Follow Up On Statins.

[midagetrolop]

I did not know it was going to cause such a stream of comments, but I agreed with sqad. Anyway, the doctor did not tell her what they were, but I knew as soon as I saw them. I explained to my 92 y.o. mother what cholesterol was - so she rang the surgery and was told her level was 5.9! My god I thought if mine was 5.9 at 92 I'd think I was ok. She read the leaflet in the pills and said she had enough aches and pains etc., without taking something that might give her more. I said you cold try them if you want, you might be ok but it's up to you! Why do they want to get people on these things, my husbands cholesterol is very low 3.6 but they tried to put him on them - is it because the drug companies pay the GPs to prescribe these, as well as blood pressure and diabetes medications?

[Mamyalynne]

I'd be asking the Doctor who prescribed them the question,but I agree she can do fine without them.

[hc4361]

The drug companies do not pay GPs to prescribe them. There are government targets that GPs are supposed to reach, however.

[ummmm]

In your other thread I remember someone posted that statins were very cheap so there is no incentive to prescribe them.

I didn't want to say anything in your other thread but I also agreed with Sqad.

[ummmm]

There's the incentive then...

[dannyk13]

As one of the reasons for prescribing Statins is stroke prevention I don't really see how age comes into it, surely taking a few pills is better than suffering a stroke.

[anneasquith]

Medicine today is about prevention. ( quite rightly).. I wish people would stop presuming gp,s get paid by drug companies. As with all patients we have a choice to take prescribed medication or not.

[hc4361]

Metformin for diabetes is also very cheap - they can bought OTC in Spain for 2.50 euros for 50. An untreated diabetic is at very high risk of life threatening complications which could cost the health service a lot more than the cost of the drugs.

[retrocop]

Some Statins are cheaper than others.You can bet that most who are prescribed statins get Simvastatin (the cheapest) at first. From my experience and those of three of my family/friends Simvastatin cause us the most muscle pains/cramps.I told my GP (2nd time) that I would stop taking them if she couldn't prescribe me with another one that doesn't cause the severe discomfort. Once I get an operation out the way I will stop them.

[MargoTester]

I take atorvastatin 10mg with no side effects at all.

[hc4361]

Atorvastatin costs around £30 for a 30 day course compared to around £3 for simvastatin. That's the cost to the NHS

[dannyk13]

Also on Atorvastatin without any side effects.

[wolf63]

midagetrolop

if your mum takes the tablets the side-effects might make her miserable. The decision is hers and not the doctors. (should there be apostrophes there?)

I am on my third type of statin and they have all caused problems.

[hc4361]

Or she may have no side effects at all

[wolf63]

Very true hc.

[midagetrolop]

I have filled her in on all your information, she has been given atorvastatin, says she will give them a go and see! Thanks all.

[ethandron]

We're both on Simvastatin and have never experienced any side effects, not a twinge, nil, nowt. We know two other people also on Simvastatin and they're the same, no side effects whatsoever.
Common sense tells me that most people who take it don't suffer any side effects, it tends to be the minority that do that we hear about. As with all drugs, if a cheaper version does the job then why not try that one first and save the overstretched NHS some money? I don't mean your mum Midge, I mean the GPs who prescribe.