Statins: My husband has been taking... - British Heart Fou...

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Statins

AdaG55 profile image
14 Replies

My husband has been taking rosuvastain 40mg for over a year. He has progressively become weaker, developed foamy urine & lastvweek woke up with a black eye & spent 2 days in bed. All we get from the doctor is to keep taking the med. He feels so bad he's has stopped taking the drug

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AdaG55 profile image
AdaG55
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14 Replies
Fish4Info profile image
Fish4Info

I've taken Rosuvastatin for years without any adverse reaction. Bruising and the like can indicate issues with anti-platelet therapies (so called blood thinners) such as aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin and the like. How can you be sure the statin is to blame? I think I'd be asking for a blood test to check ... unless there's a more obvious cause. Hope you find out what's the root cause. :-)

AdaG55 profile image
AdaG55

He is on ASA 81mg bid as well. We realized ze the black eye could be r/t that but 40mg of crestor is high dose. There were more symptoms as well. We are not sure what is causing his symptoms but he feels like giving up.

Gela64 profile image
Gela64

I am so sorry you are going through this... my husband had awful side effects from statins - could not walk 50 m without exhaustion. For the last few years he has been in a combo of bezafibrate 400 mg and ezetimibe 10 mg daily and his cholesterol is well controlled and he walks 15000 steps a day. Statins are not tolerated by everyone so please talk to your GP. Best of luck!!!

benjijen profile image
benjijen

I stopped taking Atorvastatin as it gradually made it more difficult for me to do cardiac rehab - muscle pain. Recently my GP suggested going back on it, so I did, 40mg. A few weeks later I found that on some days I could barely walk to the front door due to pain so I halved it. I can now sometimes do a short walk outside. I'm now taking 20mg every other day and intend stopping again. The muscle pain isn't worth it. I will inform my GP and maybe try a different statin at a later date if necessary. I get fed up with reading that these side effects are rare as I know plenty of others in this position.

Qualipop profile image
Qualipop in reply to benjijen

Do get your statin changed. I couldn't tolerate atorvastatin at all , like you but simvastatin is fine.

MountainGoat52 profile image
MountainGoat52

40mg of Rosuvastatin is a high dose. I am on 10mg on alternate days which for me is very effective. I think that you need to speak to the GP again and don't take no for an answer. Medication is supposed to make us feel better, not worse!

Flummoxedlou profile image
Flummoxedlou

Hi Ada,

The statin question is a difficult one. Some of us take badly to them, some of us cope well. One thing I think is a salient point here is that he has been taking statin without problem for some considerable time. A couple of questions: has he changed the time he takes them or altered how he takes them? If not then I suspect something else may have come into play. I was getting along happily with my statins but had trouble swallowing them as they were like horse tablets. I started to break them in half. Huge mistake!! I spoke to a pharmacist friend of mine as after two days I could barely walk - muscle ache, leaden feeling in my chest, nausea, headache, diarhea you name it I got it. My friend gave me a huge telling off. Don't ever break them, they have to reach the lower intestine to dissolve not stop in the stomach - don't eat with them as they stay in the gut with the food - instant side effects! I now take two small ones - problem solved. But the discussion goes on about the side effects. I think you should note every change in his health status and keep copious notes and then report back to your doctor. Only your doctor can answer the questions you have. But be reassured, we have all suffered similar at some stage so you are not alone.

Hi, I too cannot tolerate statins. I was put on Atorvastatin after my heart attack and 4 stents. I was so stiff with muscle and joint pain. My surgeon recommended Rovustatin. I became worse straight away, hardly able to function at all, could barely walk to the kitchen from the lounge. I stopped taking them and felt so much better but am still very slow to get going in the morning. Very stiff joints.

They want me to start on Ezetimibe and then fortnightly injectors but I haven't decided yet because my cholesterol is well within NHS guidelines. They want it to be lower.

Gezzad profile image
Gezzad

I have been on these for years. I am 63 and feel like 100. Aches and pains in the legs and trying to climb a set of stairs is hellish. My doctor has today, told me to stop for a month to see if there is any change. To be honest I think the damage is done. Tell his Dr he wants a second opinion...

Hily profile image
Hily

Most GP'S suggest not taking them for a fortnight to see if there is any change (mine didn't) . I stopped taking mine full stop - Atorvastatin- and my I felt a lot better. I take Ezetimibe now.

I do not know how Rosuvastatin effects you.

I suggest a a urine sample to give to your GP to send away for analysis. Tout suite.

ling profile image
ling in reply to Hily

Does ezetimibe work well for u and what dose are u on?

Thank you

Hily profile image
Hily in reply to ling

Only seems to be one dose, 10. It is often used with a statin but I take it on it's own.

QuadroVEINia profile image
QuadroVEINia

Statins are not an easy medicine. I am on the same Med as your husband and have struggled with it in the past too. Perhaps discuss with his GP/Cardiologist if breaking the tablet down into quarters or halves to take the same dose but spread across the day is an option? That is what I did in consultation with my GP/Cardiologist and this helped me with my side effects. And/or taking it on alternate days might also be an option but again you must discuss with his GP/Cardiologist first and get their approval. Hope this helps and wish him well.

Edsonmontibeller profile image
Edsonmontibeller

Who old is he ?

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