I have been advised to go on the above Statin, having read the reviews I’m concerned about starting it, I have GCA & PMR and have managed to cut down to 3.5mg of Steroids and am on 20mg of Methotrexate and am virtually pain free now, has any one else taken Atorvastain along with Steroids and Methotrexate and what side effects have you had? It seems the main issue people had with the statin was muscle aches.
Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you
Not on Methotrexate so ant help with that, but long before PMR I couldn't cope with Atorvastain and a couple of others so moved to Rosuvastatin which has been no problem.
Been on atorvastatin for years. No apparent interaction with steroids. Critical for cholesterol management.
Thank you for your reply, it’s very reassuring to hear you have had no problems being on them for years, I was surprised to be put on them as I eat healthy as I’m not a cake biscuit or sweet eater, I have regular blood tests for Methotrexate which can apparently affect the liver so I guess it could be something to do with that, I’m picking the tablets up today so now debating whether to start taking them today or waiting until I have my telephone consultation on Friday.
Some cholesterol problems are genetic. Mine are.
I can’t remember my family having cholesterol problems, I only remember them having high blood pressure which I seem to have inherited unfortunately.
Hi Phed,
I've been on Atorvastatin since long before my PMR diagnosis almost 5yrs ago. I'm not on Methotrexate but I am obviously on prednisolone. So far, I have not experienced any adverse effects.
As individuals though, those of us taking Atorvastatin will all be living with differing combinations of medication, differing health issues and differing lifestyles, so our experience of Atorvastatin will not therefore be the same. .....the only way you can really know if its compatible for you is to actually try it for yourself.
Thank you for your reply, it’s very reassuring to hear you have no problems with it, it’s a shame when you read the reviews on line about the statin as like most things people only put the negative side of things on there. I agree the only way is to try it, It was the same with the Methotrexate as so many people said don’t take them and I have had no problem with it, I guess my concern is people’s main issue was aching joints which I don’t want again.
Agree with you Kendrew. We all react individually and may be on additional meds. Atvorstatin didn’t do it for me and I’ve had to be moved to Rosuvastatin which seems to be ok. Will know when I’ve had lipids re tested end of next month.
Thank you for your reply, I remember when I was first told I would benefit from going on Methotrexate and everyone in the family advised against it as all they had heard were negatives about the drug but I decided to give it ago and 2 years down I have had no side affects and I think I have to do with the statins if Atvorstatin doesn’t work then like you I can change I have a blood test booked for May so will see how I go with them. Hope all goes well with your Lipids test next month.
I took Rosuvastatin alongside steroids and had no issues
Thank you for your reply. I’m hoping the Atvorstatin will work without side affects as that’s the one they have given me but it’s good to know there is another one available if Atvorstatin doesn’t work for me.
I only take (mg a day so no big deal but I didn’t agree withStorvastatin (muscular issues) so they switched me to Rosuvastatin, a newer statin, no issues since!
before you start taking statins do some more research. I was prescribed it but stopped taking it shortly after as I concluded that they were a waste of time and don’t want to put another poison in my body.
Thank you for your reply. I have a telephone consultation with the Doctor on Friday and will be ask a lot of questions before I start them, I’m on several pills already and don’t really like the idea of another pill going in me.
Me, too! The original studies were reported in such a way as to exaggerate their benefits. Twice as much spent on marketing as studies and Doctors fell for it. I have read lots about them. I do not believe they prevent heart attacks enough to warrant their use, except in a pateint who has had a previous heart attack. Look at your cholesterol ratios and plug them into the cardiac risk calculator (available on-line) before deciding to take a statin and add to the billions of dollars of profits the drug companies rake in by selling them.
I’ve taken atorvastatin for 20 years, as I suffer from familial high cholesterol. Unfortunately it cannot be controlled by diet…3 members of our family tried very hard. I’m not on methotrexate, just steroids. I have had no side effects at all…& I have had side effects from so many tablets I take! They have reduced my readings to a safe level. Both my Mum & Aunt suffered strokes, which puts me at a higher risk.
Thank you for your reply, it’s good to hear after being on Atorvastatin for 20 years you have had no side effects from them, everyone is keen to put bad reviews about the pills but never the good reviews.
People are ten times quicker to complain than to praise! Human nature! The newspapers don’t help with ‘anti cholesterol lowering pills’ messages! For me, it’s a relief to be able to take something as I lost my Mum & Aunt due to strokes. Gives me slight peace of mind, &, more importantly, lower cholesterol!
I totally agree with you people are quick to condemn things but never praise them, I will have a chat with the doctor on Friday and then start the statins, I think my concern was they said I would benefit from them without any reason why.
I’m wondering if there’s some UK guidelines re statins that’s just recommended a new ‘set’ of people should take them. My husband has various heart problems, including AF, & has just been asked to consider taking them ‘to protect his heart’. His levels are slightly raised, but not sufficient to expect that. He’s willing to try, his heart health is very important…& he’s being started on Atorvastatin, too! We aren’t sure why they directly help the health of his heart…yet!
We aren’t sure why they directly help the health of his heart…yet!
Simple answer -
Statins are medications used to lower the level of cholesterol in the blood and protect the insides of the artery walls, thus allowing the heart to receive the correct amount of blood it requires to keep it working…
If the arteries are not working properly due to narrowing it can result not enough blood getting to heart , and result in heart attack at worse and angina at best.
And anyone on here should know about narrowing blood vessels - albeit by a different substance, and usually different outcome - although not necessarily in GCA-LVV
Thanks! His start date has been put back two weeks as recent INR test was a high result & he’s usually so stable, so, tbh, I hadn’t really read it up. I was interested to do so because the suggestion he should start it came in by text message…with no chance to talk to anybody at all about it…hence me saying not sure why they directly help his heart, yet. He has an enlarged heart as well as AF. It sounds as if it’s a good idea, thank you. For me it was just a case of reducing cholesterol from 11 (Mum 12, Aunt 10) all tried diet, didn’t work! I didn’t look into it further, all 3 of us had better results after 3 months.
Does say it can take at least 6 weeks to see a difference.., and sounds as if he would benefit. But an explanation from doctors would be helpful!
It’s a changed world! But yes, I think the suggestion that he takes them is good.I’m sending symptoms to my Dr & getting diagnosis by email…oh, & I did send photos, as requested! But they didn’t receive my reply, so had to print photos & email & hand deliver. What a faff! (Infected feet)!
One cardiologist here was very keen I should take a statin despite my previous experience with one. I agreed to try a different one - not quite as unpleasant an effect but 3 or 4 weeks in, just as I thought it was looking OK, I had a massive flare of PMR and myofascial pain symptoms. The cardiologist had ordered a carotid scan as she was convinced I'd have plaques - no sign as far as I know, carotid scan normal. Statins are said to stabilise atherosclerotic plaques - that is what bits break off and travel around risking PEs, heart attacks and strokes - and even lead to such plaques regressing.
When I hear a doctor saying to a patient "it will protect your stomach/heart/other organ" I classify it as using noddy language for the uneducated. There are better ways of phrasing it - though of course, they are maybe merely parroting a partly line ...
sciencedirect.com/science/a...
Thanks for the link, will read later, busy day here…dentist, Podiatrist, worktops & sink delivery..oh & supermarket delivery! Will monitor David when he starts taking it…they advise not starting pills near to your INR test,so that will put it off two weeks! S x
If he has an enlarged heart, that often happens because the pump is having to work harder against furring in the pipework which is narrowing the arteries and increasing the resistance. Statins may improve that by causing regression of the plaques. It's all plumbing when it comes down to it ...
They said it was too much hard work on the farms as a kid. Not a family farm, he just preferred to be outdoors & worked on farms for fun. But he was lifting too much, apparently, & caused the issue! It’s a fun idea that statins May help…he takes ramipril, felodipine, & um, another one, I think. He used to take Triapin, but they discontinued it so now takes more pills, but it’s the same drugs. Thank for all the info, much appreciated, S x
I couldn't cope with atorvastatin - nearly had me in a wheelchair, less aches as weakness.
With statins it is a case or try it and see what happens - and say not quite quickly if it does cause a problem. Some people are able to take them no problem at all, others can't. Sometimes you have to try several to find one you can tolerate.
It is the same with statins as MTX - some people can take them. others can't and the only way you find out is to try.
I am only on steroids and take atorvastatin. It hasn’t caused me any problems. I have tried a months break from them to see if it made my muscles hurt more but it has made no difference at all.
My cholesterol is good but as a type 2 diabetic(in remission) doctors like cholesterol to be lower.
Do you know how high your cholesterol is
Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately I don’t know how high my Cholesterol is, I just received a text from the Doctors to say I would benefit from going on Statins and a prescription is waiting for me to pick it up. I have a telephone consultation on Friday to ask a lot of questions before I start the tablets.
I took statins way before GCA -but it took me 3 different ones to find a suitable one. Also through GCA and Pred
A couple of years after coming off Pred -and following major surgery GP had a revamp of meds (BP and statins ) -and I came off all of them. But did have to go back on BP tablets about a year later (no problems and a family trait), but found I was intolerant to statins after trying a few different ones. So that’s now on my records.
So as PMRpro says suits some, but not everyone -and seemingly at certain stages of life but not others…
Thank you for your reply, as I just had a text to say I would benefit from going on Statins I have arranged a telephone consultation with the doctor on Friday to discuss it. I was surprised to be told I needed them as I eat healthy and not over weight unfortunately they never said what my blood results were, so a lot of questions before I start them, I guess there’s so many negative reviews about the medication which has put me off wanting to take them but once I have my concerns addressed by the Doctors I will start taking them and hopefully have no problems with them.
Well you can only try.. and see what happens.
You don’t have age nor gender on profile, but some studies show that statins are not particularly beneficial for older women unless they already have cardiac issues or diabetes.
I’m a female will be 73 on Sunday, I’ve had no cardiac issues or diabetes. I will go onto my profile and update it.
Happy birthday for Sunday.
You probably have age and gender in profile - but you may need to untick the HIDE box - that seems to be the default.
I’d want to know actual readings then - and whether surgery is just going through a ‘tick the boxes’ procedure… 😊
Thank you, that’s the 1st question I want them to answer when they phone me Friday, it seems strange to say I would benefit from them but no information on what my results were, I will go into my profile and untick the hide box.
l was on Methotrexate alongside my Prednisolone & my Doctor wanted me to start Atorvastatin, after much discussion l agreed to try 20mg to start to see if it had any impact which it didn’t.
During this time l had to stop my Methotrexate due to issues which a Chest Infection.
My Angina changed to Unstable Angina & l was encouraged to increase my dose, l am now on 80mg a day following a successful Angioplasty.
I am no longer on Methotrexate or Blood Pressure Meds & l’m currently on 5mg Prednisolone plus additional Heart Meds.
Honestly, l had never wanted to take Statins but had to in the end!……
Have you had your Cholesterol Levels checked?
Good Luck 🍀
MrsN
Thank you for your reply, I have had a cholesterol Blood Test but wasn’t told the results just a message it would be to my advantage to start 20mg of Statins and the prescription is up at the chemist waiting for me, I have arranged a telephone consultation for Friday as I didn’t feel I should start taking Statins with out finding out a bit more about why I need them or what my results were. I was interested to see you are no longer on Methotrexate and Blood Pressure medication, I have just reduced my Blood Pressure medication but understand from my rheumatologist that the Methotrexate is to help me get of Prednisolone and once I have come of Steroids I will still be on Methotrexate which sounds pretty daunting to me, hopefully I will be able to reduce the Methotrexate in time as I’m on 20mg luckily with no side effects.
Yes it really makes sense to know what your blood results are & starting on 20mg is where l started.
I’m no longer on BP Medication as since l’ve l had my Angioplasty my BP is now in ‘normal range’
I had three successive coughs/upper respiratory tract infections so l stopped the Methotrexate as per the usual instructions. I was off the MTX for over three months & my new Consultant agreed that’d we leave it off as l didn’t feel any worse for not taking it……
He started me on a rapid taper to reduce my Steroids (contrary to what we generally think is the best way to reduce) but l’ve had to remain on 5mg following a Cortisol Test.
I see him next week to discuss where we go from here…….
I have just looked at NHS account which gives me all my test results and final my Cholesterol is on there, my Serum Cholesterol is 6.5 MMOI/L so I guess that’s the one they are going by, not sure what food I can cut down to lower my cholesterol as (well thought) I was eating healthy, lots of questions when I have my telephone consultation tomorrow. I’m slowly reducing my Steroids by 1\2 mg a month at the moment ( now on 3 .5mg a day and it’s working really well. I was interested to see you have stopped MTX now, my rheumatologist implied that even when I come of Steroids I would still need to carry on with MTX. Hope everything goes well for you when you see your consultant next week.
Always worth look at BHF website if you haven't already-
My Serum Cholesterol is now 2.3MMOI/L after 4months on 80mg Atorvastatin and after seeing the blocked artery x-rays 🤦🏻 l realised l was extremely lucky l hadn’t had a heart attack 🙏🏼 The Stent has changed my life completely, l even helped change a Supersize Duvet Cover yesterday! I couldn’t walk & talk but l can now & my kidney function has improved dramatically as my heart is functioning so much better 🙏🏼
I’ll let you know what the Rheumatologist says & where go from here 🙏🏼
Good Luck with your Appointment on Friday 🍀
Thank you, it does sound as if you have been extremely lucky. My cholesterol was found just by chance, I was due a medication review and they said just send in a weeks record of blood pressure and we will renew your medication we don’t see people anymore for reviews, I didn’t feel happy about that so asked for an appointment, which was lucky as she decided to do a thyroid (I’m on medication for that) and cholesterol test and the rest is history. Good luck with your rheumatology appointment and look forward to hear how you got on with them.
Well I have had my telephone consultation this morning and picked up my Atorvastatin tablets with the view of starting them tonight, I have been reading Warnings and Precautions, I was surprised to read they suggest speaking to your Doctor if you are over 70 before taking them, hopefully they will have seen from my records I’m over 70, also they have up my Thyroid medication slightly as that has changed as well, chemist is going to phone me in a few days time to see how I’m getting on with them as I’ve never had them before which was a bit of a surprise. Enjoy the weekend hopefully rain free.
I have been on statins (Atorvastatin) for many years before this century in fact. I was on 75 mg of steroids, now with weaning off I am now Steroid free and I do not remember having any adverse effects. I did have arthritis before all this and my knee joints have shown thinning? I had an Xray again yesterday to see if they have got worse. Now I do not know if that is because of the Steroids or just old age?
Be Well
Thank you for your reply, that’s good to hear you had no side effects from the Statins hopefully it will be the same for me, I guess there is so much negativity about Statins from people that it has put me off wanting to go on them, I’m having a telephone consultation on Friday with a Doctor as they just informed me I would benefit from taking them by text so I have a few questions to ask before I start them. It will the steroids that is making the joints thinning none of us like to think we are getting old.
As everyone else has said it’s a question of trying until you find one that doesn’t cause side effects for you.
I too have familial hypercholesterolemia, so have no real choice whether to take a statin or not. I take Atorvastatin with no problems whereas Rosuvastatin caused muscle pain virtually as soon as I started taking it, which stopped just as quickly when I stopped taking it. I didn’t notice any problems when I was taking steroid alongside.
Thank you for your reply, I’m having a telephone consultation on Friday with the doctor as I only had a text to say go on Statins I have a few questions to ask them then I will start them hopefully they will work straight away without side effects, if I don’t try them I will never know if they will work for me.
Phed I have just realised I got my statins the wrong way round in my reply to your original post. I couldn’t tolerate Atorvastatin but have no side effects fromRosuvastatin. I’m sure it makes no difference and will still be a case of finding one that works for you, but felt I should correct my error, so sorry!
I was iffy about starting statins despite cholesterol readings. Agreed with GP to do best to control with diet and exercise, both of which were pretty good at that the time. Didn't work, and after 6months started on Atorvastatin. Last October, was going on holiday and decided to have a break from statins. Next blood test - cholesterol reading 8.9 and 8.1 after fasting blood test, so back on them. Looks as though it is familial, so not much choice. I did have some muscle aches and then big loss of muscle mass, but not sure if that was down to statins. Trying Simvastatin this time. Only on pred, not methotrexate
Thank you for your reply. I’m not sure what my cholesterol readings are as they just sent a text to say I would benefit from going on Statins, I’m having a telephone consultation with the Doctors on Friday with a few questions to ask before I start Statins, I have a good diet (well I thought I did) but don’t exercise much but no over weight and as far as I’m aware it’s not hereditary so not sure what has caused it.
It is virtually impossible to lover cholesterol through dietary measures unless it was exceptionally high and your diet was horrendously high fat. Most of our blood cholesterol is produced in the liver and diet has no effect on that.
Thank you for your reply, my diet in never high in fat, never do fried food, cakes and biscuits on odd occasions, I’ve be on MTX for 2 years now so was wondering if that could have contributed to higher cholesterol as all my other medication I have been on for years.
Cutting carbs can have a beneficial effect.
Methotrexate was found to increase cholesterol levels in RA patients. Whether that transfers to the inflammation status in PMR I don't know but I suspect it may well do.
Dear Phed. GP prescribed Atorvastatin at the same time he received my blood results and diagnosed PMR six years ago as he did not like my higher Cholersterol level. I have had no problems with taking it during all this time.
With all types of drugs taken for differing reasons, its a case of just finding what suits you.
Thank you for your reply, unfortunately I don’t know what my cholesterol results are I just received a text to say I would benefit from going on Statins so I’m having a telephone consultation on Friday with the doctors to ask what my results were and to discuss going on Steroids, it’s reassuring to hear you have had no problems with them, you only seem to find negative reviews when you look on line nobody seems to write the reviews when they are doing well on Statins.
Hi Phed. I'm 67 with 3.5mg Prednisolone daily and am about to start Atorvastatin. My GP says this is due to my age, high blood pressure and sinus arrhythmia. The rate for any side effects using Atorvastatin seems to be 1 in every 100 users, so I have a positive outlook. Hope it goes well for you too...
Thank you for your reply. I’m 73 Sunday, also on 3.5 Prednisolone and 20 mg of Methotrexate every Friday, also high blood pressure, like you I’m about to start Atorvastatin, hope everything goes well for you too when you start Atorvastatin.
I would want proof of arterial plaque before taking statins. Look at your Lipid Profile bloodwork results and put the HDL, LDL and triglyceride numbers into the online Cardiac risk calculator first. My Dr. said if a patient's ratios are good, they don't need statins.
Lots of good source info regarding the Pros and Cons of statins available on line - I would do a little research before making the decision to take a new medication.
Diet and lifestyle choices can lower cholesterol to some degree, but some patients still need plant sterols or statin drugs to lower total cholesterol. (Not everyone, though!)
Thank you for your replies, I will certainly be asking the doctor questions when they phone me tomorrow, it was pure luck I had a blood test for cholesterol as I wasn’t happy having to just take a weeks blood pressure readings in to doctors so I asked for appointment instead where she decided to do a cholesterol and thyroid blood test (all read on thyroid) then out of the blue I would benefit from statins no explanation as to why hence why I have a telephone consultation tomorrow.
I was given Atorvastatin after having a HA .
My experience taking this was not good and caused quite a few problems.
Also I take 20mg mtx but never had any problems with it.
I was given Ezetimibe but had some issues so was taken off this until my doctor hears from rheumatologist.
All you can do is try it as with all drugs we all react differently.
Best wishes
Thank you for your reply, like you I have never had any problems with MTX and have been on it 2 years now, family advised against it but I decided to try it and funnily enough one of my sons who was against it is on it himself now for rheumatoid arthritis. I will have a chat today with the doctor who is going to phone me but have decided as you say if I don’t try it I will never know if it’s right for me, I guess my main concern is I’m virtually pain free from PMR and don’t fancy the idea of suffering with pain again 🤞crossed Atorvastatin won’t cause me any problems.
I have been on mtx I think for about six years and I as mentioned never had any problems, I did have some bruises at first but nothing to worry over .
What sort of problems did you have with Ezetimibe? I'm on it and think it is OK - but who knows if things that are a problem are due to it!!!!!
I was still having the cramps and the doctor told me to stop taking them till he heard from my rheumatologist, but I don’t think it’s them .
I am on holiday in Northumberland and I have not taken any as he suggested and go see him next Wednesday to see what the rheumatologist says.
While I have been here I have not had any cramps but, still believe it’s nothing to do with Ezetimibe so i will see what he says and also ask him to do the blood tests you mentioned.
Interesting - probably too frozen to cramp!!!!!! Is the water where you are in Northumberland hard - high magnesium? They supply a mix ...
To be honest I don’t know and it’s rained nearly every day and so cold but I love it.
Seahouses is such a beautiful place to visit.
I bought some Magnesium Citrate but, have held back taking it till I see my doctor.
It'd be so much nicer with a few thermal units though!!! I used to live in Durham - never been so cold in my life and I moved south from Scotland!
Is methotrexate better than continuing with tapering of steroids?
Methotrexate to get of Prednisolone 
Signs of flares and duration of tapering doses
Polymyalgia and methotrexate 
Methotrexate and infections 
