How well does Lipitor react with PMR and GCA

[garden49]

My GP has advised me to take Lipitor 20 mgm for raised cholesterol above 6.5. I have had PMR and GCA since August 2018. I have managed to get to 5mg mgm of Prednisolone. I am still taking75 mgm Disprin as well as medication for asthma and under active thyroid. I am reluctant to introduce more pills but will follow advice. I have learnt such a lot from this group about managing my condition and would be grateful to hear of others experience of taking Lipitor. Thank you all for your support.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi, No reactions - see below, but don’t mix Lipitor and grapefruit juice -

Drug Interaction Report

This report displays the potential drug interactions for the following 2 drugs:

Lipitor (atorvastatin)

prednisolone

*****

Food (1)

Therapeutic Duplication (0)

Interactions between your drugs

No interactions were found between your selected drugs. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Drug and food interactions

Moderate

atorvastatin food

Applies to: Lipitor (atorvastatin)

Grapefruit juice can increase the blood levels of atorvastatin. This can increase the risk of side effects such as liver damage and a rare but serious condition called rhabdomyolysis that involves the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue. In some cases, rhabdomyolysis can cause kidney damage and even death. You should limit your consumption of grapefruit juice to no more than 1 quart per day during treatment with atorvastatin. Let your doctor know immediately if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness during treatment, especially if these symptoms are accompanied by fever or dark colored urine. You should also seek immediate medical attention if you develop fever, chills, joint pain or swelling, unusual bleeding or bruising, skin rash, itching, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dark colored urine, and/or yellowing of the skin or eyes, as these may be signs and symptoms of liver damage. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Along with simvastatin, Lipitor/atorvastatin is one of the statins said to be most linked to the development of PMR as an adverse effect. Long after I developed PMR a hospital doctor tried to smuggle it into my armoury of medications after diagnosing atrial fibrillation - I very reluctantly agreed to try it and they said they would monitor me closely. They didn't get the chance: within 10 days on a half dose I was unable to walk 50m up a gentle slope from the hospital rear entrance to the door! I stopped immediately before I needed a wheelchair and it took some months to regain the level of fitness I had had the day I was discharged from hospital. Statins are now red listed on my notes - by my cardiologist no less.

[garden49 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you all for responding to my question about Lipitor I am aware now what to look out for.

[Kendrew]

Hi there. I've been on pred almost 2years along with Lipitor which I was prescribed several years previously. I don't know if taking Lipitor predisposed me to developing PMR but I've taken it alongside pred, propanolol and AA without any problems.....as far as I'm aware..... as other similar symptoms/side effects have been attributed to pred or PMR.

[baxternoni]

I have been tried on different statins and all have me terrible muscle pain. Because my cholesterol levels got high I was put on a fairly new drug which acts as a statin. We call it Praluent in US and it lower my cholesterol after only two injections. After being on it about three months my

Total went from 245 to 151

LDL 183 to 80

[Hidden in reply to baxternoni]

Hi baxternoni

Did your muscle aches go away after stopping those statins?

I took a short 12 week course of statins ending in April 17 and stopped because of the aches.

However, despite stopping the statins about 4 years ago, the aches have NOT gone away and have progressed.

My profile explains it in more detail.

All the best!

Alps

[baxternoni in reply to Hidden]

As soon as I stopped the statins my muscles quit aching.

[Hidden in reply to baxternoni]

That's great!I wish I could say the same

Alps

[baxternoni in reply to Hidden]

Maybe you have muscle issues if you are on prednisone. I now have two torn rotator cuffs plus other problems due to the drug.

[Hidden in reply to baxternoni]

Sorry to hear that.No I'm not on any steroids

Good luck in your health journey!

Alps

[Bcol]

Hi, I went through three different Statins including Lipitor which all played havoc with achy/painful joints, worse than my OA. Ended up with Rosuvastatin (5mg) which as far as I can tell have had no side effects at all. Been taking it for many years now.

[Hidden in reply to Bcol]

Hi Bcol

Good that you can tolerate rosuvastatin now.

The short 12 week course of statins ending in April 17 has left me with muscle aches even today.

Taking them was the biggest mistake of my life.

All the best!

Alps - my favourite cycling hol!

[Karenjaninaz]

I was tried a similar drug called Repatha; it is not a statin nor is Praluent. It works differently through a different pathway. Repatha, has a long half life11-20 days after one injection. This was to reduce my LDL which I got down reasonably with the Mediterranean diet. The side effects with Repatha were terrible: profound dizziness, cramps and diarrhea, blurry vision and a general feeling of being unwell. This persisted and very slowly decreased over many weeks. I will never take another shot.

But, my neighbor, a physician has good results with no side effects.

[baxternoni in reply to Karenjaninaz]

I take Praluent and have not had any bad reactions. My cholesterol numbers have been remarkable in such a short time.

[Karenjaninaz in reply to baxternoni]

I am afraid to try Praluent after my experience with Repatha because they work by the same mechanism. I really wished it worked for me; everyone is different it seems.

[baxternoni in reply to Karenjaninaz]

That is very true. What helps one person might not help another. This happened to me when I tried the different Biologics to deal with my AS. Humira finally worked for me. I took it for 9 years. It made a difference in my life.