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Statin and Anxiety?

14K views 9 replies 5 participants last post by  naynay 
#1 ·
So this morning I awoke to the typical trembling and shakiness I've been experiencing since the old anxieties decided to rear their ugly heads again. However, as I began my daily routine (bathroom, make coffee, feed the dogs, get all meds and supplies needed for the day, etc) I began feeling an anxiety attack beginning. I did my normal things I do when this happens; wrap a blanket around me tight, sit in my chair and meditate, do deep breathing, and just try to relax and let the attack run its course. It took a good 35 minutes before I was calm enough to get ready for work. Fast forward, get to work, still rather anxious, sat at desk for a good hour just trying to get through these feelings. When I was able to actually focus and concentrate, I started searching the web for why my anxieties are so bad again. My only thought was hormones, however, I came across several articles showing that long term use of statin drugs can cause anxiety and depression! This made me start to think about the time frame of all this happening again.

I started LC/HF WOE in September. Had my blood drawn at end of November. Results showed extreme improvement in lipids; including cholesterol. I continued with my statin (Crestor 20 mg) and had my blood drawn again at end of March. Cholesterol was down to 136. I believe it was late February or so that my anxiety began getting really bad again. I upped my Zoloft back to 100 mg and waited a few weeks because I knew it had to build up in my system. The anxiety started getting better, but not completely. I've been living with my body feeling that trembling and "butterfly in the tummy" feeling every day, all day. This should have gone away. So I'm thinking that the Zoloft must not be working for me anymore.

Now, in reading these articles and blogs about statin drug use, and long term use (I've been on a statin drug for at least 20 years now), I begin to understand that the statin could be causing the worsened anxiety! I've also begun experiencing some muscle pain and weakness that I cannot figure out what I did to cause it.

So my thought here is that since my cholesterol is way down now, and I continue on the statin, it could be the cause of my anxiety not being control by the Zoloft (SSRI) because statins can actually block the effects of the SSRI! Do you think this is coincidence or am I reaching here? Needless to say I will not be continuing on the statin anymore!

Let me know your thoughts and suggestions on this. I cannot deal with the anxiety attacks anymore...they are just too debilitating.

Sorry for the length of this post as well. I also read articles (Dr. Eades) that it is actually dangerous for a woman to have too low of cholesterol; it is actually healthier for a woman to be on the high end of normal or even slightly above. Also the statins have not shown that they help avoid heart attacks or strokes; in fact they are really not indicated unless you've already had a heart attack or stroke to help avoid future ones. Wow. I think from here on out I will take my chances with just eating LC/HF and let that be.
 
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#2 ·
Renee, I am so happy to see you reaching these conclusions! I think the statin may have become your security blanket, even though the new WOE pulled your lipids into alignment better than the statin ever had. But now I'm inclined to think that your security blanket is strangling you. :(

Is 20mg a low dose for Crestor? I know it would be for the lovastatin I used to take, but prob'ly different drugs require different dosage. At any rate, if it's a low dose anyhow, and I were in your shoes, I would flush those little pills right down the commode! You have nothing to lose but this gawd-awful anxiety!
 
#3 ·
The highest dose of Crestor is 40 mg, so it is in the middle. I never experienced a problem with the statins I've been on, but then again my cholesterol has never been this low before. I just really think that the correlation between the anxieties starting up again, and the articles I've read about the statins causing anxiety and depression just is too much of a coincidence.

I am taking them out of my medication regime as we speak! I am not going to take it anymore.

How long do you think it will take for it to clear out of my system? I hope not too long. I cannot take this horrendous anxiety in the morning. Thank goodness I have a very understanding boss and a very lenient work hours...as long as I get in my 6 hours a day, or 30 hours a week, we're good.

How's your finger? I hope it is getting better. I hate when things like that happen.
 
#5 ·
I've never heard that connection, but it wouldn't surprise me with Statins. I was only on them for less than 2 years and they caused all sorts of wierd things to happen. Statin use is based on the premise that cholesterol numbers mean something. That is where I like Dr Eades and Chris Masterjohn. They feel these numbers are meaningless and don't predict heart trouble. Have you ever tried to go off of the statins and see if your anxiety attacks get better.
 
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#6 ·
You just may have discovered the cause of your anxiety. Time will tell. Here's hoping the timeframe is short. After the statin toxin gets out of your system, I would bet you'll find that some other physical/mental issues clear up as well. (IMO).

Be careful about the Zoloft dosage as the statins leave your system, as you may not need as much - didn't you say that statins block the effects of the Zoloft? Without the statins, you might be getting too much. (Can we dare hope that you won't need the Z at all in the future???)
 
#10 ·
The funny thing about the Zoloft is I had just cut back to 50 mg in October, 2011 because I've been on the 100 mg for quite a while and things were pretty good, so I decided to cut back (rather than tell the doc though I just started splitting the pills...saves me money too because I cannot take the generic form that is cheapest). The 50 was working quite well until this past February/March. So I have to assume that it was the drop in cholesterol and the continued use of the statin at this point. There is no other reason other than perimenopause. I haven't really had an anxiety attack that bad for quite a while. I hate them. I will keep my eye on the Zoloft too once I feel the statin is out of my system...probably a good couple of months down the road.
 
#7 ·
I am SO GLAD to be off stupid simvastatin. I am get soooo much more done at work! I am more inclined to consider, and plan ... and think about stuff.

I have resumed exercising (stopped early last fall after multiple stupid, chronic injuries, and CHARLEY HORSES, last summer!), and am optimistic I will not have as many injuries, this year ... keep your fingers crossed for me.
 
#8 ·
After rereading the posts here, I think I must agree with Shanny; I've been on a statin drug for a long time and it wasn't until I began eating LC/HF that my lipids went way down. So yes, I believe it was a security blanket. However in having the things occur that have over the last couple of months, I'm thinking enough is enough. All the crestor was taken out of my meds regimen as of today, and back into the prescription bottle they went. I will dispose of them when they have the next round up of unused prescription drugs through our city.

I'm thinking now that (and keeping fingers crossed on this one) that perhaps without the statin drug, my numbers will calm down again and begin aligning much better. I awoke to a fbg this morning of 235 after eating basically no carbs last night for either dinner or snack (dinner was about half a pork steak with MCS low carb bbq sauce on it, and hubby steamed cauli and then sauteed with some other veggies in coconut oil. Snack was some pepperoni and mozz cheese). There is no way I should have been that high this morning.

Linda, I will certainly keep my fingers crossed for you as well. When did you quit the statin? How long ago? Obviously you are already feeling the effects from quitting it. So happy for you. I'm only going to be 50 this year and I'm starting to feel like a 90 y/o with these body aches and pains. Ridiculous. I'm an active woman and have always prided myself on my cognitive abilities and my memory being extremely good. Lately I've been so foggy brained it is not even funny.

I am a definite recruit for the "no more statin drugs" bandwagon!
 
#9 ·
I quit it in Feb, after several weeks of unremitting back pain. Could tell within 3 days that it was the cause!

AFTER quitting, I remembered the charley horses last summer, and also noticed my calf muscles were pretty asymmetric (which the endo pooh-poohed, saying I probably had just not noticed before).

Definitely noticed deterioration in cognition -- ADHD-like distraction, and slow to find words (though that can be menopausal, or lack of exercise). Seems like it is still improving.
 
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