Hi does anyone know if Simvastatin can cause sciatica & cramps? Been taking it a few years but developed these symptoms a few months ago.

[Walker351]

If anyone can help I would be very grateful as i’m In agony!

[Biofreak]

Hi Walker. Simvastatin was the first statin I was given. I had terrible constipation with it but not cramps or sciatica. Do you mean stomach cramps because I had those. I wasn't on it long. Then I was given Artovastatin which had the same result. Now on Pravastatin with no problems but only take 10 mg. I would speak to your GP if you haven't already.

[Dobcross1 in reply to Biofreak]

Hi I don't have direct experience but my mum developed terrible lower leg pains with it.

[Walker351 in reply to Dobcross1]

I think I will just stop taking them & see if it helps!

Thanks for replying x

[Walker351 in reply to Biofreak]

Hi, thanks for your reply, no the cramp is in both buttocks and calves, been back & forth to GP just keep getting different painkillers but none are helping 😢

[Biofreak in reply to Walker351]

I think your GP is fobbing you off just giving you pain killers. Muscle pain is one of the less common side effects and sciatica can be relieved with the right exercises if you are able to do them. It's so difficult at the moment to get proper investigations done. I'm surprised your GP didn't give you exercises to try and perhaps a blood test to see if they are ok as a starting point.

[oldtimer]

Although I'm not a fan of simvastatin, I think it highly unlikely the two things are connected. That group of drugs may give muscle pains, but sciatica is a nerve root pain and is mechanically produced by pressure on the nerve, or part of the nerve, by material squeezed out from a disc (so-called 'slipped disc') or bony lumps on the spine which we develop as we age. It needs a mechanical solution which is why exercise and manipulation are the mainstays of treatment (together with pain relief so that you can move!)

[Walker351 in reply to oldtimer]

Thanks, it just seems odd that it’s only when my buttocks spasm with cramp that the sciatic pain shoots down my legs🤔

[helixhelix in reply to Walker351]

If it’s cramps in buttocks that are causing the shooting pains then really does sound like sciatica. I’ve found the only thing that helps is daily stretching exercises and walking.

Because everything is connected a problem with a bit of your lower spine can hurt in your bum, not your back.

Are you taking statins because of heart problems or family history of heart problems and high cholesterol? If not it could be worth looking at other ways to reduce cholesterol, that could help, you come off statins.

nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-bo...

[Hessie5 in reply to helixhelix]

My sister was told she MUST go on statins - cholesterol and heart. She said to the doctor give her two weeks - she changed her eating never ate poorly though - saw a private Dr for further tests as she was concerned about the heart issues and lipid test results.

Three weeks later the private Dr wrote to her GP stating not to put her and statins as results showed no heart calcification thank God everything is okay 🙏 - Told to keep doing whatever she is doing as results dramatically reversed. I do appreciate that for some statins are needed but her Dr was quick to push her onto statins by drumming up fear. Glad it worked out for the good.

[Walker351 in reply to Hessie5]

Fantastic!! So glad for your sister xx

[Walker351 in reply to helixhelix]

High cholesterol 10.2, it does run in family as does heart disease.

I went to A&E and have an MRI scan booked now for next week as they think it could be a trapped nerve.

Thanks to everyone that replied xxx

[nomoreheels]

Hiya Walker351, welcome. Simvastatin was the first statin I was prescribed, as usual it being the cheaper option, but I reported upper arm muscle pain to my GP & she changed it to atorvastatin which I've been on around 5 years now with no problems.

Please don't just stop taking your simvastatin. With having RD we are at more risk of heart related problems & of course statins go some way to keep us heart healthy. I really urge you to do as I did & see your GP, explain your symptoms again, that pain relief hasn't helped & ask to change to an alternate statin. There are options he can prescribe you so there shouldn’t be an issue.

[Walker351]

Thank you

[AgedCrone]

Ask the doctor prescribing Simvastatin to change your statin. I took it for a few weeks years ago & had terrible aches & pains in my legs.I was changed to Lipitor an Atorvastatin & have been on that happily for years.

Statins are known to cause muscle pain.....so it’s worth a try to try to get rid of your pain!

[Froggie70]

Hi, I don’t have direct experience but my Mum was crippled, literally, by various statins including Simvastatin. For years she complained to her GP and consultant that she had awful muscle pain in her legs and they told her it was nothing to do with statins. She ended up disabled in a wheelchair with a diagnosis of statin myopathy. She was sent for tests with a neurologist who said stay on the statins you’ll end up in a wheelchair, come off them you’ll have a heart attack. There’s a choice.

[Tompark]

You can certainly get muscular aches from it. Ask your doctor to try an alteranative statin

[Fruitandnutcase]

I tried simvastatin years ago and after a few days I could barely walk, my legs were absolutely agony. I stopped them after about a week and haven’t taken any since. I also felt really depressed, it was hard to find that as a side eff ct but I did eventually. I think there might be a test to see who will be susceptible to muscle pains before they start statins but I don’t think it is worth felt carried out.