How long do side effects from statins last once you stop taking them?

I was given lipitor after stent surgery at 80mgs which almost killed me and I had terrible leg and arm aches as well as weakness. They changed me to 20mgs of Crestor which still made me feel achey and weak so my cardiologist has taken me off of statins and I will be starting an injectable soon that is a non statin. You should ask your doctor for this alternative. Many people cannot tolerate statins especially females. I hope you find a solution soon. Two years feeling yucky isn't right.

Thanks for confirming my issues. I am not a complainer and am usually quite tolerant, so it upsets me when I am not taken seriously. I hurt everyday, and I'm a very active 65 year old. I want to be able to play with my grandkids and dance without pain. I have a message in to my cardiologist so just waiting for his response. These pains are no joke. I've heard of the injectable. Sounds promising.

I forgot to ask how long it took for the aches and weakness to subside, if they have. Where I have a "break" from statins on Saturday/Sunday, I don't feel any better, but I think it will take a while for them to stop the damage.

I understand completely. I had an emergency angioplasty on July 17th and then was thrust into all this medication immediately without any information from the cardiologists. It's protocol to give these large dosages of medication after having stents inserted but not knowing that and also being a very active person with no history of heart issues and very sensitive to medications it felt like a violent invasion of drugs. My body reacted so strongly that I was back in the hospital a few days later. I couldn't take the aches, numbness and weakness and the shaking was uncontrollable. So, I wasn't on statins that long in fact, maybe only a week when they took me off of them. I felt the effects for only a few days so I can imagine you would feel them for awhile since you've been on them for two years. I am still very weak and fatigued from the stent surgery and I believe the Plavix but I am learning that although the cardiologists tell you this is a procedure that shouldn't cause much recovery time that adjusting has been much harder than I anticipated. I am a very active person as you are. I'm an artist and an avid dancer. I hope you get answers from your cardiologist soon. There are alternatives. Also, my cardiologist told me to take CoQ10 which is an antioxidant supplement. Ask your cardiologist if you can take this along with an injectable non statin. I even have a cardiologist friend that takes the injectable instead of a statin. I wish you good health soon!

You are so kind. I was put on statins just because of a cholesterol spike to 296. It had been hovering around 200-250 for many years. No one mentioned statins because I am 126 pounds and super fit and active. This new PCP just called it in like it was nothing. My calcium score was 0, CT and MRI showed no plaques or blockages. I do have high BP, but it is controlled with meds. Previous doctors were very sensitive to side effects of those meds like ankle swelling and increased potassium levels, and adjusted meds quickly to find what worked without bad reactions. Yet, not my experience with statins. My last cholesterol number was 193, and that was with 3 times a week 20mg Lipitor. That was November and no one is even checking it. "just take your statin" I do take COQ10, A-D-K vitamins, omega oil - all the things. I am just so tired of being in pain.

I tolerated statins (including the leg cramps) and finally decided no more! My doc said they have a “half life” of 14-19 days. When I stopped, the cramps went away. Am now on the injectable Leqvio and my numbers are great and no more cramps!

That sounds so extremely frustrating. I really hope you can get your cardiologist to switch you to an injectable. I am just this week starting to feel much better after my emergency angioplasty. I started back to acupuncture to help alleviate my symptoms. I wonder if that could also help you with your symptoms coming from the statins. I can't believe you are taking Lipitor 3x a week! I am new to heart disease and cardiologists but all of them told me there is an alternative to statins so it couldn't be that unusual and I am puzzled why it hasn't been offered to you. They admitted in the hospital after taking blood tests that my levels were high from the statin. I was tested because I was convulsing and was rushed to the hospital. It seems to me that many people do not adjust but maybe they are not given a blood test so then only the statin dosage is lowered. You are still taking 60mg a week of Lipitor and all I know is that on 80mg I was back in the hospital and then on 20mg it was no better. I am also fit and active and I can only imagine what it is like for you to feel so debilitated. It's been a short time for me and I've been depressed because of it. I'm not a doctor but you need to listen to your body and what it's telling you with the pain and find a doctor that will work with you to take you of the statin until you feel better and then start an injectable. Wishing you well.

I am wondering how long it takes the aches and pains as well as fatigue to end after stopping statins. I have taken Rosuvastatin 5 mg for two years. My cholesterol is now 136 and I eat so healthy, I have lost 25 pounds in the last six months. My doctor told me I could take a break and we would do a blood test to see how well I do off of statins. It’s been six weeks and the foot and leg neuropathy are really bad. My fatigue is constant. I feel no better off of them than I did on them. I have read everything from 30 days to six months to get over statin side effects. Now I’d like to hear from people who have actually dealt with it. Just can’t trust Google! Can anyone share their experience?

I have been on my statin break almost 7 weeks, and within the first month, I felt my muscle pain and weakness getting less. Second month better than the first. I have had huge challenges like a 10 hour flight and driving back and forth 2 1/2 hours one way to tend to a sick mother and I do not have the severe pain and disability I did when on statins. I was having to apply heat to my back almost every morning when getting out of bed, doing stretches and just walking around before I could walk stairs or exercise. Sharp shooting pains down my leg, PT for hips and back, OT for my elbow and hand. If I drove in my car for 30 minutes plus, I could barely walk when I got out. To be honest, the pain is still there sometimes, but it is minor - no grabbing the Advil, heat or ice. I still stretch several times a day. I think what the statins did was made what bit of "aging" pain I was having MUCH worse. I just wonder if it will continue to improve. So hang in there and give it time. Sounds like you are doing Great with your numbers. Mine was 196 and I complained about atorvastatin side effects and they dialed it back to 3x/week. Went up to 208 and pain did not improve much if at all. So, I'm with you - I'm dealing with it. My pharmacist did tell me the new statin that I can't recall has a better side effect profile.

I heard that there is an injectable for folks who suffer side effects from the orals. I also had serious side effects with oral statins.