Pitavastatin and Cramps: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• October 23, 2011

For High Cholesterol "I have been taking Livalo for 6 months. Changed from Crestor due to leg cramps. My recent blood work was the best I have ever had, however, I was recently diagnosed with stage 3 chronic kidney disease. Never had any problems before, also extreme hair loss. I attribute both to Livalo."

• Cha...
• July 9, 2013

For High Cholesterol "I am 50 and had 2 heart attacks and 2 strokes. I cannot take any statins because of leg cramps. I have been on Livalo for 18 months. My cholesterol is 183 from 329, I love it. It took the place of 4 different medicines that caused a malabsorption problem. I go through a patient assistance program but was told Lilly Care doesn't carry it anymore."

• Rud...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2019

For High Cholesterol "59 years old. I tried statins and suffered leg cramping. New heart doc put me on Livalo. Said it doesn’t cause muscle issues. Took for less than a month. Severe stomach pain and flu-like symptoms of extreme diarrhea (eight days straight), low-grade fever, upper abdominal pain, general malaise. Incapacitated for over a week. Forgot to take it one day. Within 24 hours, diarrhea subsided as well as stomach pain and general malaise. Stayed off the drug for one week. Took it again to test and see if it may have been the flu. After three days, stomach pain recurred and stools started to soften. Called the doc. Talked to the assistant. She called back. Said the doc didn’t think these were side effects and that they can’t be expected to look at the pamphlets that come with the drugs. Won’t be going back to that doc. Also, blood tests while on showed high glucose. Done with statins. BTW, I’m on no other meds and generally quite healthy."

• RSH...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2019

For High Cholesterol "Livalo is the 5th statin I have tried. I was on 4 mg. All the statins have lowered my numbers. But all had muscle pain, cramping, and joint ache. Livalo has been the worst. Within 3 months, my shoulder joints bothered me, my neck hurt and went into full spasm so badly I could hardly stand it (and my neck always had a spot that hurt). My lower back ached, had constipation, my joints (knees, ankles, hip/groin) cracked every day. The worst was a groin spasm (twice in a row) while walking that left me with a groin injury. It seems like my tendons/ligaments were under attack. I stopped Livalo, I feel much better."

• Vic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2018

For High Cholesterol "Started on Lipitor 10 mg years ago - no issues then. Doctor upped dosage to 20 mg and I couldn't get out of bed! Gave up on statins until December when the cardiologist put me on Livalo 2 mg for 5 weeks. No muscle aches or pains, but an increase in leg cramps. Went to the regular doctor in January - blood test A1C was elevated, but all cholesterol levels were in limits! Thought from Livalo and so I was put on Crestor... 2 weeks on Crestor and daily headaches, muscle aches and pains, weight gain, and blood glucose still elevated and not under control. Quit and went back to Livalo! Aches and pains went away. Read that statins in general can have an effect on blood glucose. Each person reacts to medication differently - like 'your mileage may vary'. I'll stick with the Livalo to keep my cholesterol in check and work on diet and exercise to get my weight down so I can get off all medications!"

• Fau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2023

For High Cholesterol "I do not recommend this medication. It made me feel sick, congested, exhausted, and seriously depressed. I also suffered from leg cramps and a messed-up immune system. I would not take it again."