Hi, since being on Atorvastatin for Cholesterol, I am getting bad aches and joint pains especially in left side of lower back, when I stand up from sitting down position it hurts like hell, have read these can be side effects of drug I'm also on Bisoprolol,Eliquis Furomeside, and Allopurinoll for gout,
I'm on Cocodomol for pain it helps a bit but doesn't stop the whole pain,
Anyone else find this with the drug, and are there other painkillers I can try.
Cheers all.
Good morning Yes I am on atorvistatin as well, and I get leg joint aches, so I am thinking it may be the statins, I am waiting for the doctor to come back to me
Good luck
Barry
Statin medication will deplete your CoQ10 levels - supplement that as a given when on Statin meds... not sure it will help with the pain, but will certainly make sure nothing related to CoQ10 (many things including mitochondrial function) is not compromised because of the medication...
Hello Kovin,
Have you got any research articles about CoQ10?
A simple Google search turns up:
mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
jamanetwork.com/journals/ja...
sps.nhs.uk/articles/should-...
I have also heard medical experts talking about this subject over the past few years, but cannot reference my accumulated knowledge on the matter... hopefully the above reading supports my original post...
Quote from the first article
"At this time, coenzyme Q10 isn't universally recommended for preventing side effects from cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins."
The other 2 are from 2004, 2009. Not recent
There is still no robust research to suggest that CoQ10 is effective in the way you suggest.
Unlike medicines supplements such as CoQ10 are not safety tested etc to the same extent as for prescription medicines.
No control over the contents of the supplements.
It is also very expensive you are potentially advising people to take a substance that has not been rigorously tested with side effects too.
OK, disregard my suggestion... no one is forcing you to accept it or not... just trying to help... not everything that helps people is always rigorously studied and peer reviewed within the the last 12 months... I don't see too many studies on fermented foods and the role they play in improving overall health... yet many people get great benefit when they just try such nutrition for a while...
Obviously, if you have the same medication and symptoms as Barry, then your mileage may vary, but our own experiences are our best knowledge... others may or may not see benefit... if they don't they are free to stop any supplementation...
I see another of your posts where you were given beta blockers (a well researched and commonly prescribed medication) and had adverse effects... the molecular biology of beta blockers is a foreign thing for the body to deal with -COQ10 is as natural as can be, and as we age, we produce less... even those in perfect health in their 40's - or older - are advised to supplement CoQ10 for improved mitochondrial function and energy support... Just like Vitamin C, Vitamin E etc... do you meditate, do breathing exercises, or yoga, drink Green tea, avoid sugar, filter your tap water? the evidence for those things is always 'inconclusive' - yet many people find great comfort in following their own experiences when they try it...
Just trying to reach out and help someone asking for suggestions... so, do you have a suggestion for the original poster? or just want to shoot down mine because I did not supply the right study to satisfy you...?
I am sorry that the OP is having these issues, and that they have not been given any other leads or potential solutions by their care team or anyone else posting in reply to their post...
It seems that many people are just willing to take pills on the word of their doctors without making even the most rudimentary inquiries as to how these potentially serious medications might affect them... Even if the OP was not on the medication they are, CoQ10 would be indicated for their symptoms... but seeing how often it is prescribed to desperate and unhealthy people, the pharmaceutical companies that profit from it would not want one of the most clearly known side effects to tarnish their drug's reputation... people may realise they are being prescribed poison band-aids, not solutions to underlying conditions...
I suggest that Barry ask his doctor about it, and may find that with the lack of any other answer, he will be told "try it, it can't harm you, and may work for you..."
BTW, it is not expensive compared to some medications that people are taking.
Looking forward to your well referenced, indisputable solution to Barry's issues...
We should always refer to our Cardiologists and GPs for advice that is what is advised by the forum guidelines.
Some supplements can react with conventional medications so it is important to seek the advice from a healthcare professional before taking them.
I have no objection to anyone taking supplements however I feel it is important that just like all treatments it is with good evidence and will not cause them harm in anyway.
Everyone has choice and doctors do have a professional responsibility to make shared decision making.
Beta blockers are actually contraindicated for those like myself living with vasospastic angina as they are known to make vasospasms worse.
At the time I was prescribed them my diagnosis was unconfirmed.
Vasospastic angina is a complex under recognised and more difficult to diagnose type of angina.
Here in the UK many people are exempt from paying for their medications or pay an annual fee of about £120 to cover the cost of their prescriptions.
healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...
Considering that CoQ10 is a naturally occurring compound, produced by the body, if it was going to react to the foreign, unnatural compound of the statin drugs, it would be ludicrous to suggest that supplementing it would be dangerous... like saying that water is contraindicated if taking a particular medication...
CoQ10 is already in the body, and everything else should be able to work with the natural chemicals produced by the body... supplementing it is just bring the body back into better health by maintaining adequate levels - which - if I could be bothered to find more studies - is shown to be compromised by the statin drugs...
You also said "I feel it is important that just like all treatments it is with good evidence and will not cause them harm in anyway." well... the OP is being harmed by his medication in a number of ways... should he stop taking that treatment, despite the 'good' evidence? or find other knowledge and experience that can minimise the harm caused by the pharmaceutical? which is worse...? Live with the side effects? - stop the medication? - or supplement to minimise or remove at least one of the side effects?
You are not qualified to make decision for them, and thus, rejecting it based on your feelings or lack of experience may very well be harming that patient further by denying them a valid and safe option...
Until I see your credentials, your clinical and lived experiences and your irrefutable, peer reviewed, current proof that COQ10 is dangerous in any way or situation when used at the recommended dose, I have nothing more to add to this thread...
BTW, still waiting for your suggested solution... got nothing more except criticism of those trying to help?
Funny how the algorithm works these days... a day after this post, youtube shows me this in my recommendations... Hope this helps people to understand my original suggestion... Comments are real experiences of people...
Could I ask how long you've been on the atorvastatin and what dose you're taking?
Thank you
Since October 2020 I'm on 40mg once a day
I was having the same issue and was blaming the statins. I found this the other day, research by BHF and others. It is a good read.
HiI was on the same statin and had aches around my hand joints that I was struggling to function properly during the day went to my GP and explained and they switched me onto rusovastatin and fairly quickly the pains went away and 2 yrs on its still pain free. Even the NHS guide on statins does say that it may need a trial on different statins to find the right one for the patient (as individuals we can all react differently to certain meds). Hope you manage to get sorted onto a suitable statin. Take care.
GP changed me over to Pravastatin (40mg) from Atorvastatin (40mg) and aching limbs had gone in less than two weeks.
Hello-suffering from high cholesterol and unable to tolerate all the usual statins due to joint pains. I was eventually referred to a specialist for my cholesterol which was at 9.6. he put me on a low dose-5mg Rosuvastatin which took my level down to an acceptable 5. I was also diagnosed with Familial hypercholesterolmia. It did not stop me needing an emergency CABG x2- main arteries blocked 70 &100 per cent, 5 years ago. After which I was put onto Ezetimibe 10mg alongside my 5mg of Rosuvastatin. As once you experience heart attack/surgery etc your level should be maintained at a lower rate (as advised by Papworth Hospital). My cholesterol is now down to 3.5. You should not be suffering from joint pains.
Crikey! My cholesterol was at 6.9 and my consultant put me on Atarvostating at 80mg immediately! Had no real side effects which is good and two weeks later, my cholesterol level was 2.35! The consultant is writing to my GP to lower the dosage to 40mg forthwith! Can’t wait - those 80mg tablets are like swallowing a bullet!
I would push for a change. Atorvastatin is usually the first statin to be prescribed. I was put on 80mg and had horrific aches and pains. My GP then tried me on Simvastatin and then Pravastatin, but I had similar problems. After a period without statins, I now take 10mg Rosuvastatin on alternate days - no side effects and it certainly has had an effect on my cholesterol, reducing a fairly low level to an even lower one.
Interesting subject. I started on 40mg Atorvastatin which reduced to 20mg as my cholesterol fell below the target 4mmol/L (TC) and 1.8 (LDL).
Saw a seperate cardiologist for an NHS stress echo. He said I should take the maximum dose I could tolerate so moved to 20mg Rosuvastin (equivalent to 40mg Atorvastatin). TC now 3.1, LDL 1.1 and HDL 1.7.
However, for the past nine months I’ve had rib/back pain that may or may not be statin related. GP and cardiologist both think it could be but no one knows. I don’t have the rare but serious side effects - liver or muscle damage.
My diagnosis came following an ECG that indicated ischaemia and led to a CT angiogram that confirmed. On annual follow up this year the ECG show no abnormalities. When I asked the cardiologist about this he said this likely showed that my artery narrowing appears improved and that “this sometimes happens after an aggressive medical therapy.” So I’m hoping that at least, things haven’t got worse!
If that is correct and if the aches are statin - related, then I guess there may be a decision to be made in the trade off of statin benefits.
Best wishes
I’m not saying it’s the case in your particular experience but there is such a thing as the Nocebo Effect where the patient believes interventions in the form of treatment will impact them in a negative way. Like I said, I’m not saying this is happening to you, but I know I really panicked when I read the disclaimer leaflet in my Atarvostatin box when first prescribed. That along with all the negativity out there on the internet is a powerful combination. Crazy how the brain works!
Thanks Curlyman.
You may well be correct. Although my aches started before I read about side effects. Just started taking them as soon as I was told! I’ve gone from a lifetime of being wilfully reckless about my health to now being hyper sensitive. So I’m sure anxiety plays a part. I only need to read a side affect to develop it. Without a doubt anxiety can cause physical symptoms.
The irony is I’m probably fitter and healthier than I have been for many years. My heart diagnosis came about by chance. I have to remind myself that it didn’t just happen overnight and has, in my case, developed over years.
I even wonder if my musculoskeletal aches may be a reaction to a five stone weight loss and increased running.
Good luck with your recovery and I hope you find this forum as helpful as I have.
Best wishes
That seems to be normal - I know that I’ve certainly gone hypersensitive to how my body is behaving - every little twitch is a stroke and every little muscle ache means not enough blood pumping. Horrific!
Hi ,
I have aches when I first get up and mild cramps when I'm out walking. I reduced my metformin, statins and ramipril. I have paracetamol when it's mild to medium disomfort and cocodamol for when it's worse.
For the most part I try to ignore it but "it's a pain" literally.
Sudden fatigue and aches
Fatigue and aches following triple by-pass.
Aching muscles, especially legs
Heart attack and aching chest
Left arm aching after stent
