Why can't you get off of statins?

You usually have to continue taking statins for life because if you stop taking them, your cholesterol will return to a high level. If you forget to take your dose, do not take an extra one to make up for it.

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Why do patients not like statins?

Fear of side effects and perceived side effects are the most common reasons for declining or discontinuing statin therapy. Willingness to take a statin is high, among both patients who have declined statin therapy and those who have never been offered one.

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What are the problems stopping statins?

Risks of coming off statins

An IS occurs when a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries restricts blood flow to the brain. The study included a total of 45,151 participants. It found that people who quit taking statins 3–6 months after having an IS were 42% more likely to experience a second stroke within 6–18 months.

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How long does it take to detox from statins?

Official answer. It takes about 77 hours (3 days) for atorvastatin to be out of your system. The elimination half life of atorvastatin is approximately 14 hours. This is the time it takes for your body to reduce plasma drug levels by half.

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Which muscles are most affected by statins?

Within a month of starting statin therapy, they may feel aches or weakness in the large muscles of their arms, shoulders, thighs or buttocks on both sides of the body. About 5 to 10% of people who try statins are affected. It's more common in the elderly, in women and in those taking the more potent statins.

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THE REAL REASON WHY YOUR DOCTOR GAVE YOU STATINS

17 related questions found

What are the side effects of taking statins for a long time?

inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), which can cause flu-like symptoms. inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which can cause stomach pain. skin problems, such as acne or an itchy red rash. sexual problems, such as loss of libido (reduced sex drive) or erectile dysfunction.

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How quickly does cholesterol rise after stopping statin?

No, your cholesterol will likely return to the level it was before taking the medication a few months after stopping the medicine. How long does it take for statins to get out of your system? It can take a few months for your cholesterol levels to return to what they were prior to the medication.

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Can I take statin once a week?

Our analysis of current evidence suggests that intermittent statin administration is effective in lowering LDL levels in patients with dyslipidemia. All dosing regimens, including alternate days, 3 to 5 times a week, 2 to 3 times a week, and once a week, were shown to be effective.

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What is a safer alternative to statins?

Ezetimibe is a tablet that lowers cholesterol. It may be prescribed if statins cannot be taken, or alongside a statin for extra cholesterol-lowering. It's a 'cholesterol absorption inhibitor' that limits the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine.

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What is the best alternative to statins?

7 cholesterol-lowering alternatives to statins
  • Fibrates. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis. ...
  • Plant stanols and sterols. ...
  • Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins. ...
  • Niacin. ...
  • Policosanol. ...
  • Red yeast rice extract (RYRE) ...
  • Natural products.

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Is statin worth the risk?

Although side effects believed to be caused by statins can be annoying, consider the benefits of taking a statin before you decide to stop taking your medication. Remember that statin medications can reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke, and the risk of life-threatening side effects from statins is very low.

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Do cardiologists recommend statins?

The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association developed some prescription guidelines. Typically, if a person's LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) is 190 or higher, they're often advised to start a statin.

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Do statins cause weight gain?

Statin use is associated with increased calorie intake and consequent weight gain. It is speculated that statin‐dependent improvements in lipid profile may undermine the perceived need to follow lipid‐lowering and other dietary recommendations leading consequently to increased calorie intake.

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Can I take a statin every other day instead of every day?

5. The cholesterol-lowering action of alternate-day statins is as effective as daily dosing in many individuals. 6. To maintain the same degree of decrease in LDL-C when giving the statins on alternate days, the dose of the statins frequently needs to be increased.

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Can I cut my statin in half?

Yes. Many medications, such as cholesterol medications and medications prescribed for depression, can be cut in half. As a general rule, if the tablet has a score mark or groove down the middle, it can be split in half.

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Is 5mg of statin enough?

If you have very high cholesterol and are at high risk of heart attacks or strokes, a specialist may prescribe 40mg a day. This dose is not suitable for everyone. high cholesterol – 5mg to 10mg, taken once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose every 4 weeks up to 20mg a day.

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What is considered dangerously high cholesterol?

A person is considered at high risk for developing heart disease if their total cholesterol level is higher than 240 mg/dL, LDL levels are higher than 160 mg/dL (190 mg/dL is even higher risk), and if the HDL level is below 40 mg/dL.

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Is it OK to take statins for years?

“Statins have a solid track record. In monitoring people taking statins for decades, we've found that they're safe and most people tolerate them well without any problems. But still, these misconceptions persist.”

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Can statins cause extreme fatigue?

Some people taking statins may experience fatigue, especially when they exercise or move. Fatigue affects about 1% to 4% of people taking statins.

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What is considered long term statin use?

Short-term statin exposure (< 2 years) was not associated with new onset type 2 diabetes in all statin subtypes, whereas long-term exposure (≥ 5 years) to statins was associated with a statistically significant increase in the risk of new onset type 2 diabetes in all statin subtypes.

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How long after stopping statins does muscle pain stop?

Muscle pain usually goes away within 1 to 2 weeks after you stop taking a statin.

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How do you get rid of muscle pain from statins?

Although there are no proven remedies for statin-related muscle pain, the following may help.
  1. Exercise. ...
  2. Ramp up your lifestyle changes. ...
  3. Have a thyroid blood test. ...
  4. Take supplements. ...
  5. Change your prescription. ...
  6. Image: © Christophe Bourloton/Thinkstock.

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Does joint pain from statins go away?

If you experience joint pain while taking a statin, it may go away on its own in a couple of weeks. But if it doesn't, speak with your healthcare provider. Together, you can take steps to manage your symptoms, such as lowering your dose or switching to a different medication.

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Who Cannot take statins?

Statins should not be taken if you have liver disease or if blood tests suggest that your liver may not be working properly. This is because statins can affect your liver, and this is more likely to cause serious problems if you already have a damaged liver.

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