Statin side effects

[Picasso652]

Hubby on statins following HA and stent fitted three years ago. Has been experiencing for last three months really bad thigh muscle pain and cramping. Reading the medical leaflet with his statin wondering if this is a side effect. He is on Rosuvastatin having been switched from Atorvorstatin about 18 months ago due to shoulder muscle pain.

[Hidden]

I was taking Simvastatin for over a year after having chest pains and began to get lower leg pains. Dr said to quit taking for a while to see if they go away and they did after 2 days. Also bad foot cramps at night? Anyways, I went off it 3 times and the leg cramps always stopped right away. Then I had a racing heat beats with fluttering for some reason (anxiety?) and was switched to the Rosuvastatin (5 mg) and have been taking it for last 2 months. I have not had any problems with it as yet.

[CDreamer]

Seems to be quite a common affect. I looked into the benefits of statins with my GP and decided they were a definite no for me but I haven’t got CVD.

[Hidden]

Dear Picasso652

Sorry to hear about your husbands suffering and as you have already found out, your husbands symptoms could be down to the statins.

I say could be as its a very common side effect of many drugs There are many forms of the statin drug as you are already aware of.

You need to talk to his GP/ Heart team and tell them your findings.

Above all let’s remember what a fantastic medication this this and the good it has done millions of patients around the world.

He will find one that suits him and hopefully that will lift your concerns.

Take care

[Wooodsie]

I was on simvastatin for a year or so, pain all over my body. Switched to rosuvastatin and pain went to shoulders only. Sounds mad, but I'm pleased with the result.

There have been many posts on here about statin side effects, the watch word seems to be keep swapping until you can find one that works for you, but give each one a good go before you give up.

When I first had statins, a colleague explained that they allowed her to eat chocolate, that helps me a lot 😂, out of all the 'maintenance ' drugs, I believe statins are the most important having read a lot of academical research, so I put up with side effects.

[Qualipop]

There are others to take. Each one can affect different people in different ways. Has he tried simvastatin? I couldn't tolerate atovastatin but simvastatin is fine. My husband was the opposite.. I'm sure there will be another he c an take.

[Hidden]

Hello

I had to go on a lower dose of my Statin which is Atorvastatin

I am not getting as much aching now even though some days I do but a lot better than the higher dose I was on

I am not sure what your Husbands Cholesterol levels are but if they are good it could be worth asking about a lower dose or even trying him on a different one again

It is not pleasant dealing with the aches and pains that some can get so I hope between himself and his Doctor they can find the right dose and statin to suite him x

[Maxyz3]

I can't take stations, they make my bones ache like they are broke...bad stuff!

[Hidden in reply to Maxyz3]

Me too. My body can’t tolerate statins … found out through trial and error. Because my cholesterol was way too high consultant has put me on Praluent … an injection used once a fortnight …. No excruciating pain now. As others have said it is trial and error until you find what works … you don’t need to suffer pain as well as heart disease

[Maxyz3]

I TAKE EZEBITIMIDE INSTEAD OF STATINS.

[Gigi1958 in reply to Maxyz3]

Hi Maxyz3

Just wondering if you have had any side effects with ezebitimide? I was given Atorvastatin after my HA which I changed to Rosouvastatin 5mg apprx 8 mths ago, but muscle and joint pains are getting worse and now suffering with headaches so I have stopped taking them. I was thinking about asking my GP for Ezebitimide.

Gigi

[Maxyz3 in reply to Gigi1958]

Hi Gigi..no side affects felt from taking Ezebatizide. I must admit I haven't faithfully been taking them. I can't tolerate any statins meds. Felt like my bones were broke taking stations. My body can't tolerate them.

[Gigi1958 in reply to Maxyz3]

Thank you for your reply Maxyz, I,ll have a think whether to give them a try. I was told by a pharmacist that if I don,t take statins i, m likely to have another HA or a stroke. But these muscle aches and joint pains. are awful to live with.

[Maxyz3 in reply to Gigi1958]

I don't know why anyone would scare you into taking something that doesn't agree with you and threghten you with what they said. That is so wrong!! Take the Ezatimide, it's your body and your decision . Not right to be forced into a med. Do what your comfortable with. The pharmacist was out of line , he doesnt know your medical history and remember he makes money of the meds. Maybe the statins pay them more. so unproffessional to tell someone the will have a heary a

[Gigi1958 in reply to Maxyz3]

Yes I suppose it was a strange thing to say, although I am a straight talker, so perhaps she thought it a good way to get her point across. I would prefer not to take any statins and thought of just watching what I eat instead. A lot of meds dont agree with me, to be honest i,m getting fed up of worrying about it all. I can,t tolerate the ACE inhibitors nor ARB,s either, so not much of an outlook for me i suppose.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Maxyz3]

A couple of points!

First pharmacists get around 90p per item for dispensing prescriptions.. The rest if their income comes from over the counter medicines (Paracetamol, Lemsip, Vitamins, etc.), cosmetics, toothpaste, etc. and anything else they choose to sell.

Secondly most statins are well out of parent and the generics are only around 1p per tablet.

Next besides reducing cholesterol statins reduce irritation often a precursor to plaque formation and also stabilise any existing plaque. Remember a ruptured plaque can cause a heart attack.

So the pharmacist was giving good advice as helping people increases job satisfaction. He definitely wasn't getting rich on it!

[Hidden in reply to Maxyz3]

Hi Maxyz3,

Just a reminder that content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between members and their doctor. Please avoid advising others to make changes to their medication, without speaking to a health professional first. Many thanks.

[Maxyz3 in reply to Hidden]

If your going off on me for saying how I feel on a Statin , then you had better tell the many others talking here to ! I thought this site was to share information?? I will be deleting this site!!

[Maxyz3]

Many people can't tolerate statins, I am one of them. Feels like my bones are broke. Get off statins, I take Ezabatimine. Not sure of correct spelling. There are alternatives to statins

[Lezzers in reply to Maxyz3]

Do you mean Ezetimibe? Do you know which brand you take?

[Heather1957 in reply to Maxyz3]

I take these AND 80 mg of Atorvastatin!! I don't have specific muscular issues but since my stents in October they changed my thinners and increased my statin from 40 to 80 and added Ezetimibe. I feel so tired all the time and have terrible breathlessness and find myself gasping for air.

I spoke to my cardiac nurse who said I should try and stick it out but after 6 months things haven't changed so I think it is time to see my GP and have a word about my meds. My other option is to make an appointment with the local pharmacist so we can look at the options.

[Lezzers in reply to Heather1957]

Ezetimibe is prescribed alongside statins. If it's prescribed on its own it's because the brand already has simvastatin included in the ingredients.

If you're getting breathless & gasping for air that should be treated as a medical emergency so I would ring 111 for advice.

Also, aren't you booked to go on a cruise soon? If so you do need to let your travel insurers know about any changes to health/medication before you go.

[Heather1957 in reply to Lezzers]

The breathlessness is a known side effect of my blood thinners Brilique (Ticagrelor) my Cardiac nurse is aware of the side effects and as I stated earlier she would like me to stick at them I don't think I will though so definitely NOT a medical emergency.

Yes I am going on a cruise in September but I am very lucky to be part of a group insurance scheme and unless 4 things apply (which they don't) I will be covered.

Thanks for the advice though, I was a frequent traveller pre 2020 and hopefully will get back to that soon, already planned 2 trips for next year so am very well up on my medical insurance.

[Lezzers in reply to Heather1957]

Ok, sorry just trying to be helpful!

[Heather1957 in reply to Lezzers]

I appreciate that I just wanted to answer your concerns.

The breathlessness is more annoying than frightening. I wake up at night with my mouth literally as dry as a bone where I have obviously been gasping. I have to quickly have a drink of water to hydrate again.

I have stuck at it for 6 months so am hoping the GP or Pharmacist will think that is long enough for me to revert back to Clopidogrel which never gave me any problems at all.

I thank goodness I chose to stick with my group insurance when I finished work as I would never be able to get as good travel insurance with anyone else. It only covers me until I am 70 so I want to get my monies worth!!

[Lezzers in reply to Heather1957]

Although, I still think gasping for air can't be right. The first thing my husband's nurse asks is do you gasp for breath, particularly at night!

[Heather1957 in reply to Lezzers]

It is the strangest thing, I do all the exercise at cardio rehab and have no trouble, another time I bent down to reach in to grab some make up remover pads in Boots and I have to take my mask off and gasp for air.

I actually researched the difference between blood thinners and this is what it says:

Dyspnea was also significantly higher with ticagrelor. I had to look up Dyspnea and it means gasping for air. It is one of the few medications I actually suffer with side effects from.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Heather1957]

This may help ?

nhs.uk/conditions/shortness...

nhs.uk/medicines/ticagrelor/

Antiplalets in the past used to be recommended for 12 months following a stent, this is now reduced to 6 months in some instances.

evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/s...

Breathlessness especially at night can be a sign of sleep apnoea.

However it's your call as to whether you are content to accept your breathlessness.

[Heather1957 in reply to Milkfairy]

I think the answer is - not anymore!! The side effects started after the first few weeks and the Cardiac nurse told me this usually wears off. A few weeks ago I told her I was still having problems and she sort of brushed it off and said I should try and keep with them.

Having read all the reports it sounds that Clopidogrel is as effective and I have stuck it out for 6 months so next week I am going to call the GP and ask for either a GP to call me back or the surgery Pharmacist. I am also going to ask if I can reduce the Statins too.

Someone posted they had the blood thinners stopped after a month which I thought was odd, but I think it is time for them to review my meds.

I wake up exhausted as I am waking up several times a night, they can't say I haven't tried to work with them.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Heather1957]

I agree, a medication review is required!Your quality of life is important as well. Changing to clopidogrel doesn't seem to be an unreasonable suggestion.

I am on clopidogrel for life, other than some spectacular bruises, in 10 years I've had no problems.

I don't sleep well either. It's exhausting.

[Heather1957 in reply to Milkfairy]

I too will be on Clopidogrel for life and my prescription says that I go back to it in September so it isn't as if I won't be taking any blood thinners.

I do feel the shortness of breath is down to the medication and nothing more sinister as it can't be related to doing anything physical and after a few gasps it settles down.

Not sleeping is exhausting, I often get out of bed as tired as when I get in.

I'll see how it goes next week, I have my physio review on Wednesday but I think that will be okay.