Atorvastin;Bisoprolol;Ranolazine

[Piotr2025]

I waited 2 and a half years to see a cardiologist and eventually had a phone consultation and angina diagnosed. No physical examination.

I was put on Atorvastin (40 mg); Bisoprolol (2.5 mg); Ranolazine (375 mg) from 17 DEce 2024.

An ECG and echo cardiogram are normal and I have a CT scan on 24 February. My BP was 115/60 and pulse steady at 62.

Since going on the meds I have felt terrible - nausea, stomach pain, dizzy, poor sleep. BP 100/60 and pulse 58. But I can't walk. My lower calves have seized up, no flexibility. I go up up and down stairs slowly with one foot at a time.

I have been unable to see a GP - seen 2 pharmacists and a nurse who say they can't give advice.

I feel there may be a mis-diagnosis. But want to come off the Ranolazine and Bisoprolol. My bad cholestrol needs bringing down. so will stay on statin. Has anyone had similar problems with loss of use of legs on these drugs? Thank you.

[bluemoon572]

Atorvastatin has the side effect of muscle inflammation and is documented if the muscle enzyme, serumTotal CPK, is elevated. I was switched to rosuvastatin and the muscle symptoms and elevated Total CPK enzyme returned to normal. Discuss this with your GP.

[Piotr2025 in reply to bluemoon572]

Thank you so much. I only joined this site last night and had so much useful information.

Most replies are pointing to the statin and going to ask to go back to lower dose.

Other advice I have had is to take the lower dose (20mg) of Atorvastatin with Ezetimibe.

[janeykinsjt81]

Hi. I was on all 3 meds. The statin is obvious...lower cholesterol. The Ranolazine is basically a slow release under the tongue spray. Helps with exertion, breathlessness , walking etc. Bisoprolyl..Well I stopped taking mine as not sure it helps and my aches are going. I changed my statins 3 times to get Atorvastatin as my aches prior to this were horrendous. Hope this helps

[DWizza]

I had bouts of similar symptoms when I was in 80mg artovastatin , I had “zombie episodes” I could barely walk , aches and pains , cognitive impairment, I couldn’t function. GP told suggested a trial stop of the statin. I felt fantastic for about 8 weeks , started 5k park runs and was full of energy ( rehabbing from nstemi heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery July 2023). Eventually got a follow up appointment either GP , (that was the hardest part 🤦🏼) and was put on 40mg pravastatin . I had zombie episodes return with a week . Then put on 10mg Rosuvastatin and doing well, although the cholesterol results were a tiny bit higher but all acceptable.

[Loobycare in reply to DWizza]

Has your GP mentioned claudication as a possible reason for the pain in your calves?

[Piotr2025 in reply to Loobycare]

Thank you. On by Google searches PAD comes up as a cause . The problem started with the meds. I started with all 3 at the same time, so hard to know which one is the problem.

It shocks me that l haven’t been examined by a dr - neither GP or a cardiologist. When asked to talk to GP have been given 2 pharmacists and a nurse - all 3 said not able to discuss problem!

I am going to talk to British Heart helpline .

Thank you for your help.

[DWizza in reply to Loobycare]

No, my statin was stopped as I described, then changed two more times and a reduced dose.

[Piotr2025 in reply to DWizza]

Thank you so much. Yes, after 6 weeks I am a zombie. I couldn't get up this morning.

I have had some advice to take lower Atorvastin with Exetimibe if that is new info for you.

[DWizza in reply to Piotr2025]

I didn’t get an opportunity or advice to take lower dose Artovastatin. It was changed.

[MustyK]

Sorry to hear about your situation. Your stats (BP, etc) pre-medication look good. The medication will possibly lower your BP and heart rate. Be that as it may, I find it strange that 1)you had to wait 2.5 years and 2)telephone consultation for an angina diagnosis. I strongly urge you to go back to your GP and ask to be referred to another cardio. even if it is in another hospital. Also the GP may tweak or remove some of the meds. Do take care

[Piotr2025 in reply to MustyK]

Thank you. I live in Brighton. I had to ask the GP several times why I had not had an appt for the cardio - and finally got the telephone appt. There seems to be a firewall around GP and Hospital access. I am usually fit and healthy - but have recently become pre-diabetic.

The telephone appt resulted in an "Urgent" echo cardiogram 2m later and I have a CT scan on Feb 24th.

My father died from a heart attack aged 56. He was a refugee with a stressful past and he smoked and drank alcohol (not excessively). Until now GPs always said I had a healthier lifestyle and not to worry. But the meds have certainly made me very unwell.

[DWizza in reply to Piotr2025]

The meds can tip us towards being pre diabetic . I kept being asked if I was diabetic after I had hip operation.

[Lowerfield_no_more]

If you are unable to talk to your GP about this you could try 111 who can arrange for you to be seen by your GP (at my surgery it seems they are pre-allocated appointment slots) or may be able to deal with your query over the phone. However as others have said the muscle aches and pains could be due to the statin, since this is a commonly reported side effect. Other statins are available to try, and rosuvastatin seems to work for some as an alternative to atorvastatin. Failing that go talk to a pharmacist again, who should be knowledgeable about side effects, and medication alternatives. Finally if you are really genuinely unable to see your GP about this I suggest you write a letter of compamint to the surgery about it. It is amazing how letters of complaint subsequently resolve issues if my experience is anything to go by.

[JulianM]

To support what Lowerfield_no_more is saying, please don't underestimate pharmacists! My GP surgery has its own pharmacist, who impressed me a great deal when he took me through a (phone call) review of my medications: if your surgery has one, they may be worth asking for. I also have a very good pharmacist at my local pharmacy. There is some fascinating recent research from the USA showing that pharmacist-led services for blood pressure control perform consistently better than GP-led ones, probably because the pharmacists spend more time hearing from patients about unwanted effects, and know more about a wider range of drugs and their interactions than GPs do.

[Qualipop]

with mobility problems the first thing I'd do would be to get the statin changed. That;s exactly how my husband was on atorvastatin. Rosuvastatin has fewer side effects or even simvastatin. And insist on a GP appointment. Otherwise phone the cardio's secretary.

[Carriefarm]

I’m so sorry that you are going through this, I think the care you have had is appalling. One of the main side effects of statins is muscle pain and your GP should be aware of this. I, personally, have had to stop all statins as can’t tolerate them and they were affecting my health. I also had to stop Bisoprorol as it dropped my pulse so low that it led me to feeling extremely tired, chest pain and raised troponin. I have also just stopped taking BP meds as, like you,my BP was within normal range but I found that my O2 level was very low whilst at rest and sleeping and I believe BP meds may have contributed to that. I currently take aspirin, isosorbride mononitrate and nicorandil. I’m afraid, when it comes to medication, one size doesn’t fit all and it may take some time for you to get the right meds that suit - but in order to do that you need support from your GP. I did some research on all of the above and discussed with my cardiac nurse and GP. I am monitoring my BP, pulse etc and hoping my condition will improve. I wish you all the best.

[Piotr2025 in reply to Carriefarm]

Thank you so much. I have been on this site for less that 24 hours and had so much help.

Until recently I have not had to engage with the NHS - and now appalled by the lack of communication - as as wait times.

But already feeling much better by gaining more understanding of the meds.

Take care