statins and RA?

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Diane - 20 Apr 2005 04:02 GMT

i saw my rheumy today and told him that i'm seeing my GI doc tomorrow.
my GI doc handles my cardiac stuff (are you all following this??) and
he just did cholesterol tests etc on me and wants to discuss them with
me. so much for my morning cheese danish at starbucks!

anyhow, my rheumy said that if my GI doc wants to put me on statins,
go for it (even if my cholesterol is not too high). he is presenting a
paper somewhere this week (or next) on the use of statins in treating
RA and other inflammatory diseases. so my question is, are any of you
being treated with statins and how has that affected your RA?
unfortunately, both the statins and my arava affect the liver, so i
would have to be extra vigilant about bloodwork if i go on them.

diane

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Athena - 20 Apr 2005 04:28 GMT

I take lipitor. The methylprednisolone I've had to take since getting
this wonderful disease pushed my cholesterol to over three hundred.
With one-half tablet (5mg) of lipitor per day it is now under 200. I
haven't had any side-effects and my bloodwork has been great.

Elizabeth

PS. Should be off methylprednisolone in 6 weeks, I hope.
I'm on Enbrel, MTX and Naproxen.

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Nann Bell - 20 Apr 2005 05:34 GMT

> anyhow, my rheumy said that if my GI doc wants to put me on statins,
> go for it (even if my cholesterol is not too high). he is presenting a
> paper somewhere this week (or next) on the use of statins in treating
> RA and other inflammatory diseases. so my question is, are any of you
> being treated with statins and how has that affected your RA?

well, my dx keeps shifting between RA and PA, but I am on lipitor along with
all the other crap. Can't say that it's affected my arthritis one way or
t'other. The statins can have a side effect of muscle aches in some folks,
so if you start on one and start aching, call the doc. My brother and I do
fine on the statins. Our sister can't take them because of the achiness and
is on some other cholesterol med now.

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Rosemarie Shiver - 20 Apr 2005 07:00 GMT

The other cholesterol med. being Zetia. The statins set off my muscles
and make me spaz so I can't take them. The Zetia has lowered my cholesterol
by 42% so I'm sticking with it....it's the only one that doesn't hurt.
Vytorin is the one that's a combo of Lipitor and Zetia if you want severe
cholesterol control but a bit of an easier time muscle-wise.

Good luck with it...it can be a literal pain finding the right one.

Hugs from Rosie

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> > anyhow, my rheumy said that if my GI doc wants to put me on statins,
> > go for it (even if my cholesterol is not too high). he is presenting a
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> fine on the statins. Our sister can't take them because of the achiness and
> is on some other cholesterol med now.

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Gwen Love - 20 Apr 2005 17:44 GMT

Vytorin also lowers tryglicerides (sp).
Gwen

> The other cholesterol med. being Zetia. The statins set off my muscles
> and make me spaz so I can't take them. The Zetia has lowered my cholesterol
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> and
> > is on some other cholesterol med now.

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Duckie - 21 Apr 2005 00:53 GMT

I asked the doctor how I would tell the difference
between my regular RA aches and Lipitor aches and she
said you would really know the difference. The body
will ache ALL over steadily. My RA likes to move around.
Duckie

>>anyhow, my rheumy said that if my GI doc wants to put me on statins,
>>go for it (even if my cholesterol is not too high). he is presenting a
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> fine on the statins. Our sister can't take them because of the achiness and
> is on some other cholesterol med now.

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Duckie - 21 Apr 2005 00:53 GMT

Been on Lipitor since last summer and Remicade is
failing me. Not working for my RA. At least not in the
dose I am taking. My cholesterol is down however.
Duckie

> i saw my rheumy today and told him that i'm seeing my GI doc tomorrow.
> my GI doc handles my cardiac stuff (are you all following this??) and
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> diane

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