Pravastatin and Pain: What Users Say

• Edd...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 22, 2020

For High Cholesterol "I started Pravastatin over five years ago and it did lower my bad cholesterol. However, my legs began aching badly after a few years. I attributed it to my lower back pain until I had a procedure for my back that burned the nerves. This helped my back but didn't help my never-ending leg pain. My upper and lower leg muscles burned and ached, the back of my knees and ankles hurt to the point that it was hard to walk, and my urine turned brown. My doctor stopped the Pravastatin and the pain gradually lightened, giving me hope that it will eventually stop. It has been three weeks and I hope to be off pain pills eventually. Never again will I take a statin. It did its best to debilitate me completely but it did lower my cholesterol. The price of pain was too high."

• 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 less than 1 month
• July 7, 2017

For High Cholesterol "This is the 4th statin I've tried. After 3 weeks of pravastatin 10mg, I am sore, stiff, and ache in shoulder, neck, legs, and feet. Also feeling like I am not thinking straight, like I am super stupid. I am frustrated because I want to get cholesterol under control but I refuse to try any more statins."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 3, 2021

For High Cholesterol "On 10 mg pravastatin at night, it gave me lots of pain all over, especially the right side of my back. Also fatigue with no energy at all, also a spaced-out feeling with a low sex drive. Also not feeling well since being on this medication. Insomnia too. I stopped it 5 days ago and am beginning to feel better. Not sure if it's brought cholesterol down or not because I haven't had any blood tests done since being on this stuff over a year ago. Cholesterol was only 4.2 anyway before medication."

• 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."

• Ron...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 10, 2020

For High Cholesterol "Been taking Pravachol 40 mg for the last eight years and CoQ10. My cholesterol has been good. No side effects whatsoever. Recently, I have developed neuropathy (numbness) in my feet. Specialists said there is no treatment and that it will only get worse over time. I wonder if the cholesterol medication could be a factor."

• MAP...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 1, 2021

For High Cholesterol "I have been taking Pravastatin for about 8 years and take 80 mg per day. I am 65, and it has lowered overall cholesterol from the 260s to the 160s. I have the usual aches and pains of anyone my age, but I don't attribute them to the medication. I never miss a dose and am very happy with the results!"

• Doc...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 26, 2022

For High Cholesterol "Started nearly ten years ago with pravastatin. Very bitter taste when administered, but it subsides after drinking water. Slow onset of muscular and joint pain, which has severely increased over time. My back pain increased, and now I have joint pain in my feet, wrists, and back of the neck. Migraines have increased, but the etiology may be a combination of other things. Sleep decreased, and now I have sleep apnea. Periodic symptoms of vertigo, and my weight is hard to shed. Now I have thyroid issues. My age is 52. This is a long list of side effects, but the alternative could be stroke or death. Looking for alternative meds because diet and exercise did not work to control my levels. Dose 40 mg/night. This med is very effective, but side effects have become unbearable."

• Moo...
• December 15, 2022

For High Cholesterol "For the first two weeks, I didn’t have any muscle problems. In the third week, I could barely walk, climb stairs, or get out of my car. I discontinued the medication. Suddenly, I couldn’t raise my left arm. The information on the pamphlet from the pharmacy stated if you had trouble lifting your arm, call your doctor immediately! I went to urgent care, but they wouldn’t let me leave or drive because they feared that I had a stroke. They sent me to the ER. They admitted me overnight for observation, and I had a brain MRI to see if I had a stroke. The MRI came back good, so I also had a chest X-ray, which had good results. The shoulder pain is getting better, but I still can’t raise my arm, the internist suspects it’s a rotator cuff issue. I will be going to an orthopedic doctor to have this checked out soon. I will never take this medication again."

• Tin...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 3, 2021

For High Cholesterol "July 12. My doctor explained to me, with all examinations due, my body pains were all negative, that my pains were due to pravastatin 40 mg and removed my medication for 30 days. When I have been with this medication 8 years. I am resentful that this medication has given me 3 years of pain and complications. Can this be a claim."

• 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."

• Pra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 25, 2022

For High Cholesterol "This is the third statin I have tried. I started with 20 mg a day. My legs, knees, and hips started hurting. It really hurt to walk up and down stairs. I lowered the dose to 10 mg a day. The pain persisted. Now I’m taking 10 mg every other day with CoQ10. I still have a little pain, but it is tolerable. I will take a blood test tomorrow to see if this low dose will help my cholesterol. Fingers crossed."

• gub...
• June 25, 2014

For High Cholesterol "I was on simvastatin and got leg pain. I got switched to pravastatin and am now experiencing shoulder pain and weakness. I plan to see what else I can take."

• Anonymous
• September 23, 2011

For High Cholesterol "Was unable to take Lipitor because of aches and pains it produced but I can take pravastatin okay."

• Anonymous
• September 23, 2011

For High Cholesterol "Was unable to take Lipitor because of aches and pains it produced but I can take pravastatin okay."

• Lis...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 27, 2018

For High Cholesterol "At 20 mg, no issues, when the dose went up to 40 mg, bad headaches, severe leg pain, upper thighs."

• 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."