Pitavastatin and Muscle Pain: What Users Say

• FEG...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 4, 2013

For High Cholesterol "I have been on many statins over the last 20 years. I am a 61-year-old woman. I have been taking Livalo for about a year, as I had horrible muscle aches and thought I had the flu on other statins. The muscle aches and weakness are back. My doctor insists that because of my high cholesterol and triglycerides, I must take SOMETHING, but I can't take the muscle pain. I am stopping and calling the doctor."

• MBH...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2015

For High Cholesterol "After taking 2mg of Livalo for 3 weeks, I experienced several side effects, so much so, I am no longer taking any statin. Severe muscle pain and weakness and joint pain, flu-like symptoms but no fever, even though I felt like I had a fever. Slight cough, runny nose, and extreme lower abdominal pain. Then came the chills. That's it. I have experienced muscle weakness and pain on other statins, so my body knows better and I'm listening to it."

• HKF...
• December 22, 2014

For High Cholesterol "Livalo is the first statin medicine I have taken without experiencing muscle pain side effects. After a year, I still have no issues though I had to stop taking 3 others including pravastatin, Crestor, and Lipitor. My numbers are all good now with a particularly good reading for good cholesterol."

• Pau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2015

For High Cholesterol "Went off Lipitor after about 7 years, followed by Crestor for 2 years. I experienced muscle pain and nightly heartburn. Started Livalo after being off Crestor for 60 days to make sure it was the statin that caused the muscle pain. It was. Now experiencing no muscle pain with Livalo and, to my surprise, no heartburn. Had no idea that Lipitor and Crestor caused the heartburn. Had an NMR blood test last week. Livalo is amazing. Triglycerides plummeted, cholesterol particle size went up nicely, and insulin resistance went from pre-diabetic, which it has been for 5 years, to no risk. If your doctor doesn't do the NMR test, you may be taking statins unnecessarily. My cardiologist doesn't even want to know what traditional HDL and LDL numbers are."

• Chr...
• July 28, 2015

For High Cholesterol "Crestor, Lipitor, in fact, all statins except Livalo gave me severe muscle pains 24/7. Having post-polio syndrome, the situation was exacerbated. Livalo gave me no pains at all for the 6 or so years I have been taking it."

• ran...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2015

For High Cholesterol "I stopped taking avorastatin due to my blood sugar raising while on the prescription. I also experienced a dull aching in my legs and arms off and on. The avorastatin also gave me night terrors where I woke up screaming, seeing dark figures in the room. Now I have switched to Livalo for the last few months. My blood sugars are still up a little higher than when I don't take cholesterol medication, but it is much more manageable. My nightmares have gone away. My cholesterol numbers are within range with healthy eating. I do not experience muscle aches at all with Livalo. So far, so good!"

• Ner...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 20, 2019

For High Cholesterol "For the past 10 years, my doctor tried every cholesterol pill on me. All of them gave me muscle pain, and I couldn't walk. He gave me Livalo 2 mg to start, and it was totally different. Now I take 4 mg and have no muscle pain at all."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2015

For High Cholesterol "I am taking Livalo for several months due to the fact that other statins caused a lot of muscle pains. It has helped my cholesterol levels a lot. My issue is now my glucose levels are high, which is not normal for me. My doctor thought I could be diabetic. My glucose levels were normal before starting on this. Also, after reading the other reviews, I may have other reactions from it. Lower back pain that is dull. Shoulder and neck pain and headaches. I didn't connect it. I went to the chiropractor to try and help that. Now, I think it's time to discuss with my doctor that it could all be from the Livalo."

• Dav...
• June 28, 2017

For High Cholesterol "I just got my results of my first blood test after being on Livalo for two months. My total cholesterol was 189, and my good cholesterol was 60. Very happy with the results as my cholesterol hovered around 240 for the past 20 years. I had tried Crestor and Pravachol with bad muscle aches. My doctor finally talked me into trying another statin, since she said Livalo was better tolerated. So far, so good!"

• 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."

• Yan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 12, 2020

For High Cholesterol "I have taken Livalo 2 mg for 9+ months. Recent bloodwork showed a 30% decrease in LDL, a slight increase in HDL, and a 30% decrease in triglycerides - good results! I have zero side effects, no muscle pain or stomach issues. Most importantly, this is the only statin that did NOT increase fasting glucose or A1c. It is pricey, though, and not covered by many insurance plans."

• Anonymous
• February 21, 2012

"Livalo worked well, but after about a year, the same old muscle aches that the other statins have caused came on with a vengeance. All my muscles ached horribly. Two days after I stopped taking the medicine, most of the pain has gone."

• icy...
• November 20, 2017

For High Cholesterol "I took Livalo 2 mg every other day for 2 weeks, a total of 5 pills. Now I have neck and shoulder pain with stiffness, weak ankles, knees, and hip pain. I have been on other statins with muscle pains, but this is the worst. I have not taken any more Livalo in 4 days. Some muscle pains are better, but the neck and shoulder are the worst today. I am tired of trying statins. I am done!!!!"

• Sjk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 8, 2018

For High Cholesterol "I had problems with other cholesterol medication. My doctor put me on Livalo. Started with muscle pain in my back. I stopped taking them. Now a year and a half later, still having pain. Back itches to the point it wakes me up. Could someone tell how long it takes to totally get out of the system? I even called the manufacturer, and they couldn't tell me."

• 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!"

• son...
• February 4, 2017

For High Cholesterol "Been on Livalo for approx 4 years. It has lowered my cholesterol, etc. nicely and have not had any of the typical muscle or joint pains. I have had a horrible, almost salty taste in my mouth. I am trying to narrow it down to which drug or supplement might be causing this. Anyone else had this side effect?"

• Cwb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 10, 2022

For High Cholesterol "I started Livalo in Feb 2022. Having bad muscle pain from previous stints taking statins, I was happy that the issue did not arise again… at first. It’s now mid-May 2022, and I’ve noticed really painful left heel pain and then started noticing right neck and shoulder pain and tingling in my right arm. I’ve decided to stop taking Livalo to see if the pain recedes, which I’m sure will be the case after stopping other statin meds. Good results, though, on the numbers-I just can’t tolerate the side effects."