Statin Side-effects: Muscle pain and weakness

Thank you for your post deniseheart! I appreciate knowing about Ezetimibe. I recently became aware of cholesterol "absorbers", but will see if my body can tolerate Ezetimibe. 🙂

Loved your post navivi!! This is just what I needed to hear!! I hope our mutual side effects cease and desist after at least 12 months! Those statins do damage to nerve fibers. 🙁 As you have probably read, statins caused my Achilles tendon to swell up and cause me great alarm. I am hoping the swelling goes away in the next few months. I stopped my stain in June!! I still have calf discomfort aching and stiffness. Feet pads still a little stiff, but much improved. Saw an Orthopedic guy last week, but he was very nonchalant about my Achilles tendon and didn't even take an xray. It is common knowledge (on-line) that unless the A-tendon is not ruptured, it will heal on it's own. My PA and Orthopedic confirmed this. Having patience over the healing time line is tedious though, isn't it?!!!! 🙂 d.

Thank you gloaming. I appreciate your pst! Yeah, the stiff feet pad and aching stiff calves is a real thing and apparently lasts long after stopping a statin. I am waiting patiently - well, almost patiently 🙂

Hi, ginnyjm - You are one of the lucky ones, who do not have side effects from taking a statin. I find myself total allergic. My sister and brother-in-law take statins also, but only suffer joint aches and pains (as I did in addition to other symptoms). Body chemistry makes the difference I guess. I also rely on the Mayo clinic for accurate info. 🙂 As for the two doctors I have consulted, thanks for the advice, but neither one knows dididly about how to address side effects from statins. It is shocking that doctors know so little and do not warn their patients about possible Achilles tendon flare ups. It was quite shocking when that happened to me. So glad you and your wife are doing well with your statin and CoQ10!!! 🙂 d.

@dskellchock
Agree.
Just don't know how you body will react to medications. They can lest common side affects but that does not dictate how you body will respond.

I am 78 and retired. At my community we talk all the time about medications. The conversation mirrors your post. Some say, hey no problem, other of just can't take it.
Take care

I have been on Simvastatin 40mg daily since my heart attack in 2018. In the last few years I have had increasing pain in my lower legs and muscle cramps that wake me up during the night. I also have muscle spasms in my feet that are so painful at times. I do wonder if it could be related to the statin therapy. I am a pharmacist and have been reading a lot about CoQ10 being used to help reduce problems from statin therapy. I am going to discuss this issue with my cardiologist next month at my appointment.

@gloaming do you take the 100mg., or 200mg. Of CoEnzymeQ10?

I recently started on Pravastatin and have developed increased pain in my body. I have been taking 100mg. CoQ10 but have been wondering if I should increase it to 200mg, …?

@rashida I have only ever taken the one gel capsule of 100 mg. I am also on a relatively modest dose of atrovastatin, 40 mg....maybe that's the difference? Or, you simply will have to ask your GP/cardio for an alternative.

@blanche2be
I am a huge fan of CoQ10 in general, it is massively underrated. Especially for those who eat less red meat these days, which is the best dietary source. And then double-especially for anyone taking statins, which also goes with eating less red meat.
I know there are many studies that have failed to confirm benefits from CoQ10 in general (not related to statins), but this is because they look at the wrong things, IMHO.
Years ago I was just looking for useful dietary and supplement hints and tried out CoQ10, and (in combination with B12 and evening primrose oil (for the GLA)) found just an amazing benefit in workout performance, circa age 50. And I was still eating reasonable amounts of red meat back then, and not on any statin.

My friend was prescribed a new statin from Bayer back around 2001 and immediately had muscle pain symptoms, then the drug "Baycol (cerivastatin)" was pulled from the market because, for some reason, it was markedly more antagonistic to CoQ10 than other statins ... at least that's the story.
My mother was given a statin, suffered some muscle pains, and her dose was cut in half and she was able to tolerate it.

Then again in your particular case, over 25 years so many things may happen, so of course this should be discussed with your doctor, leg pains can occur for myriad reasons.
There are standard blood panel tests for COQ10 levels and other simple tests may be combined to diagnose relation to leg pains.

@gloaming I have been taking one 100mg. gelcap too, but wondered if I took a 200mg. gelcap would it help more …!?