Can statins make you fall?

Statins have risks.

Statins can cause muscle problems, such as aches, pains, or weakness. Rarely, there can be a severe form of muscle breakdown. In older adults, statins can also cause: Falls.

Can statins cause difficulty walking?

While statins have been shown to significantly reduce cholesterol levels, they have also been reported to have negative side effects on skeletal muscle. Most statin-induced myopathy manifests in the leg muscles, which can lead to difficulty walking and exercising.

Can Atorvastatin cause balance issues?

Statins are known to be safe and well-tolerated; however, evidence suggests that their use could be related to poorer balance. First, statins could affect balance by altering muscle functionality.

What are the two most common adverse effects of statins?

The most common statin side effects include:

• Headache.
• Difficulty sleeping.
• Flushing of the skin.
• Muscle aches, tenderness, or weakness (myalgia)
• Drowsiness.
• Dizziness.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Abdominal cramping or pain.

Statin Side Effects | Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin Side Effects & Why They Occur

What are the neurological side effects of statins?

The most common adverse effects include muscle symptoms, fatigue and cognitive problems. A smaller proportion of patients report peripheral neuropathy—burning, numbness or tingling in their extremities—poor sleep, and greater irritability and aggression.

What is the most serious side effect of atorvastatin?

Common Lipitor side effects are diarrhea, upset stomach, muscle and joint pain, and changes in some blood tests, according to Pfizer Inc. The drug label also warns of serious side effects such as liver problems and muscle problems that can lead to kidney failure.

What is losing balance a symptom of?

Balance disorders can be signs of other health problems, such as an ear infection, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. In some cases, you can help treat a balance disorder by seeking medical treatment for the illness that is causing the disorder.

What is the cause of losing body balance?

Loss of balance can occur for a range of reasons, including ear infections, head injuries, medication, and neurological disorders.

What can make you unsteady on your feet?

Losing your balance while walking, or feeling imbalanced, can result from:

• Vestibular problems. ...
• Nerve damage to your legs (peripheral neuropathy). ...
• Joint, muscle or vision problems. ...
• Medications. ...
• Certain neurological conditions.

Do statins cause weak legs?

However, for around 25% of patients, statins can give rise to unpleasant side effects in the form of muscle weakness, pain and cramps, without any sign of damage to the tissue. These side effects can impair quality of life and often cause patients to stop taking the drugs.

Can statins affect your legs?

Within a month of starting statin therapy, they may feel aches or weakness in the large muscles of their arms, shoulders, thighs or buttocks on both sides of the body. About 5 to 10% of people who try statins are affected. It's more common in the elderly, in women and in those taking the more potent statins.

Can statin drugs cause weakness in legs?

Statin-related muscle pain, if it happens at all, usually happens within the first few months after you start the drug or raise the dose. You may feel a constant soreness or weakness in your shoulders, thighs, hips, or calves. If you're like most people, it'll affect both sides of your body equally.

When should elderly stop taking statins?

Do not start a statin in patients ages ≥ 75 years who do not have known vascular disease or type 2 diabetes; start or continue a statin in all patients ages 75 to 84 with type 2 diabetes to prevent cardiovascular events and mortality; and start or continue a statin in patients ages > 75 years who have known vascular ...

Why do doctors push statins?

Statins are the go-to treatment option for lowering cholesterol levels and risk of cardiovascular complications, like heart attack and stroke. Statins work by slowing down cholesterol production and enabling the liver to remove low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or “bad cholesterol,” from the bloodstream.

What is the best statin for the elderly?

Atorvastatin or fluvastatin are usually recommended because there is no need to adjust the dose according to the glomerular filtration rate [28]. In patients without diagnosed atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, it is indicated a moderate dose of statin, such as atorvastatin 20 mg daily [28].

What medications cause balance problems?

Medications Can Cause Balance Problems

• Antidepressants.
• Anti-seizure drugs (anticonvulsants)
• Hypertensive (high blood pressure) drugs.
• Sedatives.
• Tranquilizers.
• Anxiolytics (anti-anxiety drugs)
• Antihistamines prescribed to relieve allergy symptoms.
• Aminoglycosides (a type of antibiotic)

What causes balance problems while walking?

Most balance problems occur because of brain or inner ear problems, or physical issues, such as broken bones or muscle injuries. Balance problems can make it difficult to walk or move.

When should you be concerned about balance problems?

Balance problems may cause dizziness and make you feel as though you're spinning or moving when you're actually standing or sitting still. As a result, you may not feel well. This can interfere with your daily life. It can also lead to falls, which can cause broken bones and other injuries.

What causes loss of balance in seniors?

Long-term medical condition that affects the nervous system can have an impact on balance, too. Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Multiple Sclerosis are just a few. In addition, arthritis, heart problems, and certain medications seniors take for chronic illnesses can all contribute to unsteadiness.

Does walking improve balance?

Nearly any activity that keeps you on your feet and moving, such as walking, can help you maintain good balance.

Is 40 mg of atorvastatin a lot?

Conclusions: Atorvastatin in daily dose of 40 mg is a safe and well tolerable medication for the treatment for dyslipidemic disorders in patients of different clinic profile and cardiovascular risk groups in common medical practice.

What is the best cholesterol medication with the least side effects?

In the analysis of 135 previous studies, which included nearly 250,000 people combined, researchers found that the drugs simvastatin (Zocor) and pravastatin (Pravachol) had the fewest side effects in this class of medications. They also found that lower doses produced fewer side effects in general.

What can I take instead of statins to lower cholesterol?

7 cholesterol-lowering alternatives to statins

• Fibrates. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis. ...
• Plant stanols and sterols. ...
• Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins. ...
• Niacin. ...
• Policosanol. ...
• Red yeast rice extract (RYRE) ...
• Natural products.