Pravastatin and Muscle Pain: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• November 8, 2011

For High Cholesterol "I immediately experienced muscle pain and chest tightness (the heart is a muscle). I also ended up in the ER after feeling faint with left foot numbness. The medication did, however, significantly lower my cholesterol. I have since discontinued the medicine on my own."

• Anonymous
• May 10, 2017

Pravastatin for High Cholesterol "Lowered my bad LDL from 180 to 95 in 6 months, on only 20 mg daily. Only side effect is my legs get sore when I walk distances that never bothered me before. However, with a little rest, I'm okay. Pravachol is MUCH better than Lipitor, which I threw away after a week due to leg and joint pain."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 12, 2020

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "Was prescribed Pravastatin 80mg for genetically high cholesterol and had to cut it back myself to 40 mg after 4.25 months because getting side effects of non-diabetic neuropathy, odd cramps in hands and legs, overall weakness, could not think straight, could not put simple words together, could not remember complete sentences, hair falling out, muscle pain especially in right bicep, shakiness especially in arms and hands, and more. Finally, since my doctor would not allow me a visit (COVID), I quit Pravastatin altogether on 8/18/20. It is now 9/12/20 and I still feel horrible, but my memory is coming back. How can it be legal to sell this 'medicine'? How cruel to do this to people! How many, I wonder, get misdiagnosed with dementia, when really it is the statins. I am crying right now for others on this drug. Also, Pravastatin depleted and somehow continues to deplete my potassium, even after I quit taking Pravastatin. That is possibly why I continue to feel very weak? Shame on all involved!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 29, 2025

For High Cholesterol "I had a major heart attack in 2017. I was with people and was rushed to the hospital. The next day, I was put on 80 mg of pravastatin. A few days later, I had terrible muscle pain. I knew this could be a side effect. I had gone from nothing to 80 mg overnight. I reduced the dose to 10 mg/day, and there were no side effects. After a couple of weeks, I increased the dose to 20 mg/day. Then, a couple more weeks, I increased the dose to 30 mg, and so on, until I finally reached 80 mg/day. I also split the dose with each increase to take half in the morning and half in the evening rather than all at once. Now I've been on 80 mg, 40 morning and 40 evening, for 7 and a half years. I've had no side effects since building the dose up slowly. My lipid profile is great, and I've had no further heart problems. Now my cardiologist is lowering me to 40 mg/day to see if the lipid profile will hold at that dosage. I will test in a couple of months."

• jst...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 20, 2018

Pravastatin for High Cholesterol "I've taken atorvastatin, Crestor, Zetia, and then Pravachol for nearly five years after quadruple bypass surgery (no previous symptoms, discovered need on X-ray for pneumonia!). Except for Zetia, which is not a statin and did NOTHING for my cholesterol, which was not excessively high anyway, ALL three others have given me SEVERE muscle pain, mostly in my calves and biceps, making me move as if I were quite elderly and collapsing under me without notice. The pain is unrelenting, even in bed at night. 20% supposedly have this reaction, and most stop taking the statin-my cardiologist threatens me, saying I can't, so I've given myself my second shot of Repatha (not a statin) in the belly (cost/once a month/$1000 without insurance, $355 with mine). Lousy price to pay (not a play on words) for lowering cholesterol-excruciating pain or lots of dollars...IF the shot works!"

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2017

For High Cholesterol "After genuinely wanting to lower my cholesterol from 8, I tried yet again a statin for the fourth time. I halved this medication down to 10 mg per day. My GP wanted to increase, but knowing all statins give me muscle pain, I decided to keep the medication low. I noticed a lot of weight gain, increasing blood pressure, and a sense of lack of energy. I radically altered my diet. Everything, including cooking oil, all low-fat dairy, and extreme lean meats. Increased veggies and fruit. My BP went from 135/95 to 117/79 within 3 months. My cholesterol dropped to 6.5. Was it the pravastatin? Maybe, very low dose however. Discontinued use due to onset of worsening shoulder pain, left rib cage floating pain, and left neck. Pain was becoming chronic."

• Why...
• January 8, 2017

For High Cholesterol "Been scripted for various statins over the years, having to change from one to another due to side effects: muscle pain, increased glucose, blurred vision with aching eyes, fatigue, cognitive impairment, headaches, etc. Not sure of the time of onset of each symptom. Am being treated for seasonal affective disorder but am now thinking this is due to statins. Am now off statins and other than mild blurred vision, all symptoms have stopped."

• tho...
• December 12, 2016

For Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa, Elevated LDL "I was on pravastatin 40 mg 2 years ago (40 mg). I experienced extreme pain on the inward side of my right knee that kept getting worse. Within a month or two, my left knee began hurting in the same spot. Then I had similar severe pain in my left ankle. My right knee was so bad I could not walk on it. The doctor took x-rays. The diagnosis was tendinitis. By the end of summer, I was a basket case, and no amount of Advil gave me any relief. It hurt so bad that when I moved my knees when I was sleeping, it would wake me up. I got to checking all my heart medications and suspected the pravastatin. I cut it out completely for 1 week. I have cut my dose now to 20 mg and still have occasional bouts of tendinitis."

• Ano...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 16, 2022

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "Pravastatin, Atorvastatin, Simvastatin, NONE LOWERED MY CHOLESTEROL BUT all caused heavy brain fog, severe muscle pain, poor kidney values, blurry vision, poor hearing, skin sharp itchy flat plaques, bruising under my eyes, terrible tingling feet, weakness to the point of collapsing at times, hair loss, odd forgetfulness like doing tasks inside out-like going to the dealer to get winter tires swapped out to summer and an oil change as I have done for years, but 6 months ago I did not even realize I never put the winter tires in the truck for the dealer to swap out and only found out a few weeks ago that my summer tires were on all winter and I put the winter tires in the truck to get swapped out a few weeks ago with my oil change, but the dealer told me I already had my summer tires on, and it was hard to comprehend. Also had terrible trouble finding things, forgot I was looking for anything, etc. Somebody needs to find out if people are misdiagnosed with Alzheimer's but on Statins!!!"

• Mel...
• March 12, 2021

For High Cholesterol "Started Pravastatin 20 mg, gosh, around 2-3 years ago due to high cholesterol. It brought my cholesterol right down to brilliant, however, around 2 years ago, I developed severe breast pain, which is mainly on my left side but does affect both breasts. Blood tests are always fine, CT scan fine, menopause test, and I'm not menopausal, and mammogram also fine. My GP was at a loss about what it is! (useless) They asked another GP, one who's never even seen me, it was passed back to my GP to tell me it's mastalgia!! To take evening primrose and vitamin B complex/compound, all of which I have to buy at £6.50 each with no luck. Yesterday, I purchased vitamin E as that's supposed to help, as no pain reliever touches it. Today, I thought, hmm, I'll look up about statins, and well, it appears statins can cause muscle pain and muscle damage. I've thought the pain is not my actual breasts, it could be the chest wall!! I've stopped taking it, and I'll inform my GP."

• Dal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 31, 2023

For High Cholesterol "Started out fine. But after a few weeks, bone pain, muscle pain. I ached everywhere. I finally stopped taking it, and my muscle issues are a bit better. I hope it will continue to get better. I can't stand the pain. I will try red rice yeast instead."

• Cee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 9, 2020

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "Pravastatin works great. Sometimes I do have to stop it for a day or two because of muscle or bone pain, but I start back up because I need it."