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Fibromyalgia and medication for high cholesterol

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Posted 9/25/2011 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
I see that some of you list high cholesterol among your issues. I have had that for some time and never taken medication because I have been scared off by advertising that lists muscle pain among the side effects and of course with fibro am afraid that I wouldn't know if I was having a reaction or not due to all the pain I already have. Just wondering how others deal with this.

freddygirl
Posted 9/25/2011 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
You don't necessarily get muscle pain from cholesterol meds. Some types of cholesterol meds don't cause pain at all. But I presume you are talking about statins.

I had problems with 20 mg Lipitor and with 10 mg Crestor, but not with 5 mg Crestor, which I take 3 times a week. I started trying it once a week after I had muscle pains when my doc upped the Rx. I had read an article that said patients who do not tolerate statins often do tolerate lower doses or taking them less often, like once a week.

I have also tried Colestid, but it gave me intolerable constipation because I also take tramadol for pain. I hated taking Miralax daily, which was the only solution. I think taking a half dose (I used the granule packets because I can't swallow the horse pills.) twice a day might have been better.

Losing weight also may have helped me. I learned that the body makes cholesterol from the carbs we eat, so I also stopped eating bread. My cholesterol is decent now, not perfect.
Posted 9/25/2011 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
I take 80 mg of a statin daily. I have no more pain than I did before taking it. High cholesterol runs in my family. I have always tried to eat a very healthy diet but my numbers kept rising. I also have high blood pressure which is fine now that I am on 2 medications for it. This also runs in my family. My dad had his first heart attack when he was 45 and I am glad my doctor insisted on me taking these meds. I'm a healthy 65 year youngster now.

I would try medication and if you have a problem I'm sure your doctor could change what you take. Can you ask him for some samples to see how you do with it? That's what I did.
Posted 9/25/2011 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
It's the statin drugs that can cause the muscle pain.  That's because they deplete the body of coQ10....a nutrient found in the cells of the body.  I take 20 mg of simvastatin a day.  I do not have high cholesterol at all but I'm diabetic and that makes me prone to heart attacks and strokes.  So, my doctor wants my cholesterol very low (it's 129 right now).  I did start getting more cramping so he had me stop the medication for a month and take 200 mg of coQ10 a day.  Then, he had me start the medication again along with contiuing the coQ10.  No more cramps!

 

So, ask your doctor about taking coQ10 along with the medication if he/she wants to put you on a statin drug.  That's works for me!  Here is a link all about coQ10.

 

http://www.healthsupplementsnutritionalguide.com/Coenzyme-Q10.html

 

Sherrine

Posted 9/26/2011 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
I take Crestor, my cholesterol levels were very high and this drug works for me. In the beginning my GI Dr thought it might be the medication causing the aches but my family doctor checked my records and he had charted my aches before I was put onto Crestor. I used to take a different one but it made me so crampy I couldn't function at work but that was about 7 yrs ago.
Posted 9/26/2011 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
MY Cholesterol level was 228 9 month ago.
now at my last check up, it was down to 183.
i took no meds, just 1 flush free Niacin 500mg
and 1 oderless Garlic 1000mg.

you can try it...
Posted 9/27/2011 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
I take lipitor and CoQ10 worked for me. I also take fish oil. It's a combination pill.
Posted 9/27/2011 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
I take lipitor and CoQ10 worked for me. I also take fish oil. It's a combination pill.
Posted 9/28/2011 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
My dad died at the age of 51 from a heart attack. I was a smoker, overweight with high blood pressure and high cholesterol so I was high risk. I had a "questionable" stress test and the cardiologist recommended angiogram which turned into angioplasty - 65% block in my lower anterior descending artery (LAD)...the one they call the "widow maker"...I had NO symptoms whatsoever. I quit smoking (over 5 years ago), went on Crestor, Niaspan, fish oil, bp med and all my numbers are perfect. I've had no problems with muscle pain, at least from what I can tell...oh I also take CoQ10
Miriam
Posted 9/28/2011 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
Has your doctor talked to you about taking Niacin? Dh was having trouble tolerating statins, too, so his doctor put him first on regular Niacin. He didn't like the flushing associated with regular Niacin, so his doctor switched him to slow release. He takes "Slo-Niacin." It's OTC and can be bought at any pharmacy.
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