Rosuvastatin and Muscle Aches: What Users Say

• 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."

• Res...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 26, 2013

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "Taking 2.5 mg per day (that's half a 5 mg pill). This much lowered my cholesterol from 248 to 193, and LDL from 168 to 125. Not perfect but good enough. Started out with 10 mg a day that gave me muscle cramps and elevated liver enzymes (AST and ALT). Doc had me try some other statins but they all had the same effect. So we lowered the Crestor dose until the side effects stopped. Works great and no noticeable side effects."

• Bre...
• October 14, 2016

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "For about 6 years, my physician prescribed Lipitor for high cholesterol. I couldn't take it due to muscle cramps. After that, I was prescribed Zocor, Pravachol, and finally the orange drink Colestipol. I always had adverse side effects so I decided to stop trying. I lost 20 pounds, but before the cholesterol dropped with any real significance, I regained the weight. The physician kept saying my cholesterol was dangerously high, but I did not want the side effects. I had to change insurance companies, which meant a new physician. This one said the same along with a bit of a lecture. She prescribed Crestor, 5mg per day. After 3 months with no side effects, it went from 280 to 155. I couldn't believe it. I am 60 years old."

• 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."

• 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."

• DrR...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 28, 2013

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "Have been on Crestor for over 5 years. Total cholesterol is 130 from 180. Increased my HDL slightly while lowering my LDL. Also took Niacin for years. Now only take Micardis. Yes, muscle cramps when I walk long distances. I'm 75 and just had a carotid ultrasound and totally clear of buildup. Liver enzymes are OK."

• Wil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2018

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "I had a massive heart attack 14 years ago and was put on Lipitor. I could not handle the muscle cramps. I was then put on Crestor, again, I could not handle the cramps. Years later, now, I have very high cholesterol levels and have been put on Crestor again but told to take it every second day, 10 mg, and to take ubiquinol a couple of hours before. This is coenzyme Q10. I still got cramping in my fingers and shooting pains up my arms, so I have cut it down to 5 mg every second day, and it seems to be tolerable. It seems I can handle a low dose. Hopefully, it’s better than nothing."

• Suz...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 15, 2020

For Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease "Rosuvastatin 5 mg 10 months ago. Stent in heart January 2018. Cholesterol down from 6 to 3.2 within 2 months - GREAT. 4 months progressively worse 10th month - weak + aching muscles like I've walked 20 km a day + 5 kg weights on each leg, last 2 months cramping in pool, feet + calves. Urinating 8-10 times a night. Weight gain + not budging. Piercing pain in left-hand side of the brain. Memory loss. Rash on forearms. Breathlessness. The worst depression, REALLY down. One morning, shuffling to the bathroom, hips, legs, back so painful, I read about the rosuvastatin side effects and decided to stop taking them. Within 3 DAYS my muscles feeling BETTER. NOW - 2 weeks - walking 6 km, running on a mini-tramp 40 minutes, swimming 90 laps of a pool - 25 strokes across - I'm effortlessly gliding, no cramps, enjoying experience. No memory fog, sharp twangs in the head, gone little more each day. I KNOW I HAVE to be strict re: diet, but after having bad side effects I just want to stay off things."

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2023

For Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease "I am 47 years old and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, which caused my LDL (bad) cholesterol level to increase to 144. Prior to this, I had no history of cholesterol problems. My doctor prescribed me Lipitor, but after a couple of weeks of taking it, I started experiencing jaw pain, as well as upper back and shoulder pain on my left side. This was concerning, so I brought it to my doctor's attention. They switched me to Crestor, but the back and shoulder pain has persisted. Although I exercise 3-4 times a week, the muscle soreness caused by these medications is different from the soreness I normally experience after workouts. I also sometimes experience brain fog and wake up feeling unwell due to muscle pain. I plan to talk to my doctor about alternative options."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 18, 2021

For Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease "My doctor prescribed rosuvastatin, which I took for a year and a half. As a result, I suffered from low energy, memory loss, stiffness, and worst of all, severe muscle pain in both shoulders. I could not raise my arms without intense pain. The pain would flare up at night. I did not have a full night's sleep for 6 months. Pain medication did not work. It has been 1 year since I've stopped taking the statin medication. Most of the pain is gone, and my energy is back. It was a long, painful year that I will not repeat. I quit taking statins and quit seeing the doctor that prescribed them."

• cur...
• October 6, 2011

For Atherosclerosis "I also started off on Lipitor after a stroke, but had very painful muscles. Switched to Crestor, and after just over a year, the carotid blockage of 57-60% that I had to begin with reduced to unmeasurable levels."

• CYD...
• August 8, 2016

For High Cholesterol "I am a diabetic, and although I eat healthy and exercise, even though my cholesterol for a normal person is ideal, for a diabetic person, it is too high. So my doctor put me on this medication and told me the most common complaint from her patients is muscle cramping. However, when this cramping is affecting my daily life and work life (it mainly affects my arm muscles), I believe this is not the right medication for me. I'm awaiting my family doctor to call me and reassess the situation. As for the efficiency of the medication, I really don't know since I haven't had a blood work since I started taking the medication."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2021

For High Cholesterol "I've been on rosuvastatin 20 mg daily for 3 months now. For the most part, I haven't had any bad side effects. No muscle cramps or pain. I have some slight shedding of my hair, but at this point, I can't say if it's the medication or if it's seasonal since this has happened before during the fall. Before starting rosuvastatin, my labs were cholesterol - 265, HDL - 101, triglycerides - 59, and LDL - 149. Liver enzymes were AST - 21 and ALT - 14. On my 3-month follow-up labs, the results were: cholesterol - 179, HDL - 96, triglycerides - 46, and LDL - 70. Liver enzymes: AST - 33 and ALT - 31. The ALT was +2 over the normal range, and AST was only 2 points away from being abnormal. I was told to continue on this course, but I was hoping they would reduce the dosage to help the liver enzymes. I will update this post if any significant changes. Hope this helps someone."