Atorvastatin and Cramps: What Users Say

• Smo...
• May 3, 2020

For High Cholesterol "My cardiologist finally talked me into taking this poison after 5 years of trying. Took it for a month. The first week I had severe cramping of my hamstrings. The second week foot, ankle, and knee pain. Fourth week all the previous symptoms with myopathy, back pain, and gout flare-ups. Stopped taking the poison(feel stupid I waited so long to do it). I had to walk with crutches for a week and after weeks still having trouble. I read an article that said 1 in 4 Americans take statins. However, because the “normal” cholesterol numbers are being lowered, which means more people will be diagnosed with high cholesterol, that statistic is going to change to 1 in 2 Americans. If I would have continued to take the poison, it probably would have helped to prevent me from having a heart attack or stroke. What good does that do me if I have a terrible quality of life by being crippled and miserable."

• met...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 12, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I was put on atorvastatin as a middle-aged male with a history of moderate hypertension. I had low cholesterol and lower good cholesterol but was put on it. Over a few years, my blood sugar climbed to the point of being diagnosed as diabetic. Prior to starting taking atorvastatin, I had very low blood sugar. The company's website tells you it will make your blood sugar rise but not make you a diabetic. I also had leg pain and cramping along with weight gain. I ended up with a rise in weight, cholesterol, blood sugar, and then a heart attack. After convincing a new doctor I was having issues with it, I was taken off of it. My blood sugar has dropped out of the diabetic range, my cholesterol has dropped, my leg issues have subsided. I have lost weight. Thank you for listening, Doctor."

• car...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 5, 2015

Atorvastatin for High Cholesterol "I've been on Lipitor (Atorvastatin) 40mg for about 6 years and complained about leg cramps for 5 of those years. All I kept hearing was the 'low on potassium' with never a solution. The cramps have been unrelenting and at times, all day long. Legs, feet, toes, fingers. Talking to a friend about this the other day, she said she had to stop taking Lipitor due to leg cramps. Well, knock me down. I never associated this cramping with my cholesterol medication. I stopped taking it a week ago and haven't had one single cramp! Now I have to find another cholesterol medication but it sounds like all of them can have this side effect."

• Sal...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 22, 2018

For High Cholesterol "This drug caused shortness of breath, sleep apnea, and cramps. I could not walk 50 feet without resting from the shortness of breath. Taking CoQ10 helped with the cramps. I tried different statins and they all did the same thing to me. For 6 months, doctors tried to find a cure. I stopped taking the statins and the sleep apnea and shortness of breath went away in 5 days. The doctor had a hard time believing it was the statin. I hope this helps someone."

• Box...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 30, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I have been on this for several years. I have felt nothing but miserable while taking it. I have had cramping, muscle pain in my legs, stomach issues, headaches, and pain in my arms. I kept asking my primary doctor if this could be the cause of all this, and he kept saying no. Well, I have changed my primary doctor and done away with this terrible medication!"

• Anonymous
• September 11, 2009

Atorvastatin for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease "I used Zocor for the first statin following angioplasty in December 2009. I must state that I have a high degree of sensitivity to medications and a high degree of allergies. With Zocor, I experienced abdominal cramps increasing daily, muscle pain, and off and on nausea. The cramps were a concern because I have experienced anemia in the past. My doctor, whom I trust with my life, suggested that I not take Zocor. After several months, I had blood work, my LDH still higher than the doctor wanted, so he prescribed Lipitor. I had the same bad effects but on a higher level. Fortunately, my doctor trusts my reports. There is one 'weird' change that I have not shared with my doctor, but I am sharing with all of you. In several days, and increasingly, I am losing hair. Help me!"

• Tah...
• October 3, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I have been on atorvastatin for a few months. Started out at 40 mg per day. I had something going on with my legs to the point where I thought I had blood clots. I told my cardiologist that I had leg pain this past June (2019). I said it may be the medication, but he said I should not be having any muscle pains in my legs. He upped my dosage to 80 mg per day. Well, I can barely walk, and I mean barely. The leg cramps at night and the pain in my legs are terrible. I saw this website yesterday (10/2/19) and read some of the comments. I contacted my doctor immediately and told him what was going on. I feel like I'm an 80-year-old woman and how painful it is in my legs. He took me off immediately and told me to never go back on atorvastatin again."

• cho...
• January 19, 2017

For High Cholesterol "Prescribed 10 mg. Side effects started with an upset stomach (improved by always taking with food). Within a couple of weeks, the side effects exploded. No idea of whether or not it improved my labs (they were not supposed to be drawn for two more weeks). I am a vegetarian (no meat of any kind, no dairy milk, but I do eat some dairy cheese and eggs) and also a licensed massage therapist (so I know 'normal' muscle tension or joint pain and how to improve it). My side effects (in no particular order): muscle cramps/pain/weakness/swelling/tightness, tiredness, diarrhea/intestinal cramping, increased ringing in the ears, and depression/angry mood swings. Three days without medication, and pain, etc., continues to improve."

• Mtn...
• June 2, 2020

For High Cholesterol "I am so happy to see that it’s just not me having a bad experience with this drug, atorvastatin. My LDL in March was 201. This was the only abnormal lab result. She put me on 10 mg of atorvastatin daily. I asked about side effects, and after the first day, I had indescribable deep muscle pain. At first, I thought I was getting another round of shingles! I, of course, stopped taking it but adhered to the plant-based diet. In preparation for this morning's follow-up bloodwork, I took another yesterday with supper. Needless to say, I was up all night with abdominal cramps, stomach pain, loose stools, and nausea! So mad I called the doctor's office and canceled my appointment! Never again!"

• Not...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 18, 2019

For Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease "I started on 80 mg of atorvastatin after receiving a stent following a blocked coronary artery. After researching, I told my GP I wasn't happy, and she suggested a lower dose of 40 mg. After one and a half years, I ended up with diabetes 2, memory problems, heartburn, blurred vision, joint pain, stiffness, and cramping. My memory recovered as did my digestive problems a few weeks after stopping them. I wish I hadn't taken them at all. Horrible!"

• hou...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 6, 2015

For High Cholesterol "Atorvastatin was prescribed for years. In January, I woke up with severe leg cramps in both legs, aching in the morning, and I couldn't walk any distance. I experienced severe joint pains and my back was very painful. The doctor never mentioned it could be the tablets, and I couldn't believe my neighbor, who was exactly the same as me. Her doctor took her off them, and she's back to her gym routine and has never felt better! I've stopped taking them three days ago, and I've never felt better. I started back at my gym."

• Anonymous
• August 16, 2009

Atorvastatin for High Cholesterol "Have been taking 10 mg for about 2 years, doctor recently increased to 50 mg, my legs are cramping up and are sore from where they have cramped. I am going to doctor tomorrow to see if dose can be reduced."

• Unk...
• August 2, 2015

For High Cholesterol "When taking atorvastatin, I have developed many side effects. I have had headaches, dizziness, lack of energy, weakness, like I'm always tired, chills, fever, cramps, sore eyes, and mood swings. Although this medication seems to work well."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2015

For High Cholesterol "Was on 10 mg of atorvastatin, my cholesterol went way down. After about 6 months, I developed severe cramping in the back of my legs, especially behind my kneecap. Pain came every night and every morning. There were times I couldn't pick my legs up to get over the curb. Sometimes I wasn't sure I was going to make it to work. Pain was in both legs, ran down from behind my butt cheeks to my heel."

• Big...
• October 9, 2017

For High Cholesterol "Dad died of a heart attack three years ago. Then, two years later, my brother had a heart attack from blockage and almost died. My cholesterol is 512. Been taking this statin for about 3 weeks. I'm miserable. Leg pain/cramps. Pain down both arms, but mainly the left one. Totally weak all over. Lower leg pain on both sides. Tight chest every night. Heat pounds all the time now. Barely able to sleep a couple of hours a night if I'm lucky. Sour stomach every night, I have to take antacids at bedtime. Can't function during the day. I gotta go see my Doc now that I know this med is the cause. 43-year-old, fairly active, average weight male."

• Gra...
• January 12, 2016

For High Cholesterol "First I was on Simvastatin, then I had a Dr. change and he put me on Atorvastatin. My blood sugar levels went up for no reason, then I started having cramps. Told the Dr. and he said to just watch my diet. So I did. The cramps were almost every day and getting me very upset. So I called the Dr. again. He finally told me to stop the meds for 14 days and then start again. The cramps went away until I started taking them again. Don't know what the Dr. will do next."

• Alo...
• February 28, 2017

For High Cholesterol "I was put on 20 mg atorvastatin for 2 months. From the first couple of weeks, I noticed a rise in my blood pressure every three days with severe cramping up my left arm to my head and down my left leg. Most times, I get so fearful that I might be about to suffer a stroke. I noticed that my memory sometimes goes haywire and now I am beginning to have difficulties in swallowing my own saliva during resting periods. I am also suffering from discharging of clear, salty phlegm via spitting when I do not have a cold. I have to put up with constant dizzy spells, muscle pain, and muscle twitching, but I am still taking the drug due to the fact that I really want to get my total cholesterol down from 329 and, most importantly, my bad cholesterol down from 265."

• Bob...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 2, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I was on this medication for close to ten years. I've had problems with it-cramps and muscle weakness. Went to my doctor and told him about the problems I was having, and they said it couldn't be the cholesterol medicine. I've been on it too long."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 21, 2023

For Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease "I'm a Type 2 diabetic, and my GP wanted me on a statin, even though my cholesterol has always been normal to high end of normal. When I quit using rosuvastatin, he put me on atorvastatin. Within a year, I began having severe leg cramps at night. I had to come off this med as well."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2021

For High Cholesterol "Within 4 weeks of taking this drug, I could not sit down or walk properly due to horrendous back pain and muscle spasms. I also suffered excruciating cramps in my toes, a very bloated stomach, and constipation, as my back was so painful, I could not go to the toilet to pass any stools. I also felt very lightheaded and nauseous. I ended up having to take diazepam, 8 paracetamol a day, and lactulose 3 times a day. I told my doctor, and he advised me to stop taking them straight away. I am hoping I will soon be back to normal and able to continue walking my 5 to 8 miles a day, even at 70 years of age. Never again will I take a statin."

• Les...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2022

For High Cholesterol "I have been on this pill for 2 months now. Experiencing the same side effects: muscle aches, cramps, headache, nausea, and stomach problems. By reading what others say about this drug, it helped me to understand why I'm having all these pains without realizing that it's due to this drug. Got to see my doctor."

• Anonymous
• July 20, 2009

Atorvastatin for High Cholesterol "I suffered frequent and prolonged cramps in my legs for anything from two to four times weekly at night, waking me from a sound sleep."

• And...
• January 10, 2016

Atorvastatin for High Cholesterol, Familial Homozygous "This caused me severe muscle pain and cramps."

• Jac...
• November 22, 2020

Atorvastatin for High Cholesterol "Severe leg cramps, joint pain, dizziness. My cholesterol has never been over 200. I have always walked, biked, and eaten right. This med has really messed my body up!!!"

• Cha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 21, 2021

Atorvastatin for High Cholesterol "Horrible, I never experienced such cramping and pain. It was a nightmare."