Rosuvastatin and Joint Pain: What Users Say

• Moa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 22, 2019

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "After being on Crestor, it initially brought down my levels significantly within a month. However, after 3 months, I began to feel somewhat depressed, have joint aches, feel unmotivated, experience fatigue, and overall muscle weakness. Grabbing a case of water at the market was beginning to make me feel like an old lady. I stopped taking the medication and within a week I started to feel better. I could tell that my overall health was compromised. I would not take this again."

• Oak...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 11, 2020

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "Never been on a statin, early 50's, fit/active, recently prescribed Crestor 20mg once a day. Within 2-3 months, my muscles and joints became very sore. Think of how you feel the day after a hard workout, now I was feeling like that every day but never doing a hard workout. This was miserable. Went to my doctor and she suggested to stop it for 2 weeks and see if I feel better. By day 3, I already feel 80% better. I'm sure this works for some but sadly not for me."

• ald...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 26, 2019

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "I was prescribed Crestor 10mg as my cholesterol was high, even though my blood pressure was normal. I experienced mild muscle and joint pain during the first 3 months. As it affected my liver function, as shown in blood test results, my GP advised me to lower the dose to 5mg. To save costs, I purchased 10mg generic brand and took it every other day. After 2 months, I noticed I had dark urine and quite severe upper arm/shoulder pain. After stopping the medication, my urine reverted to normal color, however, I am still having arm/shoulder pain after 3 months. Not sure if the pain will go away or will be permanent! I would never take Crestor or any statin again."

• Pca...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 4, 2020

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "Was on simvastatin for two years. Had angina and two stents put in. It has now been 5 months on Crestor 20mg and Brilinta. Went to cardio rehab for 12 weeks. During cardio rehab, I noticed how sore my hips were getting even hours later off the treadmill. The joint aches and muscle pain are all over my body. The cardio doctor thinks it's Brilinta and Crestor interaction, but all the other doctors say it's probably Crestor. I can't sleep at night and when I get up, I'm so stiff and sore all over. So I'm going to back off the Crestor and hope I can recover."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 20, 2017

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "Had high cholesterol started on Crestor. Since then, my life has been a nightmare. Leg cramps, joint pain, swelling, memory loss, extreme fatigue, and now they have diagnosed me with an unknown issue. All since Crestor. I am stopping... never been sick a day in my life... these medications will make us sicker."

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 1, 2020

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "Been on Crestor for about a year. Cholesterol about 260 and I’m 55 years old, but all my life I’ve been fit and lean, and my cholesterol has always been around 220 since I’m 18 years old! My good cholesterol (HDL) is on the high side, but of course, the bad one (LDL) seems to be creeping up! My issue is my elbows started hurting with pain pricks and sharp knife-like pain, so I went to the doctor. She told me to stop taking the medicine for a couple of weeks to see if the pain would go away. The pain didn’t go away, so I went back on it, only 5mg. I’m feeling fatigued, muscles seem to feel weak, and I’m not sure if it’s from the medicine or just my age. I also gained a little bit of weight. If anyone has any comments, please let me know. Thank you! Also, my triglycerides used to be very low, and since taking this medicine, they went up at least by 50."

• ank...
• May 10, 2013

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "I took Crestor 10 mg for more than 10 years. It did an excellent job reducing my LDL. But, through years I developed joint pains, which doctors could not explain. Once a friend told me my joint pain could be a result of Crestor, so to test it out I stopped taking it and sure enough only in a few months, no more pain in any of my joints for the past 1 year, since I have stopped taking Crestor."

• RJ ...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 17, 2014

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "I have been on Crestor 10 mg for 2 years now. I feel better, but lately I am having some serious right hip joint pains. I am in good health, never had any sort of joint pain. Now I notice each time I take Crestor, I can barely walk due to very intense deep hip joint pains. I have to stop taking this medication."

• man...
• April 23, 2014

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "LDL was 124. Took 10mg Crestor 3 times a week. Six weeks later my LDL is down to 54. Doc says to go down to 2 pills a week, which will maintain the lower cholesterol number. No muscle cramps or joint pains with taking it a couple times a week instead of every day and it's just as effective. Even if I did have cramps or joint pain, it would still be worth it to get my cholesterol down, reduce heart disease, and prevent dementia."

• Luc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 23, 2020

Rosuvastatin for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease "I was prescribed Crestor after a triple bypass. 40mg daily and I finally weaned myself off of this drug after 7 1/2 months due to side effects. I was to the point where I could barely walk, my knees and feet were extremely painful. My shoulder joints had me in rehab therapy also. No energy, weight gain, and a thumb that now locks in place which is anything but pleasant. All these symptoms have significantly eased up and hoping to get back to 95% of my old self!"

• Bru...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 26, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I have been on rosuvastatin for about three years. It does work to lower cholesterol especially the LDL, but you need to eat healthy for this to take effect and get active. Still, this drug will cost you with some unwanted side effects... Elevated Liver Enzymes (for sure), I have joint pain in my pinky that hurts when I press, some foot pain and a weird feeling. The drug seems to know when I'm enduring it and so it says: 'you know what, maybe this isn't enough for you, so let me show you a new world of hurt' BAM!! Nausea, headaches, disrupted sleep, spiked blood pressure for hours, shivering, twitching, having me on the edge of the seat and making me wonder if it's the drug causing these side effects or not. Sometimes I'm afraid to fall asleep. Please consider your medical alternatives wisely."

• Anonymous
• July 2, 2011

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "I have been on Crestor for 2 years now and while it has worked great on lowering my cholesterol, I am having joint pain and feel extremely tired when I get up in the morning. Absolutely no energy. My doctor told me to get off it for a few days, so I stopped taking it for 4 days. I get up in the morning fully charged, I have no joint pain, and feel like a new person. And I got rid of the Viagra, don't need it anymore. This drug does wonders for lowering cholesterol, but the side effects are bad. Also, I got back on it after 4 days, and the same side effects come back after the first day I took it."

• jod...
• March 27, 2014

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "I am a Type 1 diabetic and have had high cholesterol since being diagnosed 12 years ago. I am on a restricted diet and I do not eat eggs or meat yet my cholesterol was high (genetic). I hesitated to take any statins because I got a rash from Lipitor but finally agreed to take Crestor because last summer my stress test showed abnormalities (which were later disproven). However, I started on only 5mg. I started walking about 20-30 minutes a day a few times a week, and now, 8 months later, my total cholesterol was below normal and all other levels were within a good range. My endocrinologist was very pleased and said no reason to go up to 10 mg. I do sometimes get some joint pain in my wrist and ankles, and sometimes some muscle."

• Sco...
• July 28, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I started taking pravastatin 20 mg. No side effects except extreme memory loss and confusion, so the doctor changed me to rosuvastatin. I stopped taking it after 2 pills taken every second day due to bad side effects: pain everywhere in my back, fingers, and joints. I stopped taking them, so I will go to the doctor tomorrow to see what he has to say. I started taking fish oil and eating healthy foods, but I think statin drugs are poisonous and the doctors don't care."

• Sco...
• July 28, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I started taking pravastatin 20 mg. No side effects except extreme memory loss and confusion, so the doctor changed me to rosuvastatin. I stopped taking it after 2 pills taken every second day due to bad side effects: pain everywhere in my back, fingers, and joints. I stopped taking them, so I will go to the doctor tomorrow to see what he has to say. I started taking fish oil and eating healthy foods, but I think statin drugs are poisonous and the doctors don't care."

• Jca...
• February 25, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I’m 42, manage to exercise, eat fairly clean, and am in good overall health. I’m starting to notice that when I take this, even every other day or a half dose, my hands and feet begin to react. It usually starts in my toes. They become red, swollen, burn, and sometimes itch. The temperature of them also becomes noticeably hot. Some days the joints in my toes hurt, and my feet, ankles, and calves begin to swell. It also affects my fingers and hands. I’m sure this medication is the cause because I’ve stopped taking it before, and my symptoms go away. From what I could find on the internet for my symptoms is a rare condition called Erythromelalgia (EM). Doctors don’t seem to know anything about it, nor can I find any studies on this condition related to this drug. I hope this review doesn’t make anyone not try this medication because it could work for you; I just wanted to share my experience in case anyone else has had this happen to them as well."

• Meh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2016

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "Was on Simvastatin (40 mg) and within two days had severe shooting pains in knees. Started cutting in half and pain dissipated. Told doctor I was cutting in half and reason, and instead of lowering dosage, they switched me to Crestor (40 mg). After about 10 doses, finger joints began to swell and pain with hip joint pain. Stopped taking. It's been 5 weeks and fingers still are painful and stiff, making everyday tasks hard. Am back to cutting dosages in half. Will post if that makes a difference and my blood fat improves."

• mid...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 9, 2013

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "5 mg Crestor for about 3 weeks after becoming menopausal and having cholesterol spike even higher (family genetic condition) - no side effects at first and numbers started to improve. THEN - everything went haywire - rapid weight gain & all symptoms of pre-menopause have come back. Now having severe joint pain so have stopped taking it completely."

• Hop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2024

For High Cholesterol "I started this medicine six months ago at a dose of 5 mg a day. I started having several side effects, including low energy, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, stomach pain, and insomnia. I talked to my doctor, and he reduced the dose to 5 mg every other day. Then I noticed losing weight and hair shedding, I'm unsure if it's related to this medication. Does anyone else experience weight loss and hair shedding? Thank you."

• Jo ...
• May 11, 2022

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "For decades, my cholesterol numbers have been high, but because the “good” cholesterol was always much higher, I was never put on any drugs. I always had creative and stressful work, requiring long hours. I also developed HBP, although I don’t drink coffee, only have a recreational drink from time to time, and have never smoked. During an unrelated illness, my BP was high, and so I was started on metoprolol. It did not work well with me at all, so my primary changed it to the lowest dose of carvedilol. My cardiologist increased it. Then he put me on a combination of Zetia (10 mg) and Crestor (5 mg). I can tell you that the combination of all three has put me in hell: joint pain, muscular pain, fogginess, forgetfulness, lethargy, and UTIs. As I write this, I am in bed, not because of a sudden and extreme pain in my right leg last night, muscle weakness, and the most severe cramps ever. The doc will not take me off the meds as they brought the numbers down. But I will."

• Pau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 6, 2023

For High Cholesterol "Taking generic Crestor. Within a month, low back pain and stabby pain in knees and elbows. The cardio doctor said to take it for three months and get blood work done. So stupid me stayed on it the full three months. In that three months, my ankles and toes stiffened, and intense heel pain and back pain turned into spasms mid-back on either side of the spine. Intense enough to cry out. Can't put dinner in the oven and cannot bend over that far without spasms, cannot go down the stairs as I get spasms all the way back up the stairs, getting in and out of the car the back spasms again. Stopped it three weeks ago. Ankles, toes, and heel improved within ten days. At three weeks off the med, the back spasms continue. My cardio and family doctor want me to start it again. I will not. I want at least three months to hopefully heal the damage. Working on a diet now. I am interested to see the blood work in three months without it. Oh, and the emotional toll too, stressed and easily 'weepy'-not sure if it's from the meds or the pain."

• Anonymous
• August 21, 2009

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "I used Crestor for about 3 weeks before I started having muscle and joint pain. Then I began having horrible spasms in my muscles that would wake me every night. I called my doctor's office and they told me to take 1/2 a pill every other day. I did as he suggested, but didn't get relief until I was taken off this medicine. It did, however, lower my numbers."

• ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 12, 2023

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "CNP switched me from 10 mg Zetia to 40 mg Crestor. It did bring my cholesterol numbers in a good range, but I had serious side effects. Mainly higher glucose, foamy urine (protein and blood in urinalysis), muscle and joint pain, fatigue. I was told to stop taking it to see if things got better. After 1 week off this drug, my urine looks normal again. I'm hoping the rest of these side effects will disappear soon! Not going back on Crestor, I will work on diet and exercise for healthy cholesterol levels."

• Sho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 5, 2018

For High Cholesterol "Took 5 mg daily for about two months. Developed severe joint and muscle pain in shoulders and thigh. Discontinued use. The medicine did lower my cholesterol, but I was able to subsequently lower my cholesterol almost as much by changing my diet and increasing physical activity."

• Nig...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 20, 2020

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "Taking Crestor 20 mgs daily. After using this for six months and not seeing good results (cholesterol levels still elevated). I find that I am experiencing joint pains and hair loss. This is my second try on this medication, I was on 10 mg before. I am going to try asking to go back on Lipitor."