Wanted to check with any of you with experience of atorvastatin ,I've been getting lots of muscle pain in my arms and legs & I'm assuming it's the statin. Have any of you changed to a different one & did it help ?
Atorvastatin : Wanted to check with any... - British Heart Fou...
Atorvastatin
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Helly75
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Hello, how long have you been taking them ?.Myself I am unaware the affects of them as lying in bed
Since the end of may I think
Muscle and joint aches and pains are a side effect of statins which can affect a minority of users. If it is affecting your quality of life, speak with your prescribing health professional (your GP??) who should be able to offer you an alternative statin, of which there are several which may not have the same side effects (e.g. rosuvastatin seems to be a popular alternative to atorvastatin). But if you turn out to be statin intolerant due to side effects and need to take medication to manage your cholesterol, there is other medication available which should be offered to you.
Thank you ,it wouldn't be me to get the side effects ,just waiting on a call from a GP now
Hello 
I am on this statin and never tried any other one at first they put me on 80mg and I was getting terrible pains etc I could not cope they reduced the dose to 40mg and I seem to be ok , cholesterol is fine on 40mg and I get a bit of joint aches but nothing I cannot cope with
Hope everything else is ok with you it has been a while since I have seen you posting x
Thinks have been rough! I had a near fatal heart attack end of may & went into cardiac arrest after the stent was fitted, been in & out of hospital since then ,there's been a lot of tears as you can imagine x
Hello
I am so sorry to hear this I can imagine how you are feeling it must have been so frightening and yes I can imagine the tears I would be crying a river literally
You dont have to say but the trips back and forth to the Hospital since all this I hope they have been false alarms
If you ever want to talk always here to listen x
Mostly yes but at least I'm being listened to ,just very unfortunate that wasn't the case beforehand, thank you for that ,I'm quite afraid of traumatising people with my story though x
Hello
Well I am glad to hear you are been listened to that is something and I have looked at your posts now and cannot believe I missed them which I did
Don't worry about traumatising people we have a choice to read or not to and you need help and support just as much as everyone else does and this is what we are here to try and do support each other x
Thank you , I think you might have been taking a break from the site at that time , it's really the only place that others can understand isn't it ! X
Hello
Yes it is and even though I would not wish anxiety on anyone I know there are more of us now that suffer especially after or with these heart issues so it does help so much to know we are not alone and others understand and you are not alone x
I'm so scared now ,afraid of going to sleep every little twinge is terrifying, I'm scared to be alone or go out by myself & don't know how I'm gong to get over it , feel sad all the time too but I've been like that since I first became unwell 6 years ago , throw in a bit of perimenopause and that's a great recipe lol 😆
Hello
I know exactly how you feel as you know since my heart attacks and now 3 years since I had my Bypasses I still react just like you every little twinge I stop and my mind goes into over time and it really is an awful way to be and as much as I have tried I am still struggling but this is very early days for you and I am not sure if you can get Counselling even though I have found phycologists better to try and support you
Luckily I have gone through the menopause however I still think I get the symptoms and I had to go through it without any HRT to help as I was advised with my High Blood pressure and heart attacks in my family they would not advise it and goodness it has been hard and that does mess your emotions up to
I feel sad everyday but what I try and do is take each day as it comes so if one day is really bad I do my best to get through it the next might be a bit better and so I make the most of it and so on I also try and not think to far ahead
Don't hold it all in talking and getting out can be the best thing we can do
Let us know how you get on x
My cholesterol is very low it has always been so. My good Chokesterol is only 3 and my bad is 1.5. I actually take statins because I have Periphorol Ararterial Disease (PAD) in my legs, as it has been found to help that condition I would agree. I originally started on Atorvastatin but after several month had the symptoms you have had so had to come off them. For the past couple of years I have been taking Simvastatin with absolutely no side effects. Hope this helps.
Bless you I know exactly how your feeling, I’ve had triple bypass, cardiac arrest, pacemaker now in heart failure, so it isn’t easy and like you I hate being alone when I don’t feel good and as for going off on my own that’s the worse luckily I have my car.
Please come on here and talk to us don’t bottle your fears up you’ll soon learn we’re nearly all feeling the same as you and happy to chat to reassure you take care,and if there’s a Guinness book of records for crying it’s mine 🤗
Problem is when you have osteoarthritis, I think it makes it worse! My fingers were stiffer and my feet ached also my left calf muscle was often in agony! Statins do not agree with me at all 👌
I too am riddled with arthritis from the neck down ,my knees & feet got particularly bad after starting the statin
Well I would tell that my doctor and leave this medication away! It seems to make you feel worse then better Helly 👌
Hello
For some who have other health conditions Statins don't always agree with them x
Yes I know, but heart attack and was on that stuff! Developed vascular disease in my legs, had Doppler Test and MRI Scan BeKind 👌Got blocked femoral artery 6 inches and another blockage under my knee in the left leg!
But I was told it's not bad enough so nothing was done!
It affects me daily when walking especially outside, when it aches my calf and I can't walk as fast as I used to any more! It's so mega annoying 👍 Activities I loved doing are more tiresome now! I loved to go walking and biking! Slower pace now 😥
Even if I needed statin at the beginning after my wotsit, I disagree that you have to take it lifelong 👌
Change of diet, try activity at home, on your bed, sitting in a chair or exercise bike! That's what I do now mostly! Just been ill with a chest infection for 5 weeks, and lack of sleep made me groggy! But taking antibiotics since Monday and feeling so much better now! Life 👍🙏
Hello
Sorry to hear what you are going through and I know now you have to go slower doing things but hope you can still enjoy yourself despite everything
Antibiotics always make me feel rough to but glad you have finished the course and feeling so much better
Regarding Cholesterol and meds I am also glad you have found what works for you but for me I am going to keep doing what my Doctor suggests and take the statins prescribed as that is what I feel I should do
Take Care x
If it's agreeing with you then carry on BeKind 👌, but my chesty cough was very troublesome and keeping me up at night coughing! Also to the point of nearly being sick quite often! Trust me it isn't fun 👍Today is actually the first day where my chesty cough is really more easing! And I do hope it will improve from now on 👍🙏
Hello
I hope it continues to improve for you to x
Yes so do I dearest 🙏🩷
hi I’m on atorvastatin I do get muscle pain / cramps and some joint pain but I’ve not related the two because it relieves at rest and tends to affect my right leg more than left. so I accept it as might not be the statin. I would expect the muscle pain to be at rest as well if med related but that’s just my personal thoughts / no scientific evidence!
But atorvastatin keeps my cholesterol in very good check.
Hope you find an alternative.
Are your vitamin/ iron levels ok per blood test? Just something to rule out.
👍
The pain is also happening at rest but I feel like I'm just assuming it's the meds aswell . Spoken to the gp my cholesterol was perfect before the heart attack & still is apparently
what does he think the pains are down to?
She's just halved to dose to see if it goes away & doing some bloods on Tuesday for kidneys & liver
It’s good they looking into it. Hope the half dose works for you. Sometimes feels like just one thing after another!
Why give you statins when your cholesterol levels are good Helly! Sorry I don't get that! All I can say if you still get pains, tell GP that you don't want to take them any more 👌 I had to do that as it was affecting the quality of my life 👍
But just read you had a cardiac arrest earlier this year!
So please do what's is right for you Helly 🙏
For your info, current UK medical guidance is that statins are prescribed for anyone who has had the misfortune to have suffered a heart 'event' even though their cholesterol appears to be within the norms. If you are finding that cholesterol medication comes with side effects that significantly affect your quality of life, and you get to the point where it becomes too much for you, you will then have to balance that against any perceived increased heart health risk that will occur should you decide to stop, with the input from your GP of course. But hopefully it won't get to that stage. 👍
It's takes a year for your heart to heal after a heart attack and presume after a cardiac arrest! But then medication should be checked if its really still necessary by regular blood tests. 👌 And also blood pressure tests! I know that exercise gentle or a bit more keeps your health in a balance! If you don't do anything at all and you also have a bad diet then well cholesterol definitely will rise again!
I feel I can't just rely on doctors only but do my own research on respectable medical sites like medical news....
Some other websites go just bla bla bla! I am very careful what to believe 👌
If something weren't right with me altogether I would be mega persistent and pest my doctor for a consultant referral every day until he does 👌👌👌🙏
I am on 40mg of atorvastatin after stents my cardiologist raised the dose from 10mg straight to 40mg he said it would protect me from a heart attack and plaque build up now my LDL is 1.7 I don't have any pain anymore my body just got used to it.
That's what I was hoping for ,I was just accepting it but my arms and legs are so sore it's awful ,and because a lot of my pain was in my arms during my heart attack & with myocarditis it's a we bit scary
Try not taking it for a couple of weeks to see if it's the statins causing the problem ,it could be something else causing your painful arms and legs.In the early days I blamed statins on body pains and stopped and started them several times but now years later I don't think they were the cause at all
I’ve been on 80 mg atorvastatin for many years now and I’ve noticed the muscle pains in my legs and arms they come and go , not sure if it’s work related or a change in the weather
I think because I was put on so many meds at one time I can't be sure that the statin is the problem & I've been chronically unwell for 6 years so could just be my body just throwing a new pain at me for a laugh 😃
I am sorry that you are suffering from aches and pains known side effects. It must be awful. If I remember correctly all statins cause side effects you mentioned. However it has been reported Atorvastatin produce the least untoward effects. The next best option would be diet which has least amount of saturated fatty acids, triglycerides and your G.P. or cardiac specialist would choose non -statin drugs.
Dr has halved the dose to see how I get on & checking my bloods on Tuesday
Statins are generally benign in their effects but we are all different. What other meds are you taking, as individually or collectively they could be having an effect.
The weather is also a big factor as is diet, weight and exercise.
All the usual suspects , blood thinners x 2 ,bisoprolol ,the statin & stomach tablet , I'm worried I'm just assuming it's the statin & it's not but I'm getting checked out
I agree that makes sense 👍
Hi there are plenty of others so if not happy then get changed! This one is the main starin used as cheapest but this one affected my liver,you should have 3 monthly blood tests on any statin
I'm on atorvastatin and lansoprazole and I'm sure your supposed to have blood tests now and then but when I approached my doctors the receptionist said the last time I had a blood test for something else it was ok but I'm concerned because was the blood test on the liver or not or just a blood test and they have never bothered about checking my blood or liver before, and when I enquire it's just brushed aside
Do you do drs online? Atorvastin is known for liver problems and apparently the levels can go over normal and liver can cope but I wasn't prepared to have risk of anything so changed them and have said if this one affects my liver then stopping it
Yes I do ask online as that's what they ask for then you get a reply saying you had a blood test for some other reason in the past, so no they don't check liver function as a mater of course, so now I've stopped them, they won't do the job properly so I'm not taking that risk short sighted I know but what's my option
Getting my liver & kidney function checked on Tuesday along with ck levels for muscles
I posted about my change from artovastatin (80mg) as I had a list of side effects . But if a journey but I ended up on 10mg Rosuvastatin . If you use the search facility you’ll find my previous posts and what happened. I felt awful on artovastatin, stopped for nearly two months and felt fantastic. No option of lower dose. Tried pravastatin and symptoms came back within a week. Had support from pharmacist.
Yes, yes and yes. I don’t tolerate Atorvastatin or Simvastatin. I’ve been taking Rosuvastatin since my OHS 15 months ago and no issues so far.
I'm going to trial a lower dose & then speak to cardiologist see what they think about changing it
I'd suggest just requesting to change to Rosuvastatin first , don't muck about trying to lower the dose with Atorvastatin.Atorvastatin is the first offered statin probably because it is the cheapest but it's also the statin that most commonly causes side effects.
I had some pain and tummy troubles.
Rosuvastatin ( Crestor) is what I and most people changed to next and most people seem to have no or rare side effects on them.
We use the statin to help stabilise arterial plaques that we already have and reduce the rate plaque can build up in the arteries and reduce the risk of new blockages not just to reduce blood cholesterol , people can often get confused by the dual prevention that a statin is used for with cardiac patients.
The GP can just change your statin type you shouldn't need to speak to the cardiologist about it unless your GP refuses the change for some odd reason.
It's also worth asking your GP to do a Vitamin B 12 , Folate , Ferritin/ Iron and Vitamin D test if you start getting new symptoms and muscle pain because low, borderline and Deficienct levels of these nutrients can occur with cardiac problems and after surgery and with certain medications. They are also more likely to have occurred over time if you used to smoke. These lower levels , even in low normal range, can cause many symptoms including insulin desensitivity ( which can add to weight gain) , muscle and joint pain, cardiac symptoms, insomnia and fatigue.
It's good to get these checked according to NICE guidelines every 6 months if you require things like statins and PPIs ( or every 12 months for Vitamin D ) even if you results are normal.
Request a copy of the results for your file as you may be told it is normal but that can still be at the low end which can give symptoms to some people earlier than others plus it's better to start prevention earlier with food or a supplement rather than having it reduce further can cause more issues.
It's good to get a baseline of results and it's recommended to do it early on so that you know how to adjust your diet to improve your nutrients and reduce lots of the side effects and niggles with long term health problems. If you take a multivitamin at the moment just stop it for 3-5 days before the test to get accurate results. If you haven't had them in the last six months a Total Cholesterol test and a Diabetes HbA1c test are also advisable as blood sugar changes and swings can also cause similar side effects to statins.
Drinking the recommended amount of fluids each day is really important when you are in recovery and take various medications, the body needs to work harder to metabolise the medications and repair itself which takes more water than you used before. You can have internal dehydration even if you don't feel thirsty and one thing that can cause is minor inflammation in the muscles and joints which adds to your muscle pain and fatigue.
You'd probably still need to use a different statin but taking the other precautions can help reduce you getting side effects from all different medications so it's a good way to move forward and make life a bit easier.
Take care , Bee
I was taking it but stopped because I was getting pain in the middle of my back high up and radiating to my left shoulder, GP is putting me on another statin.
Hi, I also was Put on high dose of Atorovastatin, I ended up practically house bound. Falling over in the street as my muscles were so weak. Knew it was the statin. Went to GP twice and he was not interested. I stopped taking them and my life has changed so much. No pain and muscles improved greatly. I am trying now to keep away from fats and sugar. I am happy to try an alternative if I can get GP to listen.
Same here, my thigh muscle pain was so bad I literally had to lift my leg with my hands to get into the car, I just couldn’t raise it as there it was so weak, pretty scary when you think of it. I just stopped taking it as I was away and the pain practically disappeared overnight. Tried a few others since and still trialling 🫤
That's awful ! I could actually write a book about drs not listening to me at this point , my weight is a problem but had to focus on stopping smoking first
Stop taking them immediately there are no value to you whatsoever as a percentage of getting a heart attack using them is less than 3% it's just a con
Just keep working on a high protein diet eat plenty fish occasional steak wholesome fruit and veg, stay all types of pastry and process foods most of all cut all sugars including soft drinks, drink water tea or mild coffee eat feta goats cheese not the hard cow cheese as feta is lower in saturated fats
Big Al
That's stay away from all types of pastries and pies as they only clog your arteries
I think you may be confusing absolute and relative risk reduction. For those at high risk, statins have been demonstrated time and time again to have a significant impact, lowering the risk of heart attack and death. What has not been clearly demonstrated is that this is anything to do with cholesterol. There appear to be cardio protective effects of statins related to endothelial protection and/or plaque stabilisation and this may be why there is a statistically significant reduction in risk for those at higher risk. You are quite right to highlight the benefits of a good diet, but I would urge caution in dismissing statins.
Big pharma use relative risk stats the same for convid jabs which is simply marketing spin. Absolute risk is the one to use which for statins is less than 1%. I have reduced my avorvastatin from 40mg to 20mg and feel much better with better motivation to exercise and better memory . I will reduce to 10mg after a few months trial and then if all ok stop taking them. Plus read DR malcolm kendricks book on blood clots not cholesterol. Look after your own research.
If you are prescribed a statin for high cholesterol alone, looking at the overall absolute risk is fine. Just to pluck one of the studies - reduces relative risk of heart attack by 29%, but absolute risk by 1.9%. This means that the statin group has 29% less heart attacks, but because most people don’t have heart attacks regardless, the overall risk of heart attack is reduced by only 1.9%, on average, across the group. BUT if you are of higher risk, previous HA, risk factors etc, then the relative risk is much more relevant. For example if you were at such risk that your base chance of HA was 50% then a relative reduction of 29% of that risk is very appealing. I have read Kendrick and I wouldn’t (as I said above) rule out the suggestion that cholesterol is not the mechanism by which statins work. The evidence is quite clear that they do though. The point about absolute vs relative risk is probably very valid when looking at primary prevention, but less so for secondary prevention. I am intolerant to statins so can’t take them, but would if I could. I am unsure why you are reducing your dose and “trialling” not taking them. You will obviously feel absolutely fine without them and will do for the rest of your life. If you do suffer the misfortune of a future cardiac event, you’ll never know if statins would have prevented it or not. As you say, take care of your own research, do the math, make your choice and take your chances.
Is the book called “the clot thickens”?
Atorvastatin is the first line statin prescribed because it is the cheapest but it is also the one that seems to cause the most side effects, if people change to Rosuvastatin or others at lower doses they usually get less or no side effects and still get the same level of risk prevention.If you look at the foreword of the anti statin diet book among others , the doctor recommending the book even states there that if a person is prescribed a statin by a GP to reduce risk of cardiac problems that they shouldn't just stop it and rely on the diet alone . They note that anti statin theories are there to help people whom just need to reduce cholesterol but are otherwise healthy , not for people with long term health issues.
The statistics are not a marketing spin for Big Pharma, this idea becomes very tiring to read so regularly.
There are actually a few YouTube videos by NHS Cardiology Consultants that explain how they relate to heart patients.
Statins are also not only used for heart patients just to reduce cholesterol levels but to help stabilise existing cardiac plaques and reduce their rate of growth to prevent future blockages or plaques breaking off and causing other events.
I've done my own research over many years looking at medical studies not just reading books giving the anti statin view.
It isn't just a con and people are not only prescribed statins after heart events to reduce cholesterol levels which seems to be confusing for a lot of people.Consultants prescribe statins to help to stabilise arterial plaques and reduce the rate that the plaque can increase and cause new blockages. This is something that can not be achieved by just changing your diet on its own.
They do help reduce the risk of cardiac events and stroke.
My husband and I are both on atorvastatin, he felt like a 100 year old man on them, pain all the time, the nurse took him off them for a month and it went away within a week, so the doctor put him on a different statin. Hopefully a change will resolve it for you too.
Which one did he put him on as an alternative?
Rosuvastatin, he seems to be fine on this.
Ah ok, I tried that also but it had the same effect for me.
I feel so awful but could be anything & good luck to me getting listened to ,being a chronically unwell middle aged female is not for the weak
yes. Same here. Tried others but same result. I take a fish oil supplement now containing plant sterols am and pm. On Apixaban, bisoprolol and a nitrate tablet but ok. Been doing it for 2-3 yrs now. Good luck sorting out your problem.
I was prescribed Atorvastatin in Oct 2019 as a preventative measure following a stroke, my cholesterol is fine. I started to get leg aches and cramp earlier this year, particularly at night. My GP stopped the tablets for a month and things improved so has now prescribed Ezetimibe which seem to work well, they work in a different way to statins but control cholesterol. Good luck x
Yes I was fine on these but my GP was furious that the clinical pharmacist had put me on them, he said that they won’t protect you from having a heart attack or stroke but my cholesterol came down and I felt much better on them. I’m trialling another statin at the moment but I’m thinking that quality of life is better than being in constant muscle pain.
Hi Helly. I take atovarstatin as well as another 7 other medications. I get a lot of painful leg cramps and my hands are completely num/frozen every other night. I don't know if it is the statin or other meds. Good luck to find out.
It's so hard to tell which meds are causing it or if it's something else
like so many others on this forum, you are incredibly brave and strong. Reading your story makes we weep, not out of pity, just sheer sadness and empathy. How can people live with such awful conditions. I know all we can do is to try to soldier on, but it’s just so unfair.
Health is the worst lottery ever…
I’m on atorvastatin since May, no side affects.
I hope you get the change of meds that you need soon and get this area of discomfort under control.
Keep us posted…
Thank you so much for this lovely kind & heartfelt reply & for reading my story , it's been so hard ,I feel I may never get over it emotionally. We've all had such hard times on this site ,again thank you so much xx
I don't know how you all get through each new upheaval that seems to come along, I'm just at the start of my heart journey, who knows what's coming for me over time. I only hope I have the courage to get through every day as so many of the people on this forum have.
I hope you have friends and family supporting you through these hard times as well as your heart family here.
Always here if you need a shoulder or a reminder of what a hero you are.
It is very hard at the start ,your mind can run away with you sometimes worrying about it all. Friends I thought were life long all fell away which has been very hurtful thing to go through, most people who haven't had any heart related issues just simply don't understand & soon get fed up . I actually couldn't stop thinking about the Dr who saved my life that day so I visited the emergency department while I had an appointment to thank them personally, was hard to go in there! Thank you for saying I'm a hero ,that's made my day 🥹
hello 😊
I was put on Atorvastatin after open heart surgery last year. After first wanting to put me on a higher dose they reduced it to 20mg after I had a few issues ( not muscle related) I was on this dose for 3 months when I suddenly developed really bad back pain that I had never had before. I called the doctors and she ( and the pharmacist ) said they didn’t think it was due to the statin 🤔 the pain lasted about 10 days then went, so they must have been correct 😬 I’ve not had it since. However I would recommend you speak to your gp
hi I have tried various statins over the years. The only one I have I am able to tolerate is Rosuvastatin. Ask GP if you can try another one.
Hi, I was put on Atrovastatin 2 months ago and the prescribing GP asked me to watch for any side effects, like muscle pain, in which case he suggested changing that statin to another one. I have heard that doctors should prepare the patients for those kind of quite common side effects. I am sure your doctor will change your prescription if asked.
Hi. I was on 40mg Atorvastatin fora couple of years and was fine’ish. Then moved to 80mg and started getting crippling calf cramps every day. Asked to be changed to 10mg Rosuvastatin and have not had a problem since. All the best.
My experience on 80 mg for 3 years is that it's lowered by cholesterol significantly, paired with ezetimibe. as for any side effects, my answer is "maybe." I do have some slight soreness in my legs from time to time, especially in the morning. But I'm also on bisoprolol and plavix.
I suspect I am feeling some side effects, but I can tolerate them. I've been on rosuvastatin, too, but haven't really noticed a huge difference between the two.
I had a friend with familian hypercholestermia (spelling?) and he said atorvastin absolutely wiped him out (he wasn't taking any other meds). So experiences vary.
hello ,
Sorry to hear, statin pain is uncommon/rarer but it can be agonizing. It is usually at high doses though. You should talk to your cardiologist see what they think.
For me I had pretty bad all over muscle pain that built up over a few months when I went from 40 to 80mg atrovastatin a day, max dosage. It took a few months to peak. I was able to tolerate a bit but after 3 months, time enough for my body to adjust, it became too much. Talked to the cardiologist again and reduced it back to 40mg and the pain subsided, which confirmed that it was the statin . The incremental benefit for me between 40 to 80mg is significantly lower then from 0 to 20mg, and 20 to 40mg. They can also put you on something else or reduce and supplement it depending your needs.
Hope it all turns out well for you and you get the right mix figured out.
Edit: some grammar, and one more item. I had low very good cholesterol before my diagnosis. They put me on it to drop my levels to the basement to help stabilize my plaque and hopefully reduce/stop additional accumulation. I have a hard to treat blockage that is on the edge.
hello I had my dose increased and I couldn’t move my legs the pain was unbearable so the doctors put it back down again as my cholesterol was good.
I'm hoping a lower dose will help ,just have to wait it out
This is my opinion and experience. I had a long term experience with Artovastin, 4 years on dosage and started developing knee joint problems where I struggled to get out a chair. It was only when I spoke to a colleague and he said what are leg muscles like. It was then I noticed the muscle loss even though I walked on average 26000 steps a day for my job. Went to GP and they would not acknowledge of it was Statins. Took me off Statins for 8 weeks and my muscle/knee pain disappeared after about 6 weeks and my mobility improved. GP then insisted I needed Station and prescribed Rosuvastatin. Pain and mobility problems were back with in 2 weeks, GP insisted I persevere for for a few months to see if symptoms would disappear. Came of Rosuvastatin after 7 months and this time have never reversed ability to pivot of chair and the muscle loss along with pain has not improved. We are not been told the truth about these Statins. and it seems some side effects are being pushed to the side due to other benefits for NHS and manufactures.
I'm actually having terrible joint pain aswell & feel extremely elderly, I found with different specialists in hospital with me one pushed certain meds then a different specialist told me a different story ,have to pay attention & look into things ourselves
That is the problem, different Specialists and Consultants have different opinions, not both are very protective of Statins and it seems side effects reported by patients are not being collared. I would add, if you are prescribed Statins as a preventative, then continue and as Doctor to be considered for Alternative.
Oh yeah - my journey with statins started many years ago - high cholesterol and prescribed Simvastatin - after a month or so it started - arms and shoulders - not just pain but really affected flexibility - I had 4 young kids at the time and was becoming increasing a problem- GP refused to accept it was the statins. I stopped taking them and it went away so I just stopped and regret not pushing the medics. Many years later I’m now on Atorvastatin- after a Heart attack about 3 years ago rate was upped to 80mg and bang it started to happen again but just right shoulder- had it reduced to 20mg and added Ezetimibe - right shoulder resolved but then started in Left shoulder and still not the greatest so planning on talking to GP again to see what other options. BTW I’m not against statins and I don’t want to stop taking them as they help with stabilising arterial plaque not just cholesterol ( my levels are low) - don’t think there is still a great deal of appreciation of the pain and loss of flexibility they can cause in some people - speak to your GP so they understand the issues this is causing you- you’re still young and I’m sure want to get on with your life / good luck
I'm trying a lower dose & getting my bloods checked next week so will see how I go with that . I feel ancient I'm that sore 🙃
Do you swim? I’m away in Cyprus at the moment - 1st time in pool and thought OMG I can’t even swim any more BUT kept it up and has seriously helped in just a few days - tried other exercises and did nothing but breast-stroke has really worked - pain nowhere near as bad and flexibility of my left shoulder is better even after a few days - I’ll be adding swimming into the routine when I get home I think
I was getting these side effects with atorvastatin - I reduced my dose from 40mg to 20 mg and I feel much better
I did mention to the gp that I had no problems on 20mg but I've to stay at 40 for now at least
I would challenge his decision - just out of interest what was your cholesterol level?
She said yesterday my levels were perfect before & after the heart attack, can't remember the numbers
Hi, yes I suffered the same, my GP changed my statin to Rotavastatin, muscle pain and spasms have gone away.
I have a feeling I will have to change it at some stage too
Statins gave me such bad muscle pain I couldn't walk; get your doctor to let you try Ezetimibe - it's a much more expensive med so they may be reluctant but it's caused me no side effects.
It's so so painful 😒
I have had no problems with Atorvastatin. I take COQ10 as well. Apparently the Statins can reduce the amount of COQ10 your body produces, which can cause you to get more side effects from the Statins. I read somewhere, that Drs ought to prescribe COQ10 when you’re given Statins. They’re not likely to do that though. Might be worth trying a COQ10 supplement first, to see if it makes any difference.
I'm considering trying some supplements
Hope you find something that works.
Please take COQ10/Ubiquinol which is normally produced by your liver and is necessary for every muscle and cell in your body. The Statins reduce production of this important natural element and also from the age of 30 our bodies start to reduce production. Please remember that Statins should only be used if you have had a heart event. Research has shown that the Japanese have the highest readings of cholesterol in the world but the lowest incident of Heart events and stroke. A healthy diet and exercise/lifestyle are the most important as we age. Please research Dr Kendrick, Dr Aseem Malhotra and Professor Sultan on Statin medications. I have a research paper in my possession stating ' Stains Kill you one cell at a Time.'
Very informative reply ,thank you I will look into that
Hi. When I first started statins I was prescribed Atorvastatin and I also experienced the same as you are . My doctor changed mine to Lipitor and these had no side effects at all. They are brilliant but I think they are more than expensive. I was see a private cardiologist and he strong lu recommended them to my GP. Hope you get them changed. Good luck
Hi hope you are feeling better, as for Statin pre heart attack I was on 20 mg now on 80 mg had no issues at all with my statins or any of my meds, I maybe a luck 1 twice over with HA and meds, this was only Easter time as well, also back at work now, I'm sure you will be fine after a while
Hi I am on statins and I have tried Atorvastatin, Rouvastain and Simvastatin all gave me serious muscle pain. My clinical pharmacist then tried me on Ezetimibe which was loads better but my GP contacted me and said that as it wasn’t a statin as such he didn’t want me to continue on it, even though my cholesterol dropped from 5.2 to 4.6 in 6 weeks. So he has now given me Pravastatin which he emphasised is very expensive and started me off on half a tablet every other day for a week then half a tablet every day which I’m taking at the moment, I’m assuming he’s going to increase that at some point, apparently this one is better tolerated by most people. I do have some dull aching but it isn’t as bad as it was. If I were you I would go back to your doctor and ask him to try you on another type.
yes! The high dose of Atorvastatin I had after the heart attack was halved after a month or two, and I couldn’t believe the difference. I changed to Simvastatin and it was much better.
I'm hoping the half dose will ease the pain as quickly as possible
I decided the best place for my statins was in the bin.
Hi I was on Atorvastatin and I had muscle aches and felt nauseous Dr reduced my dose to no avail . I’m now on Rosuvastatin and still get the aches , now have another appointment with Dr who said at last appointment I may need to have an injection every 6 months at the hospital. Hope you can get sorted I think it’s trial and error good luck .
Thankyou, I'm hoping a lower dose will help
My problem was Achilles Heel. I'd had the problem for 2 years and didn't connect it with Statins. I didn't realise until someone mentioned it here that this was related to the "Tendonitis" side-effect. Alternative I was offered was Nustendi, when had even worse side-effects. Currently waiting for a decision on whether I take any at all
Hi, yes I had the same from atvorstatin & 3 other types.I stopped administering them & no action was taken until my cholesterol went really high again. Then prescribed ezitembe, a non statin statin which gave me hooredoes headaches. I'm in for another cardio ablation this week so the statins have been put on hold for now. I used normal statins for years & lived with the shooting leg pains but it's now a quality of life choice for me . I hope you get some resolve .
When I was on atorvastatin I had increased muscular pain. My GP took me off it for a f ull month to find out if that was the cause. It made no difference at all. It's very easy to blame statins but although they can cause muscle pain ( They did for my husband) , it's not that frequent. However there are plenty of alternatives. I had to st op atorvastatin because of stomach pain. Now, simvastatin is fine. Ask your gP asbout taking a break to see if atorvastatin is the cause and maybe try rosuvastatin which has fewer side effects. It's more expensive so it isn't usually prescribed unless you have problems with the others.
That's what I'm worried about ,being chronically unwell for 6 years and having pain all over the place & new symptoms cropping up before the heart attack I can't be sure at all ,but trying a lower dose & having some bloods done next week
I've lived with chronic pain from 4 different spinal conditions plus fibromyalgia for over 20 years so it's really difficult to work out whether that's all getting worse or tablets are affecting me. The only sure way is to stop the tablets for a month until they get right out of your system or change them.
Statins deplete Coq10, are you supplementing it??
healthline.com/health/coq10...
No , I wasn't aware until I'd read some of the replies to my post
I thought I had pains at first but then all ok, wasn’t sure if the pains were just me looking out for side effects or my body getting used to them.
I’ve only been using these for 3 months since have my heart bypass. I take them before bed so feel no muscle aches. Hope u get yourself sorted.
My husband was having the same problem, and has tried every statin out there, his Dr. suggested taking CoQ10 daily with it and it actually helped and he doesnt have the muscle pain anymore.
I had some at first but it has subsided now.
It’s hard to isolate to any one drug when you start taking four or five at once but I had some leg pains initially presumably the statin given their reputation.
Most side effects have gone, the last with the help of some dried apricots 
leaving me with only the pain of getting old. Anyone got any suggestions for that!!
Hi Helly
Atoravastatin did not sit well with me. I too had pains in my legs and terrible leg cramps.
I tried ezetembe which was ok but didnt work as effeciently so they added bempedoic acid.
After a couple of weeks i stood up and my legs wouldnt work.
They then put me on Simvaststin 40mg which I thought was a lot to begin on. Again leg and joint pain and extreme tiredness.
I came off for a month and after blood tests it was proved it wasnt the statin.
I agreed to go on 20mg Simvastatin and am ready for a blood test in a couple of weeks.
So fingers crossed. I empathise with you as the pains are so draining and I felt I was aging too quick!!
I am on Atorvastatin 20 mg and I was concerned that I might get muscle aches as this can happen with statins. However I didn’t get this side effect but what I did get was a lot of wind which seems to be worse when I’m at work and I’m visiting the toilet just to pass wind. Could be a bit embarrassing. I’ve persisted though because it is for the purpose of reducing cardiovascular risk. Your prescriber will be able to advise you. All the best. You seem to have had a lot of problems for a young woman.
I was fit ,well & healthy until a viral illness caused myocarditis in 2018 at the age of 43 & I was never the same again , my symptoms are similar to long covid . Then an actual heart attack 3 months ago . It's just goes to chronic illness & or disease can happen to anyone at any age , doesn't just apply to the elderly
yes so right. I never take my health for granted. I hope your condition is stabilising.
Wishing you to be well. 🙏🏻
Hi, Helly75,
I have been taking Atorvastatin since my HA in March 2022. The emergency room doctors prescribed 80 mg., but I can be stubborn and always want to know and understand the reasons for doing something. I spoke with my doctor and we agreed that I would take 20 mg (the lowest dosage) for awhile.
Looking back, I would simply advise someone to take the 80 mg. following the HA. I know now that dosages and medications can be adjusted and/or changed. About two months after my HA, my cardiologist changed my dosage to 40 mg. per day, and I still take that dosage of Atorvastatin in 2024.
I do get some muscle/joint pain with taking this medication. Some days are worse than others. Mainly, I can adjust to knowing that I will have some aches and pains.
I would suggest talking with your doctor about your symptoms. Decide with him/her what might be the best way to proceed. I feel that I get a good deal of benefit from taking this medication so I persist, but other statins would likely work as well, or better, for you. Best wishes! ❤️
I had an awful time on this statin. I got pains in my legs and arms and in my chest. My dr halved the dose but no difference. It also affected me mentally - it was like I had dementia! I forgot how to use my knife and fork, and I forgot where I was going in a place I go to loads of times! Luckily when I come off the tablet - I went back to normal. Dr was supposed to find me something else but I am still waiting and that was over 6 months ago.
Oh my goodness that's awful ! My arms seem to be the worst & then my legs join in ,with other meds in the mix I don't know which one is doing what to me
Yes it’s really hard if drs start you on a cocktail of tablets! I hope they find out which one is causing this and get you sorted out, hopefully you will feel a bit better then x
Hi Helly75,
I’m 64 and have been taking Atorvastatin for around 6 years and haven’t experienced any problems with it. The medication lowered my cholesterol from 4.1 to 2.6. If it proves to be the Atorvastatin that is causing your muscle pains, hopefully there will be a suitable alternative for you.
Hi
Just notice your post , I’ve been taking Atorvastatin for quite a few years Iam 71 .
But just of late I wake up first thing in morning with cramp in my toes and calf muscle , I have to jump up and massage with feet/leg I wondered if it was the statins !
Iam might run it through with my doctor it’s really getting in my nerves now!
I do also know of friend that have said they get joint pain since taking them !
Hope you getting some answers
Regards
Sue x
HUModeratorAdministrator
Hi Helly75,
Just a reminder that content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and your doctor. Please avoid making any changes to your medication or advising others to do the same, without speaking to a health professional first.
Many thanks.
This is going to be a bit controversial but I have stopped my statins altogether. None of them were with out side effects. Plus when you look at a lot of recent research they have little beneficial effects and a lot of harmful side effects.
I couldn’t take statins so take Nustendi slightly stronger than Eztimebe and find no side effects and it’s effective
hi! My husband has dropped his high dose( post heart attack) from 80 to 40 as he is having severe back muscle cramps. Possible slow improvement. Hope you get sorted-good wishes.
I too have had pain with Atorvastatin so dropped to 10mg daily. All fine until it was suggested I increase to 20mg and pain is back! Don’t know if it’s that particular statin or they’re all the same.
hi Helly75
I was sorry to read about your heart attack and your ongoing problems. I hope that you’re starting to feel better now.
I read your postings concerning Atorvastatin. I’ve been on 20mg Atorvastatin (Lipor branded) for 5 years with few side effects. I do get leg cramp 2/3 times per year (always winter) and the attacks are always at night. In the early days the effects were always very painful but I was given a tip that warmth was a way to reduce the pain. My usual remedy is to use a hot water bottle and the cramp goes within 5 minutes. Since being on this medication my cholesterol level has dropped from 4.4 to 3.1 so I’m happy with this medication. I have to be frank however and say that 2 of my buddies as well as my Brother in Law have been on statins (mostly Atorvastatin although one has tried others) and all have stopped taking them because of night cramps or other issues.
I wish you well and hope that your GP can find a strategy that works for you, both in terms of medication and of alleviating your anxiety.
atorvastatin gave me bad upset stomachs , I’m on rosuvastatin now 40mg , the secret of my madness keep busy doing things , drinking plenty of fluids to mix up these cocktails of medications we are all taking . To keep them moving round our bodies. Stupid I know . Follow your gut feeling and stick to your guns and try to sort a different medication out , you are entitled to that right.
Regards Badger
I had the same symptoms and I was changed to Rouvaststin which stopped the side effects for me
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