Statins and IBS - Over two years of suffering but now cured!
Last updated: August 2022
In recent years I’ve suffered occasional bouts of IBS, more of an inconvenience than anything too serious. But, just over two years ago I began to get painful colon/bowel cramps in the night that would wake me in the small hours and keep me awake. If I was lucky, I’d have a bowel movement later in the morning, but either way I’d have varying levels of pain or aches during the day in my lower left tummy area. I also was unable to completely empty my bowels on most occasions when I went to the loo.
Nothing worked
I paid a small fortune to consult three gastroenterologists and tried every medication you can think of, but nothing worked. Some of the stuff made things worse.
Reluctantly a few weeks ago, I began taking Nortriptyline at night, splitting a 10mg tablet so I could take as low a dose as possible. These meds caused weird dreams and not much improvement, but I was desperate to try to find something to relieve the pain and get a decent night’s sleep.
Stopping statins
Then one night, I forgot to take my statins. I had a better sleep than I’d had for a long time, not brilliant by any means but an improvement. So I thought, I wonder…? So I called my GP and told him and said I was going to stop taking the statins for a few days and see what happened. He said to lay off them for a month.
I stopped taking the statins and stopped the Nortriptyline as well and gradually my IBS symptoms disappeared altogether. I now get a full night’s sleep and what’s more, I am now able to tolerate red wine, and any food I want to eat. I had been down to limiting my alcohol to three nights a week with just one beer and one glass of wine with dinner. Now I can drink normal limits. And not just that, but I feel great, normal again.
I told all three gastroenterologists, but only one has replied so far, saying he is not aware of any connection between statins and IBS. But I certainly am, I’m living proof!

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