7 Reasons Not to Dismiss Statin-Caused Pain

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I have been taking statins for many years now and I have been experiencing joint pains or cramps after I stay in a position for about 15 min. I did not connect this with the cholestrol drug I have been taking until recently. My doc increased by dosage from 20mg to 40mg (Lovastatin) about 8 mos back and I started getting acute pain on both knees. It used to swell a lot. I used ice and ibu. For a while I attributed this to playing tennis or cycling after many years. But I accidentally stopped taking it (ran-out and did not fill) the pain stopped. So I told my doc and he is not buying it. He says it is fluid collection on the knees. Did xrays and nothing there. He switched me to Semvastatin and I am seeing the pain come back. I could not squat.. the pain is mostly on the sides (left side on right knee and right side on left knee). Thinking of going back to my doc again... Do any of you experience this type of pain? Are there any groups other than these blogs for this type of issues? Thanks for your help.

Ram of CA 2:26PM February 15, 2012

Thank you all for confirming what I was beginning to suspect. I take niacin along with simvastatin and I think I will will just take the niacin from now on. I can't believe how suddenly everything hurts--even the bottoms of my feet.

Marina of FL 8:13AM February 07, 2012

I was put on 40mg of Simvastatin about 15 months ago. I am a very active 60 year old. Surf every morning before work and Mountain bike daily 6 miles at lunch time. Needless to say I was very fit. After about 6 months on statins I had developed knee pain that I (and my Dr.) attributed incorrectly to Mountain biking. It was all downhill from there. At 12 months I developed severe hip, knee and ankle pain. My knees felt as if they were being squeezed in a vise! Also my quads deveoped a burning sensation as they quickly deteriorated to nothing. Needless to say my active lifestyle was impacted. I could barely walk and was in extreme pain. I felt like an old man. I had declined 20 years in just 15 months from taking this drug. I stopped the statins 3 months ago and the pain went away immediately. I am getting back to normal now. I am now successfully trying to re-establish my deteriorated leg muscles. I will never take a statin again.

Jay of CA 4:57PM February 06, 2012

I know the drug companies are making huge profis from these statins. I was taking Crestor in 2010 and after seeing all the adds on tv, I ceased taking it. It was causing hip and shoulder pain. This is the main reason I stopped it. My cholesterol level and triglycerides as well as my good HDL was low so my doctor prescribed another statin. I have only been taking this for a few weeks and now I am awakened several times with pain in my shoulders, arms, and knees. Personally, I would rather play Russian roulette and be able to get my rest. I am thinking of an alternative way to control the things listed above.

Ann of IN 12:34PM February 03, 2012

I have been on simvistatin for a couple years now and take no other meds. I'm a 38 year old male and generally pretty active. Within this last year I've been more sedentary than usual and my mild back pain has slowly worsened. I attributed it to being out of shape recently, but within just the last week, I've suddenly developed mild to pretty severe pain in several joints. First one elbow became sore and then the other. Then my lower hips on both sides started aching. Then my knees. I can hardly walk, bend, or lift anything without pain. 800mg of ibuprofen only dulls it for a while. Doc seemed unsure of the cause and suggested ibuprofen for two weeks then come back for blood work. After reading these posts, I'm feeling like it may be the Simvistatin. It seems odd though that I've been on it for quite a while before "whammo" all of a sudden I'm outta commission. Oh, and I have felt like I am often forgetful of things I should be aware of. Dunno if that's me or another one of the known side effects of the drug.

Rick of MO 2:17AM February 03, 2012

I am amazed at how little coverage this issue receives, of course it is big Pharm vs 1,000s of individuals. I have been on Simvastatin (40mg) about 9 months. In that time, I have developed chronic tennis elbow (like?) pains and have been hobbled with debilitating back/hip/leg pain for the last 2 months. My GP tells me off-hand that the joint ache caused by statins is general ache not sharp/specific pains. I told him to read the comments here and see if he has the same perspective afterward. I am taking myself off Simvastatin immediately and monitoring any progress. I am not a medical/script fanatic and generally (blindly) have accepted my MD recommendations. That has just stopped with this eye-opening blog.

Bill of MA 10:18AM January 18, 2012

I was fine with just minor back of knee pain. I went on Simvastatin 10 mg and knee got worse. So .... i had arthroscopic surgery! That was ok for a couple of months, then five months after surgery, the pain escalated making it difficult to sleep at night. On a whim (not reading this website or anything else) I decided to do a test and stop taking simvastatin. Pain decreased by about 65%. Tried to go back on ten days later and voila - pain increased making it difficult to sleep at night.
Appreciate any ideas on what I can do, other than stop simvastatin and talk to PCP. Going in this Friday for third shot of Synvisc - for knee! Maybe not taking simvastatin was the cure ten months ago before surgery!? Aack.

Bill of CA 12:55AM January 18, 2012

HAVE BEEN TAKING SIMVASTATIN 20 MG. FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS AND ONLY LATELY STARTED GETTING CRAMPS AND PAINS IN BOTH CALVES AND BACK OF KNEES. ALSO SEVERE PULSATING. BECAME EXTREMELY EXHAUSTED AND COULD NOT FUNCTION LIKE I USE TO. HAD TO TAKE MANY NAPS DURING THE DAY. TOOK MYSELF OFF OF SIMVASTATIN AND IT'S BEEN 2 MONTHS AND AM A LITTLE BETTER, NOT AS EXHAUSTED, BUT STILL HAVE PAIN IN CALVES AND KNEES AND PULSATING. I FEEL, WITHOUT A DOUBT, THAT SIMVASTATIN WAS THE CAUSE. ALSO MANY DOCTORS DO NOT TELL THEIR PATIENTS THAT WHENEVER YOU TAKE A STATIN MEDICINE, YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO TAKE A VITAMIN CALLED CoQ10. UNFORTUNATELY, YOU HAVE TO BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR HEALTH.

L. ZAKIAN of NY 3:12PM January 14, 2012

I have taken Zocor 40mg for about 3weeks now a couple weeks ago my knee started hurting unbearably .I thought it was due to cold weather at first, but with no specific injury, the pain was hard to explain. I quit the Zzocor and the pain is lessening already. Even the painkiller Norco couldnt stop the crippling pain before. I am going to try niacin

Terrimerilee of IN 11:08AM January 09, 2012

I was prescribed simvistain a little over a year ago . My numbers went down the first 6 months , but I started having these horrid pains in my thigh . Then my hips began to hurt so bad I could not sleep at night . All I do is toss and turn from the pain . Some days I can barely walk without looking like a hunched over old lady . I told my doctor and she sent me for xrays of my hips . That did not show much except a little arthritis . I am now convinced that it is the drug doing this ( she says not ) . I can not handle this pain and am going to stop taking this stuff and see if it goes away . I thought I was crazy until I read all these comments and they match my situatuion to a T . I hate taking medicine anyway and this just proves there has to be a better way to lower cholesterol . My family all has it , but I think I am going to go the natural route from here on .It is just not worth living with this pain .....

Darlene of NY 4:28PM January 06, 2012