I started getting a LOT of leg cramps when swimming last year and have been trying to figure out what changed that may have caused this. I think I've narrowed it down - I started taking simvastatin within a few months of when I first noticed the increase in leg cramps. It's easy to pin that date down since I first really noticed the increase when I got a giant cramp diving in for the 400 IM at SC nationals last year! It's not very fun to swim that event in a big meet with a cramp the whole way.
I've been googling this and it seems that many people report leg cramp problems with statins. Neither my old doctor nor my new doctor suggested this as a possible cause when I complained about the unusual increase in cramping. Has anyone else out there experienced this?
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Former Member
I've been lucky that both Lovastatin and Lipitor have not caused any cramping. Anyway, try drinking a defizzed bottle of Schwepps Quinine or Tonic before a workout and see if that helps.
Tried that and also the OTC leg cramp pills, which are just quinine pills. While that may have helped reduce them a little, the cramps are still there. I also already take 1000 mg of vitamin D and have had my vitamin D level tested within the past year (came out fine).
I'm planning on dropping the simvastatin for a while to see if I notice a difference. If so, I'll bring that info back to my doctor and request a different drug.
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Former Member
I've been lucky that both Lovastatin and Lipitor have not caused any cramping. Anyway, try drinking a defizzed bottle of Schwepps Quinine or Tonic before a workout and see if that helps.
Tried that and also the OTC leg cramp pills, which are just quinine pills. While that may have helped reduce them a little, the cramps are still there. I also already take 1000 mg of vitamin D and have had my vitamin D level tested within the past year (came out fine).
I'm planning on dropping the simvastatin for a while to see if I notice a difference. If so, I'll bring that info back to my doctor and request a different drug.
