Repatha and Muscle Pain: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Jud...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 23, 2017

For High Cholesterol "Had high total cholesterol. Crestor helped but didn't get LDL low enough. Took Zetia and that caused serious joint and muscle pain. Started taking Repatha samples from the doctor. It's working great with no side effects. Total cholesterol 121, LDL 38, and HDL 58. Unfortunately, Blue Cross doesn't want to pay for it, so my doc is going through the appeal process."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2017

For High Cholesterol "I have been taking this drug bi-monthly for 2 months. The initial runny nose side effect was an irritant, but went away after a month. The muscle and back pain, however, have continued and gotten much worse. I will most likely be discontinuing this drug. Here it is a week before Christmas, and I am hosting my entire family throughout the holidays with this debilitating pain. Ugh!"

• Tin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2022

For High Cholesterol "I started Repatha 4 months ago. This medicine has made me so sick, I can’t hardly function. Nausea, bad diarrhea, muscle aches, flu-like symptoms, overall just fatigued. After the second shot, I was in bed for 5 days. I stopped for 4 weeks, took it again, and the same situation. Two days after I got sick, I’m now able to stand up and keep a few crackers down. I will not try it again."

• Ybo...
• June 8, 2018

For High Cholesterol "I had a stroke in my basilar artery in July 2017. The clot was removed. I was put on a statin and 60 mg aspirin. I had a tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) event in late Oct. It turned out that the same area had another clot. I had muscle pain, developed carpal tunnel, foot swelling, and numbness from statins. I also noticed a decrease in brain function and memory. While I had the numb feet and swelling, I twisted my left foot going down the steps. After 5 months and 5 different statins, I was taken off of statins. Each time I changed statins, I had a few good weeks with no symptoms between the different statin types. All symptoms disappeared. My therapy was going well, I was walking without a cane, walking on a treadmill 45 minutes a day, biking on a stationary bike for 15 minutes a day, and taking classes and working out three days a week. Then I started on Repatha. After one shot and one week, I developed severe back and leg pain and numb feet. Haven't been back to the doctor yet."

• Ral...
• September 28, 2019

For High Cholesterol "If you have muscle pain and haven't tried deep tissue massage, it might help relieve your pain. It worked for me. I wanted to get that up front so it didn't get lost in a story that sounds like others. I took 6 injections (140 mg every 2 weeks) of Repatha from June to Sept. 2019. I was active before taking this drug, but the pain in my hips progressed until I could hardly walk. I went to a massage therapist, and she said the muscles in my hip and glutes felt like brick. It took 20 minutes just to separate the muscles enough to start to work on them. After an hour of deep tissue massage, I walked out feeling SO much better. It was painful, but totally worth it, and I could feel that the pain was hitting exactly the right spots. That just happened today, so I can't say how long it will last, but for now I'm more comfortable than I've been in some time. I have 2 more appointments scheduled to help the muscles get back to normal. I hope this helps someone who is hurting."

• dot...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 1, 2018

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "The first injections were fine. Then I started having muscle, joint, and overall body pain, which was very severe. Continued on drug several more months, and although cholesterol lowered from total 212 lb to 158 lb, the pain has become unbearable. I stopped after 6 months, and a month later, only moderate improvement of body pain. I hope the muscles are not damaged."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2018

For High Cholesterol "I began experiencing back pain after the first injection. I have had 3 injections, and the back pain is escalating. I am seriously considering stopping therapy before the pain gets worse. I cannot tolerate the oral statins due to muscle pain. Now I am unsure what the next step should be."

• THB...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 11, 2023

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I am allergic to statins. After a heart attack, I was prescribed Repatha. Within 3 weeks, I started having muscle pain in both upper arms. It was similar to the pain I had in my thighs when taking Lipitor and then Crestor. I stayed on it for 3 months. I wrote to my doctor and told him I was going off of it. For some reason, doctors don't want to believe it causes the above symptoms. Repatha dramatically reduced my cholesterol numbers. I was very sorry I had to go off of it."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 5, 2023

For High Cholesterol "I have to say that the drug works, but at what cost. I can't take statins due to the joint and muscle pain it causes me. I have been on Repatha for 3 months now. I just recently went to my doctor with severe back, joint, and feet pain. I also complained about low energy. She thought maybe I had depression, which I quickly denied. So the next thing, she looked up the side effects and saw everything I have complained about. I really don't want to quit the medication, but I don't want to feel like this for the rest of my life. I will say that all my numbers were decreased by half or better. I honestly don't know if I will continue the drug. Can't stand the pain. I had to go on steroids to help with the side effects. All I can say is this may not be for me, but it does offer really good results. Keep an open mind about it."

• 3sn...
• August 7, 2018

For High Cholesterol "70-year-old male. 20 years ago, got a stent in my 'widow maker', another stent 10 years later. All statins > muscle pain. Cholesterol always very high but with high HDL (the good cholesterol). 'Chol. ratios' excellent (Paleo), but Drs. don't believe in them. Started Zetia, and months later, Repatha. No side effects for some months, and cholesterol WAY down. Then, lower body weakness with balance problems. Had many tests, including 4 MRIs of spine and brain. Nothing found. Also got PT, which definitely helps, but still harder to exercise. Then got extreme fatigue after exercising every time. Collapsed in a chair mid-day hours every time. Stopped Repatha. Looking at other comments now, I see other issues I had may be side effects. Blood pressure higher. It felt like I had gynecomastia for many months. After stopping Repatha, it went away. Last sugar test higher than ever. I also had what I called a UTI. Got an antibiotic. And memory problems got worse. I strongly recommend Vitamin C therapy."

• JAD...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 28, 2022

For High Cholesterol "I have to say I'm truly surprised at all the negative reviews. I took Repatha twice a month for a year and a half and never had a single side effect. The statins, and we tried five or six of them, made me miserable. Some caused back pain, some caused muscle pain, and others caused sexual side effects. Once on the Repatha, I felt fine, and my blood test results were ones my doctor said he would pin to his refrigerator, they were that good. I would have continued taking it, but my health insurance got canceled. Repatha does such a good job of reversing plaque buildup that before you quit taking it, I would seriously investigate other reasons for the supposed side effects. Statins are much more likely to cause side effects, and everyone I've talked to that takes Repatha has not had any of the side effects people here are talking about. Personally, I think it's a lifesaver."

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2017

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "I have been living with high LDL my entire life. I had 4 CT heart scans over a 20-year period. Mild plaque burden in one area seen grew to 3 areas. I tried almost every statin on the market. I could NOT tolerate statins. Between muscle aches, joint pain, muddled thought, energy issues. When running to Google my symptoms online, I realized thousands of people were experiencing the exact same. I was convinced all these odd symptoms were from the statins. I was off and on 4 times and subsequently stopped. Note: best blood results were Lipitor, but still MANY unbearable side effects! I ride a bike. I'm athletic. I'm physically fit my entire life. I eat better than most. My blood work with Repatha after 3 months almost seems like a miracle."

• Pet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2021

For High Cholesterol "This so-called miracle drug is a nightmare. I took two injections one month, it had severe weakness, with muscle pain, joint pain, all kinds of other crazy stuff, etc. I stopped taking it because of the high cost and then took another one about three weeks ago. This drug can cripple you and make you feel malice all the time! Needs to be removed from the market…"

• In ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2022

For High Cholesterol "Started Repatha in November of '21 because I could not tolerate statins. Too much muscle pain and spasms. I was prescribed one Repatha injection every two weeks. After the first month, I started having fatigue and joint pain. Needed a cane to walk, and after 4 months, can now barely walk. I need a walker now. Constant pain in almost all joints, swollen knees, muscle spasms. Had my last injection a week ago and now understand why I’m in such agony. Hopefully, the drug will be out of my system in 3 months and also hope there is no permanent damage. Will have to use diet and exercise (if I can ever walk again) for cholesterol. Repatha is poison. My cholesterol has been reduced. Quality of life dropped with the cholesterol. Very poor trade."

• Pap...
• August 22, 2021

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "I am a 66-year-old male with familial high cholesterol and triglycerides. I have been unable to take statins and other meds for lowering cholesterol due to elevation of muscle enzymes, which causes muscle pain and weakness. After a stent, the doctor wanted me to take Repatha. I took it for 5 months, and due to other health issues, I did not realize I was having issues until a heart catheterization came back normal. I had chest pressure, shortness of breath with minor exertion, sweating very easily, body aches, fatigue, back pain, and muscle aches all over. My muscle enzymes test, which I had to request, was very elevated. I immediately stopped Repatha. Chest discomfort stopped immediately, breathing is better, and sweating stopped, but I am still having severe back and muscle aches in my legs, with my legs feeling very rubbery. My advice is to pay very close attention to muscle aches if you take this medication and have problems with other cholesterol medications."

• Pap...
• August 22, 2021

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "I am a 66-year-old male with familial high cholesterol and triglycerides. I have been unable to take statins and other meds for lowering cholesterol due to elevation of muscle enzymes, which causes muscle pain and weakness. After a stent, the doctor wanted me to take Repatha. I took it for 5 months, and due to other health issues, I did not realize I was having issues until a heart catheterization came back normal. I had chest pressure, shortness of breath with minor exertion, sweating very easily, body aches, fatigue, back pain, and muscle aches all over. My muscle enzymes test, which I had to request, was very elevated. I immediately stopped Repatha. Chest discomfort stopped immediately, breathing is better, and sweating stopped, but I am still having severe back and muscle aches in my legs, with my legs feeling very rubbery. My advice is to pay very close attention to muscle aches if you take this medication and have problems with other cholesterol medications."

• ter...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 2, 2018

For High Cholesterol "After 2 months on Repatha, 4 injections, I just got the results, and to say that I am flabbergasted would be a terrific understatement! My total cholesterol dropped 158 points, with the LDL dropping a whopping 177 points!!! I won't go into my history, but I have tried every damn statin that exists, and I cannot tolerate any of them. I tried to the point of damaging my body and even taking painkillers to mask the muscle pain, and after a couple of months, I had to stop. Welchol worked, BUT I have had colorectal cancer with major alterations due to surgery, and it constipated me so badly that I had to stop that. I was reluctant to try Repatha due to all of the problems that I have had with the other stuff, but I am so glad that I did. Doctors, BC/BS of ALA, and Amgen worked together so I could afford it, and I finally can relax and maybe eat a ham sandwich and a donut without fear."

• kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 28, 2023

For High Cholesterol "After 6 months with manageable side effects of muscle and nerve pain (it was manageable with three weekly visits for acupuncture), I experienced a bad surge of increasing pain all over and fatigue. That led to increasing pain, sleep loss, and poor mood due to the constant intractable pain. I called the cardiologist and stopped Repatha. I am not going back on it."

• Ron...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2022

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I was prescribed Repatha for high cholesterol and cardiovascular risk reduction. I tried many statins and Zetia, which all caused muscle and joint pain, along with severe abdominal pain. I was prescribed Repatha a month ago. After the first injection, I felt a little sick about 3 days later. I attributed this to the bugs going around. After the second injection, I became severely sick, foggy-headed, weak, and developed muscle and joint pain, I couldn't even use my right arm due to shoulder pain. I have stopped taking Repatha, but from what I read, it will take several weeks to get out of my body."

• Lor...
• March 15, 2018

For High Cholesterol "Repatha cut my ~200 LDL in half to ~100 with no other drugs. It also significantly lowered my triglycerides and raised my HDL. I'm in my 50s with treated heart disease. A stent in one of my coronary arteries. I've tried every statin and most of them twice. The statins all gave me side effects: serious brain fog and/or muscle aches. Thus, Repatha is a lifesaver for me. I have had no side effects with Repatha- I am very pleasantly amazed. The injections are easy, but it's key to allow it to warm up fully to the high end of room temperature to allow it to thin out and inject easier. I took the other Praluent for about 5 months with similar results. It was a little faster and easier to inject with less sting. The key is to pinch your fat fold at the injection site so you don't feel it. Since I'm not on a government insurance of any kind, both PCSK9 companies supplemented my insurance with a copay card so I only pay $5/month. I'd still like to get my LDL below 70 (ideally below 50 even), thus the 9 out of 10 stars."

• Cha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 10, 2022

For High Cholesterol "Repatha has worked great for me. In my two years of taking its injections, it has dropped my cholesterol down from 200 plus to 80, and my LDL from over 150 to 26. I had two blood tests. One of the major benefits for me was I didn't have all the side effects of statins, muscle aches, and fatigue that all the statins had caused. Lipitor, Crestor, Baycol, Zetia, Lescol, I tried them all. Repatha is great, and my cardiologist is a big fan."

• INT...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2023

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I cannot tolerate statins, and unfortunately, I have also found this to be true for Repatha. I took Repatha for two months, and during that time, I ended up barely able to move my legs. The negative symptoms started around six weeks into the treatment. I have stopped taking the drug for about two weeks now, but I still experience residual effects. While my legs feel fine when I'm sitting, they quickly become sore when I start to move. At times, I also feel a little dizzy when I stand up, and my balance and movement are not as good as they were before I took the drug."

• Lin...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 4, 2024

For High Cholesterol "My triglycerides are on the high-ish side. At first, my PA put me on a statin, but I couldn't tolerate it (muscle pain). So, he prescribed Repatha, which I've been taking off and on (there've been times I've had problems getting my prescription filled) for about a year now. So far, at least, I've had ZERO side effects from it. As for my cholesterol? Well, I'll just have to wait and see how well it's working (or not working); as of this writing, I haven't yet gotten my blood work results."

• Azi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 13, 2021

For High Cholesterol "I have been taking Repatha for almost one year. My LDL got lowered a lot, but I gained weight, and it is so disturbing to me. I am getting depressed because I am becoming bigger and bigger, and never in my 65 years of life have I gained weight. I have gained 12 pounds. Now I have decided to take only half injections. Wonder if that will help me? I can't take Crestor as it gets such painful muscle pain. I have no idea what to do."

• dog...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 11, 2016

For High Cholesterol, Familial Homozygous "Fatigue, headaches, muscle aches."