Muscle tiredness when on Atorvastatin.

[Cards21]

I’ve only been on Statins a few days but noticed I can’t walk as far as usual and have to rest a lot. Even doing things around the house is taking more effort. Will this effect lessen?

[NorthantsSteve]

Hi Cards21. Can you give us a bit more info? What type of statin and what dose? And what was the story leading up to taking them? What’s stopping you from walking/doing the house work? Side effects are rarer than people think but they do happen.

[Cards21 in reply to NorthantsSteve]

I’ve lost my reply. I ad a heart attack and a byepass just over a year ago and the specialist in Liverpool said I didn’t need a Statin. Noe I’m under a different hospital the specialist said any one who has had a byepass should be on statins so doc had prescribed Lipitor 40 mg ( Atorvastatin) I try to walk every day and started Statins on 1st jan and noticed twice I have not been able to walk as far and have had to rest more often.

[NorthantsSteve in reply to Cards21]

Thanks. Do your muscles ache? Are you out of breath? Statins usually take a couple of months to get to work so that feels unlikely. Maybe you should give one of the cardio nurses at the Wirral a ring to talk about these new developments. As Fortepiano says - it could just be one of those energy dips post Christmas. Especially if you’re like me and had a few mince pies and sat around a lot 😄.

[Cards21 in reply to NorthantsSteve]

Much better today!

[NorthantsSteve in reply to Cards21]

Glad to hear it. Perhaps just one of those energy dips? Take care.

[Cards21 in reply to NorthantsSteve]

Thank you

[Fortepiano]

Lots of things can cause tiredness, it's unlikely to be the statins. I'm not on any statins and I find my exercise capacity goes up and down.

I see you had your bypass and valve replacement over a year ago - is there a reason why you've only just been put on statins?

[Cards21 in reply to Fortepiano]

When I had my byepass a year ago Liverpool hospital specialist said my cholesterol was so good I didn’t need statins. Now I’m under a Wirral hospital the specialist said everyone who has had a byepass should be on Statins so doc has prescribed Lipitor 40mg, (Atorvastin)

[Fortepiano in reply to Cards21]

They do help to keep bypass grafts open and avoid further heart attacks.

[Cards21 in reply to Fortepiano]

Thank you

[thetidders in reply to Cards21]

Hi I had a triple bypass 20 months ago also at Liverpool & also live on the Wirral (Upton). I was taking Simavastin before I was referred to the rapid access clinic at St. Caths, the doctor there changed my statin to Astorvastatin because he told me that was the one Liverpool preferred pre op. I have been on that ever since & am on 80 at the moment. I think it’s being reduced this year to 40 because the GP said I will have been on the higher dose for long enough.

I personally have not had any problems with the Astorvastatin.

I do sometimes get tired but that’s probably an age thing!

Try & keep taking it, you body might take a while to adjust to it.

I understand the statin works after your surgery to keep the arteries smooth to prevent any more plaques forming & blocking the arteries again so it’s not just for control of

Cholesterol.

Hope that helps.

Jean

[Cards21 in reply to thetidders]

Thank you Jean, useful information. I haven’t had rehab yet because told I have to go to Countess of Chester. I said I want St Caths but told no as Little Neston is in Countess area!

[thetidders in reply to Cards21]

That’s a shame, St Caths. Is very good. Hope it’s OK at the Countess of Chester for you, my rehab was delayed because I had a severe electrolyte imbalance after the bypass which put me on ICU in Arrowe Park for 2 weeks. I was very weak when I was discharged but Cardiac Rehab sorted me out eventually. Keep asking about the rehab, it will help you so much.

Jean

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Fortepiano]

I had a real energy dip last Sunday and Monday. The fact that half the country shuts down for two weeks doesn't help. I wanted a coffee on the Saturday before going around the supermarket. First place was closed (holiday hours), second had turned off machine and yet were open for another half hour(!) but third was open and busy. Subconsciously I am sure this mixed with the recent weather drags people down somewhat!

[Gail1967]

Hi had a bypass 8 mths ago and with no history of high anything before- been told will be on statins for life now- no side effects luckily. Have since discovered genetically I have high LPa -(had no idea what this even was!) so now grateful to be on statins to try to prevent unavoidable problems from cholesterol.

I have heard others say about muscle aches on statins- it may be a case of needing to try different types- good luck

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Gail1967]

Interesting! I asked for a Lp(a) test as my father, his brother and their father all died prematurely from heart attacks. This didn't happen as my cholesterol and BP were good. A few years later I had a quadruple bypass! Will ask again at next appointment.

[Gail1967 in reply to MichaelJH]

I was lucky as I got refereed to a hereditary specialist at Barts as was fit etc and only 51 when had cabg but my brother had ha at 35. It seems testing for LPa is not commonplace - which now I know about it seems ridiculous as it’s absolutely got to be the why for me and although my cholesterol was/is not high- knowing my LPa was would have helped that to be managed. My brother is going to ask for a test at his next appt- will be interesting to see if he gets a yes!! I think you can pay for a test through private co’s - not great but I would rather know.

[Cards21 in reply to Gail1967]

What is LPa please?

[Gail1967 in reply to Cards21]

Lipo protein a

[Fortepiano in reply to MichaelJH]

Low cholesterol and yet a family history was absolutely the situation when Lp(a) should have been tested.

[Peileen]

H Cards21 A couple of days after I started Atorvastatin 20mg just over two weeks ago I was so heavy tired I couldn't go to church or a walk with my daughter. I have busy Fridays. Again this Saturday completely wiped out and did nothing and missed a quiz night which I really enjoy. I don't want to give up my Friday walking group and cooking evening with friends. I have been taking CoEnzyme Q10 and L-Carnitine for only a week which are supposed to counter side effects of statins. I will let you know if there are improvements this coming weekend.

[Bassman65 in reply to Peileen]

Did your doctor recommend those supplements?

[Peileen in reply to Bassman65]

No. I read up on these online and there have been trials carried out. I have checked they do not react with any of the meds I take. GPs don't usually know or comment on anything that is not a pharmaceutical. In order to take Edoxaban anticoagulant I have had to stop taking glucosamine, chondroitin, fish oil which helped my osteoarthritis and also garlic. The CoEnzyme Q10 and L-Carnitine with Atorvastatin have shown in trials to benefit osteoarthritis and bone strength better than oestrogen.

[Meme50 in reply to Peileen]

I chemist once told me to take CoEnzyme Q10 when taking cholesterol medication but I am very bad keeping up when I medicine isn’t on a script 😕

[jon22 in reply to Peileen]

Hi. Would be very interested to know if CQ10 and L-Carnitine help counter the side effects. I have the same symptoms as yourself. Where did you source the products. Thank you.

[Peileen in reply to jon22]

jon22 I got the supplements on Amazon after reading vrious reviews to choose which ones. Information on their effectiveness on sttins on Google.

[Hidden in reply to Peileen]

Hi peileen

How are the aches now?

Alps

[Peileen in reply to Hidden]

During lockdown I have done a great deal of gardening and painting but very little walking dor its own sake. I have recently been walking into the village to help out at a community gardening. The gardening is ok (I wear a mask always when other people around) but the walking eapecially home afterwards is a thought and prior to statins was always a keen walker. I won't use public transport as there are still cases of Covid19 in my area and local city under 2nd lockdown. I will continue with the statins rather than build up cholesterol and discuss with GP once there are normal appointments. It's as if my upper leg muscles have lost their 'stretch' at the back when walking. I take CoQ10, L Carnitine and Alpha Lipoic Acid every day which I buy from Amazon.

[Hidden in reply to Peileen]

Hi Peileen

Thanks for getting back, I know it is an old post

It seems that your statin symptoms are still mild?

And you're continuing with them

However, if you are interested, please read my many posts where I am still searching for an answer to the progressive muscle aches that started during a short 12 week course of statins, ending in April 17

Despite stopping them over 3 years ago, the aches are progressing

I've tried everything including what you've tried - 'Mercola's Awesome Foursome' which are - coq10, mag, carnitine, d-ribose - nothing has helped

My Dr should definitely have stopped them after I first complained about the aches after the first week of taking them

I read someone else's review where he says that his Dr said this to him - "If you notice anything different when taking the statins, that will mean it is definitely statin related, and I will stop them"!!

Wasn't that great!

What every Dr, including mine, should have done.

All the best!

Alps