Hi I have been on statins since having my HA in late August in Turkey on holiday. I was put on Turkish drugs and apart from fatigue I was fine on these.
I have since been on Atorvstatin 80mg but I have suffered really badly with aching legs and arms. I spoke to GP and they changed me to a lower dose of simvastatin 40mg. This has changed the side effects to actual muscle spasms and pins and needle feelings in my hands, reduced strength and really bad lower back pain on a morning, it takes me around 20 mins to get up!🙄 I’m only 40 years old and these symptoms are really getting me down! I’m currently at cardio rehab and the nurse said I might be averse to statins but I am really anxious if they take me of them I am at a higher risk of another HA in the future.
I just wanted to know if anyone else has suffered with extreme symptoms and what their GP suggested for you? I’ve been trying to get into Gp all week and will continue next week to try! I’m going back to work next week and was really hoping to be sorted with my medication by now 😞 TIA
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Hjb83
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HiI'm sorry you're going through so much. Statins are horrible little monsters BUT if they stop you having further heart events they're worth the side effects.
I couldn't tolerate Atorvastatin and was put on Rosuvastatin. I'm now on maximum dose. I do get cramps now and again but blood tests show they're not affecting my muscles. Maybe that's one to try?
I've also been offered an injection to lower my cholesterol. I'm waiting to see the endocrinology dept. (My cholesterol is still too high)
I do think your body gets used to statins over time so it's worth sticking with the side effects but I would definitely explore other ones as you're really suffering.
Thank you for your advice 🙂 I did stick with the atorvostatins from Sept-Dec but I was utterly miserable constant aching! I’ve only been on the simvastatins around a month now these are half the strength and not constant pains but quite servere cramps in my legs which leave aching sensations for days! Like I say I guess it’s just trial and error til we find the best treatment 😬 x
Give it another couple of weeks to allow your first ones to get out of your system and for the simvastatin side effects to wear off then try rosuvastatin which has far fewer side effects. If that still causes problems there are alternatives to statins. I'm glad you see the need for them. They don't j ust reduce cholesterol build up, they also stabilise it so bits don't break off. My husband gave up after the first week of tablets, wouldn't change them and decided they were all evil even though his cholesterol is sky high and he's diabetic. Atorvastatin and I didn't get on at all but simvastatin is fine. I suffer from chronic pain anyway and thought they'd made it worse but my GP took me off them for a month to check and it made no difference to my pain so I continue to take them. I've already had a heart attack- don't want another.
hi I had lower back pain when I started same drug and spoke to my gp who said that it takes a while for body to adjust to tablets. It did ease off after a few weeks and now I don’t have a problem but think it best to talk to GP as we are all different.
Hi, I couldn’t tolerate Atorvastatin so changed to Rosuvastatin which I find much better. Cholesterol still too high so have started injections of Inclisarin, no side effects at all! Don’t know results yet as not had blood test but apparently no one has side effects bar redness round injection site and I didn’t even get that! It’s supposed to halve your cholesterol.
Hi thanks for your reply 🙂 I have been looking at the alternatives just so I’m informed when I do get a Gp appointment 🙄 I didn’t have any high cholesterol readings before my HA I had blood tests in May and it was 3.2 heart attack in August my reading with the statins is now 3.7 in December I think they may just be too strong for me! But in my head I worry without them being so young to have a heart attack that I won’t survive another event! 😭 I’m quite an overthinker as you can probably tell!🤦♀️ good to know you have minimal side effects with alternatives I’m sure it’s just trial and error. 🙂 x
Oh mine just says HDL 2.7 and Non HDL 1.0 when I look at them on the NHS App it doesn’t show LDL levels. Sounds like you had a similar problem as me too having your HA away from home. It was crazy trying to get support at first 😕 x
I'm currently on 20mg of atorvastatin as the high doses of 80mg and 40mg caused me problems. Tried rosuvastatin but that made things worse. Talked it over with cardiologist and practice pharmacist and they are happy with me on this lower tolerated dose for the moment. When I asked about recommended doses they both said ot's the maximum dose I can tolerate. There haas been talk of adding Ezetimibe as an addition or alternative but cardiologist said to hold fire on that for the time being as my cholesterol levels are quite low as of last blood test. I did stick with the higher doses for a while but things didn't settle and if anything got worse. I came off them for a while and then reintroduced the lower dose to see how I got on. I can tolerate 20mg but 40mg caused problems to resurface. Sadly, not all of us an tolerate statins. Always best to discuss the alternatives with your Cardiologist, GP or practice pharmacist.
Thanks for your reply, I guess it’s an on going journey of trial and error and comforted to know I’m not the only one! After so much adjustment you just want to take your tablets and feel normal! It’s draining feeling so achy, I describe it as like the flu but without the cold! I was just putting up with it all but it is making me quite miserable and that’s just not me! I’m glad the cardio nurse suggested it was the statins as I would never have thought they could make you feel so weak! Ive never had a high cholesterol reading even before my HA. Do you have regular appointments with your cardiologist? As I had my HA and stent in Turkey I have never met mine! I tell myself that’s good and I must be recovering well!
I was really lucky with the cardiologist who was on duty for my inital post HA angiogram. I've seen him quite a few times as he is very keen on follow-up aftercare, supports the local rehab centre and takes time to explain things to both me and my wife. He recognised that I was struggling emotionally. He has moved me to patient-led aftercare which basically means I'm to get in contact with him if I need support. Aftercare does seem to vary greatly across the country and, as I found out, even at local level. I had to have a second angiogram in the summer and the cardiologist who saw me on the ward after was awful. Decided to up my atorvastatin back to 80mg in spite of my really low readings . After a few days on that I was feeling awful and really down. My wife rang the cardiology dept and he basically said he'd dealt with me and to take up any problems with the GP. Thankfully, he was more empathetic. Agreed to reduce me to 40mg and referred me to Mind to help with the emotional.problems Ive been having. Unfortunately, 40mg was too much so I contacted GP again and they arranged a review with the practice pharmacist and we ended up with coming off statins for a month and reintroducing them gradually. My regular cardiologist endorsed this as a sensible approach.
I had my HA on holiday in Cornwall so had stents in Plymouth. I’ve never seen a cardiologist, didn’t get cardio rehab (full) but thankfully at least have seen a heart nurse at Harefield 2 years on! Felt very neglected and anxious and still do a bit!
I had such a bad reaction to Atorvastatin that doctors would not let me try any other statins (despite that being my preference). I am now on Ezetimibe and Inclisiran so there are alternatives. Personally I would have preferred a statin because the evidence is quite clear that they reduce your risk of further HA and death. Ezetimibe has quite a good evidence base when used with statins, but less data for use on its own. Inclisiran clearly reduces cholesterol, but is too new for evidence on overall mortality. However, if you cannot tolerate statins there are other drugs. Best wishes.
i was on atorvastatic and after 2 years suddenly got leaden legs. So came off statins for a while which made my legs better. I am now on rosuvastatin which does not seem to affect my muscles. So it seems we all have different reactions to different statins. Best of luck in getting it sorted.
hi Hjb. Yes I did suffer with statins. Although I didn’t know it was those that were causing me problems. I also had severe diarrhoea.
My HA was 2020 during lock down so getting medical attention was difficult almost impossible.
I became quite weak weight fell off me, doctors had been told several times ,nothing was done apart from lowering the stomach protector tablet.
I eventually got to see a locum who was brilliant she actually listened . I had a blood test which showed that I was severely allergic to statins. She rang ne and told ne to stop them immediately. I am now taking Esetimibe a different but less effective means of lowering cholesterol.
I have stopped worrying about it too much . I am sure my cholesterol is in my family genes as it is with so many of us. What will be will be . I try to keep to a good diet eat very little meat , mostly fish . I have cut out pasta and all pastry based products. Mainly vegetables cooked fresh, hardly any dairy products and changed to soya milk.
I had the same sort of symptoms as you on Atorvastatin and Simvastatin. My medication was changed to Pravastatin, but that was just as bad, so my GP prescribed Ezetimibe. That didn't cause me any issues, but didn't help lower my cholesterol either. I was referred to the pathologist at the local hospital who persuaded me to try Rosuvastatin and after a difficult headachy start, I now have no issues with it.
I hope you can get the right medication to suit you.
I started to get aches in my legs after a new prescription was filled. Turns out that the statin was the same but the manufacturer was different. We went back to the old manufacturer and the aches went away. Go figure.
Was changed from Atorvastatin to lower dose rosuvastatin and I can now actually walk!! Don't be fobbed off. They always try the cheapest pills first which I suppose is understandable.
Hi im on atorvastin and ezitembe ,as my cholestorol was high poor diet no exercise, but go no side effects that i can think off , but they worth having as my LDL is now 1.4
Sorry to hear this. When I had my HA in April 23 I was put on statins and then told they can make my FMS worse. Causing pain and aches, like you seem to be getting. My specialist said they may need to change to Atorvastatin (not sure if that is spelt right). Maybe this is something you could ask about - statins and betablockers make you feel crap and sluggish but I am like you have to look at the positive in taking them. Hope you get it sorted.
I've had problems with both Atorvastatin and Simvastatin in the past.
When I was in hospital post HA they started me on Ezetimibe and then, post OHS, Rosuvastatin. That was 7 months ago and I've not had any issues since. Cholesterol levels are right down too.
I have had the same problem, but there are alternatives. Don’t spend your time worrying, as stressing yourself does not help.
The G.P will work it out for you. It just means you need adjustments or an alternative.
I was on Atorvastatin for four years before I started getting side effects, I had a few adjustments and now I take an injection twice a year instead, so far all is well.
I started on Atorvarstatin 80mg. Gave me constipation. Was changed to Simvastatin, and eventually reduced to 40 mg. I've had aching legs in bed in the morning, but had put it down to neuropathy I have in my feet, but could be the statin. I don't really like statins, but am getting used to it. I haven't had a HA, but have other issues, so have been prescribed several medications, statin and an aspirin.
I had tried taking statins pills and they all gave me horrible side effects and then endocrinologist put me on Repatha injections, which I inject every two weeks and no more cramps actually, no side affects at all.
I'm taking 80mg Atorvastatin now. But when I first started on this dose, I had ridiculous muscle aches, I couldn't turn my neck, it was awful. I got reduced to 40mg for a few months then, after I have my stents installed, I was put back on 80mg. I now take 600mg of Co-enzyme Q10 to counteract the side effects. It works really well for stopping the cramps and pins and needles. Statins deplete CoQ10 from your cells so you do need to replenish it.
My husband had horrific cramps when he was taking a certain statin medication. He had a chat with his doctor and they changed him on to another one and this one seems to be side effect free. Maybe you could ask for a medication review?
Yes I was told to take them on a night so I have for around 8 weeks! But that’s when I am getting really bad cramps now while I’m asleep!😬 and during exercise my leg muscles feel so tight! I’ve been to GP today and they have changed them again so hopefully onwards and upwards! 🤞 x
I was on Atorvastin 80mg and suffered bad left leg cramps. My Doctor put me on Resuvastatin 5mg and I also started taking small amount of Magnesium as Epsom salts and Potassium as Spirulina. No more leg cramps now.I was also offered the injections to reduce bad cholesterol. There seems to be a bit of a hiatus over this. The Pharmacist at my Doctor's rang me and suggested increasing Resuvastatin to 10mg, which I have, with a blood test after a couple of months to see if this brings down the bad Cholesterol to the new NICE guidelines. If not, I will try the new injections.
I have altered my lifestyle to reduce stress as much as possible since my heart attack in May 2017. Thankfully no cardiovascular pain since, though my wife calls the thin-blood-induced lethargy laziness! Probably some truth in that.
Thank you for the advice I have been put on resuvastatin 20mg today but first a weeks break. I have tried to reduce stress to but that has been easy being in the sick! Back to work this week and I am going to try not to stress as much difficult in a critical industry! How ever even today my first day back I have enjoyed winding down taking our young dog for a walk he has been my recovery buddy and really helped mentally! Any other stress busting tips are welcomed (apart from selling the kids and skipping the country) 🤣🤣 Thank you for the advice x
Don't know if this would work for you but within two months my dad lowered his cholesterol to under the stated limits by eating a big bowl of oatmeal (not the instant kind, the real kind) every morning. No sugar, just a little fresh fruit, either peaches, pears, berries, whatever was available). That was quite literally the only change he made, and he made it because he wanted to avoid statins and their many ill effects. (Then again his ancestors are from Scotland, so maybe that's why he reacted well---it's the ancestral food. But it really worked. )
it sounds like you are having unpleasant side effects of statins. My cardiologist said to stop them for three weeks to see if they improved as I was having aches in my feet and ankles. They did so they tired another statin but the same thing happened. Now I am thinking its odema from a blood pressure medication.
I suggest trying a short break and seeing if it improves. There are other altermatives if you cannot tolerate them.
Thank you ☺️ I have been to the GP tonight finally got an appointment! He has changed to this one at a lower dose of 20mg. I will see how I get on with these ones. Thank you all for advice again ❤️
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