Statins and Muscle Pain
I have spent the last 2 weeks answering questions about Vytorin and Zetia after the media caused an inexcusable hysteria that in some way Zetia or any combination which included it was bad. One well-known expert always seems to weigh in on every cholesterol issue and gives the thumbs-up if he was involved in the study and the thumbs-down if he was not.
I can tell you that those of us who practice full time clinical medicine and see patients daily have not altered our prescribing practice on the basis of the ENHANCE study which was strictly an imaging study with no outcome data regarding what the findings actually mean in the patients.
It is a shame that the ASTEROID and METEOR studies involving Crestor, which were also imaging studies but showed a decrease in the plaque burden in the heart arteries(ASTEROID) and a regression in some patients and no progression in others(METEOR) of the same thing that was measured in the ENHANCE study (CIMT or Carotid Intimal Medial Thickness) and generated all the confusion, were not mentioned in the media. The point is that all of these studies are imaging studies and there is no outcome data so I really do not know what any of them mean in a practical sense.
Are statins bad for the muscles?
Once again I will present the evidence-based data, but first, some definitions:
What does all this mean?
First of all, muscle problems do occur with all statins. Muscle complaints have been documented to increase with increasing blood levels of the statin. There are 2 different classes of statins: Fat soluble and water soluble. The fat-soluble statins include Lipitor and Zocor and the water-soluble include Pravachol and Crestor.
Since fat-soluble statins can easily enter the inside of the muscle cells, theoretically muscle damage should be increased with their use, as water-soluble statins do not easily get into the muscle cells. This hypothesis has not been confirmed and cases of Rhabdomyolysis, while rare, occurring about 1 time for every 15 million prescriptions written, has occurred with all statins.
My practice is to obtain a baseline CK (enzyme) level before starting statins to see if it is elevated. When a patient on a statin develops myalgia symptoms, I closely monitor them and if severe, I will get a CK level to see if there is any muscle damage.
The problem exists, however, that frequent inquiries about muscle pain may prompt symptoms in suggestible patients. Based on clinical experience, statin-related myalgias resolve when stopping the medicine. There is insufficient evidence to conclude whether myalgia that persists after stopping the statin is caused by the medications. All patients who are symptomatic on statin therapy should have thyroid function tests done as hypothyroidism can exacerbate symptoms.
Also, other medications or nutraceuticals that slow down statin metabolism should be known such as red yeast rice (which may contain a statin and produce myopathy) and grapefruit juice consumption, which impedes the breakdown of fat soluble statins mostly affecting patients on Lipitor.
Regardless of the CK level, if the pain is severe, the statin should be stopped until all the symptoms resolve. Once this occurs, the same statin could be started at the same dose to see if symptoms recur or started at a lower dose. Alternatively, a different statin can be tried.
There is no direct comparison of tolerability among statins and therefore no definitive evidence to recommend a specific statin medication. In other words, there isn't one that's any better than the other, based on established studies. In my practice: however, I will change a patient from a fat-soluble statin to a water-soluble statin if myalgias start and this has been successful for me in reducing muscle problems.
As I said earlier, there is no direct evidence that water-soluble statins produce less muscle problems as compared to fat soluble statins. If the muscle pains are tolerable with or without a CK elevation less than 10 times the upper limit of normal, the Muscle Panel recommends that statin therapy be continued at the same dose or a reduced dose. Generally it is my experience that muscle aches do go away or become tolerable to the patients if the statin is continued. Many physicians are too quick to stop statins with any muscle aches.
The risks versus benefits of statins need to be weighed. One must remember that statins have reduced Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality by approximately 40%. While there is no definitive clinical evidence of any strategies that can be used to prevent or reduce muscle injury, there is some evidence that coenzyme Q10 may cause a significant reduction in statin-induced pain. Since the response has been variable, the use of coenzyme Q 10 cannot be recommended with any degree of confidence.
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: statins, muscle pain, lipitor, crestor, zetia, vytorin, cholesterol management
I can tell you that those of us who practice full time clinical medicine and see patients daily have not altered our prescribing practice on the basis of the ENHANCE study which was strictly an imaging study with no outcome data regarding what the findings actually mean in the patients.
It is a shame that the ASTEROID and METEOR studies involving Crestor, which were also imaging studies but showed a decrease in the plaque burden in the heart arteries(ASTEROID) and a regression in some patients and no progression in others(METEOR) of the same thing that was measured in the ENHANCE study (CIMT or Carotid Intimal Medial Thickness) and generated all the confusion, were not mentioned in the media. The point is that all of these studies are imaging studies and there is no outcome data so I really do not know what any of them mean in a practical sense.
Are statins bad for the muscles?
Once again I will present the evidence-based data, but first, some definitions:
- Myalgia is a non-specific common complaint of muscle ache and there are no abnormalities of the muscle enzyme CPK or CK on a blood test. Myalgia has rarely been examined in clinical trials and it is thought that some type of muscle aches can occur in up to 30% of patients on statins. Unfortunately, many of these patients start a vigorous exercise program at the time they start their statin because they decide it is to "get in shape" and one doesn't know where the orgin of the muscle ache is from. There are many other causes of myalgias too. Statin muscle pain typically occurs in the proximal muscle groups(closer to the trunk of the body) and also lower back. Statin-induced myalgias have occurred up to 3 years after starting a statin.
- Myopathy has been used to refer to all muscle complaints or CK elevations more than 10 times the upper limits of normal with or without associated muscle symptoms. Myositis has been defined as muscle symptoms with increased CK levels. This term implies muscle inflammation but this appears to be a secondary event associated with the healing process.
- Rhabdomyolysis, by strict definition exists whenever there is evidence of muscle damage, such as a mildly elevated CK level but is used clinically to refer to severe muscle damage and is usually associated with kidney dysfunction.
- Myopathy should be used as a general term for all muscle problems.
- Symptomatic Myopathy should be used to refer to muscle pain (myalgias), weakness, and cramps.
- Asymptomatic Myopathy should be used to refer to CK (enzyme) elevations without any symptoms.
- Rhabdomyolysis should be used to refer to any evidence of muscle cell destruction with resulting change of kidney function.
What does all this mean?
First of all, muscle problems do occur with all statins. Muscle complaints have been documented to increase with increasing blood levels of the statin. There are 2 different classes of statins: Fat soluble and water soluble. The fat-soluble statins include Lipitor and Zocor and the water-soluble include Pravachol and Crestor.
Since fat-soluble statins can easily enter the inside of the muscle cells, theoretically muscle damage should be increased with their use, as water-soluble statins do not easily get into the muscle cells. This hypothesis has not been confirmed and cases of Rhabdomyolysis, while rare, occurring about 1 time for every 15 million prescriptions written, has occurred with all statins.
My practice is to obtain a baseline CK (enzyme) level before starting statins to see if it is elevated. When a patient on a statin develops myalgia symptoms, I closely monitor them and if severe, I will get a CK level to see if there is any muscle damage.
The problem exists, however, that frequent inquiries about muscle pain may prompt symptoms in suggestible patients. Based on clinical experience, statin-related myalgias resolve when stopping the medicine. There is insufficient evidence to conclude whether myalgia that persists after stopping the statin is caused by the medications. All patients who are symptomatic on statin therapy should have thyroid function tests done as hypothyroidism can exacerbate symptoms.
Also, other medications or nutraceuticals that slow down statin metabolism should be known such as red yeast rice (which may contain a statin and produce myopathy) and grapefruit juice consumption, which impedes the breakdown of fat soluble statins mostly affecting patients on Lipitor.
Regardless of the CK level, if the pain is severe, the statin should be stopped until all the symptoms resolve. Once this occurs, the same statin could be started at the same dose to see if symptoms recur or started at a lower dose. Alternatively, a different statin can be tried.
There is no direct comparison of tolerability among statins and therefore no definitive evidence to recommend a specific statin medication. In other words, there isn't one that's any better than the other, based on established studies. In my practice: however, I will change a patient from a fat-soluble statin to a water-soluble statin if myalgias start and this has been successful for me in reducing muscle problems.
As I said earlier, there is no direct evidence that water-soluble statins produce less muscle problems as compared to fat soluble statins. If the muscle pains are tolerable with or without a CK elevation less than 10 times the upper limit of normal, the Muscle Panel recommends that statin therapy be continued at the same dose or a reduced dose. Generally it is my experience that muscle aches do go away or become tolerable to the patients if the statin is continued. Many physicians are too quick to stop statins with any muscle aches.
The risks versus benefits of statins need to be weighed. One must remember that statins have reduced Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality by approximately 40%. While there is no definitive clinical evidence of any strategies that can be used to prevent or reduce muscle injury, there is some evidence that coenzyme Q10 may cause a significant reduction in statin-induced pain. Since the response has been variable, the use of coenzyme Q 10 cannot be recommended with any degree of confidence.
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: statins, muscle pain, lipitor, crestor, zetia, vytorin, cholesterol management
47 Comments:
Precisely which statin studies have documented a 40% reduction in Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality? What is the number needed to treat to achieve this 40% reduction? Is the 40% relative risk or absolute reduction? What is the population for which this 40% reduction is measurable?
Dear Dr. Richman:
The Expert Panel failed to disaggregate by sex. The evidence base for prescribing statins to women is weak. Yet if one can extrapolate from Canadian research, half of all statin prescriptions are likely to be for women. Women may be particularly susceptible to statin-induced muscle problems. Other areas of concern include breast cancer, miscarriage and birth defects. (It has been estimated that between 500,000 and 800,000 women of childbearing age in the US were taking statins in 2004.) Would you support a women-centered gold standard randomized clinical trial to investigate statin benefit for women that would also track and publish all serious adverse event data?
H.G. Rosenberg, Ph.D.
Dr. Rosenberg---I certainly appreciate your comments. It is impossible to say that half of the statin prescriptions are for women. There is no evidence from any randomized clinical trial that women are more likely to have statin-induced muscle problems. It is also common knowledge on all statin labeling that they may be teratogenic and many physicians will not put women of childbearing age on a statin unless they are on OCPs. Many other physicians also make female patients sign a document acknowledging the potential harmful effects to the fetus if they choose not to use OCPs. In regard to cancer, there is absolutely no reliable data that statins cause breast cancer. I support any study that furthers the knowledge base on any drug.
I want to thank Dr. Richman for his great blog postings. They are extremely insightful and helpful. I am really tired of seeing comments from so many people that don't have a clue what they are talking about and have absolutely no prospective clinical evidence from any trial to support any of their claims made. Certainly everyone is entitled to their opinions, but monday morning quarter backing does little to help people but rather creates more confusion. As a fellow physician, I am familiar with the Statin Safety Task Force and I think they did an excellent job in their quest to use evidence based medicine to draw their conclusions
I am not a physician, I am a physicist and I took statins on two occasions with muscle problems occurring both times. The first instance, I was on Lipitor for several months before I suddenly developed total body fatigue to the point where I was rushed to an emergency medical facility thinking that I had a coronary event. Nothing was found and I was taken off the statin. No further fatigue developed and I was placed on Zocor. Within a day I developed extreme leg muscle fatigue and this time I took myself off the statin. Subsequently, my physician placed me on a regimen of Welchol and high dosage Niaspan which has reduced my total cholesterol to acceptable levels and raised my HDL from 27 to 62. I have been on this combination for several years now without any side effects other than occasional hot flashes.
Dear Dr. Richman:
I am on a 80mg regimen of lipitor. I am experiencing severe leg cramps and my legs have lost all muscle tone and are turning into sticks. Does this sound like it is lipitor related? My doctor mentioned a CK test would this definitely show something if it is?
additional information on previous post. I can not walk down stairs without the legs shaking as they have become so weak. I am a 43 year old male with heart condition so I will not go off this without a subsititute but really need an opinion of whether I should pursue this as being related to the high dosage of lipitor?
I am trying Crestor to see if I can handle statins with Q10. My question is that since my heart attack 1 1/2 years ago with a stent placed, if muscle is being damaged by the statin, could the heart muscle also be hurt permanently or to a point of causing a fibrillation. Have there been studies on this?
Dear Dr. Richman,
I developed Rhabdomyolysis from a
combination of Zocor and a cancer
drug ketocozanel (I think thats the
right spelling). After hospitaliz-
ation and dialysis Iam slowly getting my strength back except for
my legs, and have developed extreme
pain in my feet. My Oncologist said
it is nerve damage. What if any is
the treatment for this. The pain is
like a needle going into my toes or
ankle and subsides after about two
minutes.If you can,please email.
Thanks.
T. Jezowski
I have taken two statins in the past and have stopped both with my doctor's consent.
I first tried Lipitor. Although I didn't have any muscle aches, it made me extremely ill. I couldn't eat, I lost weight and I had a terrible fatigue. My liver enzymines were also elevated and I only took for a month.
Six months later, I started Crestor and didn't notice any problems at first. However after 18 months on it, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and osteo-arthritis. I was having a lot of problems managing my pain and dealing with stomach problems from Celebrex.
In February of 2007, my doctor suggested that I stop the Crestor to see if that would help with my pain mgmt and my problems taking Celebrex. It did. I am now able to take Celebrex without upsetting my stomach and the daily pain from the fibromyalgia has all but gone. I have decreased my pain meds and am a much happier person.
I am currently taking Zetia and Lopid to control my cholesterol. My LDL is not as low as it was on the Crestor, but my doctor is pleased since I have no risk factors for heart disease.
I realize that there might be a statin I can tolerate, but at this point I am not willing to risk the chance of side effects.
I used to be a big proponent of statin use, but now I think twice after what I have been through.
I have been experiencing a considerable amount of pain in my legs and feet as mentioned in previous posts by other people. I am on Lipitor and all of the tendons in my arms and legs seem to be inflamed. All of this came upon me slowly after starting Lipitor. I was once on Celebrex but discontinued use due to stomach bleeding episodes. I now take Mobic. I am now under the care of a "Pain Management" group. This came about due to herniated discs in my neck affecting my arms. Fortunately I have an appointment with a neurologist on Friday about the pain in my feet and legs and will now be able to ask some of the right questions relating to these medications. I will post again after the exam and discussion.
After seeing the neurologist Friday, I am now on a start-up regimen with gabapentin. I had been diagnosed previously by this doctor with neuropathy in the legs and feet. I mentioned the soreness in my other muscles and joints and the fact I am on Lipitor, she suggested I confer with the physician prescribing the Lipitor about stopping for two months. I now realize the pain and soreness does not come on suddenly but slowly and may be masked somewhat by other prescriptions. Pain medication would diminish the full effects of the problems caused by a statin. I will again post after the trial without the Lipitor.
I HAVE SORE NECK MUSCLES,BACK MUSCLES, AND I TAKE ZOCOR WONDER IF THIS COMES FROM ZOCOR
Far too many people are experincing muscle deterioration for this drug to still be on the market. My father, who has always had large muscles and an amazing immune system, has been reduced to having difficulty buttoning his shirt and shaving. All this after taking Lipitor for 6 months, two years ago. This condition has gotten progressively worse. DO NOT TAKE THIS HARMFUL DRUG!
I have been taking Zorcor for about 1 year. Since taking this drug, I have developed a severe case of leg tingling/prickling. I notice it mostly at night and my sleep has been dramatically effected. I would appreciate hearing from anyone if this has also ocurred with Zorcor useage.
I have also been taking zocor for 4months now. I have notice tingling and prickly in my legs, feet and hands. I have stop taking this medication at this time to see if this will go away. If anyone else out there has this problem please let us know.
Dear Sir:
I was on Lipitor until 5 months ago- I was a totally healthy- NO meds-5'2 104 Lb female- an amateur bodybuilder- lifted weights 4 days a week-rarely drank alcohol)-
I have developed Horribly high liver values- legs like rubber- my legs are also almst wasting in appearance-they shake upon any mild exertions-- and a few months ago I could squat WITH A BARBELL FOR 2 HOURS-in a few months- after a statin.Also-I have body cramps that move; that are mostly thighs- but also very sore and tight buttocks /hamstrings-; I have been to 5 specialists-say I am a mystery- I haev had open MRI- closed MRI- liver ultrasound- adn ONLY result is nonspecific- a zero. I am sceuled to go to the Miami School of Medicine on Monday- as the neurologist adn gastrol specilm incredibltve had 5 doctors- and a muscle biopsy that are just nonspecific.
Is there any medication /traetment for statin induced myopathy? I would be so grateeful for any thoughts.Thank you M
maxinep@aol.com
Prickly/tingling sensations in my legs accompanied with annoying, constant pain, is what I now experience and took myself off Statin drugs. My doctor put me through every one of them to see (he thought) if a different one would work better?? Needless to say the pain got worse. The latest, is a prescription for Pravachol. Not sure yet if I will take them. I am praying about this!I am sinceely scared stiff. Look, so they are good for your chol and heart related issues, but look, I would rather have the high chol and no pain, than the statin and related pain and conditions. My grandparents and parents died in their 90's, happily, probably with high chol. I dare to suggest the Chemists and drug biggies to try these drugs on themselves,and get their comments. I am sure one of them, or a family member has high chol. Maybe then they can come up with a painless drug. My sister's doctor doesn't believe in taking statins and has her and husband on one aspirin/day therapy. what say you?
I was on Lipitor for several years and started to develop bad lower back and thigh pain (I thought I was developing osteoporosis. I mentioned this to my cardiologist and she told me to stop the Lipitor. I started watching diet and exercising for 2 years after. My cholestrol is back to 290, so I am on Zocor..I now have neck and shoulder pain and I've done nothing to myself to warrant an injury or trama. How can this not be my recent starting of statins, again? Help medical researchers and community, there NEEDS to be research and an answer, because our Hearts are a "muscle" too!
I am a pharmacist so I know the risks. I have been on one statin or another for years. Each caused muscle discomfort. The latest was Vytorin. LDL and HDL were great but I developed RLS which eventually morphed into aches and pains. I felt like I was 90 years old. I had no change in CK or liver enzymes. My doctor lowered my dose but I discontinued it on my own. I simply can not stand the pain, weakness and lack of mobility. Now I know why patients are sometimes non-compliant. I have been off it now for 2 weeks and see very little improvement. I hope I didn't wait to long.
I am a 54 y.o. W male martail arts enthusiast for 40 years. Also do weight lifting and recumbant biking on days I don't practice the arts. I have been a P.A. in orthopaedics for 18 years. I have tried Zocor for a short period of time and also Zetia. After about 2 or 3 weeks I have an extreme drop in energy. Unable to sustain any intense exercise without severe fatigue. I feel like sleeping all the time and have noticed my urination go from a good stream to dribbling down my leg! I have no muscle aches per se, just severe fatigue. Once I d/c the drug within the week all sxs. have susbdided. My toal cholesterol insn't bad but my HDL/LDL ratios are approaching critical. One blogger states he does O.K. on Welchol and Niaspan. Any suggestions?
I have been on 5mg Zocor for about three years with no side effects whatsoever. Lab work done every three months has been within normal range and total cholesterol has been around 190-200. Today I woke up with pain deep in my buttocks. It went away and I walked three miles with no pain. Later in the day, the pain in my buttocks came back and it is extremely uncomfortable. One Motrin didn't help the pain at all. Has anyone else experienced this type of pain and had it diagnosed as a direct result of taking a statin drug?
I am very sorry i tried statins to lower my cholesterol. I now have many problems i am hoping will adventually go away now that i have stopped taking any of the statins. I tried Vytorin for two months and experienced feelings of passing out and balance isuues as well as leg pain. It did lower my numbers significantly though. So i then tried lipitor had samples doc had given me only to be told that insurance would not cover, although the husband takes this and our insurance covers it? Somethning fishy here. Anyway this immediatly seemed to give me stomach pain. So then doc put me on lower dose of Vytorin only to feel the same symptoms returning. now my heels are very tight and it is very tough for me to get up and moving in the morning. At night while resting i have tightness in my calves as well as heels. I have tingling in my face. I have stopped all statins, my passing out feelings and stomach pain have gone away. But i am still left with muscle tightness in my calves and heels.Just when it it seems to be getting better it gets worse some nights with such a burning sensation in my heel cords and calves. I pray that this will eventually clear up and i can get back to feeling like me. Statins are not for all i guess. Also i had a cat scan and alll was ok there. Now there is this contraversy over Vytorin over its effectivness i think there is something else they are not telling us. I know the doc ment well but i now have sleepless nights and struggle to get up and moving each morning. I also now have some eye issues. I felt so healthy before all of this with no health issues at all. Now i feel like i am falling apart. My advice try lowering your numbers by better diet and exercise. Statins are a very risky in my oppinon. Take care everyone
I've started on Lipitor and it made me sick to my stomach were I couldn't even breathe it felt like I had to throw up. So my endocronologist switched me to simvistatin(zocar) and within the last years I get severe thight pain down to my legs by the ankle. It too has hindered my sleeping and my legs shake with pain. I thought I may have restless leg syndrome (rls) but my primary dr assured my that I didn't and to go see a orthopedic, which I didn't. Now I have pain in the joint of my elbows which go up to my shoulder. I've also experienced some neck pain which I brought a conture pillow which has helped some. I see my endocronologist next month and I'm going to ask her when she writes orders for lab work to do a CK level and see what's going on and hopefully get some of this pain under control even if it means changing some meds. Keep ya posted.
sykjdI posted twice in February about problems in my legs and feet. After checking with my prescribing physician, I stopped taking Lipitor. I have stopped experiencing the deep muscle pain and aching joints. My lower back pain has subsided and much of the tingling in my feet. I am taking Gabapentin because of neuropathy in my legs. This is not related to the Lipitor. The muscles in my arms and upper body where I was experiencing the soreness and pains has subsided considerably. If you know anyone that is taking or has been prescribed one of the statins, let them know from your own experience what they can expect. I have made a more dedicated effort to avoid the foods that cause higher cholesterol levels and doing more exercise to lower my levels. None of us are going to live forever. Just choose the quality of life that suits you best. There may come a time in your life when the side effects of statins are more bearable than the consequences of your cholesteral risk. That is going to be your decision. Maybe something better will come along.
I am a female that was taking Lipitor for about 9 months. I have stopped taking Lipitor for 2 months now. I am currently suffering from extreme neck pain that radiates to my shoulders and back. I experience pain in my ankles and feet. My hands and fingers are in constant pain with constant tingling in my fingers. But the most troublesome feeling is the inability to breathe.I must take deep breaths every 2 to 5 minutes. Often times I atempt to take a deep breath and I can't. My CPK levels are at 400. I am currently taking 10mg of prednisone daily but it doesn't seem to be making a difference. My doctor says it takes about 3 months of prednisone treatment for it to work. I'm wondering will I ever breath regularly again? Very nervous and scared of this condition.
Has anyone had experience with coenzyme Q10 regarding reducing muscle aches related to statin use?
I have been taking Lipitor for 3 weeks now. I am 32 years old and very activity with no pre-existing conditions. I excercise 5 days a week and eat healthy. Just in the last week I have been experiencing horrible pain in my muscles/tendons on the top of my feet and up the middle/side of my lower legs. My ankles feel weak. At night the covers on my bed even feel too heavy on my ankles. After reading all of the postings on this sight, I am taking myself off this medicine before it does anymore damage. I am also going to call my doctor to see what other methods they recommend to help lower my LDL which is 171 and increasing. Total cholesterol = 260. I have heard Omega 3 is an option. Any comments from anyone out there on it's effectiveness or side effects?
Anonymous above,
See Dr. Richman's most recent post for information about Omega-3.
I took Zocor for 5 years during which everything tested well but I got increasing muscle pain and weakness of the sort described in this Thread.
I have been included in the Statin Study at the Univ. of California at San Jose, directed by Dr Beatrice Golomb, About a year ago her staff suggested I try the following products:
1) CoQ10 enzyme (I took 300 mg of it 2x a day for a few months and felt considerably better! Have reduced the CoQ10 to only 1x a day) This enzyme is destroyed by most statin medications and it is essential for muscle health.
2) wheat germ oil (I use Vioben, which is what the Study recommended as being of high quality). I added it 3 months after I began the CoQ10 and I got still better! I took a tsp with breakfast and another with supper, and now I have reduced it to 1x per day.
3) cod liver oil, which I added 3 months after that, and it has brought further improvement. I initially took 1 tsp in morning and 1 at supper, now I'm down to 1x per day.
After a year on this 3-step program, most of the symptoms have gone away, even a "buzzing" big toe (surely neuropathy of the nerve) in the leg that first gave me trouble and that therefore was "sick" the longest. The CoQ10 isn't cheap, but I hesitate to stop it! It was at the top of the list given me by the Statin Study, and they have since asked me to fill out a form about CoQ10 and any benefits I perceived. They also told me to check with my doctor before beginning, which I did (before moving to another doctor who is more attuned to the isue!). Still, since the Statin Study proposes the 2 oils because they contain so many components essential to muscle health and cell reproduction, it might be possible to start with the 2 oils: you should know in 6 weeks to 3 months whether they are helping you; and if you think you need further help, add the CoQ10.
Patricia R.
In February, I stopped taking Lipitor for a two month trial period (now extended to almost three months). I have experienced a major decrease in the deep muscle pains in most parts of my body. At that time, I started a regimen of Gabapentin due to extreme pain in my legs and feet which has subsided to nearly nothing. The quandry? What caused the decrease in pain, stopping the Lipitor or starting the Gabapentin? I am now going to stop the Gabapentin to see if the pain in my legs and feet returns. I am going to consult my regular physician about the more natural route to keep my cholesterol down. I will post again after I have tried this latest trial. I will use my name now instead of posting as anonymous.
I have been diagnosed with rhaldomyolysis and have been taking niacin with very poor results. My cholesterol level is now over 700. I am also experiencing higher blood pressure, breathlessness and extreme fatigue, all symptoms I also experienced before I had angioplasty about 4 years ago. My doctor has scheduled another stress test. I can NOT believe only 1-15 million experience this problem as I am the second patient in our village of only 2800population with this side effect.
I have been on Lipitor for approx 2.5 years, with good success in lowering my cholesterol levels, however recently I have been awakened in the middle of the nite w/ severe pain in my outer thigh - had the feeling of something trying to 'burst out' of my leg. Area remains sore to the touch sometimes for up to 2-3 days later! The first "attack" was about 6 wks ago, then the 2nd one was about 4 wks later, then the last one about 2 wks ago. I have tried to think of all other variables (excessive exercise, bending/stretching) on the days of attacks, to no avail. Please advise if you think these symptoms could be related to the long term use of Lipitor. I have also heard that statins can cause weight gain, which has been another issue - about 30-40 lbs in the last 2.5 yrs.
Hi, I'm a 39 yr old female that went from perfect health,working 40+ hrs a week, raising 2 children to developing genetic HIGH CHOLESTEROL. I started taking Crestor 10mg in Jan 07 due to my Cholesterol level was 286. My Dr. didnt do another blood test for 7 months. When he did the blood test end of July 07, was because I had the RLS feeling he and wanted to check all electrolites and emzymes. The results were that my Cholesterol was lower at 254, but my Blood Pressure was SKY HIGH and my Potassium was dangerously low at 2.6. That same evening I ended up at the ER because my entire body was burning hot and very painful. Also my body retains alot of fluid so I have to take an extra diaretic. I see a Nephrologist and a Neurologist every 2 months, but to this day I am a mystery as well. No diagnosis yet. I will be having a CT in July on my Liver and Kidney area because my Aldosterone level is VERY HIGH at 67 and the normal is is 0-21. They to check for tumor on adrenal gland. I will write another blog after I get the results. I have been on disability since July 07 but I do all I can throught my day until I get to the point of feeling like I am going to drop. I HURT EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!! SHOULDERS TO FEET AND IT IS NOT FUN!!!!. I wish someone could find a diagnosis and I am sick of not knowing what is going on. I feel I went having everything to having nothing. I am a major utilty sports fan, very seldom an I able to ride... Also I have a blog on the Crestor review board as well which I posted a few months ago. There are 2 blogs. Sad that the FDA allows statins on the market!!!
Thanks for your comments ... I am a 61 yo beginner in the high LDL fight who just tried a statin for the 2nd time. In 2007 I took Zetia as prescribed ... the 1st day was good ... the 2nd day both legs had pain upon use so I took Naproxen to survive the day ... the 3rd day both legs were so severely painful I doubled the naproxen to survive the day ... the 4th day I found I could not bear weight upon trying to get out of bed to go to the bathroom. It took 30 days of testing and 1 day of physical therapy (the therapist terminated treatment due to the loud audible popping of my bones upon movement) before I could make my very next step without crutches. In April 2008 I tried Lipitor and stopped taking the drug on the 2nd day when the muscle pains started.
Depression and fear took hold of me as I realized by life choices were to die of stroke or live a quadraplegic.
Thanks for the knowledge and this new hope that rhabdomyolysis is a side effect of statins and that other things can be done both with the muscle pain and the LDL level.
I am a female 57 years old. I have had no health concerns in the past. I went to a new doctor who did a bunch of tests,because I had high blood pressure. First I had an abnormal ekg and then had a stress test as a result. The stress test shows heart strain on the bottom wall. Blood tests revealed a cholesterol level of 172 ldl, and a triglyceride level of 484, besides an iron defficiency. I went from taking a vitamin a day to 1300mg of tylenol during the day for arthritis, simvastatin and gemfibrozil for the cholesterol, and an iron suppliment. I am overwhelmed by all of this.I am not overweight. I eat healthy, and do already folow the diet guidelines(except nonfat milk) and seem to be falling apart anyway. why is this happening to me? I watch my co-workers eat candy bars and chips for lunch while I eat health nut bread for my sandwich and pretzles for snack. I do a very physically demanding job with lots of walking besides, so all of the guidelines for cholesterol control are covered. I just started the medication yesterday, so I dont know what the effects will be, but what more can, I do and why did I develope this trouble in the first place? Is the heart strain significant, and reversable? I am going to a Cardiologist this week. What medications can I expect to be added to the handful that I find myself on. What about drug interactions? I had hepatitis A when I was a young adult and was told that I have about 10% liver damage. Could that be a contributer to the triglycerides being so elevated? I am seriously stressed out about all of this. I was always told old age is hell, but I assumed that it would come gradually, not hit me like a ton of bricks. What can I do more and what more can I expect?
I,m a 50 year old male , I received a stent 5 years ago i started noticing leg pain soon after , and increasing to the point of changing jobs .couldnt stand all day , noticably worse in winter doc assured me circulation was good . AFTER 2 years i quit Lipitor and had great relief within 7 days . then he prescribed zocor now i have shoulder and arm pain , and recently i have torn a muscle in left shoulder , now right tricept dr says try 4 aleve twice a day still have pain . DQ zocor is my thought . blood tests were normal
I am a 61 yr old female. I have been on Lipitor, Vytorin and now 5mg. of Crestor. On all 3 occasions I experience severe all over body fatigue and pain. There are times, when I stand up from a sitting position and cannot walk. My CK leveles are 300 and were normal prior to taking Crestor. However, my doc says to stay on the Crestor since my cholesterol levels wer good. I feel terrible, however and wonder what you think of Choloplast as an alternative.
Dear Dr. Richman:
Thank you first of all for your article on "Statins and Muscle Pain". As a part time EMT I found the information interesting. I understand that you said the muscle problems are normally seen near the trunk but I do I have question. I have had muscle pain now for approx. 3 months, after being on Lipitor for about 2 1/2 years now, due to having an MI. When this pain started it was found to be in the upper right quarter of my body on both the posterior and frontal sides, under the arm pit and down about the first 1/4 of the upper arm. I have had MRI's, CAT scans, a nerve test where fluid was put into my back and the nervers were checked through x-ray and all seems to be clear. What I'm wondering is do these muscle pains sometime happen in other parts of the body - i.e. shoulder, arm, neck, etc... With all scans showing minimal spinal issues and good nerve conduction at this time, my thought is that it may be muscle related. The other part that has me thinking this is when I recently had the nerve test on my back I had a close syncope episode while on the table and all pain released when I my body relaxed to that state. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated since my current physican normally doesn't like to hear ideas other than their own.
Steve
P.S. Sorry I forgot to have responces sent to my e-mail box.
Has anyone experienced the same 'STATIN' symptoms when taking RED YEAST RICE?
Wow, what a wealth of information. I have been on Lipitor and Zocor, both causing extreme muscle pain and weakness. Patricia is on to something...the medical researchers are figuring out that statins deplete the muscles of needed "lubrication", thus all the PAIN the populous is experiencing.
My sister in law is a P.A. and she takes Zocor every other day. Her numbers are good and it seems to diminish her pain (along with taking an aspirin and that only if you can tolerate it...stomach wise and bleeding issues, for sure check with Dr. first). She said most Dr.'s would not recommend that dosing, because it is not "standard procedure". But like the person said earlier, you have to weigh the quality of life and compare it with medical knowledge...All the best!
My aunt is 82 years old, has had heart valve surgery a few years ago and is on Zocor. she is currently hospitalized with severe pain in the upper back area. Nothing seems to helo and oain killers make her hallucinate. Does anyone think this pain could be Zocor related?
Update on extreme leg pains. I went to the neurologist today and will be starting a reduction in the gabapentin dosage I have been taking. This is to determine if all my leg pain is a result of Lipitor. My muscle pain has decreased significantly since stopping the Lipitor and we will now see if it was the cause of all my major leg pains. I am going to start a natural remedy for high cholestoral. I will be back with more feedback as time progresses. Let us face facts, we all need to change our diets and get more exercise and not rely on "Better living thru chemistry" to see us in to our elder years.
my doctor took me off of zetia which worked for very well for me. His assistant said he took me off of zetia because he doesn't like it. I trusted him, and began taking Lipitor, then Crestor. I had the same side effects with both drugs. My hands burn, and my fingers are very stiff and sore. It's very painful. I quit taking Lipitor and Crestor 12 days ago and my hands and fingers still hurt, and it's seems to be worse. I hope this has not caused permanent damage. My doctor won't prescribe zetia. I'm not taking any cholesterol meds at this time, and I now I'm at risk. Don't do what I did. Do your homework before you take any of these medications.
My doctor recommended CoEnzyme Q10 after I complained about muscle pain from Simvastatin. CoEnzyme Q10 works tremendously. I started with the lowest dosage, 50mg, once per day and I haven't needed to raise the dosage. The pain was gone. Recently I needed to go off all vitamins, supplements for a medical test. Within 2 days of being off CoEnzyme 10, the pain returned. Looking forward to taking it again after the test.
This is great information. My husband has experienced left side shoulder pain for one year getting progresively worse. He has taken vytorin 10mg eczetimibe-40mg simvastatin tablet and avapro 150mg for two years. His legs and buttocks are pain free and he doesn't feel weak. Recently he underwent athroscopic surgery on his shoulder and they removed scar tissue. It has been two weeks and he still has the same pain mostly at night. Shouldn't the pain feel different and be lessening. I'm looking at his medications. What do you think?
Just diagnosed with muscle damage from statins. Can this be reversed?
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