Pravastatin symptoms and conditions

wow- glad I found you guys! I'm female, 54, thin, healthy, have always exercised and watched my diet. cholesterol went up to 280 a couple of yrs ago- tried more diet/exercise but it only came down to 250, so since then have tried 4 low-dose (40 mg) statins (crestor, lipitor, zocor, and now pravastatin), all of which after 2-6 months made me feel like I was jumping out of my skin and caused chest pain and palpitations that stopped almost immediately when I discontinued them. Also, I've always fallen asleep quickly and now take an hour or more, and recently my fingers have started falling asleep/tingling. I'm stopping the pravastatin today! Maybe 250 isn't so bad, if this is the alternative. Does anyone have any remedies to suggest besides low fat/low sugar diet? I just read that we should avoid reduced-fat milks (I drink 1%) because they contain oxydized cholesterol, which irritates the artery wall.

ok I am 35 and just took my Pravastatin 20 mg. aka pravachol for the first time ever. This question is going to sound crazy because no one seems to ever have these symptoms so far that i have read. I took my pill and 39 minutes later i felt high like a marijuana high or a pain pill type of affect. i feel the pain in my muscles but it almost feels like a muscle relaxer to me I seem to be having opposite affects of this drug. Has ANYONE had this experience please please let me know.

I am a twenty-nine-year-old man who was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I also have had a diagnosis of hypertension for nearly seven years, but have not been on any medications for the condition in as long. I was prescribed Metformin for the diabetes; Pravastatin to raise my HDL; and Lisinopril for the hypertension. I took myself off the statin after I read all the nasty things it can do to your body long-term a month ago. Since then I have been feeling crappy nearly every day; finding it hard to sleep, and when I do, get restful sleep; and I am overcome with attacks of weakness and fatigue while I am out and about each day. At first, I attributed these symptoms to weakness from the diabetes or withdrawal from the statin, but after reading the posts here I am beginning to wonder if its the Lisinopril instead. I take five mgs a day, and it has helped level out the blood pressure, but I experience palpitations and a higher systolic pressure sometimes. Especially when I don't take the drug at the same time. Any thoughts?

Because of a “Global economy” - I suspect ingredients (even for Brand names) are coming from China or being manufactured in India with poor to non-existent quality control standards, and is the primary reason for the majority of Adverse Reactions to the Statins in general. Please take time to submit your complaint directly to the FDA, and hope they investigate and take action (see bottom of page for web sites to submit complaint).

My own recent experience with statins: After 3-weeks of being on generic Simvastatin 80mg for elevated LDL, I experienced significant fatigue, shortness of breath with tightness around my chest and a bout of Gout in my left foot. I would encourage patients/consumers to directly send their complaint to the web sites listed at the very bottom, if you are either a U.S. (FDA Form 3500) or Canadian resident. Also, if your physician is unresponsive to your negative experience with Statins (generic or Brand Name), inform him/her that you refuse to continue with this drug, and that you have sent an adverse reaction complaint to the FDA/Canadian equivalent. Provide both your doctor and pharmacy with a copy of the FDA Form 3500 if you’re a U.S. resident, so they know you're serious. Lastly, I'm back to feeling normal, after I "demanded" my physician switch me to generic Pravastatin 40mg (2 tabs a day - 80mg), manufactured by Teva Pharmaceutical - corporate HQ Israel with manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania. By the way, a 90-day supply of this quality-controlled drug is available at Walmart Pharmacy for $10. I hope this helps, especially seniors on a fixed income.

U.S.A.
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/problem.html

CANADA
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/alt_formats/hpfb-dgpsa/pdf/compli-conform/gui-44_consumer_complaint-plainte_consommateur-eng.pdf
Contact Name: Drug Compliance Verification and Investigation Unit Tel: (613) 952-9906 Fax: (613) 954-0941 E-Mail: DCVIU_UVCEM@hc-sc.gc.ca

I posted the following information belolw under Simvastatin, the generic equivalent of Zocor, which may apply to the brand name as well:

"In follow-up to my posting 3-days ago, regarding an adverse reaction to Simvastatin 80mg, I would encourage patients/consumers to directly send their complaint to the web sites listed at the very bottom, if you are either a U.S. (FDA Form 3500) or Canadian resident. Also, if your physician is unresponsive to your negative experience with generic Simvastatin, inform him/her that you refuse to continue with this drug, and that you have sent an adverse reaction complaint to the FDA/Canadian equivalent. Provide both your doctor and pharmacy with a copy of the FDA Form 3500 if your a U.S. resident, so they know you're serious. Lastly, I'm back to feeling normal, after I "demanded" my physician switch me to generic Pravastatin 40mg (2 tabs a day - 80mg), manufactured by Teva Pharmaceutical - corporate HQ Israel with manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania. By the way, a 90-day supply of this quality controlled drug is available at Walmart Pharmacy for $10. I hope this helps, especially seniors on a fixed income. -

U.S.A.
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/problem.html

CANADA (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/alt_formats/hpfb-dgpsa/pdf/compli-conform/gui-44_consumer_complaint-plainte_consommateur-eng.pdf). Contact Name: Drug Compliance Verification and Investigation Unit Tel: (613) 952-9906 Fax: (613) 954-0941 E-Mail: DCVIU_UVCEM@hc-sc.gc.ca "

In closing, I would encourage discontinuation of your statin, if it's made by a company based in India or China (call your pharmacist, they can tell you the country of origin).

In follow-up to my posting 3-days ago, regarding an adverse reaction to Simvastatin 80mg, I would encourage patients/consumers to directly send their complaint to the web sites listed at the very bottom, if you are either a U.S. (FDA Form 3500) or Canadian resident.

Also, if your physician is unresponsive to your negative experience with generic Simvastatin, inform him/her that you refuse to continue with this drug, and that you have sent an adverse reaction complaint to the FDA/Canadian equivalent. Provide both your doctor and pharmacy with a copy of the FDA Form 3500 if your a U.S. resident, so they know you're serious.

Lastly, I'm back to feeling normal, after I "demanded" my physician switch me to generic Pravastatin 40mg (2 tabs a day - 80mg), manufactured by Teva Pharmaceutical - corporate HQ Israel with manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania. By the way, a 90-day supply of this quality controlled drug is available at Walmart Pharmacy for $10.

I hope this helps, especially seniors on a fixed income.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S.A.
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/problem.html

CANADA
(http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/alt_formats/hpfb-dgpsa/pdf/compli-conform/gui-44_consumer_complaint-plainte_consommateur-eng.pdf).

Contact Name: Drug Compliance Verification and Investigation Unit
Tel: (613) 952-9906
Fax: (613) 954-0941
E-Mail: DCVIU_UVCEM@hc-sc.gc.ca

i was a healthy 35 year old male but had high cholesterol, so the doctor prescribed lovastatin (mevacor) and tried it for a month but developed muscle weakness. months later, i'm still experiencing severe muscle spasms and my neurologist is stumped -- mri's, spinal tap, emg -- all normal. I just want to feel normal again. can anyone help? please email me!

I am a 47year old male.I,ve been on simvastatin for about 10 weeks now and have been experiencing mild short term memory loss for a few weeks. I put this down to the onset of old age?. I,ve also been getting spurious pains to elbow and finger joints? could these problems be associated with the medication?.

I am a hill walker. My name is Steve and I am 58 years old. I have been recently diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes. Fair enough. I have been given dispersible aspirin, metformin to lower blood sugars, ramipril to reduce blood pressure and SIMVASTATIN to reduce cholesterol. This drug (Simvastatin) made me so Ill that I couldn't walk up my drive without feeling as if I was going to pass out. I also suffered tummy pains, felt very sick and my heart was thumping and banging like a base drum. Every joint in my body ached so badly that I thought my walking days were over for good. I stopped taking it four days ago and already feel better. My doctor has given me a replacement medicine called PRAVASTATIN but I am frightened to take it, fearing that it may create the same or similar problems. Has anyone got any comments or experienced problems with Pravastatin? I would appreciate any feedback that you might be able to give, positive or negative.
Regards,
Steve.

statins trigger neuromuscular disorders--there are many many neuromuscular disorders thought to be due to mitochondrial dysfunction (which underlies all the disorders mentioned here--including ALS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, as well as all the mitochondrial cytopathy disorders:

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jul 26 - Patients with asymptomatic neuromuscular disorders may have their condition precipitated by statin use, according to investigators from the University of Athens Medical School.

Dr. Panagiota Manta and colleagues describe four such cases in the July 24th issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Case 1 was a 46-year-old man with a history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus who was prescribed pravastatin for hypercholesterolemia. Three months later, he complained of fatigue, muscle pain and stiffness. Serum creatine kinase levels were persistently elevated. After stopping the drug, creatine kinase levels fell somewhat and there was mild symptom improvement. Mild myopathy was seen on needle electromyography and muscle biopsy showed numerous internal nuclei, nuclear clumps and variations in fiber size. Genetic testing revealed myotonic dystrophy.

Case 2 was a 62-year-old man with a history of MI and diabetes. Hypercholesterolemia was treated with simvastatin. Creatine kinase levels became persistently elevated and did not return to normal after drug discontinuation. Biopsy was positive for muscle enzyme activity. He was eventually diagnosed with McArdle disease.

Case 3 was a 51-year-old man with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia who was hospitalized with acute rhabdomyolytis after taking atorvastatin for 18 months. Exercise intolerance and muscle pain persisted for months after discontinuation of statin therapy. Some time later, he was diagnosed with mitochondrial myopathy.

The last case was a 58-year-old man with a history of hypertension, hyperuricemia and coronary artery disease. He began treatment with pravastatin. Shortly after a dose increase, he developed muscle twitching, muscle cramps and difficulty walking. Like the other cases, there was only mild symptom improvement and a modest decline in creatine kinase levels after the statin was discontinued. He was eventually diagnosed with Kennedy disease.

Statin-induced neuropathy is well recognized and reported more and more often, Dr. Manta's group notes. These four cases show that statins can also trigger underlying neuromuscular conditions.

The investigators suggest that if neuromuscular symptoms persist after discontinuation of statin therapy, clinicians should "pursue further diagnostic evaluations for the detection of underlying neuromuscular disease."

Arch Intern Med 2006;166:1519-1524.