Statin Intolerance 'Overestimated and Overdiagnosed'

[Northerner]

Statin intolerance is far less common than previously reported, according to a new meta-analysis, with data on more than 4 million adults from around the world, looking at reported statin adverse effects.

The study puts the prevalence of statin intolerance at 6% to 10%, meaning that statin intolerance is "overestimated and overdiagnosed" in most cases, Maciej Banach, MD, PhD, from the Medical University of Lodz and the University of Zielona Góra, Poland, said in a news release.

It also means that "around 93% of patients on statin therapy can be treated effectively, with very good tolerability and without any safety issues," Banach added.

The study, conducted on behalf of the Lipid and Blood Pressure Meta-Analysis Collaboration and the International Lipid Expert Panel, was published online February 16 in the European Heart Journal.

Statin Intolerance 'Overestimated and Overdiagnosed'

Less than 10% of patients experience statin intolerance, a new meta-analysis shows, meaning that the vast majority of patients can be treated effectively, with very good tolerability, researchers say.

www.medscape.com

 

[Eddy Edson]

Other studies show the effect of this on clinical practice - large faillure everywhere to prescribe statin doses meeting guideline levels. GP's are way too statin-hesitant.

I had a little experience of this recently. I get cramping and muscle pain in my legs, along with some balance and weakness issues. So my GP immediately focuses on reducing my statin dose.

Previously, I have had to prod him into prescribing to guideline levels (which say: symptomatic PAD => secondary prevention => max tolerated statin dose, regardless of any other risk considerations). He worries about my LDL going "too low", which is just BS: no study has found a minimum safe level of circulating LDL; it's essentially a waste product; the cholesterol you need is mainly manufactured in yr cells, where statins have no effect.

But anyway, he's primed to focus in on the evil statin, to the exclusion of anything else. And it's just a waste of time - reducing the statin dose for a couple of months has no effect on my issues, and there was never any good reason to think that statins were the most likely cause.

Not a big deal, really, in this case - he's now referred me to a consulting physician who may have more useful insights. But his attitude to statins is probably not great for his patients in general.

 

[Kopiert]

The full report is here . Interesting as my GP is starting to make the noises about my need to take statins, so far I have resisted - but this report makes me feel less anxious.

Having said that there are some horror stories on this site about the impact of statins. They are very powerful drugs.

Nick

 

[PattiEvans]

This isn't a new study, it's an analysis of other analyses. Choose the analyses to suit.... and check out the conflict of interest and funding... a never ending list of pharmaceutical companies. These so called revelations need to be treated with caution.

 

[Drummer]

I told a couple of nurses and a GP of the effects of Metformin and Atorvastatin and no record was made in my notes, so if the probable effects go unreported, then of course it will appear safe.

 

[nonethewiser]

The full report is here . Interesting as my GP is starting to make the noises about my need to take statins, so far I have resisted - but this report makes me feel less anxious.

Having said that there are some horror stories on this site about the impact of statins. They are very powerful drugs.

Nick

Stick with what science says about statins, lots of scaremongering out there on net.

 

[trophywench]

Despite my personal experience I have never actually tried to put anyone off using them.