topic Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES in Wellness

STATINS / BODY ACHES

Sweet Caroline 1 — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 10:03:22 GMT

For high cholesterol and blocked arteries, I was put on a statin last fall. Since taking it, my muscles, bones, and joints ache and hurt and having a hard time doing my job at work. I work at a manufacturing plant, fast pace and heavy lifting. My job is my only income and my health insurance. I have to take 6 ibuprofen tablets every four or five hours to be able to do my job. I would like to know if anyone else has had severe body aches after taking a statin medication. Thank you...SC

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

cherry — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 10:10:48 GMT

I had severe pain in my left arm. It felt like electricity was running down my arm. I went off of them because of this

They can be dangerous for some people.

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

on the bay — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 10:13:44 GMT

I have heard that and I have a primary care doctor who told me he would not take them!

A good but sometimes scary to read real reviews is askapatient.com. Then at least you know its not just you and a doctor can't say to you"Oh, it shouldn't or doesn't cause those side effects!"

There are many substitute things you can take to lower cholesterol-red yeast rice (same properties as statins but not usually side effects, niacin, garlic, many others. I hope you feel better. I would stop if I had all those reactions.

No one needs that, especially with a difficult physical job.

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

shopperqvc — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 10:14:18 GMT

Tell your doctor and switch medicines. I got the same type of problem with one of the statins and my doctor changed me over to a different one. There are several that you can try. A different one may not have you reacting the same way.

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

cherry — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 10:17:17 GMT

A warning about red yeast rice. It can damage your kidneys. You must be careful about taking just anything

I tried fenno fibrates and couldn't take them either. I will never use statins again

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

on the bay — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 10:27:08 GMT

@Sweet Caroline 1-

Yes, also to what @cherry said.

Just because something is not prescription and called "natural", each herbal thing or supplement you should read everything about them too-from side effects, to who should not take them to what they interact with.

I guess you could try a different statin too like someone said.

I'll only try something once. I don't feel like the side effects of anything should be something you just can't tolerate.

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

catter70 — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 10:44:45 GMT

I took statins several years ago and stopped taking them after I started having bad pain in my right arm and shoulder. Even after all this time, it still bothers me. I know 2 other people that had the same issues. Check with your doctor for something else to try.

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

Starpolisher — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 10:54:59 GMT

@Sweet Caroline 1

Yes! I had the exact same problem. My muscles were very sore and my bones and joints hurt also. My doctor changed my statin to a ezetimbe. I've since stopped taking both since neither was making much of a difference and have been trying to watch my diet. Good luck to you. I hope you feel better!

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

ID2 — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 10:57:24 GMT

@on the bay wrote:
I have heard that and I have a primary care doctor who told me he would not take them!
A good but sometimes scary to read real reviews is askapatient.com. Then at least you know its not just you and a doctor can't say to you"Oh, it shouldn't or doesn't cause those side effects!"
There are many substitute things you can take to lower cholesterol-red yeast rice (same properties as statins but not usually side effects, niacin, garlic, many others. I hope you feel better. I would stop if I had all those reactions.
No one needs that, especially with a difficult physical job.

Wow how can our doctors advice be so different?? Sure, I'm a type 1 diabetic and a statin is crutial for me. But my doctor (perfect health) told me that he's always asking his own doctor when he can take a statin. He tells me all the time to not believe all the bad press statins get. Its pretty much a miracle drug. My doctor said that he will be taking a statin once his doctor gives him the ok.

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

cherry — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 11:27:51 GMT

Drs don't all give the same advice. If you have seen a lot of patients with statin pains, it might alter your opinion of a miracle drug

You couldn't pay me to take that stuff again

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

Krimpette — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 11:29:29 GMT

My doctor and I are beiievers in the benefits of statins. Over the years, I've taken a couple of different ones. I currently take Pravastatin and have no adverse effects. Been taking it for a year or two now. Started out with lipitor many years ago, but after a time, discontinued that because of aches.

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

jubilant — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 16:40:55 GMT

I am not able to take statins. Years ago my doctor tried 4 or 5 different statins and they all did the same thing. I ached and had pain from my head down to my toes.

Fast forward to now. I had to have a quadruple by-pass about 6 months ago. My cardiologist wanted me to try Livalol....so I did. Guess what? They quit manufacturing it. Now my only option is a very expensive shot...I'm talking thousands of dollars. My Cardio doctor says studies show that I may be ok for 5 yrs. but people like me will have this back in 9 yrs. He wants me to do the shots ($14,000 a year)! I haven't checked with my insurance yet, but even half of that is highway robbery if you ask me! This new drug (shot) is not a statin, so if you're willing to pay the price (I am not) you might want to check into it.

My doctor has informed me that all the dieting and exercise in the world will not bring my cholesterol to where it should be. I will be around 78 yrs. old in 9 or 10 yrs. To me, that is still a fairly long life. I will die of something one way or the other and I refuse to live what time I have left in constant pain. I call it quality life over quantity.

I am not afraid to die. The pain of getting there is a little frightening but death itself does not scare me. After my last breath here...my next one will be in my forever home where I will never be sick again. That is how I am looking at it right now. It feels like the right thing for me.

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

AuntG — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:06:44 GMT

That's too bad, especially with your job situation. My DH has none of those side effects, but I believe what you are experiencing is not all that unusual.

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

Lilysmom — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:18:14 GMT

@Sweet Caroline 1, I don’t know anything about statins but taking 6 ibuprofen every four or five hours is not a good thing. You should discuss this with your doctor. Once my doctor told me that OTC drugs can have very bad side effects, worse than prescription drugs. Hopefully your dr. can do something to make the ibuprofen issue disappear. Good luck! LM

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

felixmom — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:33:39 GMT

Read up on how CoQ10 helps with statin-caused muscle pain. I was on Simvastatin (Zocor) for years and suffered greatly with leg pain. My doctor switched me to Atorvastatin (Lipitor) and I started taking CoQ10 and I have no muscle pain. You could start the CoQ10 on a small dose (100 - 200 mg) and see how you respond. Good luck with it.

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

Another new name Sue — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 22:03:22 GMT

Please see your dictionary ASAP!!

EDITED TO ADD.....I don't think your dictionary will help, but a DOCTOR could!

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

Vivian — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:51:11 GMT

High cholesterol runs in my family on both sides. When my numbers started inching up my doctor put me on a statin. She worked me up to a higher dose and that’s when the trouble started. I could not walk. One of the possible side effects of statins is Achilles tendonitis and boy did I have THAT side effect. This happened with a succession of different stain drugs. Finally, I told the doctor that if I can tolerate the lower dose, sticking to that should be better than no meds at all. She agreed. I’m now on the lowest dose of yet another statin and I am tolerating it without trouble....and my numbers are down.

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

Shelbelle — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 13:27:41 GMT

I passed on statins also, I have used Cholest Wise from Puritans Pride for the last 14 years.

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

PamfromCT — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 13:47:35 GMT

My DH suffered ill effects from Statin drugs, leaving him with neuropathy in his feet, despite no diabetes. My DH's PCP recommended he try an over the counter medication produced by Nature Made called CholestOff Complete. It is important to use the "Complete" version. The results have been excellent, and DH's cardiologist, who had never heard of this, has been very happy with the results. He had never heard of this, and he is now recommending this supplement to patients having side effects with Statins. My DH's blood work continues to be very good.

I would recommend talking to your doctor about this option.

Re: STATINS / BODY ACHES

sidsmom — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 13:54:12 GMT

Heavens! Change the diet!

Only 2 posts before me lightly mentioned diet.

Low fat, whole foods, plant based nutritional therapy.

Research & read the studies from,

Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn (Cleveland Clinic and

Dr. Michael Greger (NutritionFacts.org).

Food should be the medicine.

Blocked arteries didn’t happen from eating lots of lettuce.

The diet must be changed for improvements.

Even if you’re pre-existing condition is ‘caused’ from heredity or

another illness, diet STILL plays a huge part in overall wellness.

Changing the diet is the...

-least evasive,

-least expensive,

-least painful

-most readily available

...form of addressing a wellness condition.