Hi Nellster,
It seems to me that the 10 mg. would be a good maintenance doze and I think the benefits would outweigh the risks. My heart attack came out of the blue, I had no heart disease and was fortunate to be near a major medical center when it happened or I wouldn't be writing this. As you know from your brother, it doesn't come with long warnings, so be safe and listen to your Dr. :-)

Some people have good results and no side effects with statins; others can't tolerate them. You can always discontinue taking them or try a different brand if they cause you problems. Personally, they don't agree with my nervous system so I manage my cholesterol with diet and fish oil supplements.

Hi Neilster,
I take 20mg Crestor/day with no problems so far, and I've been taking it for about 3 years. Like Minor7th said, you can try it and see how things go. If there is a problem you can try another med or stop altogether.

Nellster I bee taking Chestor for several years...I was put on 40mg for a while...with blood tests being done a lot...until my blood work would show a lowering of my chestoral...then I was put down on 20 mg...
I did try most if not all the brands...at first I had the leg cramps so bad..I don't have to tell anyone how bad they can get....I got them.
I found only Crestor to work for me...now I have trouble with them...but I creep back up to so high levels the doctors worry about me not taking the pills.....I took it upon my self to stop...just recently agree to do 10 mg and using that amount. But I feel I am on a yo yo...
wonder if the doctor things it is inherted why or what difference I will it seems always go back up I feel?
I am also searching for reasons...myself....if you read something please contact me will you.

thank you for your question and answers
bee

Statins can kick you butt, I know they do mine however another benefit from them is they help lower inflamation of your arteries which is a good thing.

Hi Neilster,

There are statins that do just what you say. There are others that don't have any side effects. I agree with Minor 7th and Pauumm with diet and supplements but sometimes our livers just make too much cholesterol and calcification is the result as well as inflammation. Lifestyle, attitude, faith, diet, natural supplements and medications are a delicate and necessary balance which we must monitor with our healthcare folks. Basically, eat heart healthy and get out, move and breathe. Strengthen that heart of ours. Act and feel like a survivor. Discuss the possibilities of reducing your medications with your doctor and then monitor its effects. I guess it's about owning our own health and actively demonstrating that. It is amazing how much of an example to others you will become and more importantly, the respect you doctors will afford you.

Best Regards and Love,

Just Joe

Just to present the other side, not to dispute how statins have impacted others, but my experience has been very good. Cholesterol is way down, inflammation down, feel fine. I take CoQ10 just to offset the possibility of muscle probs, but blood work has shown no impact on my muscles/joints. Now, I have to admit that I've been pretty religious about my exercise, and that certainly impacts cholesterol as well, but I take a simvastatin a day and as far as I know, I've suffered no adverse side-effects.

All the best,
Steve

I was on simsivation 40 mg a day i started getting muscule pain so they changed it to 10 mg crestor now and no side affects yet.

I'm on 40mgs with no problems at all.

Alli

Knowing that cholesterol is a very major contributor to CAD, it is real important to keep our numbers at a heart healthy low. When I came up here to Connecticut I was out of contact with the VA in Philadelphia and missed a month of my Rosouvastatin. I went to the VA up here to enroll for formulary issues and when they checked my blood my LDL had jumped from 40 in January 2012 to 225 in May 2012. That was only one month off the medication. My diet remained good and heart healthy but my own body produced that much of a change without the statin in just over one month. That scared me. We all must remember, also, that there is a greater than 80% likelyhood that there are other arteries in our bodies that are calcified because of our past lifestyles. So I would think that to prevent other life sustaining arteries from occluding, I will be on a statin the rest of my life. This is a good topic to be discussing.

Love you all,

Just Joe

I have tried Lipitor and Pravastain both with very bad side effects (very bad fatigue to the point were I couldn't function, muscle and joint pain). Will be talking to the doctor about something else. I have also changed my diet completely and have been going to cardiac-rehab and the gym. Hopefully this will work.

Hi Mark,

This is a very good point of order you speak to. Statins need to be matabolized by our livers. There is a complex osmosis which occurs when we introduce a foreign substance into our systems. It is grand that you brought up your post medication symptoms. Statin side effects can remain forever, well past you being symptomatic. But the fact still remains, that cholesterol is a very important contributor to our CAD. It is something that statins will control, and actually, more than amply, regulate our LDL's and HDL's. Heart Healthy diet is "Cool" and facilitates our commitment to be better, more healthy individuals, but our unique metabolisms dictate what we need to concentate on. Find out "Now" what your unique metabolism, is telling you.

Love ya "Big Guy".

Just Joe

Thank you all for the information and interesting answers, I suppose I'm only left with one: If my numbers are good or better next time i check ( a year after i was Ok) should i still go on them?! I had muscle cramps immediately in my legs on my bike.

Also, if my brother died from a stress / lack of sleep related heart attack which is likely, is that related to cholestrol?