Started Repatha - Side Effects

Posted by HomeAgainLA @llynch17056, Mar 21, 2024

I had terrible side effects with statins (any statin, any dosage). For about 30 years my doctors have pushed statins and
I have resisted. Finally I agreed to Repatha. The first week I had zero side effects. With my second dose, 2 weeks in, i woke up and my joints and muscles hurt a LOT.
1. Does this side effect go away?
2. What do you know about the recent information that the Repatha trials underreporting deaths from cardiac events while taking Repatha.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

I had a NSTEMI in October last year. I was put on 2 different statins that I could not tolerate. So the cardiologist prescribed Rapatha. I had horrible GI issues, including constant nausea and frequent diarrhea. I lost about 8 lbs in 2 months just from not eating. I’m now on pravastatin for about 2 weeks and so far no adverse side effects. Just my experience. Of course the doc said they had never heard of that (really?!).

REPLY
@pbdogmom

I had a NSTEMI in October last year. I was put on 2 different statins that I could not tolerate. So the cardiologist prescribed Rapatha. I had horrible GI issues, including constant nausea and frequent diarrhea. I lost about 8 lbs in 2 months just from not eating. I’m now on pravastatin for about 2 weeks and so far no adverse side effects. Just my experience. Of course the doc said they had never heard of that (really?!).

Jump to this post

We are all made so differently. I am lucky not to have side effects and the impact Repatha has had on my lipid profile is immense. I needed to hear your story to remember gratitude.

REPLY
@weinaus

I started taking Rapatha in September. At first there seemed to be no problems. It was actually helping curb my appetite. Fast forward to now. Not sure if any or all of these affects I am having are from the drug. Joint pain in my shoulders and arms. Back hurting constantly. Anxiety level through the roof. Headache that doesn’t go away. I have tried all statins and I can not tolerate any of them. I end up being in bed. The other problem I am having is I seem to get the hiccups while eating.

Jump to this post

I am also struggling with the same issues on this medication. I have decided it was less stress to go back on Crestor but now it takes 2 months for this to get out of my system. It's just been 10 days I got 50 more to go. I only took this medicine 2 times and it did this to me. I really feel for you.

REPLY
@weinaus

I started taking Rapatha in September. At first there seemed to be no problems. It was actually helping curb my appetite. Fast forward to now. Not sure if any or all of these affects I am having are from the drug. Joint pain in my shoulders and arms. Back hurting constantly. Anxiety level through the roof. Headache that doesn’t go away. I have tried all statins and I can not tolerate any of them. I end up being in bed. The other problem I am having is I seem to get the hiccups while eating.

Jump to this post

This could be written by me. My internist agrees that my cholesterol ratio is good even though my bad cholesterol number is high and that LPa is a more concerning number. I found a supplement that I tolerate well that has lowered my LPa by 60 points

REPLY

Here’s a follow-up: I’ve was having chest pains, so I had a nuclear stress test on Monday. This morning the office called and said it was abnormal. Got scheduled back into the cathlab at noon. Turns out everything looked good, my stent was clear. The abnormal stress test was a false positive which the doc said happens more often with women. The blood tests showed that my electrolytes were out of whack. That’s from the extreme GI issues. It can be very serious, so make sure your doc understands how lousy you feel. I’m home now, and grateful that my arteries all looked good. Thanks for responses.

REPLY
@pbdogmom

Here’s a follow-up: I’ve was having chest pains, so I had a nuclear stress test on Monday. This morning the office called and said it was abnormal. Got scheduled back into the cathlab at noon. Turns out everything looked good, my stent was clear. The abnormal stress test was a false positive which the doc said happens more often with women. The blood tests showed that my electrolytes were out of whack. That’s from the extreme GI issues. It can be very serious, so make sure your doc understands how lousy you feel. I’m home now, and grateful that my arteries all looked good. Thanks for responses.

Jump to this post

Glad your arteries are doing well. You must be so relieved.

I had adverse side effects that took a while to figure out were connected. How many injections did you take, and were your symptoms progressive the more injections you took?

REPLY
@llynch17056

This could be written by me. My internist agrees that my cholesterol ratio is good even though my bad cholesterol number is high and that LPa is a more concerning number. I found a supplement that I tolerate well that has lowered my LPa by 60 points

Jump to this post

What was the supplement that lowered your Lp(a) by 40%? I have been taking Nattokinase for years and haven't noticed that much of an effect. Thanks!

REPLY
@jlharsh

Glad your arteries are doing well. You must be so relieved.

I had adverse side effects that took a while to figure out were connected. How many injections did you take, and were your symptoms progressive the more injections you took?

Jump to this post

We used the syringes, so after the first 3 doses we started doing half doses to see if I could tolerate that. The side effects were always bad , so I didn’t notice if they got worse.

REPLY
@lulad01

What was the supplement that lowered your Lp(a) by 40%? I have been taking Nattokinase for years and haven't noticed that much of an effect. Thanks!

Jump to this post

Beta-Sitosterol Plant Sterois

REPLY

I was started on Rapatha two months ago. I am not feeling well since. I have flu like symptoms including fatigue, aches abdominal distress with a bloated feeling and feeling full (no appetite).
I was on Praluent for several years with no side effects but our insurance company stopped covering the cost.
I am usually an energetic person so it’s hard for me to become accustomed to my lack of energy. I am contacting my Cardiologist to discuss this as I feel this is having a negative impact on my quality of life. I would appreciate any input.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.