Atorvastatin and bowel discomfort

[JPCoetzee]

I take Atorvastatin 80mg for CVD, I had a stent in January 2023. My non-HDL cholesterol is well-controlled at 1.6 mmol/L. When CVD was diagnosed I also radically changed my diet.

I'm getting frequent discomfort and my bowels feel full all the time. I can poo if I push hard and my poo looks normal. It feels as if my bowels are full but peristalysis has stopped. I read that this is a common side effect of Atorvastatin.

Has anyone had this experience then swapped to a different statin with any success?

many thanks

[Blearyeyed]

I already had IBS and bowel dysmotility from other health problems before I was prescribed Atorvastatin for my heart and Familial Hypercholesterolemia.So obviously , I was a little wary these symptoms might get worse for me.

I tried Atorvastatin for about six weeks but as I expected my gut motility did get worse.

My OH is Type 1 Diabetic and he had been put on Crestor , generic name, Rosuvastatin. I asked if I could try that instead and the side effect hasn't been as bad .

Since then I have read some studies which concluded Rosuvastatin was more effacious than Atorvastatin with milder side effects so that gave me peace of mind.

But every case is different, what is a cure for one may be a curse to another , so obviously you need to work with your GP to find the statin that works best for you.

Because I also have FH I also get a medication called Ezetimibe. Sometimes this is prescribed for people that can't tolerate or have severe side effects to statins, or , as with people like me, it's taken alongside the statin you are prescribed. You usually try a number of the other statins first before this is prescribed.

There are different statins that you can try if you find too many side effects on what they call the " first line" or most commonly prescribed brand , it's worth discussing it with the GP. The BHF website also has a list of the various statins available that you can ask about.

Changes in your diet and exercises can also help with the feeling of fullness and bowel movement . Walking and gentle stretching helps.

You can also do Kegel exercises which strengthen and improve your bowel muscles and make it easier to "go" without using as much force.

If you look up the Bladder and Bowel Community website online , tap on bowel resources, and go to the pelvic floor exercises page there is a Male or Female specific exercise sheet for you to download. These exercises are simple to do anywhere , a few times a day.

They also have resources about changing diet for better bowel health. They are approved and recommended by the NHS.

Using an anticlockwise massage on your stomach with the base of the palm of your hand starting at your belly button and working in expanding circles , 2-3 times at once , a couple of times a day can also help movement and reduce the feeling of fullness. This is called peristaltic or abdominal massage, I find this gives me relief.

I find increasing the soluble fibre but eating less insoluble fibre reduces the fullness and bloating and helps easy transit.

Drinking more water each day , especially while eating is also a good trick , as is eating less saturated fats and reducing the portions of red and processed meat during a week while eating a good variety of vegetables.

It is also worth getting a regular blood test ( 3-6 months) checking your Vitamin B12 , Folates and Iron levels while taking a statin because statins can reduce how much of these nutrients we absorb. Very low levels or Deficiency in these can add to digestive and heart related symptoms and cause more intestinal symptoms so it's worth checking an eye on them in case you need more of the nutrients or a supplement to help .

Hope you find what works for you and these tips help , take care , Bee

[HarryJ81]

I had a stent in April and was moved from 20mg to 80mg of Atorvastatin.

I’ve not noticed any difference in my bowels because of the statin - but I also radically changed my diet and that did affect my bowels. I’m much more protein and much less carbs/fat now.

Perhaps your diet change is the reason?

[Mitchum]

I was on Simvastatin for years and then, like many others, I was swapped to Atorvastatin (cheaper). It had an immediate effect on my bowels and I demanded to return to Simvastatin and luckily for me, they agreed.

[pasigal]

I have had the same issue, assume its the statin (80 mg atorvastatin plus 10 mg ezetimibe). I take psyllium husk every two days (1 tablespoon, or about 5 grams) and it helps...sometimes too much! I was taking it daily but it gave me intense cramps and that horrible pre-diarrhea feeling. Maybe too much information but as you say, the digestive difficulties are very uncomfortable.

[heart_surgery]

I have inflamed lower bowel either side of my pelvic girdle. I have diverticulosis or diverticules which are little pcokets in the wall of the bowel, this has been troubling me for some years... Now I'm thinking this may be a side effect of Atorvastatin that I've been taking for years. Maybe I should talk to my GP, I have been unable to find a solution to this uncomfortable condition for many years.

[sevilla315]

Yes after my attack and starting drugs I had bad constipation whereas I was regular as clockwork previously. My brother who was the same after his attack and drugs said to try psyllium supplements and they have helped but do add a lot of bulk to your movements.

[sevilla315]

Another thing, the atorvastatin made me move into pre-diabetic range, I googled this and its a recognised side effect.