1. Community
  2. Heart Health
  3. Statins and Other Lipid-lowering Medicines

atovarstatin and leg pains

Posted , 9 users are following.

susan19659
susan19659

Hi,my partner is on 80 mg of atorvastatin following a heart attack 12 months ago  and for the last 2 months has developed pains in his legs[from below he knee to his ankle,mainly front of legs] could this be due to the medication,any advice would be very much appreciated.

​Thanks Sue.

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

Next
  • scott86884
    scott86884 susan19659

    Posted

    Hi Susan,

    Yes it could be, you should ask for a lower dose or even switch to another statin. I was on just 20mg of atorvastatin and after just 6 to 7 weeks I had muscle aches, memory loss, confusion, headaches and vertigo just to name a few. I stopped taking them after 6 months as I couldn't take the pain anymore. Sometimes they will recommend taking it every other day as well. It will only get worse if you don't make some sort of adjustment to meds..

    Scott

    • susan19659
      susan19659 scott86884

      Posted

      Thanks Scott,my partner will be phoning the heart failure team on Monday but last time he mentioned the pains in his leg he was told it shouldn't be due to the statin[80mg is a lot] and they don't want to change his meds very much as he has heart failure.

    • scott86884
      scott86884 susan19659

      Posted

      Hi Susan,

      The Dr's also told me it couldn't be the statin as less than 3% have bad side effects. Guessing I was one of the 3% . Once I quit it took about 8 weeks before the symptoms started clearing up. It was the only drug I was on so I know it was the statins. There are other statins he could try.

      Scott

    • yvonne79055
      yvonne79055 susan19659

      Posted

      Hi Susan I've had two heart attacks in the last two years, the last one a yr ago august for nearly two years I've had leg pain sciatica down the left leg it's changed my life the pain is so bad every day of my life I blame my statins which are astorvastin 80mg the docs say different like I've had physio no good been to see an osteopath no good now I'm trying acapunture and cupping just want to feel normal again I would do anything feel like throwing these statins in the bin but I'll have to speak to my heart specialist so fed up x

  • julia04822
    julia04822 susan19659

    Posted

    Hi Susan

    Agree with Scott, had awful cramps in calfs and neck, memory loss and pains there are no words to describe in my head. Even though I have stopped the statins I am still battling the head pains. You should talk to your doctor.

  • lee12629
    lee12629 susan19659

    Posted

    Yes,and i believe research has shown high doses like 80 have to now carry a black box warning about side affects. You can find this on google.
  • loxie
    loxie susan19659

    Posted

    This is most definitely due to the statins.  I and many others keep being told that it's not but we all know now from experience that it is.  The figure of less than 3% with bad side effects is nonsense I'm sorry to say.  Almost everyone taking statins experiences some side effects - it's the nature of the beast so to speak.  A very large proportion suffer a lot.  The bottom line is the balance between coping with the side effects for the sake of the benefits of statins or taking a risk but not having one's life severely affected by them.  Please do enquire about changing to another form of statin or lipid reducing meds as, for those who experience real problems on these meds, the damage can be cumulative and permanent.  Keep pushing the doctors, they will try to avoid the issue as many of them are brainwashed by the statin myth.  If your husband needs to keep taking statins of some sort, at least make them try to find a type that isn't going to wreck his quality of life.

  • sankar57130
    sankar57130 susan19659

    Posted

    This is definitely due to Statins. I have the same problem due to statins. Though the dosage has been reduced the leg pain has not gone. I have diabetic Neuropathy also.Though diabetes is under control the Neuropathy has not gone. The doctors refuse to stop statins.
    • susan19659
      susan19659 sankar57130

      Posted

      Hi Sankar,we are contacting the heart failure nurse this morning and hopefully will get a good response as my partner is getting really down with the pain  and feels he hasn't got a good quality of life on this medication.Thanks for your reply.

  • jenna123
    jenna123 susan19659

    Posted

    Hi Susan..I dont really think the aches and pains are from the statins..I have been taking 10mg for the past 3 years..have aches and pains so I stopped for 3months to check and my cholesterol shot to 8 and still had aches and pains! so I guess its age related.  a friend of mine 48 years have been taking 20 mg. like for years..and he is perfect! no pains, memory loss or whatever...so I guess it could be age related.
    • julia04822
      julia04822 jenna123

      Posted

      Jenna I have been off the statins for about 4 months now, pains in the calfs have gone but not the pains in my head - though there is a slight improvement. Never had pains like this in my head before I went on statins, and from all the replys on here I still feel it is the statins, of course that is a personal opinion, and we all must make our own decision as to wether we stay on them or stop taking them.
    • jenna123
      jenna123 julia04822

      Posted

      sure I understand your concerns...I would take a second opinion on the pains you have in the head...could be something else and its blamed on statins...Its better to be safe...all the best and sorry about your predicament...
Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.