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Atorvastatin

Posted , 11 users are following.

chris51153
chris51153

HI, 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.

2 likes, 75 replies

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  • mrbob84
    mrbob84 chris51153

    Posted

    BTW, that smiley face was supposed to be an end-parenthesis.  Unfortunately I don't see how to do any editing on this thread...
  • mrbob84
    mrbob84 chris51153

    Posted

    My point on mentioning the 2.5-3.2% was, if you are only 2-3% more at risk of having a future heart episode if you don't take the statins than if you do, is it worth chancing all these powerful and possibly permanent side effects to avoid such a small risk?

    In my case of memory problems, and I have them, it's really scary to see these drugs associated with dimensia and in some cases amnesia, which I have also seen reported here.  I only need to note that I could not remember my bank account number while on them, to know I am nowhere near immune to such possibilities.  Should such things become permanent because you're on them for the rest of your life, say Hi to having Alzheimer's from then on.  Game over.

  • saba86073
    saba86073 chris51153

    Posted

    Atorvastatin can cause serious muscle problems that can lead to kidney problems, including kidney failure. You have a higher chance for muscle problems if you are taking certain other medicines with atorvastatin. However, muscle pain, particularly if severe and accompanied by dark-coloured urine, may be an indication of a more serious. Although liver problems are rare, your doctor will likely order a liver enzyme test before or shortly after you begin to take statin. You should discuss benefits and risks of taking statins with your doctor. People who take statins and drink large quantities of grapefruit juice may be at increased risk of muscular side effects. People with liver and thyroid problems may also develop muscle pain while taking statins. Be taking a brief break, switching to another statin drug, changing dose of statin may help your relive few side effects. Co-enzyme Q10 supplements may help you prevent statin associated muscular side effect in some people.
    • jude65855
      jude65855 saba86073

      Posted

      I'd appreciate more information expanding your statement about the combination of "certain other medications" with statins creating a higher chance of muscle problems
  • Happyhacker
    Happyhacker chris51153

    Posted

    I was put on Ator only because I was just below the threshold of risk and Dr. Said it was my choice so I said OK. It was a 40mg dose. After about 3 weeks I noticed a slight ache on abdomen area of about 3 inch. I also noticed lifting my righ arm up gave slight pain. Both of these no apparent muscle ache if I pressed. So I stopped taking them and am going back for further advice. I also suffer from Tinitus and that is not getting better!
    • chris51153
      chris51153 Happyhacker

      Posted

      Thanks. My tinnitus got really bad on the statins. have had it for years but not continuos as it is now. Hope things inprove now I have stopped the statins.
  • mrbob84
    mrbob84 chris51153

    Posted

    I have doubled my CoQ10 from 100mg to 200mg/day, as my gf has had me on 100mg/day for some time, just on GP, having nothing to do with statins.  When I saw Jane's entry about doubling her 150mg/day to 300mg/day ("400mg recommended"), I couldn't help getting all excited about maybe getting more of my memory back!  I have some great memories in there that I want to re-experience, over and over.  Have not gone to 400/day yet, want to slowly ramp it up to there, and see what happens along the way.  Will probably give this new 200mg/day dosage 2 weeks before going to 300mg/day.  
  • chris51153
    chris51153

    Posted

    Just to update. I went to see a good physio he checked me out and did tests and told me that my shoulder joints were frozen due to the Atorvastatin. He wrote to my Gp suggesting I have initially steroid injections in both shoulders, stop the stations and follow a particular exercise regime.He estimates that my arm and shoulder movement will take at least 18 months to 3 years to recover. I have had the injections 2 weeks apart and it has relieved the pain enough to proceed with the exercises.So we will see. I have decided not to go back on steroids and have purchased an adequate cholesterol tester for home use to keep an eye on my levels.My level is 6.11 at present(was 3.5 on the statins) it was well over 7 when I had my heart attack. I honestly feel my MI was due to stress though not cholesterol. I have always been active, good diet, 8stone 5ft 6" half my family have cholesterol over 7 half areunder 5, all slim, fit...ish, can't speak for their diet. I Felt 3.5 was very low for me with my low weight. I was told All my blood tests were ok except glucose? up slightly. I have been referred for a bone density scan. I do not hesitate to stop the stations now I have studied and discussed them.Thanks for all your good thoughts,advice and theories.I will continue with my other heart meds as I know more about what they actually do(as an ex nurse). I hope my arm movements come back and my tinnitus improves.I have had it for years but not continuously as it's been since the Atorvastatin. As for the comment 're yet another person taking things on a GPS say so :-Had I not been so scared, in shock and depressed immediately following my heart attack I would have researched statins more before taking them, but it was a while before getting home and thinking 'future'. Thanks again to all. C

    • loxie
      loxie chris51153

      Posted

      Chris, do NOT blame yourself for taking statins - we place our trust in medical professionals who have undertaken very many years of study, practice and experience to reach General Practitioner level.  Whilst I agree its encumbent upon us all to be as informed as we can be with regard to our health, there is unfortunately too much 'mis-information' and mere opinion in terms of internet and general forum commentary.  Much of which is emotive and its not always possible to separate fact from anecdote.  It must also always be understood that its usually only a very tiny percentage of people who actually post a comment on a given subject, the 'silent majority' either havent had any problem or havent expressed an opinion; thus the info has a tendency to be slanted towards a given stance on the matter.  I was myself told very bluntly by my GP when first prescribed statins that I would 'die if I didnt take them' .  I of course was shocked and upset as you were and blindly thought he knew best.  I would never take them again but I do know that they are life savers in some people and whilst I honestly believe they are over prescribed and side effects are hidden or wrongly minimised, I also know from research that not everyone has these issues, we are perhaps the unlucky few.  I stopped taking statins about three years ago, my muscle issues subsided quite quickly but never quite back to perfect.  In the last year I have had substantial muscle pain and problems, which may possibly be fibromyalgia but I'm sure is probably linked to the statin damage in the first place.  I support your current decision to stop them and would support anyone else with these issues in doing so but I would NEVER criticise someone for having accepted qualified medical advice to take them in the first place.  Take heart and I hope you continue to improve. xx
    • chris51153
      chris51153 loxie

      Posted

      Thanks loxie, hope your muscles and joints get sorted out. It is very difficult to accept the constant pain and lack of mobility (in my case just arms and shoulders thankfully!) I have just started taking CO ENZYME Q10 today after seeing the information on here and researching it. It sounds well worth a try?
  • chris51153
    chris51153

    Posted

    wink Have started taking the Co enzyme  Q10 today after reading all comments on here and studies etc. Will keep my fingers crossed that eventually my shoulder joints may get back to something like they were before the atorvastatin.
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