Statins

[DDKRM]

I've been prescribed an atorvastin statin. Has anyone any experience/knowledge of taking statins with pmrgca? How did it go muscular aches wise? I'm currently on 10 pred. Thanks.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

I was on statins way before GCA raised its ugly head.

Initially I did have muscle aches, but after trying 2 different brands finally found Rovustatin which didn't cause any problems. Once I started Pred, at 80mg - now at 1.5mg four years on - can't say I've any particular adverse effects from mixing the two.

Pred can however affect muscle wastage, which is not necessarily the same thing. Keep doing gentle exercise, and see how things go. Any significant problems back to GP.

[Meg1711b]

Hi DDKRM,

I've been taking Atorvastatin for four months with no muscle aches or other issues. Was around 10 mg when I started, now at 7.

I understand your concern, as my brother had bad knee pain when beginning statins and stopped taking them very quickly.

I was surprised when my cholesterol jumped from 190ish to 238, but as pointed out by others on this site, prednisone can cause high cholesterol.

[olive2709]

Like DL I was on statins before GCA in fact on the same one as you, no problem. Take just before bed , thyroxin about 6am, pred about 8am .

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Unlike the others I took a half dose of atorvastatin (on alternate days) for about 10 days and have never felt so ill in my life! I couldn't walk 50 yards up a slope even with crutches. I stopped taking it as soon as I realised how ill I felt and slowly improved - but to get back to where I had been took months. I'm convinced had I taken it a bit longer I'd have been in a wheelchair!

I had a raised cholesterol but no previous history of cardiovascular events. I have atrial fibrillation and that - said the cardiologist - wasn't classified as as one. I offered to try another but she said it was fine, I needn't. There is no evidence that giving statins to a woman with raised cholesterol has any effect on their risk of having a first MI or stroke. If they have already had one then it does seem to help avoid a second event. In men it reduces the risk of both first and repeat events. So for a woman who has no cardiac history statins are of less value than the rest of the population.

I reduced my carb intake drastically and the LDL cholesterol also fell. It has risen again - but when I saw the specialist last week he mentioned it at the first appointment when there was a chance my problems could be due to heart failure. At the second appointment when it was obvious whatever it was it wasn't heart failure statins weren't mentioned.

[Annodomini]

I have just had six weeks on an antibiotic which doesn't mix with Simvastatin, so had to do without it for that period. It didn't seem to make a scrap of difference. I've been using it for at least 12 years - maybe more - and didn't have any of the suggested side effects.

[theresa49]

Hi, I have been taking Atorvastatin since GCA diagnosis almost 3 years ago because of high cholesterol & family history of heart disease. I have had no problems with the statin & now take just half a 10mg tablet each night before going to bed. My cholesterol is now down to 4.3. I am currently on 7.5mg prednisolone. I try to keep active with walking & gentle exercise.

Hope this helps.

[DDKRM]

Many thanks to all of you for your posts. They are all helpful. Lots of information and advice. I knew I could depend on people on this forum for help. Daphne