Vascepa and Muscle Pain: What Users Say

• zma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2013

For Hypertriglyceridemia "I started taking Vascepa at 2g to ease the muscle aches from statin use. Within 3 weeks, I was pain-free and in the gym. It has helped lower my trig profile by 9%, and my next visit, the cardiologist will set my statin dose to the lowest level. They have a prescription card on their website that will reduce your out-of-pocket to $25.00 copay per month."

• Wen...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 5, 2020

For Hypertriglyceridemia "My cardiologist put me on this after I had 3 stents put in. My recent blood work showed triglycerides in the high 200s. In the two years I have taken Vascepa, I have gained about 40 pounds. And now the muscle and joint pain. It was excruciating! It would wake me up at night - hips, ankles, shoulders - a different area every night. I had started at four a day - then I discovered it gave me terrible bad breath to the point people backed away from me. So I cut back to two at night. Two years on this med and in the beginning joint pain was never mentioned as a side effect, now they are mentioning it on the website. I stopped taking it 3 nights ago. The joint and muscle pain has almost completely subsided. I feel much better and have energy for the first time in a very long time."

• Jay...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 1, 2017

For Hypertriglyceridemia "I have been on this medicine for about 8 months. After the first week, I experienced muscle pain in my legs and ankles. I started taking 200 mg of CoQ10 daily, and I have no more aches anywhere. I highly recommend CoQ10 with Vascepa."

• Tha...
• November 21, 2022

For Hypertriglyceridemia "So I’ve been on Vascepa for a while, but due to a job change and insurance change, I had to stop! The first time I was on it, I was super gassy and bloated and had diarrhea here and there, nothing horrible. But I just got back on it about three weeks ago, and now my muscles hurt. Like I ran a 10K at full speed without stretching or warming up! And since I started back on, I’ve noticed I have to pee badly, like my bladder is gonna explode or I’m about to pee myself. I haven’t seen this as a side effect, but it started after two weeks. I guess I’ll have to talk to my doc. But if anyone else has this issue, please like or comment. I’m curious!"

• New...
• January 24, 2018

For Hypertriglyceridemia "I am 39 years old and have had triglyceride and cholesterol problems since my 20s. I tried multiple statins and experienced muscle pain side effects with them all. One year ago, I was prescribed Vascepa with Lipitor (my third try). I now have no side effects from Lipitor, and my triglycerides are much lower, as well as my cholesterol. After about 6 months, I started experiencing symptoms of low blood pressure. I have been on blood pressure medication for over 15 years due to high BP. What I found is that I no longer needed BP meds to keep my BP at 120/80 or less, and I can only attribute the change to the Vascepa and Lipitor combo because my shift work lifestyle hasn't changed, as well as my other bad habits of eating."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2018

For Hypertriglyceridemia "I started this drug on 4/13/2018, and within a week of being on it, I became bloated, gassy, and constipated. My skin is like an oil spill, and I'm retaining water like a blowfish. I'm on a diuretic for hypertension, and retaining water only shoots my BP up. As much water as I drink throughout the day, I might go to the bathroom 3 times total. My muscles ache constantly, with no relief from any of these side effects. I stopped taking it as of yesterday. Statins I cannot take without the joint and muscle pains and literally not able to walk or go up/down stairs. My triglycerides on April 5th were 257, and my total cholesterol was 211."

• Jid...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2018

For Hypertriglyceridemia "Started with 1 gram twice daily. After a week, took 2 grams twice daily. After 6 weeks, triglycerides dropped from 950 to 625. Meantime, my right eye was troubling me from macular degeneration. Got two treatments. Trouble reading. Also experienced right arm muscle pain and weakness. Couldn’t lift it straight out. After a few weeks, I stopped Vascepa. Eye got much better. Arm somewhat better. Still waiting for arm to resume normalcy. Possible my eye vitamin added to the problem."

• Sle...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2021

For Hypertriglyceridemia "I took Vascepa at my doctor's request. I am awake now at 1 AM because every muscle and joint in my body aches. I can now barely function during the day, the pain is so bad, and I wake up in the middle of the night numerous times to use the bathroom. My knee joints now crackle every time I sit down. My right arm, from elbow to wrist, is swollen, and I can no longer make a fist. I only took this medication for 6 to 8 weeks and had to stop because it felt like a cinderblock on my chest. I used to be able to take walks and ride a stationary bike. I can no longer do either. I am now doing a liver cleanse to try and get this stuff out of my body. If I don't improve soon, I don't know how I will continue to function."

• Buc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2023

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "Started several months ago. Stopped due to muscle aches and pains. Got better within 2 days, normal after 4 days. I got anxious about not taking it after weeks, so I started again. Aches and pains the next day, so I quit again. Still had some aches and pains, so I stopped some other meds. My pains went away almost completely. I’ve started back on Vascepa and have no aches or pains. I guess interaction with other meds was a problem. If a person is taking several meds, and all of them have a common side effect, it’s bound to happen."

• Cre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2021

For Hypertriglyceridemia "I started on one gram Vascepa twice a day a week and a half ago. My cholesterol is only 215, but my triglycerides are over 750. Yesterday I started hurting all over in most of my muscles and joints, even my ear, eye, and bottom of one foot. My hip is in terrible pain, although it was hurting previously, but not this bad. I'm not taking Vascepa again. Terribly expensive even with insurance."