Cholesterol medicine side effects with severe Apnea

[Eddie B]

Guys, over the years I have attempted to begin taking various Statins to lower my Cholesterol levels. The side effects were severe muscle cramps to the point that I felt like I had been run over by a truck. I quickly stopped taking the medicines. I heard from one of the assistants at the Sleep Center where my Sleep Study was performed that with patients with severe Sleep Apnea (me!) that during the night the brain will steal oxygen from muscle and fat cells. I am wondering if now that I'm using a CPAP system with good results that I would be able to tolerate the medicine better??? Has anyone heard anything about the correlation of side effects from Cholesterol medicines in patients dealing with severe apnea? I'm about to give the medicines another try and see if the side-effects are reduced or better tolerated now that I'm not in an oxygen starved state at night. Any thoughts?

[nanwilson]

Nope! I have the same side effects from the statins, severe muscle pain. I would much prefer to keep my cholesterol at bay by watching what I eat. I have been off the statins for about 3 years and doing okay by just watching my diet. My cholesterol was way off the charts when I first started with meds. The first one I was on was niacin, but my system got used to it after about 3 years and my cholesterol shot up again. They have had me on several different types of statins, but the muscle pain was so bad . They thought I had fibro myalgia...what a misdiagnose that was. Finally a new doctor did the right tests and found it was from the statins. I am now pain free...as much as a 68 year old is pain free , and my cholesterol isn't great but is at a manageable level with diet changes.
Good luck in keeping your levels down.
chewers
Nan

[BlackSpinner]

After researching it, for women especially, the side effects are worse then the high cholesterol. If it is a choice between dementia and memory loss or a heart attack, well I chose my brain function any day. So I work at my diet instead.

[roster]

Guys, over the years I have attempted to begin taking various Statins to lower my Cholesterol levels. The side effects were severe muscle cramps to the point that I felt like I had been run over by a truck.

I can't answer your questions but will suggest you look into niacin as a replacement for statins for lipid health - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/niacin/CL00036 .

I have been taking 500 mg Slo Niain which is inexpensive OTC at WalMart and other discounters.

Make sure you don't use the "no-flushing" type because if it doesn't flush it doesn't help with lipids.

If you have problems with flushing, take an aspirin (81 mg) with the niacin and drink cold beverages.

Ask your doctor about niacin. My family doctor and the doctors at Mayo Clinic think it is an excellent treatment.

[Breathe Jimbo]

Switching immediately from immediate-release niacin to extended-release niacin can cause SEVERE LIVER DAMAGE. If you want to make the switch, wait at least a couple of weeks before starting the extended-release version.

I took statins with no problems for about 9 years before beginning CPAP. Within less than three months, my statin med started causing muscle damage, confirmed by blood enzyme tests. I was taken off the statin and placed on extended-release niacin. Unfortunately, niacin can raise blood sugar levels, and I wound up with pre-diabetic readings. That scared the crap out of me, so I made major "lifestyle changes," walking more and eating much more healthy, i.e. lots of fruits and vegetables, low-fat proteins, no deep-fried foods, no bread or potatoes or rice, and nothing that causes a rapid rise in blood sugar. I have lost some weight, although not as much as expected, and recent blood work showed that I no longer need to take anything for cholesterol and I am at NO risk of diabetes.

Although I do not need to take anything to lower my cholesterol, I was put back on niacin (less than previously) to try to raise my good cholesterol.

[pap4life]

You have certainly raised some question about the use of statins with CPAP thearpy. I have used zocor for about 10 years and have been on CPAP for 6 yrs and have observed no contridictions or adverse effects from zocor. I would be cautious about the use of niacin, and would lean more toward a proven drug for high cholesterol rather then a supplement that may lower your cholesterol but might cause other problems, however I only offer that opinion, as you seem to have done your due diligence about the use of niacin.

[Bobby269]

I have been taking a statin with no side effects for about 3 years and over 4 months with the hose. There is a blood test that will tell if the statin is causing the muscle problems. Some of my friends Doctors would change them to a different prescription. This fixed the problem.

[Breathe Jimbo]

Niacin (nicotinic acid) is actually the oldest drug around for high cholesterol. This is clear from the medical literature. IIRC, it has been used since about the 1940s but, with the advent of big pharma products, fell into disuse.

See, e.g., the first sentence of the article at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/niacin/CL00036

[idamtnboy]

OK, now for a contrasting situation. I have been on diabetes oral meds for 10 years now. Since July 2009 I have been on statins and aspirin after having a stent put in my heart. Several months ago my cardio took me off of one of the statins and put me on Slo-Niacin. I went on CPAP last August. Results? CPAP therapy seems to have not changed any of the diabetes and cardio conditions at all. My blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels are virtually the same as before CPAP.

[So Well]

Results? CPAP therapy seems to have not changed any of the diabetes and cardio conditions at all. My blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels are virtually the same as before CPAP.

But you leave us puzzled because you do not say whether those levels are poor, good, or excellent????

What am I doing us so early?

[wlenz]

Not all niacin works. The following is an excerpt that should be understood by anyone using niacin to lower LDL and raise HDL. Nicotinic acid, not niacinamide must be used.

ConsumerLab.com found that the recommended doses of all the niacin-only products and some of the B complex products exceeded established Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs) for adults for niacin, above which there is increased risk of side effects with regular use. The adult UL for niacin is 35 mg per day. Doses much higher than the ULs are used medically to improve cholesterol levels. However, high doses of niacin can cause dangerous liver inflammation. For this reason, regular lab tests and the supervision of a healthcare professional are strongly advised before taking niacin at doses above the ULs. Also note that the forms of niacin vary in their use and side effects: nicotinic acid in high doses can lower cholesterol levels but can cause flushing of the skin; niacinamide does not cause flushing but does not improve cholesterol levels. A product containing nicotinic acid, Slo-Niacin, is a delayed-release tablet that may reduce the risk of skin flushing. See the ConsumerTips section on Niacin for more information.

[nanwilson]

QUOTE:niacinamide does not cause flushing but does not improve cholesterol levels.[/b] A product containing nicotinic acid, Slo-Niacin, is a delayed-release tablet that may reduce the risk of skin flushing. See the ConsumerTips section on Niacin for more information.[/quote]

Sorry but your info is wrong. I was on niacin for 4 years, and YES I did get flushing, and YES is did lower my cholesterol.....but.... after about 3 1/2 years my system got used to it and it no longer lowered my cholesterol. Once my cholesterol started to go up agian, they put me on statins for several years but thet caused severe muscle pain.
Nan

[wlenz]

Sorry Nan, but you are wrong. There are exceptions to every rule, and you were probably an exception. Stating that your situation applies to everyone is misleading to the people that may be helped. Nicotinic acid has been studied since the 1940's and well documented for raising HDL, lowering LDL, and lowering triglycerides. This is valid information and of use to many people that could benefit from Nicotinic Acid. Of course it should only be used with medical supervision. It may be available over the counter, but can cause serious side effects. I have a prescription for 1000 mg/day and it is working for me. Sorry you had a problem, but I will continue to benefit from this B vitamin until my doctor decides to make a change.

[idamtnboy]

Results? CPAP therapy seems to have not changed any of the diabetes and cardio conditions at all. My blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels are virtually the same as before CPAP.

But you leave us puzzled because you do not say whether those levels are poor, good, or excellent????

BG and cholesterol are in the area of the top of the normal range/bottom of the bad range. BP is in the normal range. This is with the meds. All would undoubtedly be in the bad range without the meds.

[jauguston]

I also cannot tolerate statins. TERRIBLE leg cramps. I recently got a new general doctor my last one retired after treating me for 34 years. New Dr wanted me to take a statin for my slightly elevated cholestrol. NO WAY says me. He suggested in that case I try Red Yeast Rice from the natural med non-prescription aisle. It has a low percentage of statin in it naturally. Look on the bottle. Some don't say how much and some do. Starting on it in 25 days.

Jim -- Noobie Sleep test tonight.