Statins and joint pain

[Suzyh]

2 years ago after having stent fitted after heart attack got my rouvestatin increased to 20mg. I started with joint pain and now its really bad in my knees. I also get cramp has anyone else had this when on statins

[Chappychap]

Yes, a minority of people report joint pain from statins. But the person to talk to is your GP, there are plenty of alternatives to your version of statin and you should explore those options.

Good luck!

[Heythrop51]

You shod ask your GP. It might just be ageing and arthritis. Many people get aches and pains in their fifties/sixties/ seventies. It's all to easy to blame statins.

[Suzyh]

Have asked GP she is to reduce statin for a month see if there is any difference before doing anything else

[Hidden in reply to Suzyh]

Reduce it from 20mg?? The joint pain is likely to be down to other things, what sort of exercise do you do?

[Suzyh in reply to Hidden]

I walk the dog 2x day say about 5 miles a day and do some leg exercises 3 times a week for arthritis now

[RufusScamp]

Trials seem to show that statins do not cause joint pains. I started getting them in my mid-60s, but was not on any medication. Cramp is a nasty one, but could have a variety of causes. My mother swore by tonic water as a cure, but that might interfere with some meds. Mention the pains and the cramp next time you have a review.

[JennyRx in reply to RufusScamp]

Don’t drink tonic water if you have Afib.

[Mentdent]

I developed joint pain but it was long before I started taking statins. There are plenty of other causes that should probably be eliminated before thinking of stopping statins.

[IsabellaHill50]

I started on Rosuvastin 18 months ago after angina diagnosis. Within a week I had bad joint pains toes, fingers, elbows and knees. I was then changed to Samsatin for 3 months then similar pains. I was then given Atorvastin to take every second day. Now taken this for 10months and tolerating this well. My cholesterol level has dropped from 5.5 to 3.5. All statins were 10mg. I have always had a low fat diet and out walking most days. I now have porridge most mornings. I am keeping well on Verapamil, Cloidigrel. Rarely need Nitrolingual spray. Hope this helps. Contact GP for advice regarding your statin. A change may help. Take care.

[benjijen]

I was on 40mg atorvastatin and could barely walk at times! I know plenty of people in my cardiac rehab class who also have muscle pains on statins. My GP changed mine to 5mg rosuvastatin and I still have some problems but far less and can function.

[Ewloe]

I’m on high dose statins. And missing brufen for arthritis as can’t take it anymore. They did a blood test and said it wasn’t my statins causing increased pain. Hope the blood test is an accurate marker for this. If so it’s useful.

[Qualipop]

There's an excellent video o n the BHF's website. I think it comes under "Live and kicking" where specialists discuss the perceived pain from statins. It is very rare to get pain unless you are on 80mg or more. I found it- Do watch it. youtube.com/watch?v=om7PnTd...(Not working as expected?) . Your dose is extremely small. I had my statin changed but for other reasons, not pain.

[Jlbrown in reply to Qualipop]

Thank you for sharing this link-really interesting particularly as I have just been prescribed statins & have got FH.

[Qualipop in reply to Jlbrown]

Yes I found it really helpful. They are the specialists. They explained it really well, especially about FH.

[Diligaf]

I had this with my feet. Would keep me awake for hours on end. Reported to the dr and was told there’s no link to statins (avostatin) so keep taking them so I carried on for a few more weeks until I was so tired I could barely function spoke to dr on phone (covid) she was adamant not the statin so I decided to just stop and hey presto a whole year of no pain and proper sleep no one will ever convince me to take them again would never advise any one to do what I’ve done but definitely get your dr to explore other options with you

[Suzyh in reply to Diligaf]

Spoke to my GP as I'm on 20mg rouvestatin she is reducing it to 10 for a month to see how it goes stopped taking any statins on Thursday till I start my new ones on Monday and pain is a little better

[Nks900]

My calf and thigh pains progressively worsen, together with excruciating foot cramps in bed at night; I had been on Atorvastatin for some months. It was quite a battle getting the GP to switch my statins. He did not believe that the statins was the cause - and the fact that most patients are prescribed Atorvastatin upon discharge by cardiac consultants, speak of its (Atorvastatin's) suitability and effectiveness. Maybe NHS-and-££-funding issue one thinks? Atorvastatin is amongst the oldest and cheapest statins in the pharma arena. Eventually he agreed to let me try Simvastatin; I will report back to him in 3 months. Already the pains and cramps episodes are reduced. I am happy for the time being.