Has anyone had problems with cholesterol medications?
I was on Lipitor and then Crestor. Both meds gave me joint pain which I later found out could be dangerous for the kidneys (something to do with enzymes released.)
Now my doctor had me try Niaspin and if feels as if my skin is on fire (most people just have a flushing feeling.)
Any info is greatly appreciated!
For what it's worth, these are pretty classic problems with cholesterol medications. The worry with aches and pains on statins (drugs like Lipitor and Crestor) is that it's a result of muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis). There are blood tests to check for this, but if you had the same effect on two statins and it went away when you stopped them, then logically it's probably the drugs.
The main questions to make a decision are how controlled your nephrotic syndrome is and how high your cholesterol is (and which types). If your nephrotic syndrome is getting under control and/or if your cholesterol isn't TOO high, then it may be safe to forego cholesterol-lowering medications and see if the problem resolves itself. If you need a cholesterol-lowering medication for other reasons, or if your cholesterol is very high and just refuses to come down, there are several other options: at least two other classes of drugs, and hopefully something in there that will work for you!
Thanks for your reply and information.
Yes, I'm still quite nephrotic. It's been 18 months since dx. Last labs showed 6 grams of protein/24hr; but I have been as high as 12. Pred. didn't work for me. It's possible Cellcept is working. I've been on it since March of this year with slow and steady improvement.
Cholesterol is still though the roof (373) and Triglycerides (438). Niaspin had less side effects today.
Tricor and Lipitor both caused muscle spasms--severe enough that I thought I was having a heart attack at one point. It's one of those side effects that makes doctors immediately switch meds.
Zocor may have caused muscle/joint pain and debilitating weakness, but I had experienced those symptoms from the beginning of my treatment so I assumed it was the Prednisone not the various statins. It lowered my cholesterol to 201, and then we tried fish oil.
At 6 -12 g (as much as I could take) per day, my lipids stayed stable, but when I halved that this last month my cholesterol wet back up to 221.
At my worst, my triglycerides were 503 and my LDL was 240. Be clear with your doctors about your side effects! Best of luck!
they can not get my cholesterol down very much. I started at 406 - 387 - 306 - 287 - 360 - currently at 380 something.
they were going to put me on tricor and lipitor but my nephro said no tricor or crestor. just lipitor. he said high doses of it won't matter either way but to go ahead and try it. if the muscles start to hurt then lower it again.
It just won't go down. Also he took off the lopressor and put me on an ARB - Diovan.
SO now I am going low cholesterol. Starting with no eggs this week only egg beaters.
I need other ideas myself...anyone? I think I will start in independent thread on lowering it.
Good luck but keep an eye on those muscles!!
I had bad experience with Lipitor; Statin side effects are well documented on the web
Please be very careful of alternative meds such as Niacin, also known as vitamin B3 which is suppose to lower LDL when taken in high dosage 500-1500ml a day. The problem I run through was Niacin would elevate the uric acid which causes gouts and kidney stones
Also please Google inositol hexaniacinate (IHN). And Red Yeast Rice they are kid of other alternative but not for people with NS
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