Statin Drugs Cause Pain?

[grip]

I was recently (2 weeks ago) put on Lipitor for a slightly elevated cholesterol reading. Because I have high BP I'm at a higher risk now for heart disease.

Total 252
LDL 152
HDL 55
Triglycerides 132

All of a sudden I've got knee pain in my right leg that's off the charts. Kept me up all night and seems to be positional in nature. I've got mild gouty arthritis that comes and goes, haven't had an attack in the knees for 2 years. I thought because of the type of arthritis maybe it was gout but there is no swelling, hotness or other signs.

I take COQ10, vitamin D, one a day vitamin, 2 fish oils, baby aspirin and glucosomine/chondroitin/msm for back pain.

It seems to be in the tendons and my question is has anyone else experienced this after taking statin drugs before?

 

[tessaesque]

Looks like pain/joint issues are side effects of Lipitor:

Common and Rare Side Effects for Lipitor Oral

Have you and your doctor tried to do anything with your diet, or was Lipitor the first line approach to high cholesterol?

 

[tessaesque]

Also, this: Study Links Statin Use to Tendon Injury

 

[tessaesque]

This statement disturbs me:

"Statins are among the most studied and the safest drugs we have," he says. "They save lives every day, and they have changed the face of cardiovascular medicine. As far as I'm concerned, doctors should be looking for reasons to put more people on them rather than looking for reasons not to."

 

[grip]

Looks like pain/joint issues are side effects of Lipitor:



Have you and your doctor tried to do anything with your diet, or was Lipitor the first line approach to high cholesterol?

I'm calling him today soon as their office opens but I won't get directly thru to the physician. I'm quitting them, until this pain subsides and trying an OTC concoction of supplements, mostly plant sterols.

I eat as good a diet as I already can. Low/no fat everything, lean proteins, little beef, fruits and grains, etc, plus I exercise. He started to suggest I take either an OTC or Lipitor but he's big on RX drugs. Wanted me to take Cymbalta, which I refused.

 

[Fisher]

My mom's cholesterol drugs make her nauseous. The doctor says that isn't how they work, but she stops taking them and it goes away and when she restarts it comes back. Beyond that IDK.

 

[tessaesque]

I'm calling him today soon as their office opens but I won't get directly thru to the physician. I'm quitting them, until this pain subsides and trying an OTC concoction of supplements, mostly plant sterols.

I eat as good a diet as I already can. Low/no fat everything, lean proteins, little beef, fruits and grains, etc, plus I exercise. He started to suggest I take either an OTC or Lipitor but he's big on RX drugs. Wanted me to take Cymbalta, which I refused.

Most docs prefer prescriptions to homeopathic approaches, so that's pretty much par for the course. I found a few things that might help:

The so-called Mediterranean diet, the dash (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, and the Ornish Diet (which is particularly low in meat and dairy) are variations on this approach. One study found that a balanced diet did just as well as a statin at reducing bad cholesterol. Dean Ornish, the founder of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, Calif., has shown that his multipronged approach (diet, exercise, stress reduction, and social support), while not easy to maintain, can lower LDL by nearly 40 percent and even cause plaques in arteries to shrink—which not even statins have been proven to do.

I have a few books on the DASH diet, and it looks pretty easy to follow.

And here's another link: 12 Replacements for High Cholesterol Foods - Prevention.com

 

[grip]

Most docs prefer prescriptions to homeopathic approaches, so that's pretty much par for the course. I found a few things that might help:



I have a few books on the DASH diet, and it looks pretty easy to follow.

And here's another link: 12 Replacements for High Cholesterol Foods - Prevention.com

The DASH diet I already try to eat somewhat but will probably never reach the level of olives, fish and veggies it contains. My high blood pressure is what's called essential or there's no particular reason for it they can discern. My father had it in his 30's and it's believed to be genetic and a chemical imbalance. Fortunately it's not sky high continuously.

The Ornish diet is brutal! You have to eat like Trigger the horse to lower your cholesterol with that method....lol
I think I would dry up and blow away with the dust and wind. But I am continuing supplements, exercise, current dieting, lowering stress techniques and praying.

Your info links confirmed my suspicion that the Lipitor is causing my pain though, thanks.

 

[Risky Thicket]

I'm calling him today soon as their office opens but I won't get directly thru to the physician. I'm quitting them, until this pain subsides and trying an OTC concoction of supplements, mostly plant sterols.

I eat as good a diet as I already can. Low/no fat everything, lean proteins, little beef, fruits and grains, etc, plus I exercise. He started to suggest I take either an OTC or Lipitor but he's big on RX drugs. Wanted me to take Cymbalta, which I refused.

Try red rice yeast. You can get those pills at the health food store.

Do not take Cymbalta. That crap should be illegal. It does help joint pain but oh sweet Jesus it alters your moods and it is physically addictive. Google Cymbalta withdrawal. I have fibromyalgia. It took me 4 months to taper off Cymbalta, down to opening the capsule and counting out 7 less little pellets a day until there were none.

I started eating paleo/primal. No grains. Fibromyalgia, which is characterized by joint pain, is all but gone.

 

[Cyrylek]

Yes, there's persistent reporting about atorvastatin ("real name" of commerical Lipitor) causing myalgia in a small percentage of patients. For example, most recently:
Effect of statins on skeletal muscle function. [Circulation. 2013] - PubMed - NCBI

 

[grip]

Try red rice yeast. You can get those pills at the health food store.

Do not take Cymbalta. That crap should be illegal. It does help joint pain but oh sweet Jesus it alters your moods and it is physically addictive. Google Cymbalta withdrawal. I have fibromyalgia. It took me 4 months to taper off Cymbalta, down to opening the capsule and counting out 7 less little pellets a day until there were none.

I started eating paleo/primal. No grains. Fibromyalgia, which is characterized by joint pain, is all but gone.

Yeah, I was on Prozac once and didn't like that stuff at all. Makes you crazier than you started out. I've heard nothing but bad about Cymbalta.

I'm looking for a product at the store today that has policosanol, beta sterols and red rice yeast. That combo should lower it close to the statins.

ps. My knee pain was so bad last night I couldn't even turn over in bed.

 

[BmanMcfly]

I was recently (2 weeks ago) put on Lipitor for a slightly elevated cholesterol reading. Because I have high BP I'm at a higher risk now for heart disease.

Total 252
LDL 152
HDL 55
Triglycerides 132

All of a sudden I've got knee pain in my right leg that's off the charts. Kept me up all night and seems to be positional in nature. I've got mild gouty arthritis that comes and goes, haven't had an attack in the knees for 2 years. I thought because of the type of arthritis maybe it was gout but there is no swelling, hotness or other signs.

I take COQ10, vitamin D, one a day vitamin, 2 fish oils, baby aspirin and glucosomine/chondroitin/msm for back pain.

It seems to be in the tendons and my question is has anyone else experienced this after taking statin drugs before?

Best bet is to do what it takes to get off those statin drugs, they cause more harm than good...

Change to a low sugar diet, meaning 15-20 grams of sugar per day(maybe up to 40g depending on body weight), that includes wheat, grains oats and starchy veggies, increase protein to 1/2-3/4 of your body weight in grams of protein, and then go on a full spectrum vitamin supplementation (green drink, liquid vitamins, and good salts (sea salt or himalayan pink salt)).

I'm not a doctor, but I've seen people go on this type of diet and started losing weight and lower cholesterol with very little change in workouts...

Oh ya, no aspartame / artificial sweeteners other than stevia, they all increase blood sugar levels, and have "side-effects".

Again, I'm not a doctor, but if you do this and tweak it to work for you, in a few weeks to a month your doctor will tell you that you don't need the drugs any longer. If you stay on those drugs long term there will be more harm than any good that can come from the pills...

Just my novicely educated opinions.

 

[Manc Skipper]

I'm not a doctor, I'm a nurse, and I've been taking statins for 13 years without any problem. Muscular pain is one of the commoner side effects, though less than ten per cent of people have any trouble. As safety profiles go, statins are right up there. Talk to your GP, he can switch you to another.

 

[grip]

Best bet is to do what it takes to get off those statin drugs, they cause more harm than good...

Change to a low sugar diet, meaning 15-20 grams of sugar per day(maybe up to 40g depending on body weight), that includes wheat, grains oats and starchy veggies, increase protein to 1/2-3/4 of your body weight in grams of protein, and then go on a full spectrum vitamin supplementation (green drink, liquid vitamins, and good salts (sea salt or himalayan pink salt)).

I'm not a doctor, but I've seen people go on this type of diet and started losing weight and lower cholesterol with very little change in workouts...

Oh ya, no aspartame / artificial sweeteners other than stevia, they all increase blood sugar levels, and have "side-effects".

Again, I'm not a doctor, but if you do this and tweak it to work for you, in a few weeks to a month your doctor will tell you that you don't need the drugs any longer. If you stay on those drugs long term there will be more harm than any good that can come from the pills...

Just my novicely educated opinions.

Pretty good advice. I'm lowering the sugar, which I had a little too high with snacks. I know better because that stuff oxidizes like rust in your arteries.

My mom took very little meds for most her life and lived a high quality till late 70's. Poor dad took 10 RX's a day and had a crappy quality for the last 20 yrs of his. I don't do diet drinks either, so I think we're of the same mindset and hopefully using yours and others advice here, I'll have a good blood test in 3 months before my next doctors visit.

I want to sincerely thank all the posters who've given some quality, common sense suggestions. :mrgreen:

 

[grip]

I'm not a doctor, I'm a nurse, and I've been taking statins for 13 years without any problem. Muscular pain is one of the commoner side effects, though less than ten per cent of people have any trouble. As safety profiles go, statins are right up there. Talk to your GP, he can switch you to another.

I'm not 100% positive the Lipitor is even responsible for my knee pain. I have gouty arthritis, which comes and goes and could be getting worse from age. My father took Mevacor for 25 years with no problems but mom was allergic.

My brother and law had terrible pain from them and his doctor said some people with arthritis are more prone to exacerbation with statins. Switching works sometimes but I'd rather try the supplements I found with natural ingredients and low side effects. There's one that's even rated a lowering cholesterol better than Zocor and Lipitor that uses red rice yeast, polycosonol and plant sterols. If it doesn't work 3 months from now, then I'll try another brand of RX.

 

[lizzie]

I was recently (2 weeks ago) put on Lipitor for a slightly elevated cholesterol reading. Because I have high BP I'm at a higher risk now for heart disease.

Total 252
LDL 152
HDL 55
Triglycerides 132

All of a sudden I've got knee pain in my right leg that's off the charts. Kept me up all night and seems to be positional in nature. I've got mild gouty arthritis that comes and goes, haven't had an attack in the knees for 2 years. I thought because of the type of arthritis maybe it was gout but there is no swelling, hotness or other signs.

I take COQ10, vitamin D, one a day vitamin, 2 fish oils, baby aspirin and glucosomine/chondroitin/msm for back pain.

It seems to be in the tendons and my question is has anyone else experienced this after taking statin drugs before?

A good friend of mine had the same problem, and his doc switched him to another statin drug, which didn't cause the painful joints. I have another friend who swears by an herbal remedy (which I can't recall the name of at the moment). I'll try to remember what it was, and post it when it comes back to me.

edit:
I googled the subject, and it was red yeast rice that he takes. I personally like natural and herbal remedies, but I don't know much about this one, so I don't know enough to recommend it.

 

[grip]

A good friend of mine had the same problem, and his doc switched him to another statin drug, which didn't cause the painful joints. I have another friend who swears by an herbal remedy (which I can't recall the name of at the moment). I'll try to remember what it was, and post it when it comes back to me.

edit:
I googled the subject, and it was red yeast rice that he takes. I personally like natural and herbal remedies, but I don't know much about this one, so I don't know enough to recommend it.

I just started on the red rice yeast today, thanks. :mrgreen:

My brother-inlaw had the same problem and uses the supplement successfully. Still got a tender knee but it's healing.

 

[lizzie]

I just started on the red rice yeast today, thanks. :mrgreen:

My brother-inlaw had the same problem and uses the supplement successfully. Still got a tender knee but it's healing.

I'd seriously be interested in knowing if it works for you.

 

[grip]

I'd seriously be interested in knowing if it works for you.

My blood test for lipids is not for another 3 months but if you can remember to ask me I'll tell you the results. The brand I'm taking has 2 other natural ingredients that lower cholesterol, plant sterols and policosanol. It has been shown in some people to work as good as statins.