7 Reasons Not to Dismiss Statin-Caused Pain

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I am seventy-five years old. Four years ago I was on Simvastatin for nineteen months. I had the same doctor for more than thirty-five years. I complained about the pain but instead of having been taken off the medicine I was prescribted Vicadin. I never asociated the pain with the medicine. I had other side effects such as severe dizziness, muscle weakness, constipation and problems urinating. When I was put on the Statin medicine my cholesterol level was normal. My LDL read 134. Five points over the high. My other levels were within normal range. I started out with 20mg a day and my LDL level went down to 121. Normal range. Without me being aware of it my doctor raised the dose to 40mg a day. That is when the pain started. When I asked my doctor,when I was off the Statin, why he doubled the dose to fourty he said he wanted to see if he could get the LDL level down by fifty percent. As I said the doctor ignored my complaints. Nearly twenty months later someone directed me to a website explaining the dangers of the Statin. When I told my doctor he dismissed it as "crazy people". He insisted he saved thousands of lifes. I slowly weaned myself off the Statin but it was too late. The damage was done. I am now four years later and I am on a combination of Norco and Morphine. In the morning when I get out of bed the pain is so severe that I have trouble standing and I am nausiated. I take the morphine and it takes roughly two hours before I can martinally function. All the recommendations of diet and exercise should have been given before the medicine. It is not possible for me to exercise now. My life is ruined. I used to be a healthy man and now I am unable to walk without a cane. I am with an HMO and there is not a doctor in the house who has the guts to go against the Machine. When I ask for a muscle biopsy the entire system stonewalls me. My doctor retired and walked off into the sunshine without a blemish on his record. Had he done this damage to me with his car he would be in jail.

John Bomers of CA 5:20PM May 24, 2012

I have been taking Crestor for 5 years. I have had all the symptons of muscle pain . My quality of life has deteriorated to the point that a walk would leave me drained for 2 days afterwards. And I have been extremely fatigued for a few years. Trying to sleep at night was hell from the muscle pain in hips and legs. I had a few other health problems ( sciatica due to herniated disc ) that probably helped cloud a proper diagnosis. But yesterday, I went to see my doc and explained symptons again and she told me it was probably caused from my Crestor use. I have stopped taking it. After researching on computer, I can't believe all the stories about statin myopathy. I could have written each one of them. I'm alarmed to think about how long I've been taking this and how much damage has been done to my muscles. I'm afraid that it won't be reversible. I used to be very active and walk 7 km a day. My energy was high. I was only 43 when I started taking Crestor and I feel that I have lost the past 5 years of my life. I am relieved to finally know what the problem is, and excited to think I might possibly regain my active life.

Debra Kalynuik of MA 6:56AM May 16, 2012

I have had two spinal cord surgeries. After the first one, I had excruciating pain in my legs, more than they expected me to have. It subsided, and it's been 8 years since that time. But the day before yesterday, it came back, not as badly but it came back. I was able to control it with an NSAID. Then, I remembered that I was on Simvastatin and had had some recurrence of joint and muscle pain, which had gone away last year when I went OFF Simvastatin. Why did I go off? Because a friend told me he did and all his painful symptoms went away; he could hardly walk a block previously to that. So I went off, things went away, but I did not change my diet. My cholesterol shot WAY up beyond anything I'd had ever, and it shot up in just 6 months. I think it's time for me to go off my 20 mg. of Simvastatin and change my diet to one that will control my cholesterol more efficiently. I am going to begin by weaning down to 10 mg. for one week and then off. Wish me luck. I like pasta and bread way too much, and tend to run the other direction if fruit is presented to me. I have my work cut out for me. I, too, cannot sleep on my right side because of my hip joint. I hope all of you find your answers and thank you for confirming what I was beginning to think...again.
N.

Nan of IA 6:21PM May 13, 2012

I am 50 years old own a sucessful gym and maintain several celebrity clients in Miami Florida. Although I am a very fit person with athletic conditioning I was advised to start a low dose regimen of Crestor by a prominent Cardiologist here in Miami who by the way has written a few books on the subject of heart disease and diet. My numbers were always borderline but never bad but my family history confirmed his opinion to put me on a drug "that has been yielding great results" After only 4 doses I was physically unfit to receive my clients or run my business. Borderline disabled. The joint pain was severe and I felt as though I was running a low grade "flu like" fever the entire time. I called my Dr.s office immediately after researching the side affects of Crestor here and on other blogs and took myself off the med. I immediately felt better and all symptoms went away. I followed up with my Dr. and he second guessed why he put me on the drug in the first place...??? Duh??
In any event I chose a "natural" alternative RED YEAST RICE. After 3 weeks on that both knees experienced pain and the end result was a knee brace on my left side. I asked myself how could this be happening and did more research on the RYR. Learned that it acts like any other statin. Off that as well now and my knee is improving but I was just about ready for a needless surgery because of RYR.
I told my Dr. that in my opinion - they should put a skull and cross bones on each bottle of the Crestor instead of prescribing it. The pain associated with statins are debilatating and over a prolonged period will probably increase your risks of from dying from a heart attack due to lack of mobility, tiredness/fatigue, muscle weakness...etc. Thank God for sites such as these!

Danny of FL 12:11PM May 08, 2012

the pains are coming from the statins and the doctors are saying that it doesn't.
get off them and you will see an improvement. They want you to take this for life
don't listen as this is big pharma again trying to keep you on medicine that you do not need. Go to a holistic doctor.

Eileen of IL 3:27PM April 25, 2012

i have been trying various statins for over 20 years with bad side effects including memory loss (not remembering what the name is for a common object, like a light switch or a paint brush), terrible hand pain (which i attributed at first to arthritis since it runs in my family), and muscle aches in my calves. i have told my doctor these symptoms, and she has brushed them off, saying that i "may have to live with the pain". I am currently FED UP with my doctor, and have just switched to a new practice. these symptoms are real, and not made up in my head. the pain and memory loss is something i can't live with. i was at the point where i could not teach effectively (i'm an art teacher) or lift anything, or hold a brush.
recently i had a conversation with my father and my brother, who both complain of "arthritis" in their hands, and muscle aches. i asked them if it may have to do with the statins they are taking. my brother and father went off statins to see if the pain was related, and guess what? it was the statins causing the pain. my brother is now on zetia, with NO pain, and my dad has switched to a different statin and feels a lot better, and can now sleep through the night (which he hasn't done in years). neither of them ever attributed the pain with the statin until i brought it up. very interesting!
i guess my point is that doctors who have not experienced these side effects have no idea what we are dealing with. it's frustrating when they think we are exaggerating or acting like weenies. please know you are not alone, and you have many people in the same situation.

ruth of CO 10:27AM April 19, 2012

I have tried most of the statins on today's market. All have noted side effects of muscle pain and weakness. At times ambulation was difficult to manage, my lifesyle was greatly distressed. My Doctor reports I will have a stoke if I do not continue on a statin. I cannot-the pain is more than I can manage. My Doctor tends to dismiss my concerns. Are there any suggestions out there at all that can help ptrevt a stroke. I was taking 200mg of Co Q 10 while on the statins. I have also tried Welchol-having the same pain. The last statin I took was Lovastatin (2nd trial of it) I stopped it in March 2012, the muscle pain has decreased but is still there, mostly in the back now with weakness in the arms and legs.

Pat Jones of KY 9:10AM April 18, 2012

I was on PRAVASTATIN 40 MG FOR 1 MONTH .I CAN HARDLY GET AROUND AND HAVE TROUBLE SLEEPING.TOOK MY SELF OFF. IS THIS A LASTING DAMAGE OR WILL IT GO AWAY?

J DOUGLAS of KY 7:23PM April 11, 2012

I have been taking various statin drugs since my heath attack in 1997. Lipitor, Crestor, Simvastatin, Mevacor and I'm sure there are others. I have had the following side effects over the years causing me to try other types:
Joint pain, Muscle pain, tiredness, numbness of the penis, scrotum rash, loss of memory, especially names, overall feeling of being 20 yrs older than I am.
For years I told my cardiologist of these symtoms and he poo pooped them. Finally I just said enough is enough and quit. I have recently taken WelChol and Gemfibrizil to much the same effect. I have yet to find a prescription drug that reduces my cholesterol without dibilitating side effects.

Tom Keeton of TN 7:42PM April 04, 2012

i am scheduled to get a ct scan today due to pain in my right leg. I have been taking simvastatin since 1/15/2012.
I can barely walk & holding on to objects.
I will not take any more of this medicine.
Wish I had read comments sooner.

iLana D. Arnold of SC 4:21AM April 04, 2012