STATINS: Connection between muscle pain an... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

137,936 members161,765 posts

STATINS

patash profile image
20 Replies

Connection between muscle pain an Statins?

Written by
patash profile image
patash
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
20 Replies
Raoudha profile image
Raoudha

Getting very well together to make our life a misery

greygoose profile image
greygoose

Yes. Absolutely.

LtAngua52 profile image
LtAngua52

Oh boy yes. Muscle and joint pain are known side effects. Eventually made it very difficult to walk. After I discovered this and read `the great cholesterol con` by Dr Malcolm Kendrick I stopped taking my statins and my mobility eventually came back. Pain reduced and I had been on the statins for about 2 years. I then started a low carb, high fat diet and my cholesterol levels have stabilised. Plus my high blood sugar is now normal.

I would recommend researching as much as you can.

patash profile image
patash in reply to LtAngua52

That's very interesting LtAngua52, I've just ordered the book, thank you.

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase

Ooh yes! Within a few days of taking them I could barely walk my muscles hurt so much. I also felt really depressed, like I wanted to curl up in a ball in a corner. Very strange unpleasant feeling.

I lasted about two weeks on the things then stopped. I told the doctor I wasn’t wanting to take them as it was better than pretending.

Zeph43 profile image
Zeph43

I had a similar experience, it was my high cholesterol that led to my hypo diagnosis, but the Levothyroxine only reduced it slightly. I got the low back pains during the night that woke me and made it impossible to get back to sleep.

I finally put two and two together and stopped taking the statins. Doctor very unhappy with me and after a year persuaded me to try a different statin. After 3 days on them the pains returned. Been off them ever since and those pains have gone. Like LtAngua the low GL diet has brought cholesterol down to almost normal ( whatever that is) levels.

The Kendrick book is a real eye-opener and worth a read by all of us. Shows the power of the drug companies to influence medical opinion.

Taffhamster profile image
Taffhamster

Zoe Harcombe has done loads of research on statins – and is very much against them.

zoeharcombe.com/2015/03/wor...

patash profile image
patash in reply to Taffhamster

Again, the link provided is very interesting, thank you!

teacherspet profile image
teacherspet

I refuse to take statins as they caused me muscle pains - my hands went first and I couldn't make a fist, then my knees felt as though they would buckle when trying to go up steps, which was a horrid sensation. My brother was only on statins for a month when he also had problems with his hands and his knees, mum and I told him to stop taking them. The hands improved after a few weeks but it was months before his knees returned to normal - he was referred to a physio. The local chemist was surprised by his rapid reaction, he said most people go a year before they react that badly and the physio said he was getting a lot of people referred to him for problems connected to statins.

patash profile image
patash

I find all these comments very encouraging. I have reduced my Simvador by half but when I told the Dr you'd have thought I had told him I'd stopped eating, his reaction was OTT and it frightened me a bit into taking the whole dose again. It was a friend of mine who told me she felt a new women after stopping the statins that led me to post the question. I'm glad I did and I'm very appreciative of your feedback and can't wait to read further about this 'con' :)

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to patash

There is NO scientific evidence that statins prevent heart attacks especially not in older women. There IS evidence to show that they increase (yes) calcification of the arteries (which is a factor in heart disease), But they are worth quite a bit of funding to the GP.

Caesard profile image
Caesard

Confirmed, it's usually mentioned on the leaflet too, under side effects.

Marz profile image
Marz

Also I cannot help thinking there's a connection between the 8 million ++ on Statins in the UK and the rise in Alzheimers. The brain is over 25% cholesterol - so why block it in the liver when it is so important.

Yes. Statins cause muscle pain and wasting - and that include the heart muscle. Muscle pain is the most common reason for people stopping taking statins.

Sedum profile image
Sedum

I would suggest you read or hear Dr Malcolm Kendrick (British GP) talk about statins and their side effects.

Hi patash my cholesterol is always high around 6 or 7 and GP tried me on many statins but I get severe headaches and some muscle pain - after many many years of taking them for a week then stopping she referred me to endocrinologist who suggested slow release low dose taking twice a week or three times if I want - must admit it seems a much kinder way to take this horrid drug. Done over a month now and waiting for blood result to see if it’s gone down any😊

Marz profile image
Marz in reply to

Why are you taking them ? Raised cholesterol is a symptom of an under treated thyroid in many cases. Statins do not prevent heart attacks. Are you also taking CoQ10 and VitK2 MK7 - as both are VERY important and are blocked by the Statin as well. Did you see my post above - the brain NEEDS cholesterol.

in reply to Marz

Hi Marx . How are you ? I was replying to Patash re the question about muscle pain. The arguments for and against Statins go on and on. We have to decide for ourselves whether to take them or not. I have regular blood checks thank you 😊

Hi everyone

I was taking a statin I can’t remember the name it was long on but after taking it for two months I decided to read about it on line and noticed that they gave them to rats and the rats got cancer from it so I stopped taking them I mentioned this to my doctor and he said no they don’t but I found the article on a doctors page and he still is sticking to his words

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Yes especially if you are hypothyroid

High cholesterol is a symptom of being hypothyroid

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.

Might want to watch this

m.youtube.com/watch?v=uc1Xs...

You may also like...

Cholesterol and Statins

cholesterol to be 6.2 and of course my GP suggested Statins, I completely refused. I also argued...

Problems with Statins

and am now on 20 mg statin(simvastatin). I ache all around my rib cage and some pain at waist...

Statins and levothyroxine

stomach pains - due to statins and some of the other meds taken causing constipation. The statin...

Hypothyroidism and Statins

forgetfulness, muscle fatigue, muscle pains mainly in my (Ankles, Knees, upper arm between shoulder...

Statins and Levothryoxine

Hi Guys, looks like I will have to start taking Statins. Are there any that better than others. Has...