# My Brother Had a Heart Attack. Question about Statins. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 9, 2006, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-heart-attack-question-about-statins/368006 "2006-08-09T14:47:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-heart-attack-question-about-statins/368006/1 "2006-08-09T14:47:30Z")
He is 54, 6’1’’, 165 pounds. Never smoked. Does not have hypertension. Drinks moderately. Catheterization revealed 100% blockage of the left side (Apparently the right side had sent over some arteries to feed the left side in what the doctor referred to as a ‘retrograde manner’ - this likely is why he survived and may have mitigated some of the damage). Aside from the blockage, the doctor described his arteries as ‘pristine’. After the stent was put in, he was told that ‘by definition’ his cholesterol levels are too high and he would need to be on statins (those levels have never been high). I am not looking for medical advice, but I know there are issues with statins. Are statins always indicated after an MI? Many MIs are associated with plaque buildup, but that appears not to be the case here, and I would not immediately think that statins would improve his prognosis. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-heart-attack-question-about-statins/368006/2 "2006-08-09T16:16:29Z")
Can’t answer your questions, but if he does start on any statin, be sure he is aware of one dangerous side effect that is not always pointed out by the physician who prescribes it. If he begins to experience any leg muscle pain, he should immediately check with his doc, as this can become dangerous. He should also have liver function checks. I am unable to take any statin, unfortunately, because of this. Too bad, because the stuff really does work. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-heart-attack-question-about-statins/368006/3 "2006-08-09T18:10:28Z")
I too can not take statins–but there is now another class of drugs that work to prevent absorption, instead of production, like the statins do ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-heart-attack-question-about-statins/368006/4 "2006-08-09T18:45:00Z")
[QUOTE=The Vorlon] I too can not take statins–but there is now another class of drugs that work to prevent absorption, instead of production, like the statins do [/QUOTE] Yes. Zetia, for example, is supposed to help prevent the absorption of cholesterol in foods. Combined with Zocor (a statin), it forms Vytorin, which is alleged to work better together than apart. My pharmacist says statins are extremely safe for most people. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-heart-attack-question-about-statins/368006/5 "2006-08-10T09:37:30Z")
I’ve been on statins for about nine months. Cut my cholestorol (the bad one ) in half. Mind you, I changed diet and exercise regime at the same time so it was impossible to ascribe the change to one or the other. But I was told when they were precribed that there was a 10% chance that my body would not like them. Fortunately there was no sign of muscle wastage from the subsequent blood test. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-heart-attack-question-about-statins/368006/6 "2006-08-10T15:22:50Z")
My brother went in with a heart attack in June and they found out he also has diabetes. I believe he is on statins, and was/may still be on Plavix as a clot buster. He is on Cumadin and was taking too much as his blood is way too thin. But he has changed his eating habits too, and I guess it’s too soon to tell how widespread the damage to his heart will be. He’s 38 so he is pretty depressed that he is already this sick and has to be on meds forever.