I'm on my 3rd different statin due to very painful cramps. Currently on 20mcg of Rosuvastatin which has been fairly ok until recently. I'm now getting excruciating cramps in calves and toes at night.Never known pain like it!I'm taking magnesium tablets as read that could help but nothing really has improved.
Any help or advise welcome, thanks
So sorry to hear that, there is nothing worse than waking up with cramp in the night and not knowing how to deal with it. I used to get really bad cramp pains in my legs and feet when I first started taking statins. But I was recommended to drink tonic water which contains a small amount of quinine. You can buy it from all the major supermarkets, low calorie and flavoured. I drink a small glass each morning and before bed which has really reduced the problem. Another idea is to put a bar of soap preferably lavender under your bottom sheet, I am doing this too now though no idea how it works. When I occasionally do get it I find standing on the cold tiled bathroom floor holding on to the sink helps relieve it . Hope you get some relief soon.
I have tried several statins over the years but have now started having inclisiran injections as I am eligible. Had first one two weeks ago with no adverse reaction. Leg cramps etc having certainly reduced dramatically since stopping statins.
Dear Dossy
Sorry to hear about your disturbed sleep , there is nothing worse than a bad night and the way it effects your day to day living.
You need to talk to your Drs about this, but in the meantime have you tried soaking in magnesium? I found it really good for restless leg syndrome , we tend to forget that skin is our biggest organ and happily will soak up water + .
You might find { like me } that the magnesium went to the muscles and nerve ends quicker this way.
I really hope that you get sorted soon
Thanks for your reply. I have spoken to my doctor and the brand of statins have been changed 3 times so I guess that there's not much she can do to help! Thanks for your suggestion about the magnesium.
hello what form does the magnesium come in and where do you get it please. I purchased a magnesium spray from health shop but it is so oily and messy, also some tablets which I’m a bit worried about trying !!!!
Hello to you, I use the flakes from Holland & Barrett called Westlab, but loads of others are available , hope it helps you
Sorry you're having such awful leg cramps, I know how painful they can be. I'm aware that statins can cause cramps as they affect the muscles, so its important you discuss the dose etc with your doctor.
For me the remedy was primarily magnesium.
You don't say how much magnesium ( or the type) you are taking. That may need adjusting . Topical magnesium be very helpful. ( as someone has pointed out the skin absorbs the magnesium), You can do this with a warm (not hot) Epsom salts bath, or the easiest way is to use a topical magnesium spray. I found this very helpful. Simply spray and massage into your legs at night.(chemist or online will have) Another thing I've found helpful is homeopathic Mag Phos. You can get Mag Phos 30c in the shops, but it may be worth consulting a good homeopath who can subscribe a higher potency or even a more personalised remedy. Can be extremely effective. And of course stay hydrated. Hope that helps. Good luck
I stopped Statins a few years ago which helped the cramps for a while. But I developed even more excruciating pain in mostly my calfs at night in bed when I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. I'm sure that's not your problem but the pain is. I also go to toilet 2-3 times a night and after I've been I always do leg stretching exercises as well as doing them before bed. I also use Deep Freeze spray and found that to relieve symptoms rather than cream given by Dr on prescription or the Deep Freeze cream. One drawback is the spray doesn't smell good and I use it in another room not bedroom but it does give quick relief from the pain. Now the pain is worse than just cramp, the muscle goes hard and rigid, it makes me cry at times, I get up quickly when it happens and rub it many times before using spray and exercising. It can give me a painful leg next day and walking helps although it can be sore.
The calf stretch is the regular one I do at night when I go to toilet whether in pain or not, see: mayoclinic.org/healthy-life...
(The other exercises shown are good for daytime.)
So for prevention:
Drink enough liquid-water best (I'm on 2litre a day liquid restriction).
Yes tonic water may help.
Don't sit too long or stand in one position.
Do the calf stretches every night before bed. Rub and massage leg.
Use Deep Freeze spray before bed too.
Haven't tried Magnesium yet but bath with Epson Salts is helpful too. And haven't tried soap under my sheet either but will try.
Hope these tips can be of some help to ease your pain.
hi I’m on simvastatin having tried 2 others l get cramps and some one suggested CoQ-10 I get mine from holland and Barrett
I’ve been taking it for about 12 months and it seems to work but we are all different
I’ve also seen it mentioned on the nhs site
Hope it gets better
I'm sorry I have no advice to offer, but want to thank you for sharing your experience. I was having painful cramps like you, so I stopped taking the atorvastatin. After four days, cramps all gone. But the cardiac nurse wants me to try something else instead and I am fearful of getting those cramps again!!
After my heart attack my Atorvastatin was increased from 40mcg to 80, then I tried Simvastatin but leg cramps still really painful, then changed to Rosuvastatin which seemed ok at first but not now. The problem with stopping taking Statins is I stand the risk of another heart attack so I feel I have no option but to continue taking them.The leg cramps are unbearable even though they may last for for only 2-3 minutes. Maybe you should ask your doctor to prescribe a different brand to see if that helps.
Thankyou Dossy for taking the time to reply to me. My cardiac nurse mentioned ezetimibe and I'm going to discuss this with my doctor. You could look it up. Meanwhile I can only sympathise with you and all of us with statin cramps. ❤
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