Community Views: Living With High Cholesterol and Statin Intolerance

Statins are a type of medicine often prescribed to treat high cholesterol. They can lower cholesterol and also help prevent serious health events like heart attack and stroke. However, some people experience serious side effects from statins and cannot tolerate them. This is referred to as statin intolerance.¹

We recently asked the members of several of our Health Union communities, "Do you have high cholesterol with statin intolerance?" and invited them to share their stories. The following experiences are just a few of those shared in community members' responses.

Muscle and body aches, pain, and weakness

One of the most common side effects of statins is an impact on the muscles, which can take the form of muscle aches, pain, or weakness.

"I was prescribed a statin to protect my heart, as I have RA and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy along with malignant hypertension, so it just made sense. But it was terrible for my pain. They switched me to something milder. It seems to be ok right now."

"I won't take one. They make my joints hurt worse."

"They made me feel like I had the flu."

"I have taken every statin there is. My cardiologist finally charted that I cannot tolerate them. I was so achy all over when I took them."

"I have RA, and I was prescribed a statin. After doing research, that Rx sits in a drawer, never taken. My husband was put on a statin and can now barely walk."

"I was put on statins for raised cholesterol levels due to biologics. I've had bad, bad side effects. I’m now on the more expensive [statin], which is working well."

"I took a statin years ago for 4 days, and on the fifth day, I could not get out of bed. My muscles and joints were so sore and weak. I discontinued it right away and have been on nothing since with no issues."

"I was doing great, just getting older [and] never went to doctors, so I decided to get checked out. Everything was great except high cholesterol. [My] doctor put me on a statin; then I was crippled with pain. I couldn’t really walk or do anything. Six months later, they said I have rheumatoid arthritis."

"I am intolerant to statins in tablet form and go into massive pain and eventually muscle deterioration to the point I can barely walk."

Leg cramps and leg pain

Leg cramps are also a side effect of statins.

"We tried a couple of them before we found the right one. But I do have to take a potassium/magnesium supplement to prevent leg cramps."

"Both statins my doctors tried eventually made my legs hurt terribly, and I got super weak — could barely get out of a chair. All that cleared up a few weeks after stopping. Took many months, though, for that to happen."

"I have RA and was put on a statin by my primary. I have never slept well and the amount of pain in my legs was terrible. The minute I laid down to sleep, they ached horribly!"

"My legs swelled up like balloons."

Digestive and stomach issues

"I had a terrible adverse reaction. Boy! It was awful. Extreme abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, chills, weakness. I stopped them immediately."

"I am allergic to statin drugs. They literally cripple my legs and muscles. Horrid pain. I am taking [different] tablets that are working great. Using a med for stomach trouble as well, off-label Rx from a gastro doctor."

"Couldn't stand and walk after 4 days on the first one tried. The second one took a week for a similar outcome. [One] very early drug for cholesterol made me ill [with stomach issues] and reflux real bad. I had to stop."

"Joint pain and upset stomach. Stopped taking it."

"I was put on a statin a few years ago, and I can't remember how long I took it, but it made my heartburn worse — it was before I got my gallbladder out. I stopped taking it, because nothing would put the fire out of that heartburn."

"I have always had stomach issues. I’m suffering from leg weakness and constant tummy pain. Also constant urination."

Brain fog, fuzziness, and memory issues

"Thirty days on statins and I couldn't remember sewing techniques, and I've been a seamstress for 60 years. I went off of [them], and it gradually came back."

"My hubby experienced brain fog immediately. Put him on [another], he was ok for several years. Then the fog set in again. Huge difference being off these drugs."

"I have sleep issues. Not sure why."

"I tried several [statins] but saw flashing lights, and my brain felt like it was smooshing and [I] had horrible migraines, so that was the end of that! And had severe muscle pain."

What was your experience with statins?

Have you taken a statin for the treatment of high cholesterol and experienced symptoms of statin intolerance? Share an experience in the comments below or in our community polls.