Atorvastatin side effects

[Mike424u]

Hi Quick question on side effects, has anyone found that taking Atorvastatin effects their taste and smell, I'm convinced its what causing me problems, Tingling in my finger tips, dry mouth all the time, and sense of taste and smell is total shoot to bits.

Reason I'm convinced is I ran out of Atorvastatin, last Friday, and could not pick up my repeat scrip until Monday, so I never took any over the weekend, by Monday lunch time my sense of smell and taste had all but returned and the tingling finger tips almost stopped. Then I started back on my Atorvastatin, and I'm back to next to no sense of smell and taste and tingling fingers and dry mouth. I did not see much about this type of side effect in the instruction, maybe 1 in 100, Has anyone else had any of these symptoms while taking Atorvastatin, I'm on 80mg a day, my cholesterol is now down to 2.3 from 4.7 and everything on my blood check is good.

[Hidden]

Everyone is different - I am sure the statins do have their effects - mine is a pain in my hips. Others have reported similar symptoms. Your symptoms could be as you describe. Perhaps (as I did) a discussion with the doctor might be beneficial. You do not say what you have had done however the documents I received from the hospital did mention that sense of smell could be affected after having been on the blood heart re circulation machine. Mine certainly has diminished however it does have it's benefits for I now cannot be distressed by the smell of my mother in laws cottage pie!

[Hidden]

Bazmack - that is not quite true. Statins are taken to control cholesterol which if not controlled, will begin to clog the arteries. I am diabetic and was placed on statins to control cholesterol because the cholesterol and the diabetes have a devastating effect on arteries which causes poor circulation, numb extremities, loss of limbs and severe heart issues. The latter problems was entirely why I decided to loose seven stone. Had I not been on statins, lost the weight etc I would not have survived my heart attack in May or the subsequent triple bypass. After the surgery I was prescribed 80mg statins however because of some side effects the dose has been lowered back down to the pre op level of 40mg. Personally, to be alive and well and thriving, the sense of smell is really not a priority to begin bothering my doctor with - it may come back - it may not - just so long as the heart problems do not.

[jimmyq]

The worst side effect of Atorvastatin I had was sleep-walking. I even did it on a ship. This has gone away since I came off them.

[Bassman65]

Mike424u,

I had a similar problem with simvastatin, I was on it for years without too much hassle as my cholesterol level was 5.1, after an 18 month spell with slimming world I lost 5.5 stone in weight and cholesterol dropped below 3 and I started to really bad ache in my knuckles.

My doctor stopped the simvastatin and the pain stopped. I have since been put on another statin rosuvastatin and I don’t seem to have any side effects at present...

Perhaps ask the doctor to lower the dose and if that does not work switch to another statin?

[Happyheart69]

Just seen your post!!!

Lost my smell 3 Years ago ....it's been a horrible period....

Doctor and specialist never even asked what I was on!!! When I had all investigations done....

Stopped statin as ran out accidentally due to family death and suddenly it has come back .....every cloud has a silver lining .......More people need to know about this.... I will be taking it with gp ...asap my life has been miserable for no reason!!!!