Atorvastatin and tendon rupture

Thanks Jude, yes I was just after a bit of advice from someone else who has ruptured tendons while on statins.

The information sheets say this is a very rare side effect but I get the impression it is a little more widespread.

It was a retired GP I know that originally told me about the link; however my GP wasn't aware and neither were any of the other GP's at the surgery.  Strangely though all he physios I have seen privately are aware of it.  Why physios as a profession are more aware of a side effect than GP's I don't know, with the exception of retired GP's.

I am concerned that if I go back to play sports when the Achilles rupture has healed that it will go again. 

A friend developed Plantar fasciitis when taking artorvastatin.

He had intensive Physio that helped to a degree but it did not clear up until he stopped the statin. He started on it again and after two weeks and woke up with intense pain in the same heel.

Certain antibiotics may slightly increase the risk of having an Achilles tendon rupture. These are the quinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin. I was taking one last year for a UTI and tendonitis I had years before returned. My GP was dubious about my claims on the cause but now accepts it.  

Personally I'm a bit dubious about the info sheets because they're put together by the drug manufacturers and reports of particular side effects could make them seem rare because doctors and/or patients don't necessarily link the side effects to the drug or doctors don't believe patients and don't report it.  My understanding is that in most countries it's entirely voluntary whether or not drs report side effects.

I also think it's a factor that most people on statins are elderly and on other medication as well for various conditions and too many patients don't research the drugs their doctors are prescribing.

That's interesting about GP's not knowing the possible side effects:  I realise they're very busy people but with statins now being the most widely prescribed drug in the world you'd reckon they'd find time to do a little bit of research, wouldn't you?

All the best

We all should be taking responsibilty for what we put in our bodies:  I'm amazed how many people don't even check info sheets until they experience negative effects and sometimes not even then.

In some countries you can report negative effects of drugs - I'm sure someone from the UK put that on this forum or another one in the last few months.   Doctors used to report to a govt body in Austalia years ago and the results were published for anyone to read, but the funding was cut years ago,.I think even before statins became so "popular".

I remember asking my pharmacist what doctors prescribed for cholesterol issues before statins and she said the old drugs had bad side effects .... questioned further, it was something about bad taste in the mouth and dry mouth and throat ......she did look a bit embarrassed when I listed the negative effects I'd experienced on statins:  exhaustion, depression, muscle and nerve pain, libido loss .... no dry mouth or nasty taste though!

 

Hey Jude - They do as little research as they can.  Many drugs have been dumped on the market, only to be withdrawn when the side effects have become known, often not for years.  Remember the Thalidomide tragedy of several decades ago?  Thousands of children were born with defects after the drug had been delcared "safe" by the FDA.  And don't forget the drug Vixxon (I think that is how it was spelled) that caused heart attacks.

Drugs that are automatically approved by the FDA are NOT safe by a long shot - look at the stuff they give children nowadays!  

Before taking any kind of drug, a patient should thoroughly investigate.  One doctor wanted to give me Cipro for infection, and did not mention the serious side effects until I looked it up for myself!  

Modern docs often get kickbacks from drug manufacturers, so beware when they tell you a drug is "perfectly safe."  

derek76  - Just go on the internet and research the side effects of Cipro - serious achilles tendon damage, and God knows what else.  Doctors often deliberately withold information about the serious side effects of drugs because they receive kickbacks from the drug companies.  

Statins are the most over-prescribed drug today!

I can't se how more exercise could improve the strength of tendons when they must have been at their peak due to previous exercise. The Statins must be weakening the structure of the tendons. I have heard of people having permanent problems after Statins.

There are specific exercises for tendon damage though and exercises which should be avoided:  I managed to avoid shoulder surgery by doing exercises taught to me by my physio and quite amazed the orthopoedic surgeon.    I was also very fit and did strength exercises before the injury and I reckon that would've helped too.

Given all that, I too have heard of permanent muscle and tendon damage from statins:  I don't see the point of living longer with low cholesterol (which may or may not prevent another heart attack or a stroke) and taking the risk of living without statins but also without the negative effects.  

My present GP doesn't even mention statins to me now after I made it clear I was making an informed decision not to take them.    I'm about due for another cholesterol test to check if the psyllium husks are continuing to slowly get it down, but if not I won't go back to statins.

Worse than death:-)

 

I was on for two months and got a torn Achilles out of the blue. Of course my Dr says no connection but, I'm sure it's why. So now I can't decide if I should continue taking it? My tests were pretty high.😩