Evolocumab and Muscle Pain: What Users Say

• lyn...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 18, 2021

For High Cholesterol "I started taking Repatha last July. I had been previously taking Atorvastatin. I had side effects, especially muscle pain and joint pain. I had stopped for about 5 months. My current cardiologist said I should try Repatha due to the low number of reported side effects. During the second month's injections (every two weeks), I felt mild muscle pain and weakness. I took Tylenol to help with the pain. It has become progressively more insidious. Yesterday, 5 days from the last injection, I could not get out of a chair, running nose, trouble walking, can't go up and down stairs, severe pain in ankles, knees, hips, and back, loss of upper body strength, itching. A year ago, I could carry two 40lb bags of wood pellets up two flights of stairs. Now, I can't lift a bag off the ground. I advised the cardiologist's office. I was never going to take Repatha again. Haven't heard a word in 5 days. My advice, if you try Repatha, be cautious because side effects may get progressively worse."

• Woo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 29, 2020

For High Cholesterol "I had a heart attack in late 2004 and double bypass in early 2005 at 42. I can't tolerate statin drugs, so my doctor said there was a great new drug out there called Repatha. It was a miracle drug, so I started taking it. After about two years, I started having lots of muscle pain, cramps, and severe headaches. Five months ago I had a stroke. At the time, I thought I was having a migraine. My doctor took several MRIs, X-rays, and CAT scans but could not determine what caused the stroke. I suspect that Repatha was the cause. If you are on Repatha, please stop taking it right now. It is not worth it. This drug should be taken off the market fast before someone dies. I could have, but was very lucky."

• Bra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 25, 2020

For High Cholesterol "Cardio Dr put me on Repatha and have been taking it now for several years. I have had sore legs and arms, etc., but attributed it to aging (70 now). The pain has gotten progressively worse to the point where I could only walk a few blocks. Now I can hardly walk across the house as all my muscles feel like rubber. I took my last shot two weeks ago and am not taking any more. Statins ruined me, and I recovered somewhat when I quit them. This stuff is finishing the job. It did, however, lower my numbers, but the pain and crippling just ain't worth it."

• Bra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 25, 2020

For High Cholesterol "Cardio Dr put me on Repatha and have been taking it now for several years. I have had sore legs and arms, etc., but attributed it to aging (70 now). The pain has gotten progressively worse to the point where I could only walk a few blocks. Now I can hardly walk across the house as all my muscles feel like rubber. I took my last shot two weeks ago and am not taking any more. Statins ruined me, and I recovered somewhat when I quit them. This stuff is finishing the job. It did, however, lower my numbers, but the pain and crippling just ain't worth it."

• Bra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 25, 2020

For High Cholesterol "Cardio Dr put me on Repatha and have been taking it now for several years. I have had sore legs and arms, etc., but attributed it to aging (70 now). The pain has gotten progressively worse to the point where I could only walk a few blocks. Now I can hardly walk across the house as all my muscles feel like rubber. I took my last shot two weeks ago and am not taking any more. Statins ruined me, and I recovered somewhat when I quit them. This stuff is finishing the job. It did, however, lower my numbers, but the pain and crippling just ain't worth it."

• Lin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2025

For High Cholesterol "I have been taking Repatha for about six months. It has worked very well to bring my LDL down. My first injection caused no problem, but after the second injection, within 24 hours, I had nerve pain all over my body. This lasted for a day and a night. I decided to stick it out and hope that these symptoms would eventually go away. In the fourth month of taking Repatha, I suddenly woke up one morning with very stiff fingers in both hands along with swelling. I didn't think much about it at first, but the pain and stiffness with the swelling has gotten worse. My physician says the only way to know if Repatha is causing this is to discontinue and see what happens. I am also having muscle pain in the back of my legs that I have never experienced. I am no longer taking Repatha, for I feel strongly that it is definitely causing the hand problem. It is very painful and there was a sudden onset. I don't recommend taking Repatha."

• ILe...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 14, 2023

For High Cholesterol, Familial Homozygous "I have been on Repatha for 5 years now. I have tried many statins, but most of all the ones I have tried cause severe joint and muscle pain. When Repatha came out, my doctor thought this was ideal for me, so he prescribed a 140 mg injection every 2 weeks. Repatha has worked for me, it has maintained my cholesterol from 200 to 160-180. The first 2 years I experienced side effects of persistent running nose and some hives. I tolerated the side effects because my cholesterol control was more important. However, jumping to the present, the last 6 months the side effects have escalated to flu-like symptoms, joint pain, and neuropathy issues, which make me sick for 10-12 days a month. I have decided to discontinue the medication, it’s no longer working for me, and I’m not going to sacrifice my well-being for these side effects. They can be debilitating. I think it works for a short period of time, but not long term. Hopefully, these symptoms will disappear soon."

• Vic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 31, 2020

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "Repatha was prescribed to me by my cardiologist because I have statin intolerance (muscle pain). I started taking Repatha in November 2019. After 2 months, my LDL went down significantly. My cardiologist and I were very pleased with the results. However, in January 2020, I started experiencing pain in my shoulders and upper arms. The source of the pain cannot be determined after a lot of investigation. The pain, as we speak, is getting worse and wakes me up at night. I take pain relievers and muscle relaxants to get temporary relief. I am planning to take CoQ10 for a few weeks and see if there is any improvement. I have no choice but to continue with this medication since I had triple bypass surgery 2 years ago. I will keep the group posted if I notice any pain relief after taking CoQ10."

• Joe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2020

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "Add my voice to those who have experienced horrible side effects from Repatha. After one injection - terrible muscle and joint pain all over my body - much worse than the three statins I tried previously. I will never touch this medicine again. Diet modification and exercise are the only treatments I will try ever again."

• Pau...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 15, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I have been taking Repatha for almost two years with great results. However, late last year I had terrible back & shoulder pain. A report listed a requirement to take CoQ10. It helps immensely. It's needed when taking or starting Repatha, as these drugs deplete this enzyme in the body. Start taking immediately if not currently taking it. CoQ10 requires some oil in your stomach to absorb, though works fine as long as you do this. I take mine after my fish oil. I have no muscle pain any longer. Please use CoQ10 if taking either Repatha or statins."

• Gar...
• March 17, 2017

For High Cholesterol "Be careful. This drug can put you in the hospital within the first week. I suffered debilitating muscle pain in my left leg. I lost half the muscles. I had to sit in a chair for 3 months to recover on 60 mg of steroids. It took 8 months to figure it out. If you have any pain in your legs or back, stop immediately. Don't think you can overcome the pain, the company will not admit the severity."

• Peg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 4, 2020

For High Cholesterol "I've been on many statins, and after taking them for 3 months, I experienced muscle and joint pain. I discontinued it as it got to the point where I couldn't function properly. I'm on Repatha now, my cholesterol levels are great, but after 3 months again, I can barely lift my left arm, and my elbow pain is tremendous. I thought I had injured it. I'm going for an x-ray on my shoulder next week. But I think it definitely is Repatha. We will see."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2023

For High Cholesterol "Had 6 doses over 5 months. Each dose made me feel worse than the previous one. Could not tolerate more than one dose per month. Two jabs in one month resulted in 3 days off work. Dizziness, nausea, extreme tiredness, stomach cramps, muscle cramps - especially at night, flu-like symptoms, lack of sleep due to blocked nose. The only plus was that cholesterol levels dropped after the second dose. Depletion of vitamin D, lowest ever B12 - unable to work for 3 days each fortnight. Would not recommend to anyone. However, when the side effects became too severe to cope with and I gave up, I still had to endure muscle pain and general illness."

• Geo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 10, 2022

For High Cholesterol "I started Repatha because I can't take any kind of statins. I am 21 years old and hard workout 5 times a week (gym). With statins, CPK in blood tests was going 800+, and its limits are 175. After the first injection, I was doing workouts like before, but after 5 days, I couldn't even move much pain (CPK was normal). I had to lower the time I was going to the gym. I talked with my doctor, and he told me to do 1 injection each month and not 2. I hoped that my body would get used to it and I would be better. Well, that's not possible. Before, I had so much energy I could sleep like 4-6 hours per day, now, if I sleep 8+ hours, I am still feeling tired. I feel my legs really weak, and I have pain in my muscles (that will stop if I sit on a couch all day). It's awful, you won't have any energy, and you will have muscle pain. It's my only choice because I can't take any statin (260 LDL) with Repatha 150, but no thanks, I have a life to live. If you start it, forget the life you had before. Sorry for saying this, but it's true."

• Hfl...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 22, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I did not tolerate statins because of muscle pain and weakness. I was not aware of the severe side effects that could happen on Repatha. Diabetes was not listed as a side effect on the brochure that my doctor gave to me. While on Repatha, I developed a drug-resistant bladder infection, severe insulin-resistant diabetes, and severe shoulder and hip pain with profound weakness. All side effects have not improved since stopping Repatha a year ago. I am now wheelchair-bound. It dramatically lowered my cholesterol, but not worth life-threatening side effects."

• Pai...
• June 16, 2019

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "I took 7 injections of Repatha in an attempt to lower LDL because my doctor was going to put me on the non-compliant list. When I began having physical symptoms, I thought it was because I was working out too hard. I am 71 and was getting ready for a 3-month walking vacation in Europe, so I wanted to be able to walk several miles a day. I have been completely off Repatha since the first week of January and am still having extreme pain in my thighs (injection points) with loss of energy and muscle pains throughout my body. I feel like I'm walking on a tennis ball in my left arch and have stabbing knife pains in my right leg. They have really not dissipated since January, and it is now the middle of June. I am livid that my doctor talked me into this because I couldn't do statins and did so much research on cholesterol that I know how ridiculous it is to be forced to take this garbage. I am furious... I wonder if that is a side effect as well... I'm furious a lot lately."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 4, 2023

For High Cholesterol "Severe muscle pain and weakness in my legs and nerve pain. Can't sleep at night and can hardly walk, the pain is so bad. My feet feel like they are burning, but on top they are cold. I have been on Repatha for 2 1/2 months. Don't know how long this will continue. I'm a 64-year-old woman."

• Hur...
• March 27, 2017

For High Cholesterol "I'm a very active 63-year-old with a 4x bypass. After a year of not recommending any cholesterol treatment, I finally brought it up myself with my doctor when she recommended Repatha because of my statin intolerance. After my first injection, I started to experience muscle pain in my lats and pecs. It felt like a severe muscle cramp that spread to my arms, although my muscles were not constricting as they would with a muscle cramp. I conferred with my doctor, and she said I should not be feeling any side effects because it takes 3 months to reach a therapeutic level. So, I took the shot the second month, and I'm sorry that I did and will not be taking it again because the pain has spread to other areas."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2017

For High Cholesterol "I started taking Repatha in April 2017, and the first thing I noticed was back pain, then muscle pain. I can't use my right arm for much and can't open jars and things that require using my wrist. I am dizzy-headed and feel bad all the time (fatigue, I guess). I am taking 2-3 hour naps during the day, and I am only 51. I've never done this before. I talked to my doctor, and she said to come off Repatha for a month and see how I feel. She's not sure it's the medicine. Repatha is really easy to use and is shipped right to my door in a cooler package. Repatha dropped my bad cholesterol from 187 to 67 after 3 doses (bi-weekly). I don't know what to do about taking this drug. I think it's making me feel really bad all the time."

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I took my first dose of Repatha on a Thursday and had side effects of flu symptoms, terrible back pain, neck pain, and vertigo within 24 hours. By Monday, I was in the ER with a NSTEMI (a type of heart attack). I was sent home on Tuesday. I was back in the ER on Thursday with a second NSTEMI and 2 angiograms. It's been a month now, and I still have muscle pain, weakness, blurry vision, fatigue, depression, shoulder pain, and hand swelling. And this was from just 1 dose. The doctor said there were no side effects. Yeah, okay."

• Lan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 1, 2019

For High Cholesterol "Numbers are great from this medication. Dropped cholesterol 100 points, LDL to 70. That's great for this 59-year-old female who has always had high cholesterol. However, those numbers are not worth the side effects. Have tremendous burning from neck to abdomen. Muscle pains in legs and severe back pain, especially lower and between my shoulder blades. Have taken 5 injections and discussed the side effects with Dr., and he reduced the injections to once a month. Last had the injection on April 1st. As we speak, April 30th, am fighting extreme side effects. With the burning in my chest, I'm not sure if I'm having a heart attack or not. Have suffered 3 attacks like this that last all night since my last injection. THERE IS NO WAY I'M TAKING ANOTHER INJECTION. I am just praying that these symptoms stop and do not continue long term like others have stated on this site. Stay away from this drug! Please! There may be no recovery from it."

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2021

For High Cholesterol "I have taken four injections, and I will not take any more. I have congestion that I have never experienced before. I have completely lost my sense of smell and taste (not from COVID), my test was negative. This is now in my fifth week. My coughing is so bad I think I am not going to make it. I have a runny nose, earaches, and sore shoulders. I have one suggestion: don’t take Repatha."

• Jmo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2019

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "I had a heart stent in my LAD in February 2019. I have had high cholesterol since I was in my twenties. I have been on statins since age 27. My cardiologist wanted my LDL to be less than 70 (it was 87), so he started me on Repatha. I have had two doses, 2 weeks apart, and I'm having shortness of breath, weakness, high blood pressure, heart pounding, and muscle aches. I am not going to take this medication any longer."

• SLA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2017

For High Cholesterol "Works great, but my quality of life wasn't there. The drug turned my muscles into marshmallows to the point I couldn't walk. So what's the point? I ended up pulling muscles when I bent over. $300 later at a chiropractor put me back together again. Statins for me are bad news! I can't take them, PERIOD, so quit pushing the meds at $500.00 a shot."

• Pk4...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 8, 2021

For High Cholesterol "After 8 months of use, started having major muscle pains, neuropathy, and increased anxiety. Stopped after multiple ER visits. Now told it could take 3 to 6 months to get it out of my system. Need other drugs to quell or minimize discomfort."