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Statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol XL), lovastatin (Altoprev), pitavastatin (Livalo), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor, Ezallor) and simvastatin (Zocor, FloLipid).Having too much cholesterol in your blood increases your risk of heart attacks and strokes. Statins block a substance your liver needs to make cholesterol. This causes your liver to remove cholesterol from your blood.If you think you're experiencing side effects from statins, don't just stop taking the pills. Talk to your doctor to see if a change of dosage or even a different type of medication might be helpful. However, researchers have found a 'nocebo' effect when it comes to perceived muscle pain and statins. A 'nocebo' effect means people who have negative expectations about a medication report experiencing the potential side effect at higher rates than the drug should cause.The actual risk of developing muscle pain as a result of taking statins is about 5 percent or less compared with taking a pill that doesn't contain medication (placebo).
However, studies have found that nearly 30 percent of people stopped taking the pills because of muscle aches even when they were taking a placebo.A strong predictor you'll experience muscle aches when taking statins could be whether or not you read about the potential side effect.Very rarely, statins can cause life-threatening muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis (rab-doe-my-OL-ih-sis). Rhabdomyolysis can cause severe muscle pain, liver damage, kidney failure and death. The risk of very serious side effects is extremely low, and calculated in a few cases per million people taking statins. Rhabdomyolysis can occur when you take statins in combination with certain drugs or if you take a high dose of statins. Liver damageOccasionally, statin use could cause an increase in the level of enzymes that signal liver inflammation. If the increase is only mild, you can continue to take the drug.
Rarely, if the increase is severe, you may need to try a different statin.Although liver problems are rare, your doctor may order a liver enzyme test before or shortly after you begin to take a statin. You wouldn't need any additional liver enzyme tests unless you begin to have signs or symptoms of trouble with your liver.Contact your doctor immediately if you have unusual fatigue or weakness, loss of appetite, pain in your upper abdomen, dark-colored urine, or yellowing of your skin or eyes. Increased blood sugar or type 2 diabetesIt's possible your blood sugar (blood glucose) level may increase when you take a statin, which may lead to developing type 2 diabetes. The risk is small but important enough that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning on statin labels regarding blood glucose levels and diabetes.The increase generally occurs when blood sugar levels are already higher than normal and fall in the prediabetes or diabetes range when you begin taking a statin.Statins prevent heart attacks in people with diabetes, so the relevance of the mild increase in sugar values with statins observed in some people is unclear. The benefit of taking statins likely outweighs the small risk to have the blood sugar level go up. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns. Neurological side effectsThe FDA warns on statin labels that some people have developed memory loss or confusion while taking statins.
Crestor (Rosuvastatin) slows the buildup of plaque in your arteries and reduces levels of triglycerides and “bad” cholesterol or LDL in the blood.
These side effects reverse once you stop taking the medication. There is limited evidence to prove a cause-effect relationship, but talk to your doctor if you experience memory loss or confusion while taking statins.There has also been evidence that statins may help with brain function — in people with dementia, for example. This is still being studied. Don't stop taking your statin medication before talking to your doctor. Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), a medication for irregular heart rhythms.
Gemfibrozil (Lopid), another variety of cholesterol drug. HIV treatments called protease inhibitors such as saquinavir (Invirase) and ritonavir (Norvir).
Some antibiotic and antifungal medications, such as clarithromycin and itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox). Some immunosuppressant medications, such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)There are many drugs that may interact with statins, so be sure your doctor is aware of all the medicines you take when being prescribed with statins.
To relieve side effects believed to be caused by statins, your doctor may recommend several options. Discuss these steps with your doctor before trying them:. Take a brief break from statin therapy. Sometimes it's hard to tell whether the muscle aches or other problems you're having are statin side effects or just part of the aging process. Taking a break can help you determine whether your aches and pains are due to statins instead of something else. Switch to another statin drug. It's possible, although unlikely, that one particular statin may cause side effects for you while another statin won't.
It's thought that simvastatin (Zocor) may be more likely to cause muscle pain as a side effect than other statins when it's taken at high doses. Change your dose. Lowering your dose may reduce some of your side effects, but it may also reduce some of the cholesterol-lowering benefits your medication has. Another option is to take the medication every other day, especially if you take a statin that stays in the blood for several days. Talk to your doctor to determine if this is appropriate for you. Take it easy when exercising.
Unaccustomed vigorous exercise might increase the risk of muscle injury. It's best to make changes in your exercise routine more gradually.
Exercise causes muscle pain too, so it is sometimes difficult to know if the pain comes from the statin or the exercise in someone who just started an exercise program. Consider other cholesterol-lowering medications.
Although statins are the most effective oral medications for lowering your cholesterol, other types of drugs also are available. Sometimes, taking a combination of cholesterol drugs can provide the same result with lower doses of statins.
Try coenzyme Q10 supplements. Coenzyme Q10 supplements may help prevent statin side effects in some people, though more studies are needed to determine any benefits of taking it. Talk to your doctor first to make sure the supplement won't interact with any of your other medications. Controlling cholesterol with statins. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed Jan. 24, 2019.
Rosenson RS. Statins: Actions, side effects and administration. Accessed Jan. 24, 2019. Rosenson RS, et al. Statin muscle-related adverse events.
Accessed Jan. 25, 2019. Ferri FF. Statin-induced muscle syndromes.
In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2019. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2019.
Accessed Jan. 24, 2019.
Adhyaru BB, et al. Safety and efficacy of statin therapy.
Nature Reviews Cardiology. 2018;12:757. Alonso R, et al.
Diagnosis and management of statin intolerance. Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis. 2019;26:e000. Mach F, et al.
Adverse effects of statin therapy: Perception vs. The evidence — focus on glucose homeostasis, cognitive, renal and hepatic function, haemorrhagic stroke and cataract. European Heart Journal. 20. About cholesterol.
American Heart Association. Accessed Jan. 29, 2019. AskMayoExpert.
Statin intolerance. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2018.
Anyanwagu U, et al. Drug-induced diabetes mellitus: Evidence for statins and other drugs affecting glucose metabolism.
Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.2016;99:390. Lopez-Jimenez F (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 18, 2019.
If you are struggling to keep your cholesterol under control, no doubt you have considered taking a statin. Crestor is one of these popular cholesterol-lowering drugs. What do you know about Crestor side effects? Considering Crestor?Q. My doctor reviewed my laboratory results today and tried to convince me that I need to take Crestor for high cholesterol. I have heard a lot about statin side effects, but my doctor was quite emphatic that they are mostly invented by people who have an axe to grind.What can you tell me about statins in general and Crestor in particular?
A friend has suggested niacin as an alternative, but I am reluctant to try something without my doctor’s approval and I am afraid that if I don’t take Crestor I will make him angry.A. Crestor (rosuvastatin) is one of the most potent statins on the market. That means a lower dose packs a bigger punch and lowers cholesterol quite dramatically. According to Consumer Reports Health Best Buy Drugs, 40 mg of lovastatin ( Mevacor) is likely to reduce LDL cholesterol on average about 31% whereas 5 mg of Crestor would lower LDL cholesterol between 39% and 46%.
In other words, one-eighth the dose of Crestor produces a bigger cholesterol-lowering bang.We have heard from many people that the lowest dose of Crestor (5 mg) lowers their cholesterol, makes their doctor happy and doesn’t produce side effects. They may be naturally resistant to Crestor side effects. We have heard from many others, however, who have experienced pretty dramatic complications. Crestor Side Effects:. Headache. Muscle aches, muscle cramps, muscle pain, fatigue, weakness.
Abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea. Blood sugar elevation, diabetes.
Back pain. Sore throat, flu symptoms, sinusitis. Dizziness.
Itching, rash. Liver damage, liver failure, kidney damage.
Insomnia, sleeping difficulties, nightmares. Forgetfulness, memory problems, amnesia, confusion. Peripheral neuropathy, nerve tingling, nerve burning.
Pancreatitis. CataractsA long list of side effects can be dry reading, though. It doesn’t truly reveal the reality of what it is like to experience an adverse drug reaction.
We have received thousands of reports of Crestor side effects over the last two decades. They are remarkably similar. One reader reported muscle cramps:” I am 57 years old. I was put on Crestor (10 mg a day) 7 years ago. Since then I’ve always had very serious, reoccurring cramps in the front of my thigh(s). I assumed it was just me. Not drinking enough water, and/or a lack of potassium.
The pain would be so severe at times that I’ve even jumped in my hot tub fully clothed in an effort to relieve the pain. Due to my profession, I was shot in the hand with a 45 caliber bullet, (soft tissue, no bone) and I can tell in all confidence that this cramp pain is worse!“This last year, I fell on hard financial times, and had to quit paying for my health insurance. Long story short, I was forced to stop taking Crestor. To my surprise the cramps are totally gone!“Nonetheless, I was able to keep my cholesterol in check by nearly eliminating all sugar in my diet, and eating mainly vegetables, and lean meats (very little bread and pasta) and riding a stationary bike every day for 30 minutes.“I’ll never go back on Crestor again!” Another reader had eye problems:“I started taking Crestor November 2010.
I developed cataracts in both eyes and had surgeries in May 2011. My primary physician and my ophthalmologist both disagreed that Crestor could have caused it. Because I was 58 at the time, I don’t think these were old-age cataracts.
Instead, I believe the cataracts were due to the Crestor.” Did Crestor cause diabetes?“My husband has been taking statins for years and didn’t do well with any of them until he took Crestor. After about 6 years on Crestor he developed diabetes which I believe may have been caused by Crestor. At the same time, he was experiencing muscle weakness and soreness but the doctor didn’t believe that Crestor could have been the cause.“Because I am aware of the data that you at the People’s Pharmacy have been reporting for years, I insisted that my husband be taken off of Crestor and be put on something else that is not so harmful. The only thing his doctor could come up with was Livalo, which I am told does not work like a statin, but is it a statin? It is-pitavastatin.“The kicker is that even though my husband does have high cholesterol, he does not have heart disease. He went into surgery a few years ago thinking they were going to find blocked arteries, and they found that his arteries are completely clear.
The cardiologist released him from his care, but told him he should still take statins.” This person had a range of problems:“I was put on Crestor and within a month my cholesterol had been lowered from nearly 300 to 131. Not long after, I began to experience the side effects. I could not walk without limping with horrible pain from the waist on down; memory problems; stuttering; mood swings. Crestor turned my stomach in to mush; I could not process food. One night while jogging (through the pain) I fell down totally exhausted and could not continue! I have been running and lifting weights for over 40 years (I am 49 now), and I knew something bad was wrong with me.“I threw the Crestor in the trash!
Now I take everything I can to stay healthy including Red Yeast Rice supplement, flaxseed oil, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, garlic, etc. I am not sure if it works or not, but my blood pressure is in the 115-120 range top number and 75-86 bottom number.”There is no way to predict how any given individual will react to a statin like Crestor. As mentioned earlier, some people experience no side effects whatsoever. Others, however, can be disabled by muscle pain and weakness. We worry about cataracts, elevated blood sugar and nerve pain. We have also received reports of memory problems, confusion and cognitive dysfunction.Doctors may change their minds about statins when they experience serious side effects themselves.
Occasionally they may find that their physicians have dismissive attitudes towards problems such as muscle pain, exercise intolerance, neuropathy or cognitive dysfunction. But when they have experienced such trouble in person, they re-evaluate when statins should be used. Keeping Your Heart Healthy:In conclusion, you will have to pay attention to your body to see whether Crestor is safe for you. We would also suggest some other options to talk over with your physician. There are many nondrug ways to get cholesterol under control and lower the risk of heart disease. Here are just a few:. Mediterranean diet.
Anti-inflammatory foods. Nuts. Chocolate (dark and in moderation). Grape juice (& pomegranate juice). Cinnamon. Psyllium.
MagnesiumDon’t forget that regular exercise is critical to maintaining heart health, whether it lowers cholesterol or not. You will find more details in our. Good luck whichever path you choose!Revised 7/10/17. Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies.
I was put onto Crestor to help lower my Cholesterol after being on Lipidil for several years with no side effects. The Doctor wanted to do more about my Cholesterol, so put me on Crestor. After having perfect liver function for all my adult life, in two months my ALT which was at 40 which is normal went up 250% to 98 and my GGT which was 97, also normal, went up 700% to 751. I am also borderline diabetic (Doctor knew this) and Crestor is also known to make diabetes worse. I am now trying to lower all my liver measures and hope they go back to normal (they are falling which is good) but a Specialist I went to said if the liver levels stayed high I would be dead in a year from liver failure.
GOOD BYE to that Doctor!!!! My doctor had me start Crestor about 4 months ago. I had taken a statin before and had side effects but he said Crestor shouldn’t bother me.
My cholesterol was only 201,but I am diabetic so he wanted it lower. I stopped taking it a week ago. I was so weak and hurt so badly I just could not deal with any more. I had gotten so that when I went to get up from a chair about half the time I would fall back on the chair. I have also lost a fair amount of my hair. I suffer with depression and it is really bad now.
I mentioned that I am diabetic and my blood sugar is twice what it used to be. I am really hoping that the side effects will go away with time but I do not feel a whole lot better so I just do not know. I would never encourage any one to take Crestor. I was put on Crestor about 4 months ago. This past week I had 2 acute pain episodes in one leg. The first time I was just walking to my car, and when the pain hit it almost buckled my knee.
The pain subsided. Then the next day, also walking to my car, the pain in the same leg was so acute I started limping.
This time the pain continued and was so bad that night that I could not fall asleep until 4:30 AM even after taking 4 ibuprofen within an 8 hour period. The pain radiated from my knee to my ankle. I strongly suspect it is the Crestor which I take 10 mg, 3 times a week. I will discuss with me doctor if I can lower the dose to 5 mg, 3 times a week. Crestor did substantially lower my cholesterol, but it is not worth the leg pain.