Sleep disorders with Atorvastatin 20mg

[Farnsworthgirl]

Hi I have been on Atorvastatin 20mg for almost two weeks now. My sleep pattern was bad before but its even worse now. I am up twice in the night for several hours at a time. I am 72 and just wondered if anyone had any problems with this. I am also on Folic acid and B12 so not sure which tablet is causing it or if its just me.

[Fanfab1]

hello

Sleep disorders are a common side effect of atorvastatin per BNF:

bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/atorv...

I have been on atorvastatin 20mg for a few years now but like you I have sleep issues and wake at least twice in the night but can often fall asleep within about 10 minutes but sometimes it’s a struggle to go back to sleep. For me they have been consistent pre and post taking atorvastatin.

As yours pre existed, maybe a discussion with GP would be good as something must have been causing your sleep issues before taking the med.

Alternatively they may be able to suggest an alternative as there are other statins.

Good luck, I know how much worse things are when we can’t get a good nights sleep.

Sorry forgot to say side effects can take time settle when start new meds, it can take a few weeks at least.

Good luck.

[Blearyeyed]

It may be worth asking if you can try a different statin with your GP .Atorvastatin is the first choice they prescribe mainly because of cost but it can have more side effects than others.

I changed from it to Crestor ( Rosuvastatin) and have not had the same side effects after it.

It can be a bit if trial and error finding the right statin for you. And it can take 6-8 weeks for milder side effects to settle down after your body has adjusted to any drug you are on.

I wouldn't have thought the B12 or Folic Acid would have caused more sleep problems, in fact they usually help to improve sleep, insomnia and night stiffness.

Hope you find what works for you, take care , Bee

[Jcdg]

Hi , I spoke to my Dr and she suggested taking it in the morning as I was having same issues , been taking it in the mornings for about 3 months now and it seems to work for me , have a chat with your Dr and see what they say , hope this helps , take care

[TeresaMay]

I have been on atorvastatin for many years with no problems. I am awake many times during the night but I put that on my age, in the 80s.

[Harvey28 in reply to TeresaMay]

Hello Teresa. I am on Atorvastatin. As others are saying, I too, but not all of the time, do not sleep well. Do you take your tablets at night or in the morning. I take mine at night so I am thinking maybe I should take during the morning. My thought being, could this be the cause of me waking up, and also occasionally aches and pains whilst in bed.

Many thanks, take care,

ChrisW

[TeresaMay in reply to Harvey28]

I take it just before going to bed, along with paracetamol for general pains I have. Incidentally I forgot to take my night tablets last night. I woke the same number of times but am suffering now possibly due to missed paracetamol!

[Harvey28 in reply to TeresaMay]

Thank you for you reply Teresa, and thank you everyone else for your thoughts too.

[Dj1962]

Hi..I'm on 80mg, and was advised to change to taking it in the morning, which helps, its worth asking the question..🤔

[adiwillow]

I've been put on 40mg of avorstatin recently. I can honestly say i've not noticed much difference in my sleep pattern, but i always have bad sleep. I can wake up to 10 times a night anyway sometimes.

[Somerford]

I’ve been on them for more than twenty years. 80 mg now. No sleep probs but muscles affected badly. I’m over 80 so can’t grumble.

[TasteLessFood4Life]

Hi,

I am currently on 40mg statin. In the first couple of days taking the statin - my body felt really weird and I was finding it really hard to sleep through the night. I thought - if I have to take this medicine for resy of my life - God help me!

On the first night - my body felt 'possessed' - it was like on electric charge with muscle aches all over the body but luckily that was on the first night only and consequently, my body has adopted and accepted the new medicine. I would say - stick it out in the short-term and if the adverse effects persist - speak to your GP. They might have a better solution for your case.

Good luck - as many say the risk/reward of taking statin far outweigh the risks.

[Bishermon]

Good evening,

If the statins are causing you not to sleep, you likely have cramp pains in legs, your body is reacting to the statin.

Please go back to your doctor or diabetic nurse and inform them of your issues, stop taking the statin, and ask to be placed on an alternative statin.

When the body reacts it's letting you know something is not right, for me I stopped taking the statins until the effects wore off, and went back to the doctors who did a test and found that I was allergic to statins, I now take an alternative supplement.

Please go back to your doctors

Best

Patrick