Pravastatin and Weakness: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• July 10, 2011

Pravastatin for High Cholesterol "Within 2 weeks of being on 40 mg of Pravachol, I began noticing muscle weakness in my shoulders, wrists, and knees. I later discovered that these are possible side effects of this medication. I noticed remarkable improvements after stopping the medication."

• My ...
• August 15, 2019

For High Cholesterol "My dad was on this drug for over a decade and his cholesterol only slightly elevated. He was not overweight, fit, a non-smoker, and a social drinker. He had symptoms of muscle weakness in the legs and seemed foggy. He was found on the floor one morning in what looked like a seizure. He came to by the time the paramedics arrived. They could not find anything wrong and told him it was food poisoning at the ER, but they never gave him a brain scan. Side note, you lose control with strokes. We know now it really was a small hemorrhagic stroke. 6 years later it happened again but more severe. He was left paralyzed, unable to swallow, or speak. After surgery and 4 weeks in recovery, we had to make the excruciating decision to put him in hospice, where he died at the age of 74. All of his relatives have lived well into their nineties. Avoid taking this or other statins unless you have had a heart attack or your cholesterol is extreme."

• 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!"

• Ste...
• October 5, 2016

For High Cholesterol "I have been on pravastatin for nearly five months. Two months ago, I felt soreness in my wrists. One month ago, I experienced soreness and weakness in both knees. I will call my treating physician tomorrow. I can hardly get up from a sitting position."

• 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!!!"

• 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
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2016

Pravastatin for High Cholesterol "Experienced joint stiffness, muscle weakness."