Query about statins

I think Rosuvastatin and Atorvastatin occasionally cause peripheral oedema but I don't think it's very common.

I have been taking Rosuvastatin for about 18 months and have not had swollen feet and ankles.

No - taking for years - no swollen feet.

Mr C has had no trouble with Atorvastatin. Maybe have a chat with the prescriber, a change may be advisable.

There are several alternatives.
I second trying a different one if you're certain that's what caused it.

I have taken Atorvastatin for years and no problems

I’m on Atorvastatin and within 30 minutes of dosing I get a prickly burning sensation in my lower legs and feet. I’ve made an online request for advice from my GP and he’s changing my prescription. But I’ve never heard of anyone having swollen ankles and feet from taking it, perhaps speak to your GP as it might be something else going on that needs investigating.

Not swollen ankles but Atorvastatin gave me terrible nosebleeds. I'm now on Rosuvastatin with no problems.

I've taken Simvastatin for over ten years with no problems.

I have been resisting them for a long while but then agreed because of CKD. Though I asked for a lower dose to start with. Glad I did. Terrible allergic reaction. Head neck chest covered in an itchy rash. Needed steroids apparently as well as antihistamines until all was calm. Still itch a little after 2.5 weeks. So no statins for me!

Statins very bad for you. I recommend checking FB Statins, the silent killer. Diet and exercise keeps us fit, not something tgat reduces cholesterol, a natural healrhy cell builder needed by the liver and brain. Hmmm why do some many people have dementia. Heart disease is not caused by cholesterol,inflammation and arteriosclerosis does that

I take Atorvastatin and my left ankle is swollen so much that I can’t get my ankle boot zipped up all the way anymore. I did take a different statin to start with and both my legs swelled up so much that I had to stop it. I have mentioned this swelling before but the nurse didn’t think it was anything serious. I am with a different surgery now and my first review is in a fortnight so I will see what they say, although it is a telephone appointment.

Recently stopped taking Rosuvastatin not because of swollen ankles bit because of severe, debilitating cramps in upper thighs. These were waking me up at night and were agony. A week or so after stopping the statins the cramps cleared up.

PS meant to add that I took GP's advice before stopping meds.

I've been on Simvastatin for many years with no swelling. But I do have lots of aches/pains and the muscles in my left upper leg have gone weak.

I had them and was given a medication from GP. I guess it was a diuretic

Never taken statins, never been suggested by any Dr.

I had swollen ankles for years which was put down to bp medication I was on. I also got excruciating cramps while on Atorvastatin and as a result was switched to Rosuvastatin. Since then I have had cramps a couple of times. I have also had quite severe nosebleeds on both statins, like knspol. So it seems to me that both these very widely prescribed drugs can have the same side effects. I wish I didn't have to take them

Sheian57

Statins very bad for you. I recommend checking FB Statins, the silent killer. Diet and exercise keeps us fit, not something tgat reduces cholesterol, a natural healrhy cell builder needed by the liver and brain. Hmmm why do some many people have dementia. Heart disease is not caused by cholesterol,inflammation and arteriosclerosis does that

Mmm my brother of 60 was prescribed them and refused to take them until he was out cycling and found out three of his Dr friends had put themselves on them at 50 years old. He has recently started taking them. Diet changes can only do so much and blocked arteries are so dangerous you wouldn’t need to worry about dementia if you keel over from a heart attack or a stroke.

The stories about unpleasant side effects from certain brands of statins and certain people are everywhere and are very off putting. I can't understand why this hasn't been investigated. One of the problems with proprietary drugs is they are often designed as one size fits all but ignore gender and other differences.
GPs get paid to dispense these and possibly other drugs which may be part of the story. For patients, surely the side effects are a concern and are probably causing problems in their own right.

You’re right, heart disease is not caused by cholesterol, which we all need for good brain and body function, but it does contribute to both inflammation and atherosclerosis of the arteries. The more saturated fat (red meat, smoked/bbq, ultra-processed foods) we eat, the more the fat builds up in the blood and gets deposited as ‘plaques’/scales in our arteries. This narrows them and can, eventually, completely block them.

Unfortunately, Asian people make more cholesterol in their livers than most, which is proved by CHD (chronic heart disease) being one of the biggest health problems with those of Asian descent.
Other contributors to CHD include tooth decay/gingivitis which can migrate through the bloodstream to affect the heart muscle. Regular dental check-ups are important if you have high cholesterol or FH (Familial Hypercholesterolemia- inherited high cholesterol).

Perhaps the easiest way to decrease the risk is to eat less fat-heavy proteins and switch to a Mediterranean diet.

Dementia has quite a few causative factors including high cholesterol (LDL, the ‘bad’ type) - this might help explain the problems-
www.heart.org/en/news/2024/11/12/fluctuating-cholesterol-in-older-adults-tied-to-increased-dementia-risk

I've taken Statins 20 odd years. It took me til a few months ago to question why my lower legs and feet become sooo painful and tingling soo as I get jnto bed. I've taken it upon myself to stop taking them and sew if the pin stops.
It has! I'll speak to my gp quite soon about that.

Swollen feet! Yes by late afternoon and evening they swell and feel very uncomfortable. Is there a connection I reallybdont know.

I’m lucky, I’m on statins but feet and ankles fine, although I am aware statins do cause swollen feet and ankles.

PS. Atorvastatin is great!