hi all, previously asked if you could take statins with pred, perhaps would have been better to have asked, with PMR. Gp now prescribed Atorvastatin over phone, said no contra-indications with pred but did not ask why I was taking pred. I assumed he had checked my notes! Now one week in and both calf muscles hurting, sleep difficult and generally feel rubbish! Dropping statin to every other day whilst waiting to talk to helpful pharmacist. Has anyone else experienced this? Remember Pro saying she gave up on them and if this is what they do so will I!
Statins and PMR: hi all, previously asked if you... - PMRGCAuk
Statins and PMR
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I have been taking Atorvastatin with pred. for 2 years now and no problems. I know many people have problems with statins whether or not they are on pred. too.
Good to know, thank you
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The first time almost had me in a wheelchair - not so much pain but weakness. I was only on a half dose anyway! That took about 10 days, certainly no longer. The second time I was fine for a couple of weeks and then I slowly started to flare and needed more pred to function. I didn't get to a month and decided to stop. Haven't seen that cardiologist since - the other (better in my opinion) had accepted statins aren't for me!
No cardiologist involved here. Blood test and telephone call from gp I have never seen! It puts me in mind of painting by numbers - no thought needed!
And too big a paintbrush for the fine work ...
What iare your cholesterol levels? If your bloods showed high levels then statins are the normal solution to solve this.
Overall 7 which is considered very high. Used to be 4 but has shot up. Think all the cheese I have been eating (to protect calcium levels and bones) may have contributed. Just don't seem able to win!
Diet makes very little difference to blood cholesterol levels unless you are looking at levels that can actually be SEEN in the plasms in a sample of blood. To get to that you are talking about well over double, probably triple, what yours is! I have seen it - and their diet was scary! The liver produces almost all our cholesterol and so several drugs that also poke the liver may raise our levels.
Aha! Now spoken with pharmacist! She is of the opinion that liver is so preoccupied by processing prednisolone that cholesterol has been relegated, hence present, rather high, count. Suggests that I probably won't tolerate any statin but new ones are being developed all the time to try and minimise side effects. Advised to talk to gp(!) discontinue statins, reduce cheese intake and red meat, lots of water and more vit D in meantime. Must say it was rather nice to see her immediately, in private room and talk for as long as I wanted - just like the olden days! 😄
This seems to be a widespread problem. Drs just look at one blood result and decide to issue/change/deny prescriptions etc. without knowing the patient or consulting notes. How long before they manage to kill someone? We patients are individual PEOPLE, not one lot of blood test results. I know they're overstretched and 'stressed', but so are we!!!
Couldn't agree more!
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer
Before GCA/Pred it took 3 different attempts to find a statin that didn't give these effects - ended up on Rosuvastatin for a good number of years without issue.
After my GCA went into remission and following an episode when my BP went particularly low (on meds for that too) my GP decided to stop all BP meds/statins.
A couple of years later, cholesterol had crept up, so Rosuvastatin restarted - couldn't
tolerate, so another GP took me off completely.
Fast forward to this April annual check and they'd risen again, so again suggested I go back on - refused at the ones I tried previously and was put on Pravastatin 20mg. Decide to try half dose only (10mg) initially and then if okay progress to full dose. Result, fine on 10mg but 20mg made me feel rotten, not muscles, but yuck. So returned to 10mg, tested last week, levels okay, so advised GP surgery and they have an=mended prescription.
So (sorry for ramble) it might be worth requesting Pravastatin - they seem to have less side effects, and although it has ben stated a higher dose may be required than with some others, a lower one worked for me...
Ramble away, it is always so helpful to be listened to and even better when responded to! Shall suggest this change. Pharmacist said she would ring 3 weeks into prescription, don't know if she has powers to change it but will try talking to her tomorrow. Not convinced this surgery knows what they are up to. Most part timers but don't want to jump out of frying pan into fire! Have halved dose to 5mgs in meantime. See what tomorrow brings!
It might be worth trying,... certainly run it past pharmacist.. she may have authority to change, or may need to check with GP. But do impress up her that the Atorvastatin is giving issues!
Will do! Thank you
I assume that the success is measured by subsequent blood tests. I read an article ages ago that said statins were not nearly as effective on women as they are on men. I have always refused them along with half a dozen other drugs. I am apparently riddled with invisible killers and the alternative seems to be feeling rotten every day. 😐
Know exactly where you are coming from! Going to depart sometime but would rather feel as well as possible in the meantime not, as you so well put it, feeling rotten everyday trying to put off the inevitable!!
You do realise you are now in the age range where they should be asking is it worth it? Not because of being old but there is little evidence that for women who haven't had a history of heart disease anyway and over 75s they fulfil no protective role.
Shall challenge docs on that one! There has been no discussion at all!!
Never is - it is retrospective assessment of the study figures and that often is not taken note of. The studies - like most of them - were done on mixed cohorts of patients and the results pooled, on the basis men and women reaact the same. Well, we don't! The companies wouldn't be too keen anyway: separate them out and for about a third or more of your target population (women who have not had a previous cardiovascular event) there appears to be no benefit. That does change after such an event and they appear to have a protective effect against a repeat - but there is still likely to be a big effect on sales and, therefore, profits.
The age thing isn't new either - and have a look at the potential adverse effects of statins in the elderly:
choosingwisely.org/patient-...
nps.org.au/assets/bcd19ff11...
They increase the risk of cataracts and Type 2 diabetes - now where have I heard that before? They increase the risk of falls. And these are no doubt assessed in patients on "just" statins, not the cocktail many of us are on which also moves the goalposts - probably off the field ...
I know I am, but at the moment I am going along with it...and "appraising the situation" as the song goes..😏
Have a look at my reply immediately above!
Thanks for this .... I have a plan to monitor closely.... and not convinced it's the way to go by any means.
Cannot take statins. Tried 3 different ones and had calf pain on all of them. This was before GCA and prednisone. However, after prednisone and Actemra my cholesterol was so out of control I had to do something so doctor prescribed Rapatha which is not a statin. My cholesterol came way down within 2 months with no side effects. However, it’s very expensive and my insurance will only pay half
I stopped taking Atorvastatin earlier this year without consulting my new GP who is now requesting me to have a blood test for drug monitoring so l will see what shows up or not. I had muscle aches and pains and decided l had enough issues without another one being added on.
Think my decision will be same as yours and for exactly same reason! Don't want another issue from not taking them but very reassured by articles Pro sent. Will be talking to pharmacist later this morning.
Good luck with the pharmacist. I think they know more about drugs and their interactions than the doctors seem to. I have also made sure my diet is very low in saturated fats. Which l hope will help?
I did an experiment with mine last week, to see if the Atorvastatin was making my muscles hurt more whilst taking Prednisolone and I can honestly say, there is no difference so have started taking them again.
Good morning. I’m on statins as well as preds. I get muscle soreness, not sure if it is cramps but it’s bloody sore in my fingers and toes, regular cramp in my calf’s. I just put it down to the concoction of drugs I’m taking. I gets painful when swimming, I am able to stretch it out. Not sure whether it’s related but your not on your own. My view is keep doing because if you don’t use it you lose it. Hope it gets better real soon because I know it’s a pain.
You are so right, it is a pain! Thank you for reply, hope you have good recovery too.
Here’s a list of what rattling in body on a daily basis
Dabigatran 150mg twice daily
Alendronic 70mg once weekly
Methotrexate 15mg once weekly
Folic acid
Atorvastatin 40mg daily
Bisropolol 2.5mg twice a day
Clopidogrel 75mg daily
Ramipril 2.5mg daily
Preds 15mg daily
Mmmmm. Or as I like to call it
My full English
That is a bucketful!
I had endless problems with statins prior to PMR. I tried Simvastatin, Atorvastatin and Rosuvastatin; all led to muscle pain. My GP then decided that my risk wasn’t that high, and I managed to lower my cholesterol level sufficiently via diet. But as I got older the level crept up. A new GP referred me to the lipid clinic at the hospital. The specialist tried me on Fluvastatin, but the high dose that was needed again resulted in muscle pain. I stopped that and was put on Ezetimibe, which is not a statin but has a similar effect. A good result, but the cholesterol was still too high. We added back the lowest dose of Fluvastatin, and my levels dropped sufficiently for me to be signed off from the clinic. I have remained on the combination of drugs since then, and it has been effective.
Thank you for response. Seeing pharmacist this morning, will mention Ezetimibe, is it one of those that can only be prescribed by consultant?
It’s prescription only.
Spoken with pharmacist and advised - see my reply to Pro - to speak with GP re Ezetimibe. Thank you so much for your input
I have been on Atorvastatin several years also Bisoprolol, Omeprazole and dispersible aspirin. I was prescribed Prednisolone since April. Seems fine.
My husband was prescribed statins. He does not have PMR.We did not know his muscle wastage was down to Statins until we had to sell our house in The Dales and move into a bungalow with a ramp closer to our daughter.
Doctor here took him off the Statin and his recovery has been amazing.
Aged 85 ..almost 86, he has pulled down a shed and loaded a skip. He has removed rotten timber and replaced summerhouse porch and is currently making raised flowerbeds.
Doctors get psid to prescribe Statins.
I refused to have them.
Oh my goodness! That is amazing! Do you live near me - does he have any spare time?!
I took Atorvastin for a week in 2019. By the end of the week I was barely able to walk and haven’t been able to do stairs properly - have to do it like a toddler. Just my experience!
I was prescribed Rosuvastatin last week by my GP as my tests showed that my cholesterol levels have increased. I have experienced a lot of pain in my shins, and calves at night after I take the meds... last night I had to rub some heat rub and take paracetamol, which help very little. I was not sure if this was a result of the trapping that I'm currently trying after I had experienced a flare... Thank you for your question and everyone's information was very helpful... I will revert to my old statin which was fine, until Wednesday when I see my GP again
The number of replies shows we are not alone. That in itself is very comforting. Hope reverting to previous statin helps, wondering why doc changed it.
He changed because thought what I was taking was not effective and I was already on a higher dose for the brand, but not the highest, so I could continue taking it, I still have some in my stash. I'm going to try them tonight to see if I still have the awful pain. ..
I have familial hypercholesterolemia and have taken maximum stations for decades. I was diagnosed with GCA September last year and started on 60mg dropped very quickly and now take 7mg. I can honestly say I don't feel any extra pains. Everybody is different though. 80 mg is the maximum dose.I hope changing the statins helps you.
Thank you. 😊
Been taking Pred with Simvastatin for 4 years with no adverse effects. Was on Atorvastatin about 20 years ago and got terrible cramps and stomach pains. Dr switched me over and have had no problems. Could be just the wrong statins for you rather than a reaction to Pred
This is a common problem with Atorvastatin. It doesn't have anything to do with PMR or steroids. It may pass as you take it but there are other options as well.
I've been taking Atorvastatin for 3 years after TIA. Been on pred for most of the last 12 months and not noticed any adverse effects. We are all different though. Good luck!
My Dr said if atorvistatn caused muscle aches in legs to stop taking it immediately. It did so I did, going back to see her Tuesday.
Exactly what I am doing! Thank you
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