Statin side effects: muscle pain, how long they last and what to do

The NHS says that, like all medicines, statins can cause side effects but not everyone gets them. For statins as a group it lists headaches, dizziness, feeling sick, feeling more tired or weaker than usual, wind (flatulence), problems with pooing such as constipation or diarrhoea, muscle pain and sleep problems. The NHS page for atorvastatin also lists indigestion, muscle aches and swollen joints, and a blocked or runny nose or nosebleeds.

If you think a medicine is causing side effects, the NHS says to talk to a doctor, who may prescribe another statin or change your dose. It also says to keep taking your medicine unless you are advised to stop, and to speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you have side effects that bother you or do not go away. You can report suspected side effects through the Yellow Card scheme.

• Headache and dizziness

• Feeling sick, indigestion, wind, constipation or diarrhoea

• Muscle aches

• Feeling more tired or weaker than usual

• Sleep problems

• Blocked or runny nose or nosebleeds (atorvastatin)

The BHF says muscle pain, weakness or tenderness, known as statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS), is an uncommon symptom. Research it cites shows that muscle pain and weakness affect just a small number of people taking statins, about 11 extra reports among 1,000 people in their first year. A 2022 study in The Lancet found that less than 10 per cent of cases of mild muscle pain or weakness reported by people on statins were actually caused by their statin.

The BHF explains that people can rarely develop a muscle condition called myopathy, which means the statin needs to be stopped, and very rarely rhabdomyolysis, which needs urgent specialist care. Regardless of the cause, muscle pain can affect daily life, so tell your doctor, who will investigate. The BHF suggests paracetamol or ibuprofen (check with a pharmacist), physiotherapy, gentle stretching, a warm bath and alternating ice packs and a warm water bottle for mild muscle pain.

The BHF says that if you have recently started a statin it is worth bearing in mind that symptoms with any new medicine often improve over time or even disappear, and that it can take 6 weeks for initial symptoms to resolve. If symptoms continue, your doctor will discuss your options, which may include changing the dose, changing the type of statin or prescribing another cholesterol-lowering medicine.

The NHS says side effects of this kind are not all the possible ones, and some are rare but serious. If a side effect does not go away or bothers you, speak to a pharmacist or doctor rather than stopping the medicine yourself.

The BHF reports a 2026 BHF-funded study in The Lancet of 23 trials including 150,000 people taking either a statin or a dummy pill for 4.5 to 5 years, where neither participants nor researchers knew which. It found that 62 out of 66 symptoms listed on statin patient information leaflets were just as common with the dummy pill, including weight gain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, erectile dysfunction and memory loss. Only four were thought to be caused by statins: two types of unusual liver blood-test results (not liver disease), changes in the composition of urine and swelling from fluid build-up (oedema).

The BHF describes the nocebo effect, where expecting a side effect makes you feel it. This does not mean the symptoms are imaginary, only that the tablet may not be the cause. It is a reason to talk to your doctor before stopping a medicine that lowers your risk of heart attack and stroke.

The NHS page for atorvastatin lists serious side effects that are mostly rare: inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), which can cause yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (yellowed skin may be less noticeable on brown or black skin); inflammation of the pancreas, causing severe stomach pain; inflammation and damage to the muscles, which can cause muscle cramps, severe pain and weakness, sometimes with a high temperature and red or brown pee; and an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) with a swollen throat or tongue, a raised itchy rash or difficulty breathing.

The NHS says to call 111 if you are taking atorvastatin and think you might be having serious side effects. Call 999 for signs of a severe allergic reaction such as swelling of the throat or tongue or difficulty breathing.

The NHS says most people can take statins, but you should not take them if you have severe liver disease, are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, or are of childbearing age and not using contraception. For atorvastatin, it lists liver or kidney problems, an underactive thyroid, a muscle condition such as myasthenia gravis, a previous bleed in the brain and regularly drinking a lot of alcohol as reasons it may not be suitable.

The NHS notes that taking statins with certain medicines, herbal remedies, food and drink can stop the medicines working properly or increase the risk of side effects. Examples listed are amlodipine, verapamil, diltiazem, antifungals such as fluconazole, antibiotics such as clarithromycin and erythromycin, HIV medicines, warfarin, ciclosporin, colchicine, fusidic acid, St John's wort and grapefruit or grapefruit juice. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take.

The NHS says there are other medicines if you cannot take statins: tablets such as ezetimibe, fibrates and bempedoic acid, and injections such as inclisiran, alirocumab and evolocumab. The BHF says a doctor may change your dose, switch you to another statin or add ezetimibe, and that a statin taken with another cholesterol-lowering medicine can lead to a larger reduction in cholesterol.

The BHF stresses that the decision to stop taking a statin is an important one, and it is essential to talk to your doctor before doing so. Most people prescribed a statin take it for life, because it lowers cardiovascular risk over the long term and cholesterol usually goes up again when you stop.

Statin reviews take place in primary care. A GP or pharmacist can check your symptoms, blood tests for muscle or liver effects if needed, review interactions, and try a different statin or dose. Statins are prescribed on the NHS, with standard prescription charges where they apply.

Persistent intolerance may lead to referral to a lipid clinic or specialist. Private cardiology or lipid consultations are also available; the sources read do not describe different treatment between the routes. The BHF notes that low-dose statins can be bought over the counter, but advises talking to a doctor or pharmacist first so that suitability and check-ups can be considered.