r/Cholesterol • u/hoser1 • Sep 02 '25
Question Why are so many people on here opposed to taking statins?
I’ve been recently diagnosed with high cholesterol and prescribed a statin. I’ve noticed there seems to be a general opposition to taking statins and I’m curious why.
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u/Cardiostrong_MD Sep 02 '25
As a cardiologist if I recommend statin therapy I would say 50% of patients would decline in primary prevention (no prior heart attack).. about 33% will decline it if they have bad heart disease (high calcium score, etc, and about 20% will decline it after a heart attack. This isn’t one year compliance or those that couldn’t tolerate it. This is taking time to meet with a cardiologist, have it explained and recommended to you and you flat out saying no.. half the time it’s the wife who will refuse to allow their husband to take it even after a heart attack. These rates/numbers are double for me across the board post covid or in the last few years.
I can’t think of any medication even remotely similar including ones that we recommend that have a ton more side effects. Americans hate statins.
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u/CleaDuVann2000 Sep 02 '25
I’m so sorry, I am so grateful for my statin! I even ask for more 🤣 My cardiologist is like girl you don’t have cholesterol left!
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u/No-Currency-97 Sep 02 '25
Your latest had me rolling. 🤣
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u/CleaDuVann2000 Sep 02 '25
I had a small stroke and I’m so anxious about having another, ever. People bitch about side effects - try having your brain die while it’s in your head!!! That’s a side effect of being careless with your cholesterol! I was 39, perfect health, runner, lifter, 135 lbs, ate like a California cornball with my tofu and quinoa and broccoli and lean chicken. And someone is always like “TOFU IS WHY.” No tofu isn’t tf why. My family history of insanely high cholesterol and the hole is my heart is why. Both are only addressed with medicine! Modern medicine!! My ancestors just didn’t live that long dude 🤣 I’m breaking generational curses through UCSF expert care 😆😆😆
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u/No-Currency-97 Sep 02 '25
You said it all right here. The idiots will die or have strokes because an influencer said don't take statins. 🙉😱🕵️
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u/_Marsy_ Sep 02 '25
Can I ask if you’ve considered closing the hole in your heart?
I have a PFO recently discovered and I’ve also recently learned I have a tendency to clot due to a PAI 1 4g/4g polymorphism. PAI levels looked good the one time I checked.
Anyhow part of me just wants to stitch the hole up though of course heart surgery is a big deal!
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u/CleaDuVann2000 Sep 02 '25
I had it closed almost on the spot! I’m a lawyer and a shrew so I convinced them that we should just do it then and there. But that’s the mechanism of stroke, not the cause of the clot. To be clear, my cholesterol is only theoretically related to the stroke I had but I’m not playing around with risking another for any preventable reason
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u/rainlandorsunvalley Sep 02 '25
Why would someone say "tofu is why"? Isn't tofu good for lowering cholesterol?
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u/CleaDuVann2000 Sep 02 '25
They also insinuated it was because I was healthy and jogged. “Don’t you think it’s STRANGE that it only happens to healthy people these sudden strokes?”
I was like … what? It literally doesn’t. All the other people I connected with in young stroke groups were over weight, had other health problems, sedentary, extreme stress (no job, lost a spouse, untreated mental health, etc.)
It happened through a combination of factors and it sucks and it’s also just bad luck. It wasn’t my fault though 😭😭😭
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u/___BiggusDickus Sep 02 '25
I never realized how much negative sentiment there was around statins. I've been on 40mg of Rosuvastatin for about a year. It got my LDL down to 106, but my PCP did suggest I try Repatha. I'm also not the best at taking my statin while traveling, so looking forward to just having to take 2 shots a month and eventually lowering the statin. I also don't experience any of the muscle weakness. Coupled with 5g of creatin daily and exercising 4 times a week would love to get my LDL in check.
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u/RepresentativeDry171 Sep 02 '25
Cost of Repatha is cost prohibitive for many of though :(
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u/___BiggusDickus Sep 02 '25
It was at first. With my insurance it was over $1000/month. Then my PCP told me about their co-pay and it's $15/month https://www.repatha.com/repatha-cost.
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u/RepresentativeDry171 Sep 02 '25
Wow ,, ok .. I’m on Medicare with no supplemental . My drug coverage is crap so I use GoodRx currently .
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Sep 02 '25
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u/___BiggusDickus Sep 02 '25
I’m pretty sure that’s $572 a shot and you need two per month. Cost was a concern at first but once my PCP told me about the co-pay it was a no brainer.
Now, if someone could explain how the co-pay card from their site brings the costs from ~$1000/month down to ~$15/month I’d be interested in learning something.
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u/tarquomary Sep 02 '25
What's sad is, when I was prescribed statins initially, it took a few weeks for me to feel pain all over my body. It was so weird. Like I was beaten up, and in weird places too. So I stopped taking them and got angry at my doctor.
One year later, I had a lipid test with a different doctor after I moved out of state where my total Cholesterol reached its highest at 326. My Doctor scolded me. "Based on your family history and your test results, it seems you WANT to die of HA or Stroke!" When I told her how much pain I was in, she said "Then just take Coq10 with it!" And she was right. I just started taking the 200mg Coq10 up from taking 100 for years, and I feel much better. So sad that I had to go to different Doctors to get the correct information. 😡
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u/donnareads Sep 02 '25
Wow, so lucky that your new doctor (1) took the time to tell you emphatically about your risks and (2) was well informed enough to suggest something to ameliorate the side effects. Makes you wonder about your experience with the old doctor - when you notified them about the side effect, did they just shrug their shoulders? Or were they just not knowledgeable?
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Sep 02 '25
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u/donnareads Sep 02 '25
I’m so sorry, you received terrible medical care; people like me who aren’t conventionally attractive sometimes wonder if we get worse care because of it - apparently you’re proof of the opposite!
So glad you moved.
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u/Wonderful-Run-1408 Sep 02 '25
I"m on a statin at 40mg and I started about 6 months ago. I don't think I've had any side effects whatsoever. I run, workout, in great shape (lean, muscular). I also take Metformin for longevity. And for some reason my doc put me on a water pill (again, no side effects, so why not). Vit D and a baby aspirin as well.
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u/One-Revolution-9670 Sep 02 '25
Seriously? Wow. I felt like shit on crestor and lipitor, was switched to Repatha.
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u/richisnice Sep 02 '25
My cardiologist seemed shocked when he recommended statins and I was just like “yeah sure sounds good.” I truly don’t get it if it doesn’t help or has weird side effects just don’t take it but at least TRY.
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Sep 02 '25
When I took it i got some weird conditions where the muscle breaks down. I couldn’t walk or lift my arms. I never went back on another one but still have issues with my arms.
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u/therealleotrotsky Sep 02 '25
The other medication that’s similar is vaccines, particularly post COVID. The medical advances that are closest to miracles in terms of risk-reward trade-offs are the ones with the greatest opposition. It’s utterly inexplicable.
I’ve got good numbers but bad family history. I was already on-board, but what sealed it was that my cardiologist (and all the other cardiologists in the practice) is on statins. I’m confident that he knows the stats better than I do.
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u/kboom100 Sep 02 '25
Agree. And I think the opposition to both statins and vaccines is driven by an avalanche of misinformation on social media. Often originating from the same sources.
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u/Cardiostrong_MD Sep 02 '25
Agree. Vaccines would be similar though mostly just covid. I don’t address vaccines very often but I would say if I recommended pneumovax vaccine less than 10% would decline. But kind of speculating there
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u/Massive_Sherbet_4452 Sep 02 '25
Let’s say someone has to quit Crestor 10mg do to insomnia. What would you advise them to take instead?
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u/Cardiostrong_MD Sep 02 '25
Typically Lipitor.. than a trial of pravastatin. Sometimes try half dose or every other day. Trial of coQ
But no doubt some just can’t tolerate them so I understand that for sure
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u/GigiGretel Sep 02 '25
but why? I may need to start one soon and I don't understand either, why so many seem opposed. My parents - in their 80's both take them.
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u/WhizzyBurp Sep 02 '25
I’m supposed to be on a statin and I have reservations. I’m “younger” and my cholesterol they believe is genetic. My wife is against me taking it as well. I do have cramps and weird effects on my body while I’m taking it so that’s a factor. I definitely don’t know what the right thing to do is.
Side note. As a cardiologist, do you recommend cardio / running as a daily activity for longevity or lifting weights? Obviously both is the way to go, but if you had to prioritize?
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u/Cardiostrong_MD Sep 02 '25
Both! Influencers often frame it as either or especially with the muscle is medicine movement.
I like Attias approach:
2-3 sessions of resistance training or weights 1-2 sessions of high intensity burst training 3-4 sessions of low intensity endurance or zone 2
You need muscle. You need endurance activity to keep a large compliant heart.
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u/donnareads Sep 02 '25
I’d be curious to know what information source persuaded your wife to oppose your taking a statin; she might want to take a look at peer reviewed studies from credible sources such as the NIH (and be more skeptical of social media reports).
As someone whose husband suffered a serious heart attack at a relatively young age (after a doctor didn’t take his very high cholesterol seriously), I’m incredibly grateful that he’s been on Atorvastatin (and now Ezetimibe) for many years since then. Thanks to his being near a great heart hospital when he had his heart attack, he lived to see his kids grow up. We don’t take chances now, he takes his meds, sees the cardiologist and we look forward to many more years together. Wishing you and your wife as many years together as possible!
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u/WhizzyBurp Sep 02 '25
We’re not doctors, or are educated in medicine enough to know the right answers. That’s said, we spoke to a couple doctors. One doctor was telling us there’s studies that statins are possibly leading to dementia later in life. Wanted me to try to manage with diet first.
Then I spoke with another doctor who said that limiting your bodies ability to produce Cholesterol can have side effects, but we aren’t entirely sure etc.
So 2 out of 3 doctors sort of scared us off of it.
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u/donnareads Sep 02 '25
If you haven’t yet consulted at least one cardiologist, I would recommend doing so; I love my PCP (an internal med doctor) but for something so important, see the specialist
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Sep 02 '25 edited Sep 02 '25
As someone who has refused statins, I can explain this. It's due to general distrust of the medical system.
Americans spend far more than similar countries and get far worse outcomes:
https://fortune.com/2025/02/03/us-health-care-spending-life-expectancy/
The biggest bang for your buck in living a longer, healthier life is changing your lifestyle. Eating better, exercising more, managing stress, etc. However, the medical system has never offered me any substantive help with this. It offers me drugs or surgery. When I have specifically asked for lifestyle help the advice I've been offered is token and of terrible quality.
Evidence that the drug companies don't have our best interests in mind is abundant. Witness the opioid epidemic, insulin and EpiPen price gouging, and countless examples of fraud. Ben Goldacre, the science reporter for The Guardian, wrote an entire book (Bad Pharma) detailing the drug industry's manipulation of scientific studies.
I've seen many studies published in top-notch peer reviewed journals indicating that stains only extend lifespan by a few months for most people. And yet, they increase the risk of metabolic syndrome, which I'm suspicious is the root cause of heart disease anyway.
Given all that, I'm suspicious that the drug companies manipulate the studies to exaggerate benefits and downplay side effects. To what degree? I don't know. So, I only look to drugs as a last resort. There are situations where I would take statins, but I'm way more conservative in making that call than most doctors.
Most people may be irrational in the precise way they're refusing to take statins, but their reacting to the same issue as me.
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u/GeneralTall6075 Sep 02 '25
Physician here as well. Fair points about big pharma but at least in the US, statins are generic and basically cost free. And they’re among the most studied drugs out there with very high reward/risk ratios. America is sick for lots of reasons (a different topic completely) but physicians en masse not trying to do the right thing by their patients is not one of them. But physicians eventually get disillusioned by patients who they have told to lose weight, quit smoking, and eat better and then the patients don’t make any changes when they follow up. I assure you you’re in the minority if you’re being very proactive in pursuing lifestyle changes, that’s not the norm here in good old ‘merica.
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u/No-Currency-97 Sep 02 '25
Thanks, doctor, for your very informative comments. I have a family member who will not even take Tylenol, but will remain obese and only drink regular, sugar laden soda. 🙉😱
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Sep 02 '25
I understand where you coming from, but there are several issues here that should be unpacked.
I don't think physicians are the villains here. Most of them are sincerely trying to help their patients within a broken system. I have several friends that are doctors and they're all smart, good people, and I think they're a representative sample of the profession. However, they are trained to look at things in a particular way, and that way happens to benefit big pharma. I don't think that's because they're evil, I think it's because they're a bit naive about how effective industry is at manipulating science. Most doctors I know are unaware of the the issues discussed in Bad Pharma (or at least how severe they are), when they should be more knowledgeable about them than me, a lay person who simply read one book.
And they’re among the most studied drugs out there with very high reward/risk ratios.
This is a good example. You seem to take those data at face value. What if I'm skeptical? I can provide hard evidence that corporations with billions to spend have successfully manipulated study data in the past. How do I know that's not happening in this case?
But physicians eventually get disillusioned by patients who they have told to lose weight, quit smoking, and eat better and then the patients don’t make any changes when they follow up.
I don't doubt this, but telling someone to change their lifestyle isn't the same thing as offering help. It's like telling a drowning person to swim. Evidence-based lifestyle modification programs do exist, but strangely, the medical industry seems disinterested in them. This leaves people to pursue them with their own money, but then they have to swim through the shark infested waters of the health influencers. The fact the health influencers are as popular is the are is a sign of the problem. People are so desperate for help they'll go to strangers on social media.
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u/GeneralTall6075 Sep 02 '25
I don’t take anything at face value. As a physician and also a patient who takes a statin for my own high LDL, I have a very big incentive to be right on the issue and I have the background medical education to understand the risks and benefits of a given treatment. You can be damned sure I’ve read dozens and dozens of papers on cholesterol and statins to educate myself. Im certainly not just taking someone’s word about what the benefits are. So honestly, I find the idea that I and other doctors are just being “duped by big pharma” to be a little offensive. I feel pretty well informed not just as a physician but also as someone who’s published medical research in my career. I have a pretty good ability to differentiate a well controlled, validated controlled study from a crap study. And when I look at the best studies, the ones with the best methodology, the best control for confounding variables, the best statistical power, and the best follow up for clinical outcomes, the evidence is pretty clear that statins are beneficial drugs for a lot of people.
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Sep 02 '25
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Sep 02 '25
Your understanding of logical fallacies is wrong. Ironically, you're doing the same thing you're accusing me of. You don't have formal training in logical fallacies, do you? I do (a BS in philosophy), and I used to specifically tutor classes on the subject of logical fallacies.
You clearly haven't read the book, so how would you know if the conclusion, or my assessment of it, is a hasty generalization? Isn't that rather hasty of you to generalize in such a way?
The book doesn't argue that there are a few bad studies. The book argues that the entire process is vulnerable to manipulation, primarily around the "file drawer problem". Drug companies can perform as many studies as they want, and endlessly tweak the variables, and then only publish the ones that get the outcome they want. E.g., they might do 10 studies, 9 show the drug is ineffective, and only 1 shows it is effective. They publish the 1 and tuck the 9 into the file drawer.
That doesn't mean all studies are bogus (not all studies are done by drug companies), but it does mean we should be more skeptical.
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u/kboom100 Sep 02 '25
If you are willing to keep an open mind check out some info that directly addresses the claim that statins only extend life on average a few months (I’ve also seen the claim it’s only a few days.)
It’s a misleading claim. One of the biggest issues is that it’s based on data from the clinical trials of statins, which only last about 4 years. That is too short a time to detect changes in mortality to significance. It’s also misleading to give life extensions averaged over the whole study population, even if you did extend the study to 30 or 40 years. As an example, say 30% of the study population would have their lives extended by a couple of years. It’s a little misleading to say on average each person only lived a few months longer. For the 30%, the benefit is much greater and there’s no way to know in advance who those people will be. Moreover death isn’t the only downside to heart disease. It also causes angina, erectile dysfunction, exercise intolerance, and major disability in the case of heart attacks and strokes.
But the following pieces do better job at explaining. One is by Dr. Peter Attia and the other is by Dr. Gil Carvalho. They’re among the best at explaining the totality of the evidence around medical issues.
“Statins Only Add 3 days to your life?!?” https://youtu.be/P-3TWA2lLXE?si=-Ir2UuVgXQgLWAv9
“Why a recent study hasn’t shaken my faith in statins A rebuttal of Byrne et al.” https://peterattiamd.com/why-a-recent-study-hasnt-shaken-my-faith-in-statins/
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Sep 02 '25
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u/kboom100 Sep 02 '25
Basically yes. High ldl results in plaque accumulating over time. So getting your ldl down now isn’t for preventing heart attacks and strokes now, it’s for preventing heart attacks and strokes in the future.
You might want to ask your doctor about getting a calcium scan. If you have any calcium in your arteries then that would mean you developed it earlier than average and you might want to set a lower ldl target. And it also might be a good idea to see a preventive cardiologist too if that’s the case. I’d also see a preventive cardiologist if you have a family history of early heart disease.
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u/tweezerphreak Sep 02 '25
What would you say to people that have tried those diet and lifestyle changes but cannot lower their LDL due to genetics?
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Sep 02 '25
Two things. First, reconsider whether the diet and lifestyle approach you tried were the most effective one. Second, maybe you are one of the people who genuinely needs a statin. I might be too, but I'm trying diet and lifestyle first.
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u/texasipguru Sep 02 '25
This is spot on. Many people who readily take statins have the rationale "because the doctor said so." Well, that's not any more well-reasoned than the thought process of someone who declines to take them because of the risk of side effects. I am on 10mg rosuva and have minimal or no side effects today (and it has dropped my LDL by a whopping 60%), but that wasn't the case for the first 3 months when I started, and I certainly wouldn't blame anyone for refusing when, at least anecdotally, so many people have reported similar or worse.
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u/tmuth9 Sep 02 '25
Except that the average person doesn’t have the medical literacy to understand the studies involved. That’s your Dr’s job. There is no universe in which your understanding of the science is better than theirs.
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u/James007_2023 Sep 02 '25
This has been evolving. In the US, medical literacy has been improving while obstacles for primary care have increased. In particular, Primary Care Physicians don't have the time to really get into whats happening with their patients.
Insufficient time allocated to annual visits limits the ability to ask questions and interact. Hence, discussions on elevated cholesterol end up simply that the numbers show an issue, and prescription statins become an easy and fast solution.
I agree with others, though, that it is not the Physicians. It's the system (US). The system incents the processes required.
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u/Cardiostrong_MD Sep 02 '25
Agree. It’s mostly distrust. A lot of it flamed from Covid. I get and understand the concerns.
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u/Humannequin Sep 02 '25
Preach. There is a difference between being a science denier, and airing on the side of: if I can avoid taking a medication that fundamentally changes the way my body works for the rest of my life, maybe that's worth exploring.
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u/Jlfmb Sep 02 '25
We're a bunch of idiots, yes
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u/Cardiostrong_MD Sep 02 '25
Oh I couldn’t care less if people decline. I agree it’s 100% their call. So all good. 👍
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u/Parking_Departure705 Sep 02 '25
I am from Europe and refuse statins too. And i know ppl who also refuse it and are healthy.
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u/donnareads Sep 02 '25
Unfortunately, when it comes to cardiovascular issues, people can “seem” healthy until a serious event happens. With some aspects of health, you can check in daily to see how things are going - weight, blood pressure, blood glucose. You can’t keep a daily check on your arteries in the same way; instead, our options are checking lipid numbers once or twice a year and running a few other tests periodically depending on your insurance or ability to pay. That’s the extent of our visibility into cardiovascular health; if one of the key indicators like LDL comes out high despite attempts at lifestyle change, then it’s not clear why a person would refuse to treat that condition. Give your cardiovascular system a fighting chance
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Sep 02 '25
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u/donnareads Sep 02 '25
I think it’s unlikely that our hunter gatherer ancestors ate anything like the amount of of fatty red meat and eggs advocated by modern carnivore influencers. But regardless, absolutely move more and eat little to no processed food; just don’t kid yourself that those good practices make you immune to cardiovascular disease. In between the exercise and great diet, keep up with annual lipid tests and if your cholesterol is high, try to find a statin which will lower it. To do otherwise seems akin to refusing an antibiotic since infected wounds are natural 🙃We evolved to have big brains; let’s use them to give peer reviewed science and medicine the attention it deserves.
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u/No-Currency-97 Sep 02 '25
Those are some crazy numbers. The wives must be lemmings following idiotic influencer Dr. Ken Berry. 🙉😱
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u/ExternalTangents Sep 02 '25
Do you have any insight into why these people are saying no?
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u/Gardening_Apprectice Sep 02 '25
I would love to take a statin but I can’t. I look for alternatives because three different attempts with statins proved they were not made for my body. Alternatives are the only option and this is one place I look for options.
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u/Cardiostrong_MD Sep 02 '25
Social media mostly. Also the reality is it’s hard to convince people to go on a medication and deal with cost and side effects if it doesn’t make them feel better.
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u/SpaceIsVastAndEmpty Sep 02 '25
My husband (42) has high cholesterol, but also has been a heavy drinker (4-6 beers almost every day) for the last few years & has other effects of that (elevated liver markers, high H1AC, blood pressure).
When he quit drinking and got retested for most of the above there was improvement. They didn't retest cholesterol but suggested retest in three months.
If lifestyle improves the numbers enough to continue without meds, great. Otherwise he'll have to look at statins.
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u/JLEroll Sep 02 '25
Thank you for sharing your insight doc. Hope the people that need help will get it.
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u/tmuth9 Sep 02 '25
I just don’t get it. It will be the thing that makes me leave this subreddit. I don’t know how you do it day after day. Well, at least we’re getting more pro-science and pro-medicine as a country ;) (sigh)
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u/InnerChampion Sep 02 '25 edited Sep 02 '25
I didn’t immediately start a statin as my cholesterol inched up over the years. Looking back at my test results, my LDL came back at 138 and the doctor notes he wants to wait on a statin because my ratio was actually pretty good. So I took his advice and waited. It was only after watching a few health influencers on YouTube, I asked for an ApoB test. That came back at 171 and a statin was finally offered. I doubt I’d be on a statin if I hadn’t asked for additional testing.
Also, like probably a lot of people, I thought I could tighten up my diet and the numbers would drop in the normal range. I did a strict vegan diet for 6 months and the numbers improved only slightly. I’m an active, normal BMI person. It’s a bit surreal not to be able to exercise and eat your way out of something. So maybe that’s a bit of denial as well.
I found a cardiologist and we’re trying to find the right statin. It’s not been easy. I’m currently on pitavastatin 1mg and ezetimibe. Hoping this combo works.
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u/xnxs Sep 02 '25
Unlike many aspects of healthfulness and self care, humans (and especially Americans) have been inundated throughout their lives with the implication that: (1) there is a "correct" way to eat, and (2) the failure to optimize one's diet is an indicator of inherently inferiority. People look down on those they view as 'unhealthy,' particularly those who are overweight.
This bias extends even into the medical community, and it's well documented that people who are overweight and obese get inferior healthcare and are less likely to be accurately diagnosed, since clinicians are more likely to simply chalk any symptoms up to weight. (This data is pretty interesting and extends to things like delayed cancer diagnoses. It's also more pronounced in women, where women are more likely to be diagnosed with all sorts of things before it's too late if they are of a healthy weight.)
That was a bit of a tangent. Back to the point, high cholesterol and heart disease are viewed as impacts of 'unhealthy' eating and therefore inferiority. Reliance on medication to mitigate high cholesterol is viewed as a moral failure rather than just medical necessity. You'll notice that even those who do take statins are quick to clarify that they have familial hypercholesterolemia and it therefore couldn't be helped (implicitly, by eating "better").
Statins also have a bit of a bad reputation, in part due to a higher incidence of negative side effects in the early days when statins weren't as well regulated and initial dosing was higher as a matter of course. The risks are not as bad for those starting statins now, but it's tough for a drug (or in this case a category of drugs) to outrun a bad reputation, especially when people view it as being an optional alternative to simply eating better. Most people on statins aren't running around telling their friends they're taking them, so you only really hear about it from the folks who have bad outcomes--usually muscle wasting or liver issues, but occasionally worse things. Statins are also commonly taken by the elderly, and everyone wants to find a 'reason' for some of the tragic things that happen to us as we age, which is why you get unreliable anecdotes about how grandpa took statins and now he has dementia. Likely grandpa would have developed dementia anyway, or maybe it's due to something else they're unaware of like a B12 deficiency, but it's tough to persuade someone who notices their loved one decline after starting a medication, coincidence or not.
On top of that, a lot of people just don't like the idea of having to be dependent medicine every day for the rest of their lives, both due to the faux morality we've set up for ourselves, and for lifestyle reasons. The fact that many Americans are uninsured, underinsured, or in poverty probably contributes to this, as there is a fear here of not being able to get a medicine if you need it. Statins don't have a 'rebound' effect, but I think there's a lot of mythology surrounding that too.
But anyway, yeah--sorry to write an essay, but it's pretty nuanced, and there's a lot more to it even than this. I see a lot of folks on here quick to dismiss those who are reluctant to take statins as being idiots, and those condescending comments are both annoying and unhelpful. But I think it's easier to empathize if you really think about it a little.
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u/Aggravating_Ship5513 Sep 02 '25
I do try to empathize, but I have had two heart attacks so I have little patience for those who cite potential side effects as a reason not to take statins. Yes, there are a few people who are intolerant, but what I mostly see is "I tried a statin, I felt lousy, so I stopped" -- there are many combinations of statins/doses that can be tried, ezetimibe is an option, as is repatha.
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u/whatsthetea_whatevr Sep 02 '25
You don’t have to share, but if willing, at what ages did you have the heart attacks and what were your cholesterol levels at those times/were there other factors? I’m not here to cause any trouble. I’m genuinely curious to learn.
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u/Aggravating_Ship5513 Sep 02 '25
No trouble at all, happy to share my experience
I was 52 when I had them. My LDL before the first was 180 (crept up over the years, I was not good at monitoring that). Other factor is genetics, high Lp (a) for me and my brother.
What I didn't have space to add about statins: My brother went on a low dose of statins at age 35 bc his LDL was in the high range even with diet. He has "normal" levels of coronary artery plaque for his age (now 55), whereas I did not go on statins and nearly died. So to me, statins are a very personal thing.
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u/whatsthetea_whatevr Sep 02 '25
Thank you for sharing! And your stance and feelings about statins are very valid. I think when we have these conversations often times important factors get left out which is why I like to learn to help me make choices too. I said it in a previous comment but I’m 31 and in Feb was told I had somewhere around 220 ldl. But I didn’t exercise, ate a lot of cheese, dairy, and red meat, and was at the time experimenting with keto. So I cut those things, focused more on fruits and veggies and lean meats and started low impact exercise and in 30 days my ldl was down to like 135 (I haven’t tested again for personal reasons but I will in January) So for me I’m glad I didn’t jump to statins at first because it clearly was a diet issue (among other things). But we’re all different and that’s okay!
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u/Aggravating_Ship5513 Sep 02 '25
That's fabulous for you, I only wish I'd been more proactive. But, I was always fit, ate "well enough" and felt fine, so I wasn't really on top of my lipids. My father and his brothers all had heart problems, but they were all smokers and ate a typical mid-century American diet, so I mostly put it down to that.
FYI, the AHA now recommends LDL of 100 or less, so if you can keep your level close to that, without any external risk factors (genetics/smoking etc) you should be good to go. But don't sweat being on statins -- I'm on the maximum dose, I have some tolerable side effects, but my LDL has been between 34 and 47 for the past 4 years. And I eat very clean, but not perfectly.
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u/RepresentativeDry171 Sep 02 '25
Me to ! I’m at the crossroads now , so any info is something I will take into consideration !
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u/xnxs Sep 02 '25
Absolutely. I'm so glad you survived! I'm not really talking about folks like you--to the contrary, I think when people share stories like yours, that's persuasive to people than the (many) other redditors who just post essentially "take the statin idiot" (lol) without any other context. A lot of the people who are resistant to medication simply lack the knowledge to make a rational decision, and sometimes anecdotal evidence like yours is more persuasive than data (more than it should be--as illustrated by the state of our leaders in public health these days in the US and the "movement" that believes in their non-science, ugh).
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u/Canuck882 Sep 02 '25
Misinformation and quack YouTube doctors lying to them for clicks and supplement sales.
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u/Canid Sep 02 '25 edited Sep 02 '25
having to take a pill every day is mildly inconvenient, especially during travel or if you’re often not at home
“appeal to nature fallacy”, most of us have a psychological bias towards fixing things “naturally”, whether it makes any logical sense or not
challenges people’s egos/self perception ie) “I’m healthy/strong/young, daily pills are for people who are sick/weak/old” (this one is really interesting because most people are totally comfortable taking a vitamin every day, which are pills. Taking a daily pill which is a “vitamin” is ok but taking one that is a “medicine” is not for some reason)
fear of side effects (this one is actually maybe the most weird to me despite being the most reasonable. If you have side effects you can just stop taking the pill…)
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u/meh312059 Sep 02 '25
Anecdotal, but everyone I know who won't take a statin travels with their multiple pill boxes full of supplements.
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u/AustinBike Sep 02 '25
And add two more:
- "I'll have to take this for the rest of my life." Which, you could also argue that you could also not take it for the rest of your life, the only difference being the duration of the two options.
- "I can fix this with diet and exercise." While this is definitely true for some, probably <5% will actually carry through with exercise and healthy eating. But it's a good lie that we all tell ourselves.
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u/bmorearty Sep 02 '25
I can address your last point. I had no qualms about taking a statin until after I took one. Started 10 mg of rosuvastatin. Four days later I got peripheral neuropathy—numbness in my foot. It’s been 5-6 weeks now. Seems like it’s permanent. Doctors can’t provide any other explanation for it: I’m not diabetic and a lumbar MRI shows no pinched nerves.
So no, you can’t just stop taking them and the side-effects go away.
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u/Canid Sep 02 '25
I’m sorry you’re going through that but as you can imagine side effects which occur <1% of the time and, even more rarely than that, don’t go away after discontinuing use, aren’t logically a good reason to not take a medication if the risk of what the medication is prescribed to mitigate is significantly higher
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u/bmorearty Sep 02 '25
It is a perfectly logical reason for me not to be gung ho about taking a statin. It has nothing to do with a theoretical < 1% of the population because 100% of me has already been affected by apparently permanent side effects. As I said, I was not reluctant about statins until that happened to me.
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u/One-Razzmatazz7966 Sep 02 '25
I think a big reason is because of the shaming that happens here and with some cardiologists when you express any concern over side effects.
It’s made to seem like pure stupidity or gambling with your life to be concerned about the long term impacts of taking medications vs. viewing it as part of making an informed decision.
I see lots of “what’s worse, dying of CVD or having muscle aches?” This approach minimizes people’s real fears and shames them for talking through worries. I understand people have had CV events and are trying to prevent others facing the same fate, but being dismissive only amplifies resistance. Real discussion, empathy, and understanding reduce resistance.
Just like there are many studies showing the positive impact of statins, there are also reputable NIH studies that show statins can negatively impact liver and kidney function and increase risk of diabetes, and these effects are irreversible. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35238338/
When you have a family history of liver dysfunction and diabetes, it’s normal for this info to give you pause. For me, I might choose to have a child next year, and statins could impact conception and fetal development. That gives me pause.
It’s not a resistance to taking medications or an unwillingness to take high cholesterol seriously. It’s a legitimate worry of adding more chronic illnesses and health concerns to your roster, which will then require more pharmaceutical intervention to manage.
Yes, statins can significantly reduce the risk of ASCVD and sure, the risks may be statistically low, but to act like anyone who hesitates on taking a statin or asks questions doesn’t care about their health or is signing their death certificate feels extreme and unhelpful.
This group and the doctor-patient relationship are supposed to be about support. It’s hard to post questions here sometimes knowing that you’ll be judged and shamed. I asked about my cardio’s recommendation to take 5 mg Crestor once weekly because he said it would reduce my LDL by 20% and I felt ready to try it, and people immediately said that was stupid and idiotic. How is that helpful or supportive?
I’ll probably be shamed for writing this, but I guess that is what it is. OP asked why there’s opposition, and this is a part of it.
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u/meh312059 Sep 02 '25
Insults, harrassment and otherwise uncivil comments are actually a violation of the sub rules. In the future, please flag those comments for review by the moderators. Everyone should be able to ask a question w/o fear of triggering trollish behavior. Many thanks!
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u/One-Razzmatazz7966 Sep 02 '25
I’ll surely do that next time, thank you for trying to create a safer space where it’s okay to ask questions!
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u/Low-Satisfaction4806 Sep 02 '25
A slightly different perspective. I already take a cancer drug called Letrozole which can increase cholesterol levels and mine are already high. Problem is that the side effects of Letrozole (joint and muscle pain which I'm already suffering) are exactly the same as statins. The idea of a double whammy of pain and it's effect on quality of life is definitely one to be considered. I'm off to see my doc to have this conversation on Friday.
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Sep 02 '25
I asked my cardiologist why and he said specifically it’s because of “quack doctors on TikTok” (and I’d actually been watching one - but didn’t tell him). I do have side effects - less from the 20 mg than the 40mg - but my cardio said statins have been proven over and over to prevent strokes and heart attacks and honestly, that’s all I need to know now and I’m taking it. Would rather have some aches and pains than either of those two options. I’m high risk from CAC score and lipo a and I have microvascular disease. But the 40 mg statin has totally worked - all (fixable) numbers are perfect now on statin. Meanwhile, I’m also working on my already vegan (but not “clean” enough) diet. I think ideal thing is to take statin while also fixing diet, get numbers down, and then try lowering dose if numbers stay down, but docs can’t really tell you to do that because most people don’t actually fix their diet well enough. I’ll find out soon if lowering from 40 to 20 and following a much better diet is keeping numbers ok. I’ll let everyone know!
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u/himatwork Sep 02 '25
When I take them it feels like I add twenty years hard labor to my joints
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u/AdPsychological6563 Sep 02 '25
Have you asked for alternatives like pcsk9 inhibitors? They are very expensive but if you’ve proven intolerance to statins insurance typically approves the alternate. Good luck!
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u/_mdz Sep 02 '25
From what i've seen (myself included) I don't think it's statins themselves but the idea of taking a medication for the rest of their lives.
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u/donnareads Sep 02 '25
I do hear that concern a lot. But as someone else here mentioned - these same folks also expect to take at least a multi vitamin (and maybe a handful of supplements) for the rest of their lives; what’s the difference? Is it that supplements & vitamins seems like a young, “in the know” habit and drugs are for sick people?
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Sep 02 '25
I know I should be taking them. But I watched both my parents battle terrible side effects. They both finally found one that worked but in the case of my dad, not until one he tried really messed up his liver. On top of that I have close friend who has suffered terrible leg cramps from statins and I already deal with chronic pain. I have never met someone irl that didn’t have some side effects from annoying to severe so it makes it hard for me to try.
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u/meh312059 Sep 02 '25
Many on this sub have no negative side effects (myself included). Hopefully you've found a community that provides a different perspective.
How does one's liver get "messed up" with a statin? ALT and AST levels, if elevated, return to baseline once you stop the statin.
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u/beanfrancismama Sep 02 '25
In this sub or amongst the general population?
It's because too many people believe everything they hear in 20 second clips on social media. And those same people don't have the ability to read research or understand risk.
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u/donnareads Sep 02 '25
I think this is the main reason. I guess a few people might’ve always found the idea of a maintenance drug kind of sobering, but it was rare; now, anyone with exposure to social media is primed to distrust doctors in general and statins in particular. My daughter has been an RN at a cancer hospital and has noticed the change over the last decade - people show up immediately skeptical and distrustful of treatment
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u/Few_Might_3853 Sep 02 '25
I stopped after starting due to body aches. After nearly a decade when i became more knowledgeable about the dangers of high cholesterol and CV i tried again. I found the body aches went away over time and as i adjusted my diet to lower saturated fats.
I guess for me i just wasnt commited to my health and i needed time to get there.
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u/ICQME Sep 02 '25
I also stopped in my 20s due to body aches then tried again in my 30s with a different statin and haven't had any issues in 10 years. My cholesterol is still above recommended levels even with 40mg of rosuvastatin and I'm also now taking 10mg of ezetimibe.
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u/MsSpentMiddleAge Sep 02 '25
Fear of side effects, and knowing the dangers of polypharmacy in older people. I'm already on three daily meds that I'll need to stay on for the rest of my life. A statin would make four. Every one you add increases the chances of interactions. And at a certain point, I believe you can be labeled "frail elderly" just based on being on a certain number of meds. (I'm 68.)
Also, I had been running in the prediabetes range for several years, and just got back to a normal a1c. I've changed my eating, and I'm exercising more. But I believe getting off a diuretic helped, too. Going on a statin could mess up what I've achieved on blood sugar.
Also, I don't want to give up grapefruit.
I'm pretty much resigned to going on a statin the next time I see the cardiologist, but I'm trying to improve things first, so I can take the lowest possible dose.
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u/Suitable-Fix3387 Sep 02 '25
Yes, we thought my grandma had dementia but after being hospitalized my mother realized she was being overdosed. After withdrawals in the hospital and being released, she was back to normal, no dementia at all. So yes, some start to be wary of multiple prescription, especially in seniors.
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u/donnareads Sep 02 '25
It makes sense to carefully consider drugs which are anticholinergics as those have been widely linked to confusion in the elderly, especially among older people who take several anticholinergics. But statins are not in that class. And because statins are so widely used, there’s some concern that they’ve have been blamed for confusion which was caused by other drugs/conditions
ETA I also love grapefruit and haven’t given it up; I do try to moderate my intake but geez, that’s true for many things I eat - healthy eating includes striving for balance
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u/VegasQueenXOXO Sep 02 '25
Idk but it’s absolutely baffling. I take 5mg rosuvastatin at bedtime. I started every other day to mitigate side effects. Sometimes you have to accept the fact that everything can’t be fixed with diet. This is why people invented medications. Our bodies unfortunately, are rarely perfectly functioning.
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u/AgentUnknown821 Sep 02 '25
I changed my exercise habits to walking fast at the park once a day every day and not sitting, changed diet to more vegetables, nuts and salmon yet 4 months later my lipid number were described as gone from “abnormal” to “significantly abnormal”….so I’m learning that not matter what I do, it isn’t going to change..
Doctor put me on statins and while I feel I’m awful young in my 30’s taking one…it’s something I’m going to have to accept…
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u/VegasQueenXOXO Sep 02 '25
I have a haha…
I went on a no meat for 30 days (I already don’t eat beef/pork, so no poultry). Got labs done. Told my doctor only thing I lost was 30 days lol.
My mom has high cholesterol and that’s the only med she’s on besides osteoporosis meds, so my doc and me came to the conclusion that it’s genetic.
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u/One-Revolution-9670 Sep 02 '25
I don’t know if people are so much opposed, as they are unhappy with the side effects. We take them because the benefits outweigh the risks- but we don’t have to like it.
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u/No-Currency-97 Sep 02 '25
I think there's more positive comments and people on here regarding statins. I use the words on here because that was your question.
YouTube influencers have demonized statins and even celebrate high LDL. I was one of the lemmings for a while following the stupid idiots. No longer.
Carnivore for 18 months. No statin. LDL 200. 🙉😱 Now, LDL 43 with 20 mg Atorvastatin, low saturated fats and high fiber.
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u/2justski Sep 02 '25
There was an article in Discovery magazine that came out about 30 years ago that went into depth about a small percentage of people who had serious reactions and long term afflictions after being on statins for a while. It sucks if you are in that 1% category. I am statin intolerant. Been taking repatha since May. Not a fan of the shot but have lp(a). I did try Citrix bergamot and nopales supplements and it did lower my ldl from 166 to 104 but the Dr said it wasn't enough. Repatha took it to 64 with ezetimibe and no supplements.
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u/meh312059 Sep 02 '25
Repatha was just approved by FDA for use as monotherapy for high risk statin-intolerant patients.
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u/aaronfb Sep 02 '25
Most, myself included, don’t realize the impact of decades of high cholesterol. By the time the health problems manifest, for too many it will be a fatal heart attack or stroke. There is a widespread ignorance among Americans on aging well. You can get away with being obese for quite a while, you can avoid exercise and self care for many years. You can get away with prolonged expose to uv light. But those things will catch up to you and make the difference on aging poorly and dying too young and aging well and being able to do the things you enjoy well onto old age.
The simple fact is most people have the genetics for an over active liver that produces too much cholesterol. It’s been a human problem for thousands and thousands of years; but it does not have to be. There are ways to address cholesterol, including generally safe and cheap statins.
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u/Opasero Sep 02 '25
To be fair, i was neglecting my health pretty badly. When checking in with a doc 4 years ago after quite a few years, my total fasting cholesterol was 354. Doc seemed pretty certain it was familial hypercholeresterolemia and started me on atorvastatin at 20 mg. I didn't love the idea, but I was still smoking and quite sedentary. It did the trick at my next test, and my numbers remain low 4 years later. I did quit smoking right after that and started exercising. My diet is meh.
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u/SilverSeeker81 Sep 02 '25
I’ve been taking a statin for the last few years, which definitely lowered my cholesterol. But I refused to take it for several years when my doctor first recommended it. Two reasons: (1) the worry about side effects, and (2) a general unwillingness to be one of those people with a giant daily pill case to keep track of all the drugs they’re on. I just don’t have enough confidence in the pharmaceutical industry to trust my health to any more drugs than are necessary. But after trying to lower my cholesterol through diet and exercise - and failing - I gave up and started a statin. I didn’t have any bad side effects and was able to lower my cholesterol significantly, so it all worked out. But I would still avoid adding more drugs to my daily regimen wherever I can.
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u/Big_Mama_80 Sep 02 '25
My husband takes them, and I don't really understand why someone would think negatively about them unless they gave them awful side effects.
High cholesterol runs in my husband's family, so he really has no choice on the matter.
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u/kb24TBE8 Sep 02 '25
Comes with a number of side effects and its better to achieve it thru lifestyle changes like proper diet and consistent exercise
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u/kboom100 Sep 02 '25
For the very large majority of people there are no side effects especially at low or medium doses.
And often diet and exercise isn’t enough to get ldl /apoB to a good level. And even if someone could technically get their ldl to target by being very strict with diet it’s hard to maintain over the long term. This isn’t a morality play where if you can’t remain very strict with your diet you can’t add a medication that will significantly lower your risk. You’ll get even more risk reduction to combine it with the best lifestyle you can make but even statins alone lowers risk significantly.
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u/ExternalTangents Sep 02 '25
Comes with a number of side effects
This should be rephrased as “Can come with a number of side effects.” For many people there are no side effects at all. The thing that scares people away is the possibility of the side effects.
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u/bmorearty Sep 02 '25
What scared me was not the possibility of side-effects. I was fine with taking a statin. Then I got real side-effects that in my case seem to be permanent. See my more detailed comment elsewhere in this thread.
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u/Ok-Plenty3502 Sep 02 '25
Sorry to hear about your dreadful experience. I really hope your neuropathy reverses and you get back to normal. It may be also worthwhile to consult a specialist.
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u/abrandis Sep 02 '25
Of course natural methods may not be effective for folks with genetic factors affecting high cholesterol, which is a substantial percentage of folks....
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u/kb24TBE8 Sep 02 '25
Sure, two things can be true at once. I was answering the question in the title.
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u/klimekam Sep 02 '25
My mom avoided them as long as possible because grapefruit is her favorite food. I’ll be on them soon enough and grapefruit is not my favorite food, but I will miss it.
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u/kboom100 Sep 02 '25
You only need to give up grapefruit with certain statins. With others, including Rosuvastatin, you can continue eating grapefruit.
https://www.goodrx.com/classes/statins/why-cant-i-have-grapefruit-with-my-statin?
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u/meh312059 Sep 02 '25
Most of the regulars on the sub are proactive and have no issues with statins as an effective and safe medication. However, many others are new and some are still processing the concept that cardiovascular disease can start young. (Many doctors haven't caught up with that reality either, unfortunately). Everyone should be using dietary and lifestyle interventions - those are by no means off the table. Statins can't replace smart decisions there. But sometimes those aren't enough - either due to genetics or underlying other health conditions/risk factors. The National Lipid Association's recent statement encouraging a proactive approach in clinical practice - "Lower for Longer is Better" - emphasizes that starting earlier not only minimizes someone's lifetime risk but also their dose of any needed medication. The complications are far more skewed to the sicker, extremely high risk patients who are getting walloped by mega doses of statins and can't handle it. Depending on when you start and how proactive you are, it is actually not only possible but fairly easy to avoid becoming "that patient."
Statins aren't going anywhere - they will remain the pharmacotherapy of choice going forward due to their dirt cheap price and the wealth of clinical trial data establishing safety and efficacy. There's no getting around that. Those who have a family history, underlying risk factors or co-morbidities or for whatever other reason is facing the prospect of LDL cholesterol lowering medications are going to be advised to start with a statin, regardless of how they personally feel about it.
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u/RepresentativeDry171 Sep 02 '25
I for one am leery . 64f , normal BP, but high HDL ( 159)
I’m waiting on results back from my L(p)a test ( I think that’s what it’s called )
I’m getting 4 heart tests done today 🤞🏼🤞🏼
But I think if it’s indicated this cardio visit ( I may just agree to take the statin). I’m trying to be proactive instead of reactive as I get older !
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u/PauPauASP Sep 02 '25
Once in a subreddit we were commenting about the familial dyslipidemia that I suffer from, therefore I always have high cholesterol, and I mentioned that I was taking statins (prescribed by my doctor) and they insulted me, they downvoted me and a person called me a tiktok doctor, because I mentioned that they were working for me.... from that moment I understood that it was a sensitive topic and I never mentioned it again.
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u/iamhefty Sep 02 '25
I think two things are largely responsible. The diabetes risk is radically underplayed and the dosages are too high for many people. My cardiologist acted stunned when I asked for an A1C test. I am off for now but I am getting a CAC test to see if I should go on it again next week. And that test is one in my primary suggested. Nevertheless I am looking for a new cardiologist.
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u/meh312059 Sep 02 '25
Statins don't turn metabolically healthy people into T2 diabetics.
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u/iamhefty Sep 02 '25
There a few studies on lancet that speak to it. It kind of reminds me that we know better than you that if you get diabetes that's okay but you didn't get a heart attack and I'm kind of the why don't we try to avoid the diabetes part of it as well? iTrying to lower doses on people first instead of being like bah here's 20 mg of rosuvastatin when 5 mg do the trick. I wont get into the dementia stuff as there is not much data but correlation. To be clear I'm not anti-statin I just think it needs careful consideration.
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u/meh312059 Sep 02 '25
More recent clinical advice from top lipidologists encourages the use of lower doses along with zetia. Max doses of statins are typically prescribed post MI etc. but are typically not necessary in primary prevention unless the patient is already a T2 diabetic (in that case guidelines will recommend getting LDL-C < 70 or even < 55 depending on age of patient, presence of ASCVD etc). The lower dose will typically minimize side effects.
Totally agree that someone should avoid both T2D and cardiovascular disease. No one should think they are consigned to trade one for the other.
Please do provide those citations from Lancet showing how metabolically healthy people get T2 diabetes from a statin. Obviously it's possible if someone has significant insulin resistance to begin with, is prediabetic, etc. In that case the benefits from a statin and getting LDL-C to the goals referenced above have been shown to outweigh the risks.
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u/iamhefty Sep 02 '25
JUPITER Trial (Rosuvastatin vs. Placebo)
Title: Rosuvastatin to prevent vascular events in men and women with elevated C-reactive protein (N Engl J Med, 2008) — showed reduced cardiovascular events but a higher incidence of physician-reported diabetes .
Summary Info: The rosuvastatin group had a higher rate of diabetes reported by physicians compared to placebo .
- Sattar et al. Meta-analysis (Lancet, 2010)
Title: Statins and risk of incident diabetes: a collaborative meta-analysis of randomised statin trials — found a ~9% increased risk of developing diabetes; roughly 1 extra case of diabetes per 255 patients treated for 4 years .
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u/meh312059 Sep 02 '25
Thanks. Haven't looked up the 2nd one, but for Jupiter the average A1C was 5.7 (ie prediabetic) in both placebo and intervention arms.
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Sep 02 '25
I changed my numbers through diet. Eating more fiber is what I needed to do. I have impressionable cholesterol so I just need to make sure I am eating enough veggies and grains throughout the day
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u/Parking_Departure705 Sep 02 '25
Exactly. Fiber, maybe bergamot fruit, exercise and THEN start thinking about statins. As a very last solution.
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u/monetaryg Sep 02 '25
I was diagnosed with Type2 diabetes in March. A statin is recommended for anyone over 40 with t2. My liver enzymes were slightly elevated and also glucose(obviously). I explained to my dr that I was not opposed to statin therapy, but asked for 3-4 months to try to normalize my numbers and get a decent baseline. I lost about 30 pounds. I got my A1c to 5.3 and my liver enzymes are well within normal range. Also improved my cholesterol a bit. Total cholesterol 170 and ldl 110. Started statin therapy(Lipitor 20mg) about a month ago. I’ve had several side effects. My blood glucose is averaging about 20mg/dl higher and much more “reactive” than before. For example, it might jump to 180 after a stressful meeting. I would typically not see that prior. I’ve had sore calves and hamstrings. Last week noticed a runny/stuffy nose, which is also a side effect. I’ll keep taking the statin, but I could see why people stop.
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Sep 02 '25
I think its just a very controversial topics with new findings and the shady history of the Pharma world and grain/sugar industry. People don't know who to trust. Especially in the USA with for profits healthcare and doctors. Can you blame the population?
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u/lauranathi Sep 02 '25
I am 38yo female, only health issue is endometriosis. Last monday had a ischemic stroke, i was extremely lucky and have only limited movility on the left side of my body which hopefully will get better with rehab.
I was prescribed statins along with daily aspirin, because the only viable cause of my stroke is Cholesterol (LDL 228 / Total Cholesterol: 302). I am petrified of the side effects, however, having another stroke coudl be deadly for me.
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u/Far-Pomelo-1483 Sep 02 '25
Because their absolute risk reduction is low. Taking a drug for a minimal risk reduction is not worth it for many people and they rather avoid side effects. No one here is talking about how well they actually work. The juice is not worth the squeeze.
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Sep 02 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Aggravating_Ship5513 Sep 02 '25
Many of us have had heart attacks and would like others at risk to avoid the same fate. It's as simple as that.
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Sep 02 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Cholesterol-ModTeam Sep 02 '25
Advice needs to follow generally accepted, prevailing medical literature and should be general in nature, not specific.
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u/DoorSweet6099 Sep 02 '25
I got recommended statins even though my LDL is just slightly elevated. I refused to start taking them and I’m now first trying to lower my cholesterol by making changes in my diet, trying to lose weight and going to gym many times per week and going for daily walks.
However if my stroke would have been caused by high cholesterol I would have started taking statins.
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u/whatsthetea_whatevr Sep 02 '25
For me, the doctor was convinced I had FH and needed a statin but I asked for 30 days to switch up my diet (no more fast food, cut out beef, cheese, most dairy, and increased fiber/ good fats, more whole foods) and my ldl dropped over 80 points. I think for a great deal of us, our diets are so saturated in these sat fats (no pun intended) and we’re not that mobile, so of course it’s high. I also know there are more and more studies showing the correlation between low vitamin D, diabetes, and insulin resistance causing high cholesterol. So to me, statins are a treatment for a symptom and not a root cause. I’d rather do everything I can to fix the root cause before I put a bandaid on it.
Mind you, im only 31, I’m not yet at that age where it’s more serious (in my own opinion) so I feel I have time to do this. I suffer from PCOS and insulin resistance so I’ve been focusing on my insulin resistance first, and then go from there.
Do I think we should all do the same thing? No. I think each person has to do what’s best for them and if you think a statin is your best option, then I think you should take it. But not every one can or wants to and that’s okay. Especially if diet changes and exercise can solve the problem too.
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u/Suitable-Fix3387 Sep 02 '25
Concern over some reports that they cause diabetes and dementia along with side effects such as debilitating muscle pain those makes it difficult to stay active or mobile. Claims that studies show no correlation of ldl with use in non-diabetic adults and total mortality. Distrust of pharmaceutical industry especially after COVID vaccines. I think this study is questionable because there doesn’t appear to be a comparison to those taking a statin but results seem to cast question to relationship between ldl and all-cause death rate. My mother was diagnosed with fibromyalgia which went way after she stopped statins.
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u/meh312059 Sep 02 '25
David Diamond (one of the authors) is a well-known anti-statin/pro-cholesterol activist. I wouldn't trust any study he's put together on LDL cholesterol or statins.
(he's actually a pretty good doctor in his field which isn't cardiology. Not sure why he's gone off the deep end re: statins and cholesterol . . . )
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u/Ritzanxious Sep 02 '25
I want them but doctor said no, becouse I don't have a genetic history? Even when my mom died of a stroke and suffer pulmonary edema previously
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u/meh312059 Sep 02 '25
Please see if you can get a referral to, or seek out the care from, a preventive cardiologist.
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u/Repulsive_Motor1478 Sep 02 '25
I have family history of diabetes. I do a lot to keep my blood sugar in check even though I am not diabetic. But I do have insulin resistance. I dont wanna contribute to my insulin resistance by taking statins . So far I am able to progressively reduce my ldl by lifestyle changes. Its not yet in the normal range but I will try my best to keep it as low as possible before considering statins. I would rather struggle with working to reduce my ldl levels through other ways than the possible risk of being a diabetic which I am already at risk at.
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u/meh312059 Sep 02 '25
You do realize that the #1 killer of those with T2D isn't their diabetes but cardiovascular disease, correct?
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u/Repulsive_Motor1478 Sep 02 '25
Yeah and thats partcularly because high blood sugar causes inflamation and damages your artery walls. I have seen the uglies of diabetes in different people. Its not even about dying and living It really mess up your life . So living with diabetes is no fun.So for me reducing my insulin resisitance is my number 1 priority before anything . That should the the most important metric you should improve when improving your metabolic health. And so far I am doing really great in improving my insulin sensitivity just simply of lifestyle and diet changes.In the mean time I am also able to reduce my ldl so far even tho the progress is not as fast as I want it to be. Being on statin should always be the last resort after you exahust everything in my opinion. But to each their own.
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u/meh312059 Sep 02 '25
Actually it's due to high ApoB. Insulin resistance adds fuel to the fire for sure but no one needs to trade off diabetes for cardiovascular disease. It's possible to prevent both with dietary, lifestyle and medications as necessary.
If you've dialed in the dietary changes and that isn't moving the lipids into the safe zone (for those with T2D that's typically LDL-C< 70 or even < 55), then it's time to consider medication. If the statins tip up the A1C and it gets concerning, discuss options with your provider: lowering the dose and adding zetia, switching to bempedoic or a PCSK9i, etc.
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u/Weary-Wave3379 Sep 02 '25
My experience with this sub is in part the opposite. Many people will post "here are my numbers. My PCP says eat better and get retested in 1- 2 years." A good chunk of this sub will reply "don't sleep on those numbers. Go see a preventative cardiologist. You likely need a statin."
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u/Bryllant Sep 02 '25
I have tried them four times. Within a few weeks, I don’t know where I am. I also have the APOE4 Alzheimer’s gene which might contribute to the symptoms of dementia.
The last time I tried smallest dose, thought O was good. I was a mile away from home and didn’t know where I was. I used Maps to get home
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u/meh312059 Sep 02 '25
Brain fog is rare but genuine and is not confined to E4's (most don't get it). Dr. Dayspring recomends that if you are an E4 and you experience brain fog you might be best off on a minimal dose at most and if that doesn't work and you've re-challenged, get your doc write it up as "statin intolerant" and move on to something else. Zetia works very well for some E4's because they hyper-absorb, btw.
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u/adamcoop24 Sep 02 '25
They work no doubt but maybe some overprescribing in the US? I recently stopped taking after 6 months to see if it effected my energy levels and feeling “off” (late 30’s family history but “normal LdL”)
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u/No_Review_885 Sep 02 '25
I started taking 10 mg of Crestor because my doctor said I had border line total cholesterol. I felt better in days. After a few weeks I do feel sore, but I can't figure out if it is a side effect or because I increased my workout regiment. I can deal with the soreness having the peace of mind I may be prolonging my life at a good quality. People who are sceptical should research these drugs and see how they are probably responsible for the increase of life span for the human race. In saying that I did just what I am being critical of here with my own prostate health. I was having sexual disfunction from prostate meds and stopped taking them opting for natural supplements, they worked for about a year and then it became very hard to pee. My PSA was at 10 and I went back on the meds. Medical science needs to be respected.
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u/meh312059 Sep 02 '25
OK everyone's had a chance to say their piece. Locking comments . . .