Cramps - simvastatin: I have been... - British Heart Fou...

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Cramps - simvastatin

Doggie123-UK profile image
5 Replies

I have been having bad cramping in my left hand for a while now, I ran out of simvastatin nearly a week ago, will be picking my new script tomorrow, and have found that the cramping has now stopped it may be coincidence I don't know, unsure now whether to stop statins altogether or to possibly take a tablet every other day.

Your advice/recommendations would be gratefully received.

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Doggie123-UK
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5 Replies
Happyrosie profile image
Happyrosie

can you discuss with your pharmacist?. Preferably the one employed at your doctors group of surgeries.

In my view cramp can be caused be several things and could be coincidental

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

Where statins cause pain 99.9% of the tome it is muscle aches and pains. I had this with Simvastatin but a change to Atorvastatin solved the problem. If there is still an issue the next one to try is usually Rouvastatin. Besides lowering cholesterol statins have other benefits such as reducing irritation a precursor to plaque formation and stabilising any existing plaque. It is also thought they also reduce the incidence of gum inflammation.

Bizarrely some people try and blame statins for the arthritis due to wear and tear over many decades previously.

I had issues with my left hand when a course of Ciprofloxacin affected the tendons.

For anyone reading with AHD (Arterial Heart Disease) frequent cramps in any leg or arm could be caused by PAD (Peripheral Arterial Disease) which was a contributory factor to the loss of my lower left leg which is a cause of the phantom pain keeping me awake right now! Diabetes and smoking (or having previously smoked) also make people more prone to PAD.

Class52 profile image
Class52

swop to rouvastatin the others cause issues as you describe and leg muscles pains too

Survivor1952 profile image
Survivor1952

Consult your GP and/or pharmacist.

Having said that I had problems with Atorvastatin and Simvastatin. After my OHS I’m now on Rosuvastatin and, after a year, have no issues with it.

Qualipop profile image
Qualipop

NO one on here can give that sort of advice. YOu need to talk to your GP and try a different statin.

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