Statins and Fibromyalgia

[Greyt]

My doctor has suggested that due to my family history I should start taking statins . Reading the information on possible side effects it seems one could be muscle pain and on some online medical sites it flags up fibromyalgia and statins. I don’t think I can take further added pain to my fibromyalgia but also don’t want to put myself at risk from future heart problems. Does anyone here use statins alongside fibromyalgia?? Or has anyone suffered any side effects from statins . Interested to hear . Thank you .

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee]

have you spoke with the GP about your concerns. I am sure they would suggest trying statins for a trial period and if you have ill effects then you could change to something else.

[Greyt in reply to desquinn]

Hi , yes I am waiting to hear back from him.Seems to be taking quite a while 🙈

[zoobie in reply to Greyt]

How high is your cholesterol LDL

[Aliceeliza]

Starlets them 2 months ago and no real problem for first 6 weeks, then got lots of pain. I stopped them a week ago and have improved but still trying to work out of the strains caused the increased pain or if it was just a coincedence. Will leave another week and then try again. It's really annoying!!!

[Greyt in reply to Aliceeliza]

Thank you, what name of statin was it ? The doctor has prescribed Atorvastatin .

[Aliceeliza in reply to Greyt]

The same.

[Sturdy in reply to Greyt]

I’m on the same been on it since October, no problems at all.

[zoobie]

Hi GreyT, I had exactly the same probem, ive always had high cholesterol and fibro for many years. I was living in Switzerland at the time and was sent to a heart doctor who gave me statins - yes they do cause more pain to some fibro sufferers and I was one of them, un fortunately you have to try 3 different statins before you can get the gold standard medicine which is REPATHA. My cholesterol sank after a couple of months on this medication - and no extra pain. Then I moved to Denmark, couldnt take the prescription for Repatha with me so had nothing for 2 years, I insisted on seeing a heart doctor who for almost a year put me through all kinds of heart scans and test and during all that they found a 95% blocked artery - Im sure this wouldnt have happened had I carried on with Repatha instead of having to beg for it - anyway I had to have a heart stent op and then still had to wait another 6 months to get Repatha. It really works in lowering Cholesterol and not causing more pain, only thing is its quite a painful injection pen which you administer yourself every 14 days. I get it free so you will have to make enquiries in your country because its really expensive. Just ask the doctor for statins then tell him they cause you more pain (if they do) but your HAVE to try 3 different ones before you will get considered for Repatha . Amgen are supplying the NHS with Repatha at a hugely discounted price - but youll still have to fight for it I think. Good Luck

[Thommo101]

I’ve had Fibromyalgia for over 20 years and have been on Statins (Crestor) for the past 10 years or more due to a family history of clogged arteries. Haven’t noticed any worsening of my Fibro as a result of taking statins.

[Carlt]

When I was first diagnosed with diabetes and suspected fibro my gp wanted to put me on statins because of the increase in risk of heart disease due to the diabetes and the enforced sedentary lifestyle of a fibro sufferer.

I resisted mainly because I was sick of all the pills I was already popping but also because of the statin scare stories.

The big purple zipper scar on my chest and my left leg looking like a zombie movie prop due to my recent quadruple bypass surgery really make me wish I'd listened to medical experts rather than sensationalist journalists.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Carlt]

thanks for that personal insight

[Makie-Uppie]

Hi Greyt, sorry to hear your a member of the club but I had to reply. I actually have had a heart wobble caused by the pain of the F-word and the interference of medical people who over rode the balance of pain medication and management myself and my GP had worked out over years. Basically when you are in pain your heart rate goes up and mine got that fast it started to trip up which frightened the wits out of the consultant.Any after that they put me on heart medication including Statins. I have found that compared with the F-word the side effects are trivial, muscle pain I have not noticed. Some changes to my skin especially the more delicate areas, eyes a bit dry and with everything I seem to get prescribed my weight tried to go up. I have found that the biggest problem is the weight gain it just adds more difficulty to the F-word and so I do my best to keep it off. So far I have been mostly successful, a bit of weight on the middle but I can lose that in a week and the Doc wants me to keep it since last time I lost 3 stone in a couple of weeks.

So try the Statins and see how they go and also there are several you can choose from in order to find one with the least problems.

[Nuttyshirlz]

Hi I’m also on them for the same reason family history. Mine was due to my age and I’ve being taken atorvastain for about two years with no problems. I’m also on high blood pressure pills along with my arthritis meds so I’m definitely popping a few pills. Try not to over think it. Dr given them to because you need them. Not for the fun of it.

[Fifelassieo]

Hi, l was put on statins, l was started on 80mg of atorvstatin, l could hardly walk because of l wouldn’t describe it as pain, more like weakness in my thighs, spoke to doctor he cut me down to 40mg to which l tolerate well, so sometimes it is due to strength dosage.

[eleanor68]

Hi There, I was advised to take Atovaststin for high inherited cholesterol , I did some research and found that people with Fibro can react badly to it. I spoke to a pharmacist who I trust implicitly and is interested in alternative medicine and she advised me to take a high dose probiotic called L Plantarum, I’ve been taking it for over a year now but due to Covid I’ve not been asked to go for a blood test to check my cholesterol. However during a routine eye test my Optician told me there was no sign of high cholesterol in my eyes. Incidentally the pharmacist husband couldn’t get on with statins and took her advise and now takes Plantarum, his heart specialist says he no longer needs to see him. As and addition to be on the safe side I also take Vitamin K 2 as it’s a natural blood thinner. Both these supplements are really beneficial for many of the Fibro symptoms we have to deal with. Plantarnum is very good for the gut so it help twofold.

[fabpup01]

Hi Greyt, I have been taking statins (Atorvastatin) for a number of years due to me being T1 Diabetic and have had no side effects but obviously we are all different. Take care and hope you get sorted out soon.

[Farmerboy]

I have tried 4 different statins each had side effects, even a low 2mg dose cause muscle pain Do I am unable to take statins.

[Canbedone]

My VIEW: From my experience very severe side effects and I have refused further statins.

I was put on a cocktail of drugs with no consideration of cross effects and dangerous combinations. The dogma is that LDL Cholesterol is bad and causes blood vessel narrowing. From my detailed scientific reading of the latest medical science there is no direct connection at all. Further, the indications are that long-term use of Statins are positively harmful.

A good expression. "It is a bit like banning the fire brigade because they are associated with a lot of fires".

No look at the causes of the fires and prevent those. Cholesterol is essential to multiple body functions.

For me: I became sensitised to greater side effects from other drugs, muscle weakness and atrophy became severe, heart rhythm was affected badly, digestion , muscle shakes (felt like Parkinsons onset), brain cognition became poor, gained a lot of body fluid. Came off and became well within two weeks. for doublep roof I went back on and suffered exactly the same.

I suppose what I found shocking is that this is a raging battle of the scientists in the USA but gets hardly a mention in the UK. Taking statins is now being linked to a build-up of dangerous proteins in the Brain leading to Dementia. I will not risk that.

Overall Cholesterol is essential, good and desirable. As you get older there is complex set of chemical processes become unbalanced and need correction especially via eating healthily including modest amounts of fat and nuking the sugar input.

Stating that LDL is high is generally wrong, It is the content of Cholesterol and the balance that needs to be monitored. It can generally be improved by eating a primitive diet or a Mediterranean diet

For anybody who would like to learn more there are some very god scientific reviews on you Tube - for and against. Worth a look so that you can form your own opinion.

[LisaSnow FMA UK Volunteer in reply to Canbedone]

Please be very careful with assuming that YouTube videos are based on scientifically valid, peer-reviewed data. They are often not.

[Bigears16]

I have been on atorvastatin for the past 5 years due to family history’s during an increased ldl, most of the time I am ok if I get a bout of cramp I drink tonic water as the quinine helps prevent cramp.

[Judithdalston]

I was on statins for 15 plus years ( went with diabetes) before I got diagnosed with fibromyalgia, but in the previous 3 or so years was getting bad pain in legs/hips. In trying to rule out causes of pain before fibro diagnosis I removed statins, with Gp’s blessings... do seem to have lost most of that localised pain, just replaced with fibro over whole body! My cholesterol readings are good now, and subsequently found out how frighteningly low the levels were before ( considering it’s correlation to brain make-up)! What are your cholesterol levels?

[bigalan]

Hi Greyt I have been put on statins a month ago as well as Ramipril for high blood pressure & have had no side effects. John.

[jojotom]

I'm on atorvastatin only been on a week so far other than a bit nausea I'm ok

[Jingles165]

I did have more pain and was told the same family history so I stoped taking them my bp is fine and I try and keep healthy as you say you don’t want more pain but maybe like me you should give them ago x

[SEknit]

I take statins and also suffer fibro. I have had no side effects from the statins and no extra pain than my usual fibro aches

[JayCeon]

I've had no problems with Atorvastatin 40 or now 20mg, plus Ezetimib 10mg for the same, despite the fact that I have big side effects from most meds, esp. pain.

Interesting that in the UK you/docs only talk about & check 'cholesterol' (I think LDL only?) and only Canbedone has mentioned diet. To support that case - it's not just youtube : Here in Germany, cardiologists and lipidologists (blood fat docs) also now check for lipoprotein (a) as well as triglycerides and the 'good' cholesterin HDL and Mediterranean diet is recommended as fundamental. The lp (a) indicates even more of a genetic component. The positive influence of this diet and for lp (a) as indicator has been shown by quite a few studies in the last 5 years. So this is a bit more than just 'family history of clogged arteries', which I also have. An additional DNA test was negative however.

In my case my cardiologists, my lipidologist and my GP all recommend/ed a strict Mediterranean diet to get at least the LDL & triglycerides down and the HDL up. The lp (a) was very high and can't be influenced by diet, so the reason for Atorvastatin all the same. My (university) lipidologist was however very concerned that I do not take more Atorvastatin than necessary, so neither the fibro-pain nor my awareness of it be increased. Due to pretty successful IBSD/elimination diet and trying 'all' other diets to see if they influence my fibro unsuccessfully, the Mediterranean diet was no problem for me and got the fats, esp. LDL, down inside of 3 months (one card. said LDL under 55, the rest said 70, those are the targets; I was down to 46, so cd start becoming less strict again ).