give any brand recommendations? I try to be cautious when dealing with supplements..

Thx

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ilns@reddit

Better still, take ubiquinol.

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peicatsASkicker@reddit

we get ours at Costco

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PlumSome3101@reddit

Anyone taking statins should be taking CoQ10 because it depletes it. Certain antidepressants and diabetic drugs also interfere with CoQ10 levels. As we get older our levels also naturally decline. Jarrow is an excellent brand that bases their supplement dosage and forms on actual research. I also like Source Naturals personally because I notice a distinct difference when I take their CoQ10. CoQ10 has two forms, ubiquinone and ubiquinol. Ubiquinol is the most absorbable of the two. 100mg of Ubiquinol has roughly double the benefits of 100 mg of regular CoQ10 (ubiquinone). It's more effective but unfortunately more expensive.

TL/Dr Jarrow brand Ubiquinol is a great option. Source Naturals Ubiquinol is also good.

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Minirth22@reddit

Thank you very much!

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ArclightFrame977@reddit

https://www.drweil.com/vitamins-supplements-herbs/vitamins/coenzyme-q10-coq10/

I first started taking it years ago after reading about it on the website of (Harvard College/ Harvard Medical School educated MD) Dr. Weil. As I recall, it was a story about how most healthy adults don't really need to take multivitamins. But Dr Weil mentioned that he does take a CO Q10 supplement because it has a lot of potential upsides.

3boobsarenice@reddit

Mr Jobs you came back

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ReadinWhatever@reddit

My PCP wanted me to take a statin for years. I finally got him to order a CAC scan, which scored a zero. Zero calcium deposits in those arteries. He finally stopped insisting on a statin. BUT he did his best to remind me that the test doesn’t detect “soft plaque”, so I theoretically could have that.

I'm in the same situation. I don't want any more pills.

Crestor here for about 5 years.

This seems like a great place to put this.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25672965/

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thatsmilingface@reddit

Hear, hear 🔔

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OpenLinez@reddit

You've got my upvote.

I'm not a doctor, but I am a scientist and spent decades in medical research. (Luckily I got out before the whole field turned to mush about a dozen years ago.) As with anything from a car repair to an investment fund, I do my research. The number of health-care people (from doctors to the nurses & PAs we usually deal with) who've shown the slightest curiosity about the stuff they parrot all day long is . . . exceedingly small. In my experience, about one in fifty.

They don't care. They repeat what they've always said, and most of them got these lines from the pharma reps who visit their practices.

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CAWildKitty@reddit

Bravo! There’s growing evidence showing the statin picture is much more complicated than initially thought. That’s not to say they don’t have a place, they do, but it’s worthwhile to take the time and see if your individual risk factors warrant taking them.

This is an excellent European meta-analysis which includes a Consensus Statement:

https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/38/32/2459/3745109

Now, take a look at Table 3. It’s clear that if your overall risk of CVD is 5% or less taking a statin is unnecessary. This recommendation is from 2016 and I believe that new guidelines are due out in 2026.

FWIW my overall risk sits at 2%. I exercise daily, have very low blood pressure, high HDL, low Triglycerides and high LDL. I’m currently not taking a statin. If that picture changes over time and my risk level increases over 5% then I will.

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Potential-Bluejay-50@reddit

Has anyone tried red yeast rice successfully? It’s a natural statin. I’m just curious if anybody else has had any experiences with that.

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Vonzales@reddit

I'm having success with red yeast rice. My LDL has been below 100 for about a year - for the first time ever.

I switched to a veg diet + whole grains, as little oil as possible + fish like once a week. First thing I noticed was my knees felt better I dropped about 25lbs. I'm at my HS weight! More energy.

price101@reddit

Fair enough. Does the risk outweigh the benefit in your opinion?

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TeamHope4@reddit

Seeing my mom the way she is now, yes, the risk absolutely outweighs any possible heart benefit.

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sir_clinksalot@reddit

I’ve been on Statins for about 8 months now. Like you I’m athletic and try to eat well. But I really don’t have any regrets about it. Hasn’t impacted me at all.

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stormin1970@reddit

There are actually 14 different measurements to check your blood lipid chemistry, but doctors are still hung up on the hdl/ldl ratio that was implemented in 1962. That ratio is mostly useless from what we know now.

HDL to triglycerides or hdl to vldl are far more important. Ldl has no negative effects unless it is oxidized and broken. The broken ldl or vldl is small enough to get under damaged arterial lining and starts the buildup. Ldl is too big to do that.

Inflammation is a big factor in damaging the arteries. Avoid sugar and free radicals that oxidize ldl and damage arterial tissue, and you can avoid the buildup.

As for statins, they are mostly useless if you take care of yourself. They reduce the ldl in the blood, which in itself does nothing, but it does reduce the opportunity for the ldl to oxidize.

It also "stabilizes" the plaque by calcifying it, reducing the likelihood of a chunk breaking off and blocking an artery. They don't tell you it calcifies they just stay stabilize. This is essentially hardening the arteries on purpose, making the buildup more permanent.

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I feel very fortunate to have been tested early and that they have worked so well for me with few to no side effects. Still riding bikes and have a healthy heart, so I'll take it.

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Oktodayithink@reddit

My sister participated in a study at Dartmouth for this genetically high cholesterol. That’s how her kid got tested so early too.

I remember my aunt having a heart attack and the doctors giving her grief in the hospital that she wasn’t taking care of herself or eating well, and blamed her for her high levels. They kept her for days and monitored everything, only for them to realize it wasn’t her fault at all. This was a while back before they really made a genetic connection.

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emilypostpunk@reddit

It's not your fault that you have high bad cholesterol.

The same people will tell you how great a low carb diet is, too!

Full_FrontaI_Nerdity@reddit

Another comment quoted a study demonstrating no difference in mortality from taking statins. So who's right?

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VodkaToasted@reddit

How bad are your numbers?

Mine's usually a little high but my doctor plugs that along with the rest of my numbers into his modeling thing and it raises my likelihood of heart attack or stroke by like a 1%-2% on an already small number.

So he's like no big deal.

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ro-key@reddit (OP)

Triglycerides, HDL and VLDL are all about as good as they can get. LDL is very high.

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VodkaToasted@reddit

In that case you might be a decent candidate for a statin.

You don’t mention your gender- in women, perimenopause/menopause causes cholesterol to increase. I am happily taking HRT and don’t have increased cholesterol.

My neighbor was afraid to take statins bc she had some family members with bad experiences, so she started eating a small avocado each day and that improved her cholesterol levels.

Just something to think about.

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ro-key@reddit (OP)

Female - post menopause. The cholesterol started to spike after I went through chemo and I've learned that that can be a cause.

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Full_FrontaI_Nerdity@reddit

Inflammation causes LDL to rise, so that makes sense. When it subsides, so will your cholesterol.

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Wren_and_Arrow@reddit

I also am a female post-menopause and my cholesterol went from high but the good outweighed the bad to "you really should be on a statin." Took atorvistatin for a few months and my cholesterol plummeted. Also so did my strength and energy. I felt like I was living in pudding, each movement took so much energy.

I finally decided that I didn't really want to live longer if I was going to feel like that and quit the statin. My doc suggested a low dose of the other one (roto-something?) but I'm honestly gun shy and haven't tried it.

This reaction is more common in females from what I understand, but is still rare.

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You can't make a decision by asking opinions. A decision can only be made with maths. (Unless you want to go back to the dark ages).

Trouble is, doctors aren't so trustworthy these days like they used to be, often captured by big pharma and profit motives, and corporations are buying up private doctor practices, got medicine quotas to fill, get the patients in and out as fast as possible, maximize profits. Articles like these explain a bit what's going:

https://news.northeastern.edu/2024/08/07/trust-in-physicians-hospitals-research/

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/11/goldman-asks-is-curing-patients-a-sustainable-business-model.html

https://pharmaphorum.com/patients/healthcare-report-finds-declining-public-trust-institutions

https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/top-challenges-of-2022-no-5-loss-of-trust-in-physicians

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Available-Ad-5670@reddit

then go find a doctor that you trust. its better then creating conspircacy theories and deciding on your care based on stranger opinions.

but then again most of our establishmnet is rocky, would you take robert kennedy's advice on whether to take statins? Find a good doctor and do your research, but depend on the experts on your health

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verstohlen@reddit

Oh, don't get me wrong, there are still plenty of trustworthy doctors out there. But there are less of them than there used to be, and finding a good doctor now is like finding a good auto mechanic. Well doc, I have good insurance, so what's the bill? And yes, always better to get a second opinion on some things and do some research. It can be tough figuring out who to trust nowadays with the way things are. The whole covid debacle didn't help things either, no sir, not at all. The way it was poorly handled definitely increased the mistrust of medical authorities, government, CDC, WHO, etc. A real shit show.

BadGolferDallas@reddit

The panel of “experts” that determine guidelines for statins for the US market are mostly made up of Dr’s/Specialists with significant financial stake in Statin companies.

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cannabidoc@reddit

Red yeast rice and Mediterranean diet. Disclaimer: This is not medical advice.

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in-a-microbus@reddit

I'm in the exact same position.

My dad's dementia started a decade after he started on statins, so I'm 100% against taking them but the nurse literally yelled at me that I have to get my LDL and Trigs down.

The missus had me try fiber tablets for a year (no change). She had me try intermittent fasting for a year (no change). Now I'm taking fish oil capsules...we'll see if this year is different.

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Susso7@reddit

Look into Red Yeast Rice.

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ifallallthetime@reddit

My grandma was on statins for years and developed terrible dementia. Sure, she lived til 93 but the last 6 years she was a shell

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Mobile-Mousse-8265@reddit

Almost identical situation to yours. I could t get it down naturally so I went on statins and it hasn’t affected me a bit except my numbers are now normal. I read they can add years to your life. I saw no downsides.

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FAx32@reddit

Very few people post about their lack of any side effects and managing a medical problem without symptoms that is about risk reduction. All of my patients who have been disabled due to a stroke or heart attack have wished they could have reduced their risk.

Risk reduction is intangible until the moment it is not. But some people are ok with that, most are not.

Junior_Lavishness_96@reddit

The one that would get flagged for me is high triglycerides. I couldn’t figure it out, went over my diet, nothing stood out. Doctors had prescribed me medication for it but insurance wouldn’t approve it.

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Agreeable-Ad9883@reddit

Don’t! Read the side effects first which include bone pain muscle tremor shaking rising glucose rising blood pressure- I was sure I had MS or Parkinson’s but no one would listen to me because I take Adderall for my brain fog- so I started reading about the meds I was put on when these effects first started to show up intermittently- Atorvastatin had the exact same side effects from tons of other people who left comments so it was my second drug that I tried stopping and by the third week most of the chronic stuff just vanished- over a year of debilitating symptoms and it was my gd stain - my bp and glucose had hit high levels too which didn’t make any sense - I have not had my labs redone yet though but the neuropathy I was experiencing in my feet vanished as well SO…

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Silver_Breakfast7096@reddit

I have had numerous clients who suffered cognitive impairment after going on them. If your balance of markers is good it might be ok to try other things such as diet and lifestyle choices.

I believe at a point they rubber stamp and one size fits all and I think you need to do your own risk benefit.

The side effects are not worth it to me.

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YNOT180@reddit

Just take it dude, level of evidence for extending life is very strong. They’re very well tolerated, if you’re not among the handful that experience myalgia there’s no downside. If any adverse events in one, simple try another. They’re all cheap/affordable generics as well.

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the-Gaf@reddit

Amazing product. Get on it asap

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1messedupmonkey@reddit

I started to say "so don't" but also I just bullied my partner into setting his colonoscopy appointment this morning. He was having trouble peeing and I'm sorry I just can't be here to stick my finger up his butt multiple times a day so he can pee.

That's a thing that happens to men as they age. Sometimes they can't pee without some prostate action, hence the importance of the colonoscopy.

It has been a lot of work, and I have to continue with changes I've met.

As long as I'm making progress and not back sliding, my doctor will work with me. If my numbers get worse or I don't do what I can to improve my health then I either start taking stations, or my doctor won't let me be a patient with her anymore.

I'm at a point now where I just go in for a yearly check up, but I had to work towards this.

Maybe your doctor would talk with you about it a little more and give you some options. I think it should definitely be something to get them to talk more about if you can.

I'm not against statins, but in general I'm uncomfortable taking any medication. Mostly because I know I'll forget and miss doses here and there, but also because I don't want to take anything if I can avoid it.

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amy_lou_who@reddit

Find a naturopath, they have other solutions that you might consider.

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LordIommi68@reddit

don't do it

try Welchol. it's not a statin and it works very well

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Jynxsee@reddit

I've tried a range of very low dose with statins twice and ended up with bad side effects both times.

Severe muscle aches, brain fog, depression, malaise. Cleared up within a week of discontinuing them.

Well, you could give it 1 year to lower it on your own by diet and exercise. If it doesn’t come down you take the lowest dose statin available.

I agree that you shouldn’t start taking medication unless it is absolutely necessary. I put it off a long time, but my cholesterol kept climbing so I finally caved.

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ProtozoaPatriot@reddit

Suggestion: be open to the idea but try diet first. Vegetarian is awesome. But your liver also produces some cholesterol, and some people have the genes to produce too much.

Certain foods are proven to lower blood cholesterol levels by absorbing it in the intestinal tract as it passes through. Oats are a great choice. Incorporate these foods daily if possible. Get cholesterol levels rechecked in 6 months

There are options other than statins if they don't work or if you can't handle the side-effects.

And IT'S FINE IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE SIDE-EFFECTS!!

Some people get muscle cramps that are so bad, they can't fucking walk, so don't think that you're being a pussy over it.

Also...

There are other meds for this.

But, definitely start by taking the statin they prescribe; you'll know in 2-3 days if it's gonna be a problem. And, if it is, you can just stop taking it; it's not like you're stuck with it, nor are you stuck with an insolvent problem.

Hell, if none of them work, you can take Ezitemibe, which has far fewer side-effects... but due to it being more costly, the docs like to try you on stuff that can work before prescribing that one.

Genetics can be a real A-hole. You can do everything right and your body will decide that NOW is the time for high cholesterol. Makes one want to guzzle butter and do shots of tallow.

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bostonbluebolt@reddit

This place sucks. Bring on the ‘big one’.

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WhatchooWant2025@reddit

I also had a mental block about going on a statin. Made me feel old. But no matter how I tried with diet and exercise, my cholesterol was high. The doc gave me many chances to lower it on my own but your body chemistry changes as you get older. It’s not your fault.

Neither the lab nor the doctor's office pays any attention to the "good/bad" cholesterol stuff. They don't care. I had my primary doctor's staff call me and tell me I needed to go on statins for the same thing -- I'm also fit, a daily walker/runner, good diet, good weight, zero heart disease, no blockage or buildup in any chamber of my heart or arteries. A week later, I finally talked to the PA who is the only "doctor" I've ever seen there in 15 years, and he said there's no reason for me to be on statins. That was the end ... until the next annual physical, when the whole routine was repeated with the same end result. I'm 62. When the time comes that I should be on such things, I'll take them. Not before. They have a long list of side effects that is totally unnecessary to suffer when the medication itself is superfluous.

Years ago my doctor at the time, who is a personal friend, wanted to put me on a statin. I found an article about statins and NNT (Number Needed to Treat). He decided against it for me and tells me every few years that it changed his view on them and, to some extent, medicine in general.

The NNT for statins (at that time, anyway) was high meaning that lots of people had to be treated for the benefits to outweigh the side effects and other impacts.

He did, however, encourage me to get a full body scan to look for potential blockages, etc. That seemed like a fair tradeoff. Scan came back clean.

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BahBahSMT@reddit

Maybe get a carotid ultrasound. If you don’t have plaque build up. And your BP is low and you don’t smoke then don’t take a statin if you don’t want to. Also check your ratio. Not everyone with high cholesterol needs a statin.

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Cautious-Coffee7405@reddit

I have a similar story. I have genetically high cholesterol. My doctor waited a long time before suggesting I start a statin. I told my doctor I’d only try it at the lowest possible dose. She wanted to go higher but agreed. After a year she said she was actually happy with my levels… still high but not as high… and so I’m continuing with the small dose. I do rovustatin. I was told the best way to avoid side effects is to take it at night, which I do and I’ve never had a problem.

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ImCaffeinated_Chris@reddit

Yes! 100% yes regretted it and got the fuck off them! One of the side effects is muscle pain. My legs slowly became fucked. I couldn't even cross them anymore. I want sure what the hell was going on bc it doesn't happen right away. It's a slow build up where you don't equate it to the med you started taking a long time ago.

Ever since then I make sure to read up on all possible side effects of drugs so I can recognize them.

It took almost 8 months to get my legs back to normal.

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surfinbird@reddit

I literally just got a call from a nurse to remind me to take my cholesterol meds after getting blood work done yesterday, lol.

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imrzzz@reddit

I was put on atorvastin after an idiopathic stroke in my mid-40s.

(Idiopathic is fancy talk for "no fkn idea how this happened.")

I HATED the feeling of statins,

I felt... Frail. Not sure how else to describe it, it just wasn't ok.

So I worked really hard to optimise my diet and hit the cholesterol numbers that my doctor was hoping to see as a result of taking statins.

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D-Alembert@reddit

Damn, I thought I had another decade before I was in the meds-for-life demographic, but apparently I'm already there. It sounds like it's time to get a proper test panel in my next annual physical

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lisaT2D@reddit

The fact that you exercise and eat pretty healthy and still some cholesterol related numbers are not ideal is probably a good reason to start on meds as your doctor recommended.

You are doing all you can, but looks like you still need help, so why not get a little help?

You don't have to wait until your CAC score is positive to start taking meds. I think it's too late to prevent heart disease by then. So take statin as a preventive measures.

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Merickwise@reddit

I can't take them, I tried and had about every bad side effect listed including basically what were basically blackouts where I would lose time.

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shackletons_gps@reddit

I’ve been on them since my early thirties. Genetics fucked me. Honestly they’re one of the most low key no side effect drugs you can take. Not really a big deal at all

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Jasong222@reddit

I was like you. Refused them for a while. Gave in about a month ago. Too early to see the effects. Having some side effects that have subsided a bit and have an appointment to look at switching to another brand.

Dunno. It was time. It's the right thing to do. And I can always up the exercise and if I can sustain that maybe I'll go off them. We'll see.

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ifallallthetime@reddit

I would get a second opinion.

My body just runs high on cholesterol levels, and if I went to a basic PCP they'd probably try and put me on statins. However, my doc told me the ratios between the "bad" and "good" are perfect, as well as my triglycerides. He gave me the option of getting the calcium test for peace of mind, so if you're at a zero a doctor like mine would not put you on statins

I do have no family history of heart attack or stroke so that was another reason we're not even thinking about medication yet. Lastly, he said the amount of exercise I do is a huge factor in preventing issues, so with your exercise and diet it would be worth getting a second opinion

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NanaSayWhat@reddit

Talk to your doctor about what lifestyle changes or supplements might help, if any. Daily oatmeal helps some people, but for most it isn’t enough. Just remember that statins are prescribed as a tool to lower cholesterol. You know the risks.

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jezebella47@reddit

No regrets. At some point no amount of diet and exercise can turn back the inevitable tide of genetics and aging. I know we all want to think we can kale our way to immortality, but no.

Why would you need statins with a zero calcium score?

Doesn't that mean there is no build up?

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ro-key@reddit (OP)

THAT WAS MY POINT EXACTLY but both my cardiologist and my PCP want me on statins anyway. It's doing my head in tbh

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emilypostpunk@reddit

can you get a third opinion? i know it might not be easy to do but i would really be curious at that point.

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Rationale:

- CAC is a direct measure of coronary atherosclerotic burden and consistently improves risk discrimination and reclassification over traditional risk factors (including LDL-C) in asymptomatic adults, particularly those with borderline or intermediate Pooled Cohort Equation risk. Multiple guideline and review statements conclude CAC is the single best test to refine risk, with meaningful gains in C-statistic and net reclassification improvement; CAC=0 reliably down-classifies risk, whereas CAC ≥100 AU or ≥75th percentile up-classifies and guides more intensive therapy.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

- The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) endorse CAC to personalize prevention decisions (e.g., initiation/intensity of statins, consideration of nonstatins) when 10-year risk is 5–20%. CAC outperforms other biomarkers in head-to-head comparisons and integrates cumulative lifetime exposure to multiple risk factors.[3][8][1][4][5][6][7]

- LDL-C remains foundational as a causal risk factor and treatment target—lower is better—and drives therapeutic benefit in randomized trials. However, cholesterol levels alone have limited individual-level prognostic precision; many with elevated LDL-C remain event-free and some with “normal” LDL-C have events, underscoring the added value of an anatomic measure like CAC for risk prediction.[8][9]

Caveats:

- CAC entails low-dose radiation and may trigger downstream testing; randomized trials have not yet demonstrated event reduction from CAC-guided screening per se, so outcome benefits of scanning are uncertain and require further study.[10]

References:

Lipid Management in Patients With Endocrine Disorders: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. Newman CB, Blaha MJ, Boord JB, et al. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2020;105(12):dgaa674. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaa674.
Coronary Artery Calcium: From Risk Prediction to Treatment Allocation and Clinical Trials. Whelton SP, Blaha MJ. Heart (British Cardiac Society). 2023;109(22):1714-1721. doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2022-321711.
2019 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2019;74(10):e177-e232. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2019.03.010."

Hope this info is helpful!

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Far_Designer_7704@reddit

I delayed going on a statin for years and my LDL kept increasing in spite of healthier diet and more exercise. I finally agreed to a low dose of Pravastatin and it’s worked really well with no side effects.

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Zestyclose_Mix3046@reddit

You already know you don't need to, right? I maintain that we need to reconnect with our own bodies rather than giving it over to the 'professionals' ... the correlation with dementia alone would be enough to put me off.

Just don't. Take control. This is your life. This is your body.

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Sore_Wa_Himitsu_Desu@reddit

Gotta say, a friend of mine is like you. Very healthy looking. Eats right, exercises etc. Doesn’t change the fact that you could churn his blood and make butter. Genetics are hell.

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Dolly-Pardon_Me@reddit

Then stop going to Dr's if you don't believe in them, their directions, or taking medicine in general.

There is no stigma in taking medication for life. You are creating one.

Don't take it; have a heart attack. When you die, you will be all natural!!!

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skspoppa733@reddit

Some statins are straight up evil for some peoples it affects their moods, their sexual abilities, makes muscles sore, affects dreams and can have other effects.

LNSU78@reddit

Do you eat a lot of beans and produce?

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rocketcitygardener@reddit

Was on statins for a while, then off for a few years. Just did a whole body scan and all major arteries are showing clear, so not going back on statins. If your arteries are clear, I think there's no reason to take statins...but that's just my .02. "High cholesterol" , in itself, is not an issue, just a potential indication of other issues.

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desperato61@reddit

You better have some concrete evidence why you shouldn’t

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Affectionate-Map2583@reddit

My mom is in that situation (and I will be too, eventually). We both have crazy high "good" cholesterol which puts the total number higher than recommended. My mother recently went to a cardiologist who wanted to put her on a statin, but she didn't want to. He said that was fine. At my last check, my LDL was slightly high and my doctor didn't say anything about it.

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ACorania@reddit

Go get a second opinion. If they both agree, then go on the statins.

Healthy lifestyle is not the only contributor to bad cholesterol that can lead to bad outcomes... it is just the one that you can control so they hammer that. But genetics, for example, is arguably a bigger influence and there is nothing you can do about it.

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ro-key@reddit (OP)

My cardiologist and PCP agree *with each other* - I am not sure that counts as a 2nd opinion....

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ACorania@reddit

It would for me. Statins are a pretty commonly prescribed drug so it is likely your PCP is very used to managing and prescribing them. You're cardiologist, obviously, would be very knowledgeable as well. I'd probably give a little more weight to the cardiologist, but if they agree... yeah, it is probably just a good idea.

It isn't a judgement on your at all, it isn't saying that you aren't doing things right or that you caused harm to yourself... it is just a 'this is what is best for the reality of the situation right now.'

These drugs are EXTREMELY common (along with hypertension drugs). You would just be joining a large amount of people 40+ on them.

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Kimber80@reddit

I have been on statins for eleven years now and I do not regret it at all.

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mac_the_man@reddit

Why don’t you want to go on statins?

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I find that statins worsen my joint pain; but I take them.

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Take them and keep track of any weird side effects you have. There can be several. My doc had me on one and it made my joints sore. Changed to another and it’s fine. Don’t ignore side effects.

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onemorebutfaster_74@reddit

Same situation as you. I'm 51, I run almost every day, walk/hike when I don't, I lift, I swim regularly, I ski - basically, I stay very fit. I'm lean. I had a zero calcium score, have high "good cholesterol" and low triglycerides, and even though I have relatively high LDL, it seemed to balance out according to doctor. He still put me on a statin. Very low dose. The worst thing about it is having to fill the rx every month since insurance won't do any longer than that. It's cheap. No side effects as far as I can tell. Do try to take CoQ10, since statins lower that enzyme and it can lead to some muscle pain. I did do a test where I went off the statin for 90 days. My cholesterol shot up. It's already still a bit high with the statin, but it scared me into staying on it. It's really no big deal. It's the only rx I have outside of an inhaler, which I've had since I was a kid.

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Kaa_The_Snake@reddit

I went on statins and hugely regret it! For some people they might not have side effects but I tried three different ones (at least 6 months each) and the muscle aches and joint pain was just ridiculous. I was also on a very low dose, because I’ve learned to start with the lowest and see how my body reacts.

My side effects on statins were so bad that I almost ended up having surgery on my ankle because I didn’t know the pain and weakness was a statin side effect (it started subtly so I didn’t put 2+2 together right away). I couldn’t even raise up on my toes without really bad pain, and I had to cut down on my walking. I even bought 3 pair of new shoes, though I’m normally really good at rotating what shoes I wear and replacing my old ones. I was in physical therapy for a while and it wasn’t getting better so I went to an orthopedist and they thought it was tendon damage and ordered a bunch more tests and said I’d probably need surgery because my symptoms pointed to tendon damage. This was hundreds of dollars spent in PT and getting tested for pain and weakness that disappeared after I stopped statins (though it did take a month or so to resolve). I was also getting cramps in my calves and feet that would wake me up at night, those stopped as well.

So after 2-ish months of being off statins my doc said to try just Zetia. Said it’s not a statin so no statin side effects. OK fine.

Again it took a few months for the pain to really ramp up, but this time I was a bit more cautious of any new issues so I was able to tie them together. It was a shock/ache in my feet that would sometimes make it impossible to sleep and would hurt when I walk. It’s going away now, but it’s been 2 months of me not taking the pills, and I’m finally back to my 5 mile walks again instead of them being cut short due to pain. I still have some residual nerve damage, but it’s resolving thankfully.

I’m similar to you where I’m pretty lean, I walk 3 to 5 miles almost every day, don’t eat much red meat if any, no drinking, and don’t have any other heart disease indicators except my high LDL cholesterol. But then again my LDL has always been high. I have low triglycerides and my HDL is always between 60-70.

So what I’m trying now is high fiber! From all of my reading they’re saying that basically the more soluble fiber you eat the better it is for your cholesterol. While I eat healthy, I realized I wasn’t really getting a ton of fiber in my diet, mainly because I don’t eat that much because I’m not a large person. So what I’ve started doing is eating a lot of chia seeds and oatmeal. I’ll try to do at least 2 if not 3 tablespoons of chia seeds daily, adding it into my yogurt and sometimes into my oatmeal or even on a salad, where my salad dressing picks it up. I’m also eating this high-fiber high-protein cereal as a snack. So I’m totaling between 25-30g of fiber a day.

So far, I’ve actually lost a few pounds, which isn’t bad, but I’m not really looking to lose weight. I am going on Friday to get my cholesterol checked so if you want, send me a DM and I’ll let you know how it’s working for me when I get my results back probably sometime next week.

Other than that, I’m not really looking forward to trying that cholesterol shot that they have, I’ll do the shorter-acting one where you have to get one every two weeks because I always worry about side effects. I also try not to look up with the side effects could be besides the main ones because I don’t want to psych myself out and end up with side effects just because I think I’m supposed to have them 😋

I was also reluctant, but I’m diabetic so it’s even more important to take them. I’ve had no problems with them.

They are in reality a big medical success story. They help to greatly reduce lipids in the blood and decrease the incidence of heart attacks.

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csdirty@reddit

My doctor told me that my cholesterol was borderline and he would give me 6 months to fix it before prescribing statins. I started doing high intensity workouts 3-4 times per week and it is now perfect.

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Authoritaye@reddit

Try fasting?

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imgrendel@reddit

My maternal grandfather didn’t believe in statins. He was all into vitamins and was in good shape. He dropped dead in his 50s. My uncle, his son, when asked about his cholesterol by my nurse brother, said he was just taking vitamins and red rice yeast rather than be on medications. He felt great. He dropped that next year. My mother who has a history of heart issues ignored the warning signs of passing out. Her sister told her fainting was normal. My mother dropped dead a few months later. They all ignored sound medical advice.

My paternal grandfather had a couple heart attacks in his 40s and later had a quadruple bi-pass surgery. He started exercising everyday after the heart attacks, changed his diet to reduce cholesterol, and took his statin and heart medications, but also had two evening cocktails (Manhattans or wine) every night. He lived to be 91 years old.

Potential brain function support: Studies are investigating if statins may help with brain function, particularly in people with dementia, notes the Mayo Clinic.

Look at Numbers Needed To Treat. Here’s one from a quick search:

https://thennt.com/nnt/statins-for-heart-disease-prevention-without-prior-heart-disease-2/

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d4sbwitu@reddit

I'm on the smallest dose of statin. My cholesterol was NEVER a problem, but they found a small blockage found during a cardio cath done as part of my A-Fib diagnosis. Even my cardiologist was surprised to find it, given my gender, age and history. The statin takes my bad cholesterol as low as my body can tolerate it. Given how clueless I was of that blockage, I stay on it.

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Own-Fox-7792@reddit

OP, I'm with ya 100%. Recently got my numbers back and all the cholesterol was through the roof, despite doing everything "right". I have a history of bad hearts in the family, so I won't be surprised if a statin is in my near future. Better to take a pill and live to hit the gym another day...

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D05wtt@reddit

Up to 2 years ago, I (55M) didn’t take any medications, but I also never had a checkup. Then exactly 2 years ago, I had an “event” and had a whole bunch of tests done at the ER. Among other things I found out that somewhere in my past I had a mini-stroke and I didn’t even know it. I also found out I have high cholesterol and I’m pre-diabetic. Eating and drinking whatever I wanted had finally caught up to me. They put me on a high dosage of statins to bring the readings down. And my doctor (a new doctor) cut the dosage in half when my readings were within the accepted range. Before he cut it in half, I was getting terrible cramps in my calf muscles in the middle of the night when I was sleeping. I was in so much pain. Now, I rarely get those cramps. But my “doctor” retired in May and now I’m looking for a decent doctor. (Long story, I’m royally pissed that I have to go through this again….searching for a new doctor. If he told me he was retiring I would’ve gone with another doctor.) Anyway, back to the topic, I don’t wanna be on statins but I need to start exercising and having had a mini-stroke makes me a bit nervous about things. So until I find a good doctor, I’m in limbo.

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thirtyone-charlie@reddit

Did they even mention supplements? My doctor put me on CoQ10, Red Yeast Rice, garlic & flax seed oils, fiber and gugulipid. It straightened me out.

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TwiddleThwip@reddit

Look up the nocebo effect: when people expect side effects, they experience them at higher rates. With statins, people often notice symptoms more simply because they’re paying closer attention; not necessarily because the statin is causing them.
Look into the pleiotropic effects of statins. People taking them tend to have better outcomes overall (lower rates of death, heart attack, and stroke).

There are two main benefits to statins:

Lower cholesterol numbers. Calcium scoring only detects old, calcified plaque. It cannot see the newer, softer deposits. Lowering cholesterol reduces the material that forms these non-calcified plaques.
Stabilizing existing plaque. These soft deposits can crack open and trigger clots. Statins help toughen and stabilize plaque so it’s less likely to rupture. This stability is thought to be part of their pleiotropic benefit.

When someone says, “If it’s my time to die, it’s my time to die,” that’s fine, but many people don’t just die. They have a heart attack or stroke, then spend years in ever increasing misery declining, losing function, losing independence, and suffering until (thank god) they eventually die.

That can still happen, even with treatment, but statins tilt the odds so it’s less likely.

And yes, despite the nocebo effect, statins still have real side effects and slightly increase the risk of developing diabetes down the road. It seems medicine is all about sorting out the lesser evil and loading the dice in your favor.

One of the internal medicine docs I worked with swore by rosuvastatin. He felt his stamina was worse on atorvastatin and noticeably better after switching, but that was just his body. I’ve been on and off atorvastatin for about 20 years myself (started young in my late 20s with total cholesterol near 300, LDL around 190). I’ve generally done fine, though I’d love to feel less aches, less pains, less oldness by stopping but honestly, nothing really changes when I do stop. My numbers get worse, and I catch myself trying to believe I feel better, but the aches, pains, and oldness stay. Sometimes I think I should just switch to rosuvastatin and tell myself it worked and I'm better.

Statins are like a bowl of 10 to 12 different fruits, and all of us (our bodies) have different tastes. Some people love apples but hate bananas. Medications are the same way; if one statin (a banana) isn’t a fit for your body, try another (an apple). And beyond statins, you also have a head of broccoli (ezetimibe), two potatoes (PCSK9 inhibitors), a mushroom (bempedoic acid), and maybe some crackers coming in the future.

Cholesterol of 350 is perfectly normal, tell him no statins

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Our professor was married to a high-ranking official at the FDA when she made this comment. Sorry but I'll take my graduate level education at a top ranked school over your doctorate from Google.

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bennie-xxxxxxxxxxxxx@reddit

Yeah... Sorry but I'll take empirical evidence over some comment you got second hand from a teacher. Unless, of course, there's a giant conspiracy to stifle all the evidence showing adverse effects on the liver aren't rare.

DanielDannyc12@reddit

RN here. If my doctor strongly recommends something then I do it.

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Snuffleupagus27@reddit

I went on one temporarily and got off when my cholesterol was fixed. It’s not a big deal IMO.

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WhiteExtraSharp@reddit

I was on a statin for about 2 years, until I realized it was responsible for turning my memory into Swiss cheese! I was always forgetting words when I was taking it! Quit the meds and my memory bounced back to menopausal-normal.

I would say that if they have explained the risks and benefits then the choice is up to you as you have informed consent.

It's not an easy decision with many opposing opinions even amongst doctors. I would advise looking at some evidence based research (meta analysis) and making up your own mind of you feel able to.

gpcfast@reddit

There is other cholesterol meds that are not statitns . Easy on the body and drop cholesterol

I would recommend staying away from any of the statins

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ntyperteasy@reddit

Not a doctor, so don’t take medical advice from me. Relating my personal experience.

I’ve tried two and both gave me debilitating side effects. I’m talking Jump-off-the-cliff-bad side effects. I believe the industry pushing them greatly under reports the adverse side effects by the way they create studies.

I’m capable of reading the technical journals and was shocked to find studies with pre screening steps to eliminate patients with side effects rather than starting with the “intention to treat” criteria and tracking everyone from there.

The other shocker for me was to find they lowered cardiac mortality but increased all cause mortality. Once you know this, you’ll see how carefully worded their marketing claims are.

Umm. That’s not better…

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I’ve stopped because it impacted my weight

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ronwabo@reddit

I've been on simvastatin for 10 years and I didn't think I've had any side effects ever until reading this thread about some people with brain fog. I've definitely experienced that in the last 10 years, very noticeable when i was a casino dealer. Might be time to try a different statin.

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Fluffymanolo@reddit

I knew a super fit vegan Yoga instructor who never ate anything fried and still had to go on cholesterol medication in her 30's. Meanwhile, I'm fat, don't exercise, and eat everything fried and my cholesterol is fine. I am now trying to eat better to get healthier and lose weight, but my point is that, while diet and exercise is helpful, genetics play a larger part in this picture.

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xenxray@reddit

I'm on a low dose due to family history. I don't have high cholesterol, eat a 90% plant diet and exercise. Genetics though gave me a nice blocked right side of heart back in 2014. It's now got 4 stents and doc insisted. I was on a super high dose and the side effects I had:

Brutal calf cramps and overall muscle fatigue

Brain Fog

With killer lab work I convinced him to give me lowest dose. The side effects have improved.

Don’t buy into that bullshit! Just got my bloodwork back this week. Same thing; my numbers are mixed. PA suggested statins, cuz I have “a 7.8% chance of a cardiac event in the next 10 years” (I’m 55)…Duh! But I have an even greater risk of just as dangerous shit from Statins: “Health risks from statins include muscle damage (myalgia, rhabdomyolysis), increased blood sugar leading to type 2 diabetes, liver problems, and in rare cases, kidney damage and autoimmune conditions.”

O and my numbers haven’t changed since I was 25. What’s changed is Big Med and Big Pharma have lowered the threshold so they can sell statins!

Our Medical System has little to do with health. Change your diet first.

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No-Sheepherder448@reddit

I started 40mg Atorvastatin last year after a not so great physical. Haven’t noticed any side effect. I had gastric sleeve 12/23/24 and have lost almost 100lbs. So thankfully @ 53, I had a much better physical this year. I was hoping to come off the pill completely, but he met me half way and took me down 20mg.

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REALtumbisturdler@reddit

My Dr put me on the statin with the lowest listed side effects and told me to take it every other day.

Improved my bad and good cholesterol numbers and no side effects

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EF_Boudreaux@reddit

Oh and my chiropractor sold me a nutrient that I take when I eat meat.

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abstractraj@reddit

I’m on statins. They work for me. I had to try a couple though. One gave me some body aches. This one works great

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EF_Boudreaux@reddit

I used psyllium to bring down my bad cholesterol and go vegan before blood draws. Problem solved

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Pristine_Giraffe7941@reddit

I've tried every statin and I get debilitating muscle pain on each one. I've put my foot down with my dr and told them I won't take them.

The pain is so bad that I can't walk. It's awful.

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Dogzillas_Mom@reddit

Okay, my cholesterol was high at 26. I did not want to go on statins that young. I went vegetarian. Tried all kinds of nonsense. CoQ10, cinnamon in my coffee, garlic in everything.

The only thing that really helped was frequent, vigorous strength building exercise. But it was still high.

Been on statins for at least 15 years. Never a problem.

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Staff_photo@reddit

How's your blood pressure? I have opinions on this ....

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ro-key@reddit (OP)

BP is fine. Perfectly health in every other way except for "bad" cholesterol being high.

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GreatOne1969@reddit

I have been on a statin, came off, but new doctor put me back on for my triglycerides. Was at 607 without, then down to 200-300 on Atorvastatin. With diet and exercise now down to 166. No side effects that I have seen.

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Alemya13@reddit

Statins aren't the devil or a sign that you're doing something wrong or that you've failed (which is the road I went down when I started). They're a tool designed to help your body run more efficiently because, face it, as we age, s**t breaks. You can also talk with your doc about supplements to help pull the "bad" down - though, with what seems to be a really healthy lifestyle, there may not be many. Adding ground flax to my diet helped mine immensely (and I'm nowhere near as conscientious as you are) - cut it by about 45%. Maybe see if there's a supplement regimen you can try for, say, 3 months. If it's still not down, then consider the statin.

Ask your doctor about cholestyramine. This was the drug before statins. It is a powder and is still made for those of us with bile acid issues. You mix it with 8 oz of liquid and drink it. It will bind you up though. This is what my aunt took back in the early 80s because she could not afford statins since they were still relatively new.

I hope this helps.

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I’ve been on a low dose statin for about 10 years. My wife is begging to go on one because the doc just wants her to exercise more. She already does 3 x a week and we very seldom eat out. She’s a pharmacist and has seen customers go complete vegan and still have high levels. Statins are safe and effective.

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LayerNo3634@reddit

I've been on statins for 2 months and have no side effects. I've debated with my doctor because my ratio is good, but a calcium score doesn't lie.

Statins cost almost nothing and are one of the easiest things you can do to prevent future CVD. I started taking a statin last year and would have started earlier if it weren’t for a very conservative PC doc (who I do appreciate, just disagree with from time to time). I look at it as helping to ensure I am around for as many of my kids’ milestones as I can.

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JBalltheway@reddit

Add dandelion extract, turmeric, and ginger to your routine...dyor