Two years ago I was prescribed simvastatin for supposedly high cholesterol, even though I felt absolutely fine and had no symptoms. Shortly after starting on the drug I developed persistent muscle pains (which I had never had before), and my family noticed a big change in my personality: I became very bad tempered and irritable. I also felt very depressed. The worrying thing is that I did not think my personality had changed. Fortunately we were able to access the datasheets and it became clear that these were side effects.
I stopped the medication immediately and have not taken statins since then. The muscle aching gradually resolved and my family tells me I am now my normal benign self again!

Richard, Norwich, England

I completely agree with Glyn. The pharmaceutical companies have massive marketing budgets that run into many millions of pounds and they have perfected the art of managing to agressively promote their products. What's the expression, maximise the positvie, minimise the negative or just mention some of it and make sure that the print on leaflet is so small that you need a magnifying glass to read it.

I suffered numerous side effects as a result of taking statins and firmly believe that most of the medical medical community is wrong when it says that "high Cholesterol is bad for you."

Dr Malcolm Kendrick has written as fascinating book called The Great Cholesterol Con, in which he has referred to many studies that contradict the "bad cholesterol" hypothesis.

If you are taking statins try and get a copy of this book and read it with an open mind, even if you decide to continue with statins, it will fully inform you as to the range of side effectts that may arise.

Graham Wharton, St Albans, UK

To Mr. Wainwright, the answer is in the article itself. Statins are a trillion dollar industry. And yes, there is a vast underreporting of the side effects. And not just of statins. I, and others I know became extremely weak on coumedin, and I experienced severe hallucinations on a heart rhythm medication that terrified me. No one told me to expect this. I thought I was losing my mind. Thank goodness for the internet. I was able to learn of the possible "rare" side effects. Though they only lasted a few weeks it was a very difficult time.
Many prayers for the family of this man. He sounds like he was a terrific guy.

Vicky
Macon, GA

Vicky Oliver, Macon, Georgia, USA

There is massive systemic under-reporting of drug reactions.
Since being rescued from statins myself, I have investigated and found them to be dangerous on two counts.
1) They suppress our bodies ability to make a range of substances we require for normal daily functioning of muscles,nerves and brain. (Mevalonate Inhibition).
2) Cholesterol is vital to health! Ask what it does and why we make so much of it!
Cholesterol was never guilty and no convincing scientific proof of of it becoming harmful was ever produced.
Why do biochemists allow medics to believe this toxic nonsense?

Glyn Wainwright, Leeds, England