Atorvastatin - Causing Muscle Cramps - Alternatives?
Aug 7, 2015
I was diagnosed with blocked arteries with up to 90% blockage in LAD, last year. Have a stent and need to take clopidogrel 75mg, this has given me endless problem, but this is must for one year.
at the time I ticked all the boxes on healthy side.
1) No smoking ever
2) No Alcohol at all
3) I am 5ft 5inch my weight 54kg
4) was going to gym everyday for 1hr every morning.
5) very fit no tiredness very active with walking and gardening and extensive diy work in the house.
6) my cholesterol at that time was 3.6
Recent test same level without any statin use.
I was prescribed atorvastatin 40 mg.
Started having very bad muscle cramps
they reduced to 10 mg. still gives same problem. I do not take them
My question is how much a person's cholesterol need to be/ Or is it an automatic requirement to have statin because you had blockage?
My diet is as healthy as it should be.
Will welcome information for alternative to statin or something that can effectively reverse the blockage,in arteries.
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I had a heart attack in June 2012 and was put on many medications one of them being Atorvastatin (Lipitor) 40mg per day. After a couple of months I was in absolute agony with muscle pain which started in my left arm and shoulder, even had some numbness in fingers. The pain over the last 18 months or so has worsened going into my left shoulder and left side of my neck and now is in the whole of both my shoulders and all the back of my neck. The doctor has constantly denied it is any of the meds that I am taking and has sent me to physiotherapy many times, needless to say none of the various therapists have helped. I have been to see an osteopath, this didn't help either. I have had steroid injections into one of my shoulders, no help from that.
My pain gets worse by the week and is seriously affecting my daily life from work (I am a secretary) to driving to doing any of my enjoyed sports of fishing and golf.
I have spoken to many friends on this statin and they all complain of similar muscle pain. Why won't the doctors listen to me when I tell them this.
I have today stopped taking the Lipitor as I cannot take this pain any more. I have previously stopped this on two separate occasions and found the pain almost went away until the Doctors got quite stroppy with me and told me I was going against medical advice doing what I was doing in stopping the medication.
Is there others out there that have suffered this and have found what to do to get GP's to listen to their patient?
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Cramps so bad in thighs, I can't take the pain anymore
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I've been diagnosed with hyperlipidaemia and high blood pressure. I've started taking 20mg of Lipitor few weeks ago to help me maintain LDL and total cholesterol levels. My doctor who prescribed Lipitor told me that it should also help with my hypertension. But since I've been taking it I got a terrible migraine headache. I was literally unable to get up or to do anything. The migraine pain is especially severe during the night. I could barely sleep. I never had a migraine before, just regular headaches, but not too often. I also got diarrhea and really bad smell when passing gas. Sometimes I feel nausea and cramps in my stomach. I've read that ingredient of Lipitor called atorvastatin calcium could be a cause of migraine headaches and other symptoms I'm experiencing. My doctor is unavailable until January, so I discontinued Lipitor by myself because I think it actually caused a migraine. Has anyone had any experience with Lipitor and migraine headaches while using it?
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Was put on 80mg atorvastatin following a heart attack last October. Have had constant pain and muscle stiffness in both shoulders and cannot fully extend both arms. The cardiac nurse suggested I come off them for 2 weeks last xmas to see and ALL the pain went! After seeing the doctor he advised me to continue with Atorvastatin "and see". After one week I was in agony again. I reduced the dose to 40mg a month ago and it made no difference. Other side effects I have are twitchy eyelids, on and off loose stools and tiredness. I saw a different GP today as I cannot carry on like this. He has told me to stop Atorvastatin and has arranged for me to have an extensive blood test next Wednesday. He did say that there are risks with Atorvastatin re muscle and joint problems, liver etc. SO I will see what the tests say and how I am off the Atorvastatin.
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I am a 43 yr old male, I had a massive heart attack in August 2014. I have always been very active in my work but was a heavy smoker, did not have a good diet and did not exercise.
I had my wake up call in August and stopped smoking instantly I completely changed my diet and I am taking daily exercise, that is until the knee pains hit me.
I had a stent put into my artery and was put on many pills at hospital, I had no information about what pills I was on until I started to research the pains. Upon leaving hospital I was informed that I had to attend the cardiac rehab gym and to follow the booklet to increase my exercise to get to 30 mins per day. I could not wait to start after a very emotional shock like I had. I slowly built up to a good 45 min brisk walk twice a day and have been doing this for a few weeks, well until just over a week ago.
I was walking and suddenly felt pains in one knee cap and around it, I slowed the walk down and headed for home. I ice packed it and elevated it but it would not ease. I did not sleep very well that night through discomfort and in the morning the pain was terrible. I had doctors appointments and mentioned the pains and was told it was due to me being new to exercise. After a week of terrible pains in both knees, one worse than the other, numbness in my shin to foot and aches in my ankle. My partner said she had been told at work about statin side effects. I did a lot of research and found page after page of issues with knee pains due to statins. I spoke to my Doctor who said I had 2 options either start lowering my dose or start in a very low dose and build back up to the 80mg I was on. I got the low dose but I have not taken them for the last few days and the pain is starting to ease so much so that I was able to walk around the block yesterday although I suffered with knee cramps for the rest if the evening.
I also have been sent for many blood tests and a glucose test. The Doctor called me yesterday to inform me that I was now diabetic type 2. Luckily I had the Pill hand out in front of my at the time that states that blood sugars increase on Lipitor. My Doctor looked up in his reference book and said you're right! I now have an appointment to see the diabetic nurse. I am not convinced that I am diabetic and I am going to request a re test in a months time after I have been off statins for a month.
Has anyone else been in this situation as I am a little worried about stopping medication but the pain is unbearable and I only seem to be getting information when I search
my list of side effects on Lipitor so is severe knee and ankle pains, sleepless nights, aching gums
I have started taking COQ10 as I know this is stopped by statins I am also taking vitamin d and b12 plus omega 3,6 & 9 gel capsules
I am very shocked that more information is not given to patients regarding these drugs also the information in the professional field. I called the out of hours doctor over the weekend to find out what pain killers I could take to help the pain, the doctor did not agree that it was the statins she said she had never heard of pains in the knees etc and to take 2 paracetamol and go to bed!
The main points I have been told by every Doctor is to exercise but how can you when you can't bend you legs to even go upstairs due to pain from drugs supposed to help you
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MY GP recently prescribed Atorvastatin to deal with high(ish) cholesterol. I have been taking Amlodipine, Losartan and Bezafibrate without any problems but in the past 3 weeks since starting the statins I feel like crap - Nausea, muscle pains, kidney pains and total lack of energy.
The blurb with the statins indicated there could be problems with Amlodipine but I started taking them.
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I am a 14 year-old male. In the past few days I have been experiencing somewhat painful muscle cramps above and slightly to the left of my right eye (the hotspot is eyebrow level, situated between my right eye and nose bridge). These cramps/pains are getting worse and I am getting a bit worried. I am hoping this is not serious or permanent, and want to know all I can about this from professionals or nonprofessionals.
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I've been worried sick about my health condition these days I can't function well in school. My arms and legs have been feeling weak and have been getting short but sharp cramps. They would also feel numb sometimes along with a tingling feeling. I also seldom feel some muscle twitching which are not painful.
This happened a day after a very mild workout. Since then I haven't exercised due to the weakness of both my arms and legs.
The results I've been getting from the internet had made it difficult for me to sleep and go out. I am terrified this could be ALS. Is there any chance, even a slight one, that this could not be something serious? I am almost convinced that this is ALS but I still have a small dash of hope that it isn't.
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My Cholesterol was 7.8 and I was put on Statins 3 years ago. Because they gave me pains in my legs and other areas I stopped them.
A year ago my Cholesterol was still high and I had changed doctors and was prescribed Atorvastatin 10 mg after 2 months my doctor sent me for blood tests and in a phone call when I was at work he told me that Atorvastatin had caused Liver damage. He said I should stop taking the tablets immediately, pity this advice was not put on my notes so that when I phoned for my blood results a week earlier the receptionist could inform me to stop Atorvastatin. She just said Doctor will be in touch via phone call next week
He referred me to a Liver Specialist.
I went to see Liver Specialist after having Liver Ultrasound. Fatty liver was diagnosed and Liver Specialist promptly put me back on Atorvastatin claiming this would help my fatty liver. I couldn't believe it but what could I do?
Local GP had advised me to have bloods done again after being on tablets for 2 months. When my results came back the Locum doctor I saw said "whoa your Liver is not happy" STOP the tablets and have a blood test in 2 weeks.
2 weeks later Liver levels are coming down so thats a good direction. Dilemma is I have to see my Liver Consultant 16 June 2015. Wish me luck!
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I've been on nortriptyline for daily headache prevention for over 20 years. Has done an excellent job in headache prevention and just helping me feel normal. Just in the last year as I'm at the door of menopause, I've been experiencing pain and tightness in my hips, perineum, and sit-bones. Also a lot of stiffness and weakness in surrounding muscles. I attributed it to my sit-down job, but I now have a standing desk and am still experiencing a lot of pain. Wondering if nortriptyline is the cause of it, and am thinking of weaning of it. Has anyone else experienced this kind of pain as side affects of nortriptyline.
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its great to know i'm not going mad thinking i'm unique in this - i get cramp in my toes every single time i go to bed, if i dont try to nip it in the bud within a few minutes it moves to the rest of my foot and then to my calf muscle, i am wondering if i have a circulation problem, i did have Quinine for this and to be honest i noticed a reduction in the amount of times per week i got it then my husband said try an Aspirin which i did and noticed an aspirin in the morning then one at night reduced it even more than the quinine but, after a month of doing this, my cramps have increased to every night again whether i take aspirin or quinine, i am thin, relatively healthy but i am not a drinker of water so wonder if i should try that one next and maybe get hold of some concentrated Magnesium Citrate, i'll do anything to stop this, i even get it come on when driving and putting my foot on the gas pedal occasionally.
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I had a question as to why muscle cramps is a symptom with ALL. Could it be because of the reduced ability to metabolize calcium or anaerobic metabolism or what?
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I am suffering terrible fluttering in both legs below the knee, sometimes the back of the knee too. The fluttering then explodes into a cramp in one muscle which spreads to one or more others as I try to manipulate or stretch the first. The cramps are agonizing and last for up to 10 mins! When they finally subside the fluttering returns and the cycle keeps repeating itself. Rest and cold are sometimes factors. I would say I'm generally healthy and fit, I don't drink much water and sometimes I wonder if coca cola or diet coke make if worse. I have also recently done atkins diet but have been eating normally for a week or more. I can go weeks with no cramps then be plagued for a month! Its driving me mad and keeping me awake! HELP!!
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For the past couple months I experience sharp, stinging (or maybe burning) pain in my calf, usually right leg but sometimes left too.
I've been walking long distances my whole life and never had cramps before. Been doing some reading and so far symptoms fits cramps.
I have lately been walking really long distances on occasion.
I have the pain happening at night. I wake up with badly aching leg (calf muscle) and need some time time for it to lessen, sometimes I fall asleep seconds later and when I wake up the muscle is stiff and painful. It's also bit painful/sensitive at touch on other days too.
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I am having a monthly infusion of Zoledronic Acid, I was wondering I'm anyone else has experienced the above symptoms, Cramps are always in my calves, ankle and groin. Muscle aches can be anytime during my treatment.
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Does anyone that suffers from Benign Essential Tremor suffer from muscle twitching involuntary jumps and cramp in hands and fingers?
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When in bed at night I struggle to turn over or move as I feel so stiff and sore. Once out of bed and moving I am much better. I initially find it hard to become upright after sitting for any length of time. About 2 years ago my daughter noticed my right calf was much smaller than my left one. I cannot raise my self onto my toes on my right leg due to loss of muscle/strength in the affected leg.
I have had blood tests, nerve stimulation tests and a muscle biopsy. My CK level from my blood tests was slightly raised, my nerve study tests were abnormal and my biopsy only showed minimal change.
I now cannot raise my arms above shoulder level to the front and if I walk at a quicker pace my lower back feels like I have no support and I get pain around my lumbar region.
I go spinning 4/5 times a week and cope with this very well. It's as though once I'm warmed up my stiffness diminishes. I am 51 and have only one period every 3/4 months , I have been to the dr's re the menopause but have been told all my blood tests are normal.
i have been referred to a neurosurgeon and neurologist with ? A form of muscular dystrophy but now my muscle biopsy result has not shown the expected result.
i struggle going up and down stairs often. I feel so fed up with my inability to do what I want to do as I have always been an active person. I have put weight on and cannot motivate myself to control my diet.
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I was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and I have been taking Carbimazole since Aug 6, 2010, since yesterday I have been experiencing painful leg cramps (not the usual night time calf cramps) that begin just above my right knee and travel down to my foot sometimes 5 or so in quick succession - this is really painful :? and I wondered if anybody else has these or should I go back and see my GP?
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I have a horrendous rash on my feet, upper arms, back and hands. I have been taking Omeprazole for about 6 weeks, and am due to see a consultant in a few days. As no one had mentioned a rash to me, I assumed it was a heat rash, as I have a habit of warming my feet by the fire, but the rash has got much worse, and now I have ENORMOUS blisters on my big toes and small ones elsewhere on my feet and hands. I have phoned the GP surgery as I see this is listed as a possible side effect, and was told to stop taking the omeprazole which I did yesterday. So far there is no improvement, but it is only 24 hours, so I am hoping there will be some improvement very soon. I have also lost my sense of taste and smell which may be due to a bad cold, but I have a very dry mouth and a horrid taste in it when I wake up in the morning. This is also a listed side effect. The doctor I spoke to seemed to think the rash IS due to the omeprazole. Incidentally, I took lapromazole for 2 weeks previously, but it gave me dreadful diarrhoea, so the consultant changed me to omeprazole. I will post another message on here when I have seen the consultant.
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I had what felt like ovulation cramps last week and tonight have vaginal bleeding, fresh blood not old.
I did this in 2012 after my mom died, was checked pap smear, uterine biopsy and I feel those hurt, it was all good, they thought it might of been stress related because it lasted only one day.
My abnormally normal periods were only 1-3 days, they were one coming in, one day of heavy bleeding, and spotting on third day. But every 28 days like clockwork with no issues there. In my 20's I was told I had endometriosis and when they went to do the ultrasound the cyst had went away. I didn't take it any further than that but never had children and never took birth control. Cramps were always very painful, had to curl up in a ball, always had severe back pain with them as well.
Last week they were like that not quite as bad but nearly.
Is this just a fluke you all think? Even menopause I had no symptoms, when I turned 50 it shut off like a faucet never again until 2012, and now.
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