Muscle stiffness and statins

Sorry 'statins' not 'stating'. I really need to proofread before posting!

I had this problem with statins as do thousands of other people.

Big pharma tell us it’s not so.

There are lots of books about how harmful statins are.

Yes. My husband found this too. He became very achy and lightheaded, and stopped taking them. His GP was insistent that this wasn’t a side effect, but it says it is on the information leaflet inside the box. When he stopped he almost instantly felt better.

As soon as I take statins I experience pain in my legs. The doctor has just prescribed an alternative called Ezetimibe. Atorvastatin are the cheapest: GPs get paid for prescribing them which leads to mistrust.

I'm at a stage in life when quality of life, not quantity is the most important thing.

barmcake

As soon as I take statins I experience pain in my legs. The doctor has just prescribed an alternative called Ezetimibe. Atorvastatin are the cheapest: GPs get paid for prescribing them which leads to mistrust.

I'm at a stage in life when quality of life, not quantity is the most important thing.

Thank you. That's really helpful. I think that, rather than just stop, I'll put in an online question to my GP next week and be prepared to argue if necessary. I also want my quality of life back and to be able to move freely again!

When my doctor said he wanted me to take statins I said I was in enough pain from my arthritis and didn’t want any more pain. He said yes but it’s a different sort of pain .

MayBee70: that was really helpful of him. I think they should take age into consideration; particularly as you already endure aches and pains from arthritis.

Retroladytyping: just say 'you're statins intolerant but would be willing to try an alternative. Don't be fobbed off, there's several alternatives but they're more expensive.

I had that. My GP referred me to a neurologust who did every test under the sun including 2 MRIs and could find nothing to explain the (evident) reduced gait and severe night cramps. She did express surprise that I'd been prescribed statins as my bloods are so normal.
Shortly after I was standing perfectly still on carpet at home when it felt like a horse kicked my leg REALLY HARD and I fell over. Unable to walk on that leg. A calf muscle had ruptured all on its own. My GP examined within an hour, diagnosed a ruptured calf muscle., advised rest,elevation and ice until I could walk again , then physio. I stopped taking Atorvastatin that day 15 months ago.
Huge bruise emerged from knee to ankle from ruptured muscle. Rest ice zimmer and physio sorted the calf muscle.

Within weeks of no statin, I had no more night cramps, slept all night, and could walk perfectly normally at previous stride length for the first time in 18 months..

My blood lipids remain just the same,.

What an awful experience.

It sounds like something called rhabdomyolysis, a severe condition causing muscle breakdown.

They keep saying it's rare to experience muscle pain and damage but I know countless people who have had this.

From reading these, I've been relatively lucky! My GP did say originally that I was 'borderline' for needing them. Maybe I should have refused ...
I don't understand why the pain and stiffness have only recently happened though. I do know that I'm fed up with walking like a little old lady though. I'm 70, normally fit and walk often, but lately struggle to get to the washing line!
You've all given me the impetus to contact my GP and exercise my assertiveness muscle!

Thank you.

Doctor prescribed Atorvastatin for me, After taking one for four days I was screaming from the pain in my legs where they went stiff and locked. I decided then never to try statins again.

This is very common I’m afraid. My Dad was as fit as a fiddle at 80 until they said his cholesterol was high and put him on statins.

Within a week he had aching muscles, joint pain, confusion and memory problems.

It's no longer a recognised side-effect is it? A huge study showed people put on statins experienced leg aches, but no more than the control group who thought they were on statins but were on a placebo- no statins.

Don't know what to think!

valdavi

It's no longer a recognised side-effect is it? A huge study showed people put on statins experienced leg aches, but no more than the control group who thought they were on statins but were on a placebo- no statins.

Don't know what to think!

Nor me. I would be interested to know who commissioned that research. It seems to me that we are all different and whilst a majority may tolerate stations quite happily there will no some of us who don’t. My gp put me on them and I didn’t have joint pain but massive attacks of vertigo. I’m currently trying the portfolio diet which is supposed to reduce cholesterol.

Hope you get some relief soon Retrolady.

This post is very interesting and comes at just the right time.. I have been taking Atorvastatin 20mg for 2 weeks and am suffering with gut pains, dreadful wind and aching very heavy legs.
Since chemotherapy 5 years ago my gut has not been right and I have some neuropathy in my legs and arms.
So I can do without any additional gut problems and aches and pains.

I will finish the 2 months of Atorvastatin in the hope it may all calm down, but put in a request to change to Rosuvastatin which DH has taken with no side effects unlike his time on .Atorvastatin and Simvastatin. Depending on what my blood test at 3 months shows I may request a lower dose as well.

I have a higher than acceptable cholesterol level and a close family history of strokes and heart attackes. But I am also trying hard to cut down on cheese...which I love... and other fatty stuff.

OP it is surprising to suddenly develop this after many years, but I think you need to give another statin a try such as Rosuvastatin.

I listened to a doctor's podcast who said that only 1 in 300 people benefit from taking statins. Muscle aches is certainly a side effect. I don't take them thankfully

I agree with barmcake who said she prefers quality of life.

A neighbour of mine was a widow who lived alone. She was in her 70s but super fit and did all her own DIY, massive garden etc. On a routine health check she was told her cholesterol was too high and she was put on statins. She tried 3 types, all of which made her feel very ill so she told the Dr she had no quality of life now as some days she was unable to get out of bed. She took herself off them.

Teabag woman - the recent study on statins side effects, I looked it up. Undertaken by Oxford population Health &
The work was funded by the British Heart Foundation, UKRI Medical Research Council, and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. The work of the CTT is overseen by an Independent Oversight Panel.

I had dreadful night cramps and did not feel well on statins - had 2 different ones. Reason stated on boxes said
' primary prevention ' Like balmcake I now take Ezetimibe - no more problems. .

I find this discussion very interesting. I've been on Atorvastatin for many years and until recently very flexible. I'm now aching in my legs and lower back muscles and walking slowly with small steps. I was shocked when I saw myself when checking my video doorbell . Doctor dismissed it as osteoarthritis (without examination or tests) and prescribed ibuprofen gel to rub 3 times daily and said to take paracetamol 4 times daily.
I saw (privately) a physiotherapist who thought it wasn't osteoarthritis but was muscular and gave me an exercise plan.
I am going to stop Atorvastatin to see if it makes any difference.

Very eye-opening and some awful experiences. I don't think you can beat personal accounts from people who have taken them.

Unfortunately, it's all about balancing the books and seems to be just another business.

Thanks Valdavi, that puts my suspicions to rest. As Barmcake says it is a case of balancing the risks and benefits and we don’t necessarily hear from all the people who take statins without any ill effects. Whilst I sympathise with the quality of life argument a stroke could leave me with a very reduced quality of life. My cholesterol is only mildly raised so I’ll see if the diet does the trick and, if not, I’ll go back on statins and hope to find one that suits me.

Just to clarify I’m saying that we don’t necessary hear from people who take statins without any ill effects, not attributing that remark to Barmcake.