muscular aches and pains

[rebjon]

I take fenofibrate 160mgm along with lovastatin 40mgm daily.  Could they be causing muscle pains all over my body?


This discussion is related to What are the withdrawal symptoms from stopping Fenofibrate 160 mgm..

[MichelleElyse]

I am also noticing that all of these complaints are within the past couple years when crestor and tricor both went generic!!!

[RickTippie]

I am on this combination of drugs. Just today I had to be taken to the ER in an ambulance because it felt like every muscle in my body cramped at once. I was crying for help in the ER and all they said was it was anxiety. Gave me an IV and something to make the muscles calm down. It worked after about 20 minutes but now that I am home, it is returning. I am going to remove any cholesterol med from my regimen. I cannot live like this. I am only 49 and I have a family to support. I noticed this yesterday and sent my PCP a message via internet. He writes me back tonight, sounds like the flu, push fluids and take Vit C..time for a new Dr. I think.

[MichelleElyse]

Hey Rick, I have the same problem and one thing that helps when taken a statin is co-q 10 as it replenishes whatever the statin takes out that causes muscle cramps. Its particularly worse combined with tricor. The pain actually feels like its in my bones at the joints.  I have taken tricor for almost 20 years and I just started having this problem about 6-8 months ago. The pain in the morning makes me feel like I am 100 and my body is betraying me! This is what I noticed that changed. I initially started off on the brand name fenofibrate, Tricor - had no problems.  Then they added Crestor(name brand) because that was the only people that made it.  A couple years ago, they changed the Tricor to generic, but I was taking name brand Crestor. No problems when taking co-q10 with it. But, when they changed the crestor to generic also, THATS when the problems started and co-q10 didnt help at all. Its been so severe that some days I cant get out of bed. I cannot stop taking either due to hyperacute triglycedemia. So, for a short time, I quit the generic crestor and not much difference, however, I did notice, there was a new brand of generic tricor. Its taken me six months to figure out that its the certain combination of generics that are doing it. Statins are very funny with generics. If you can afford it, try getting your Dr. to prescribe NAME BRAND ONLY for both to see if that helps. I am going to my doctor in a couple days and am going to do just that. Also, if your tricor is not as effective as it should be, adding 250mg of niacin a day makes a dramatic difference. I had lipid levels over 1000 and sometimes up to 3000 while on tricor for years.  After a well informed NEW Dr. told me to add the Niacin, my levels dropped to 130-160 range immediately and never go up.  Saved my life! A $5  bottle of Niacin!

[nvr2amzd]

Yes, indeed!  After 7 years of therapy taking Crestor and Tricor (fenofibrate), I, too, started experiencing intense pain in my legs, feet, back, and arms.  My Dr. took me off Crestor last month but the pain returned within a few days, although not as intense as it was prior to my stopping Crestor.  I took myself off fenofibrate just a couple of days ago and "Wow" what a difference!  I can actually sleep at night and notice that the pain is dissipating more and more each day.  Since I cannot eat much meat (digestive issues) and really don't eat foods high in cholesterol, I believe I'll be just fine!  I'm glad to know that I am not alone in the muscle pain issue with fenofibrate (thanks for your post!).  

[Ctmore]

I have had severe muscle pain for at least a year or two. I went to countless doctors without getting help. I was given pain medication with no help. I decided it had to be drugs. I reduced other prescriptions nothing helped till I knocked of fenofibrate within one week the pain went away. This drug was actually ruining my life. Thank god I figured it out.

[Occupant]

Fenofibrate in combination with a Statin drug can cause severe Rhabdomyolysis. I know because I have gone through it. My muscle pain got so severe that I couldn't even move my arms and I wound up in the ER with kidney (also a muscle) pain so severe, I was climbing the walls. I gave up all Cholesterol reducing medications 4 years ago and am much better now except, of course, for my Cholesterol levels, but you can't win them all :)