leg cramps and body pain

[Devaprinters]

Hi all

Good morning

Just wanted to see if experience leg cramps and body pain if one is on Atorvastatin 20 mg medication. I have to get up at night to leg cramps.

would appreciate if there is something I can do to overcome this.

I do drink enough water during the day but still suffering from this.

Regards

[tfb99]

Hi D,

Have been on statins for a number of years, and increasing suffered from leg cramps at night, very painful and frequent. Following a change of doctor, have gone off the statins and within one week no leg cramps. There are other medications which do not have the side effects of statins, but check with your doc . It will likely depend on why they were prescribed in the first place. Wishing you the best

[Devaprinters in reply to tfb99]

Thank you for your reply

[Hrty]

Definitely have a chat with your GP. I've been suffering horrible leg pains which is almost statin related. I 've gone from 80mg to 40mg to 80mg and then 40mg of Atorvastatin. Had a go with 20mg of rosuvastatin but that made the pains worse so hsd to stop them. Currently on 20mg of atorvastatin to see how I get on and only if i tolerate that will we have another try at 40mg. If that doesn't work then other options will be looked at.

[Blearyeyed]

It is common to get muscle or joint soreness and night leg cramps or restless legs on statins.Some tips you can try include:

Drinking the recommended amount of water each day. This helps improve circulation and inflammation as well as improving nerve function in the lower arms and legs.

Take a nightly dose of Magnesium after dinner ( double check you are allowed this on your medications) . This reduces leg and muscle cramps, restless legs and pins and needles at night. A soothing magnesium based lotion rubbed into the feet and ankles before bed is also good.

A Vitamin D supplement can also be beneficial taken at the same time.

Raise your feet and ankles on pillows or raise the bottom of the bed . This improved circulation in the lower legs to reduce cramps and pain.

Move regularly through the day , even if it's just a few minutes if stretching and rotating your arm and leg joints or a little stroll about the house every hour. Improving the blood flow and strength of the joints reduces the aches and pains.

Again , if you can have it with your medication an Omega 3 supplement can help with joint care.

Finally ask your GP for some basic blood tests, these should be done as a good practice if you have a chronic health condition and take medication every 6 months , or every 12 months for Vitamin D, so you can request them.

Kidney Function / Electrolytes is especially important, just in case you have a Sodium or Potassium imbalance which does effect nerve and joint pain.

Also Vitamin D , Vitamin B 12 , Iron/ Ferritin, Full Blood Count and Folates. Deficiencies in these can happen when taking medications , like statins , PPis , NSAIDs and steroids among others even if you have a good diet and these increase symptoms of cramps , joint pain and fatigue.

Hope that helps , Bee

[Devaprinters in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thank you ever so much for your kind assistance

[peterjones105]

I am prone to leg cramps at night but keep them at bay with a stretching routine, the simple one of touching your toes whilst keeping your legs straight I find is effective; just a very few actions before turning in at night helps; it doesn't matter in the slightest if you are inflexible and can't touch your toes it is the mere action of stretching that should help to minimise the nocturnal leg cramps, very good luck

[Devaprinters in reply to peterjones105]

Thank you

[jopaly]

I’ve not had leg pain or cramps, but have had terrible pain in both arms from the elbow to hand,

I’ve been taking Atorvastatin 20mg for about 2 years. My GP stopped them earlier in the week, but so far the pain is still there. It’s like a combination of tennis and golfers elbow, making something as simple as picking a cup up difficult.

Hope you manage to find a remedy for your troubles, cramps are awful.

[Jedi14]

I have been on this medication for 4 months @40mg/day and have to continue it for whole year. I am looking out for body symptoms, changes, but none so far (except reduction in cholesterol).

[bludnut]

Hi, I hope that the leg cramps aren't severe or long lasting. I am on 80 mg of Atorvastatin, and do occasionaly get leg cramps which are very painful.I sometimes get them as I get into bed, and at times when I sit in one position for some time. It can take a while to stop them, but I find massaging the affected area and standing up and trying to walk helps me get rid of them. Unfortunately they can come on in my LEFT leg when I am driving, but having an automatic electric car means that I can pull over until the pain goes. The car incidents are not as bad as they used to be, so long may that continue. Hope you can sort it out, take care.

bludnut

[Devaprinters in reply to bludnut]

Thank you so much, I am not on high dosage as you, I am on 20 mg but I do struggle mainly at night. As times it is so severe and painful this obviously effects my sleep, and this happens almost every night.

Thank you for your advise much appreciated.

[Ellester]

Hi, suffered leg cramps, my muscles seemed too ache TERRIBLY. I decided to stop taking statins and within a couple of weeks I had no pains or leg cramps.I stayed off statins for 2 years and have been put on a alternative for one month to see if they work. I am on Ezetimibe.10mg. If these don't suit me there is a new drug

Available as an alternative to statins.

I would go ba k to your gp and try

These new drugs. Quality of life is very important.

Good luck.

[Devaprinters in reply to Ellester]

Thank you so much much appreciated

[Alceno3]

I take quinine tablets they work well for me

[Devaprinters in reply to Alceno3]

Can I buy these over the counter