Muscle pain from statin drug -- please describe - High Cholesterol Message Board

texasmary · 05-30-2009, 07:45 PM

Would someone please describe the type of muscle pain that sometimes accompanies taking a statin drug? Is the pain all over the body or perhaps just with muscles which have heavy use? Is the pain a dull ache or sharp or burning? I have been on Pravachol for almost six months and have been having lots of muscle and joint pain for the past two months. Just wondering if it could be the Pravachol. I am taking CoQ10 twice a day. It is really putting a damper on my exercise program, which I'm told is very important in bringing down my cholesterol and blood sugar. If I were to stop the Pravachol and if it is the source of my pain, how long do you think it would take for me to see a difference? Thanks for any help.

rudiraven · 06-03-2009, 09:25 AM

texasmary,
Statin drugs are well known for causing muscle pain and in some cases cognitive impairment. It varies in intensity and location from person to person. I would not take a statin drug. Several studies have shown that statins are not effective for women or the elderly and that patients with lower cholesterol have higher mortality rates. Some people recover rapidly and completely after stopping statins, others take longer and in some cases there is permanent damage. Please do some research and decide for yourself. I wish you well

Lulubells · 06-12-2009, 03:46 PM

All of the symptoms you described are symptoms I had on it, burning pain, joint pain, muscle pain.. I would back off of the working out or you could do some real damage.. I also has leg and foot cramps at night and TENDON damage. People on statins have been known to rupture tendons while doing just about nothing.. I also had the cognitive impairment and that is what eventually woke me up that all my problems were the statin drug!

How soon to recovery? For each it is different.. I am 3 years off and still suffering with tendon damage pain. The cognitive impairment was gone within 24 hours of stopping the drug, cramps and a lot of the other problems gone in 24 hours.. The joint pain meds I stayed on for 2 weeks after I quit the drug out of fear... it was HORRIBLE pain, but I did quit the pain meds and no more joint pain either. I also discovered I had unbelievable energy that I hadn't had in years.. the drug had stolen that a snippet at a time so I didn't notice it was gone until it came back with a surge! For each it is different though.. Some people the effects leave right away, some people it takes a long time, some never fully recover... Be warned, your doctor will think when you quit the meds, all side effects go away and they don't! It also is not safe to just suddenly stop, you have to wean yourself off.

Sad to say that doctors do not admit statins even do this to people, much less know what to do about it. I have had to learn on my own what to do to recover as best I can. Some doctors are waking up but it's to few and it's only since so many have already been damaged. Mine wanted to put me on another statin, saying they all don't do that but I had educated myself and knew if I took another one, it would come back and probably worse than before. I PROVED to him I could lower mine without his darn drugs and my cholesterol IS hereditary.

You are obviously one of the many "FEW" of us that can not take this class of drugs if your problems are what they are so soon into starting them.

texasmary · 06-12-2009, 03:59 PM

Thank you very much for your reply. With my doctor's approval, I stopped my Pravachol a week ago (did not taper off) and I will see him in about 2 weeks to discuss my progress. I think I am doing a little bit better already, and hopefully I can tell a real difference in the next two weeks. Thanks again.

Lulubells · 06-14-2009, 02:04 PM

Good Luck in your recovery! Please use your time now to educate yourself on what to eat and what to avoid eating, all the hidden dangers out there in foods that say they are "Healthy" and what to eat to lower is naturally.