Do muscle cramps from statins go away?

Does muscle pain from statins go away? In most cases, if you're going to have muscle pain from statins, you will notice it soon after you start taking the medication. For many people, however, this side effect is temporary and goes away somewhat quickly.

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How do you stop a statin cramp?

Although there are no proven remedies for statin-related muscle pain, the following may help.
  1. Exercise. ...
  2. Ramp up your lifestyle changes. ...
  3. Have a thyroid blood test. ...
  4. Take supplements. ...
  5. Change your prescription. ...
  6. Image: © Christophe Bourloton/Thinkstock.

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What do statin cramps feel like?

One of the most common complaints of people taking statins is muscle pain. You may feel this pain as a soreness, tiredness or weakness in your muscles. The pain can be a mild discomfort, or it can be serious enough to make it hard to do your daily activities.

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How do I know if my muscle pain is from statins?

Rhabdomyolysis or milder forms of muscle inflammation from statins can be diagnosed with a blood test measuring levels of the enzyme creatinine kinase. If you notice moderate or severe muscle aches after starting to take a statin, contact your doctor.

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Which muscles are most affected by statins?

Within a month of starting statin therapy, they may feel aches or weakness in the large muscles of their arms, shoulders, thighs or buttocks on both sides of the body. About 5 to 10% of people who try statins are affected. It's more common in the elderly, in women and in those taking the more potent statins.

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Study: Statins use can lead to muscle pain or weakness

44 related questions found

Which is the best statin to avoid muscle pain?

Is muscle pain a side effect of all statins? Even though all statins are similar chemically, they have some minor differences that could impact how likely they are to cause muscle pain. Simvastatin is the most likely to cause muscle pain, and fluvastatin is the least likely.

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What percentage of people get muscle pain with statins?

In these studies, similar numbers of people in the statin and placebo groups reported muscle symptoms (27.1 per cent and 26.6 per cent, respectively). The team found that statins marginally increased the frequency, but not the severity, of muscle-related symptoms.

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Can you get off statins once you start?

It's important to know that stopping statins cold turkey, or even gradually, can cause serious health problems and you should talk to your doctor before doing so.

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Why do I get leg cramps on statins?

The researchers suggest that in most people, muscle cells can tolerate this calcium leak. However, in people already susceptible due to their genes or lifestyle, the leak caused by statins may overwhelm the muscle cells, giving rise to muscle pain and weakness.

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What do cardiologists say about statins?

Statins can stabilize cholesterol plaque already attached to artery walls, making it less likely to get worse or rupture, causing a heart attack or stroke. "Statins also help remove cholesterol from you blood by causing the liver to express more LDL cholesterol receptors that take cholesterol out of your blood," Dr.

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Can statins affect your legs?

You may feel a constant soreness or weakness in your shoulders, thighs, hips, or calves. If you're like most people, it'll affect both sides of your body equally. Your symptoms can be mild or serious enough to interfere with your day-to-day life.

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Do statins cause leg cramps at night?

Although there is a recognition that statins can cause muscle pain, tenderness and weakness, there is no specific mention of statins and leg cramps for either atorvastatin (Lipitor) or rosuvastatin. That said, dozens of visitors to our website report severe leg cramps associated with statins.

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How long does statin induced myalgia last?

In this study, the mean duration of myalgia after stopping statin therapy was 2.3 (SD 3.0) months (range 1 week to 4 months). 7 Muscle symptoms that develop in a patient who has been taking statins for several years are unlikely to have been caused by these drugs. What are the risk factors for statin induced myopathy?

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How soon after starting a statins does muscle pain start?

Most people who experience muscle pain from statins notice the side effect shortly after they start the medication. In most cases, the pain is short-term and resolves within a few weeks, as the body adjusts to the medication.

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What muscle damage is caused by statins?

The side effects most commonly associated with statin use involve muscle cramping, soreness, fatigue, weakness, and, in rare cases, rapid muscle breakdown that can lead to death. Often, these side effects can become apparent during or after strenuous bouts of exercise.

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Is there a new drug to replace statins?

A daily pill, bempodoic acid, has the potential to lower risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke for people who can't or won't take statins.

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How long does it take for side effects of statins to show up?

These side effects usually occur within 4 to 6 weeks of starting a statin, but they can occur even after several years.

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When should I be worried about muscle pain?

"But, if you have localized pain that is sharp, limits your mobility, changes your gait, affects your range of motion or is accompanied by significant weakness, it could be a sign of a serious injury that needs treatment."

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What is a good cholesterol medicine that is not a statin?

7 cholesterol-lowering alternatives to statins
  • Fibrates. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis. ...
  • Plant stanols and sterols. ...
  • Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins. ...
  • Niacin. ...
  • Policosanol. ...
  • Red yeast rice extract (RYRE) ...
  • Natural products.

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Is there a downside to taking statins?

Rarely, statins can cause more-serious side effects such as: Increased blood sugar or type 2 diabetes. It's possible that your blood sugar (blood glucose) level may slightly increase when you take a statin, which can lead to type 2 diabetes. This is especially likely if your blood sugar is already high.

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What happens when you stop taking statins cold turkey?

Suddenly stopping your statin is dangerous. Data shows that the risk of stroke, heart attack, and death within 4 years of stopping a statin is high.

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