Do Statins Make You Tired? Why It Happens and What Helps (UK)

Can statins make you tired? What the NHS says

Yes. The NHS statins page lists “feeling more tired or weaker than usual” among the common side effects of statins, with headaches, dizziness, feeling sick, wind, constipation or diarrhoea, muscle pain and sleep problems. It says not everyone gets them, and if you think your statin is causing side effects, a doctor can check the cause and may prescribe another statin or change your dose.

The main statins in the UK are atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin and fluvastatin. The NHS atorvastatin and simvastatin pages list muscle aches and sleep problems among their common side effects.

Do statins cause joint pain?

Sometimes. The NHS atorvastatin page lists “muscle aches and swollen joints” among its common side effects, and the UK Lipitor (atorvastatin) leaflet lists joint pain, muscle pain and back pain as common, affecting up to 1 in 10 people. Joint aches have many other causes in later life, so ask your GP to check.

The NHS simvastatin and rosuvastatin pages list muscle aches but not joint pain. The Lipitor leaflet adds that in more than 90% of cases, the muscle symptoms reported in trials weren’t caused by the statin itself (see are the side effects really from the statin?). Get urgent help (call NHS 111) for muscle pain, tenderness or weakness with a high temperature or red or brown pee, as this can be rhabdomyolysis. Otherwise don’t stop a statin on your own: your GP can lower the dose or switch statin. For other causes, see joint pain and arthritis.

Why statins might make you tired

• Muscle symptoms. Aching or weak muscles can feel like general tiredness, especially on stairs or walks.
• Poorer sleep. Sleep problems are a listed side effect. See how to stay asleep.
• Something else entirely. Statins are mostly taken in later life, when tiredness has many other causes: poor sleep, low iron or B12, an underactive thyroid, low mood or other medicines such as beta blockers or weight-loss injections (see Mounjaro and Wegovy). The NHS says atorvastatin may not be suitable for people with an underactive thyroid, so mention any thyroid problem to your GP.

Are the side effects really from the statin?

Often not. A 2022 analysis of 19 large, double-blind trials found that in the first year, only about 1 in 15 reports of muscle pain or weakness from people taking a statin were actually caused by the statin. After the first year there was no clear excess over placebo. NICE puts it the same way: with high-intensity statins about 16% of people report muscle pain, but only around 1 in 12 of those cases is likely to be due to the statin. That doesn’t make your symptoms imaginary; it means they’re worth checking properly before blaming the tablet.

For the bigger picture on tiredness, see why am I always tired? and still tired after 8 hours of sleep.

How long does tiredness from statins last?

There’s no fixed timeline for tiredness itself. In the trial analysis above, the small excess of muscle symptoms showed up in the first year and not after, and higher-dose statins (40 to 80mg atorvastatin or 20 to 40mg rosuvastatin) carried slightly more risk than lower doses. If you still feel worn out after a few weeks, or it affects daily life, the NHS advice is to see a GP rather than wait.

iYour GP may lower the dose, switch statin or look for another cause. NICE says to seek medical advice for unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, and a simple blood test (creatine kinase) can check for muscle damage.

Does CoQ10 help with statin tiredness?

The evidence is mixed. Coenzyme Q10 supplements are often suggested for statin muscle symptoms. A 2015 meta-analysis of 6 trials (302 people) found no significant benefit for muscle pain. A 2018 meta-analysis of 12 trials (575 people) found improvements in muscle pain, weakness, cramps and muscle tiredness. Neither looked at general tiredness, and NICE says not to offer CoQ10 to help people stay on statins.

iIf you want to try it, ask your pharmacist first, as the NHS asks you to mention any vitamins or supplements you take with a statin. Evopure doesn’t sell CoQ10.

What helps tiredness on statins

1. Talk to your GP or pharmacist before changing anything. Keep taking your statin unless you’re told to stop: the NHS says cholesterol may go up again if you stop.
2. Ask about a dose change or a different statin. The NHS says a doctor may prescribe another statin or change your dose if side effects are a problem.
3. Go easy on alcohol. The NHS says too much alcohol raises the risk of side effects on atorvastatin and simvastatin. See alcohol and sleep.
4. Check grapefruit juice. The NHS says avoid it with simvastatin, and have no more than 1 or 2 small glasses a day with atorvastatin.
5. Keep moving. Gentle, regular activity is better for energy than resting more. See body aches and leg cramps at night.
6. Ask about blood tests if tiredness lasts: iron, B12, thyroid and vitamin D are common checks. See iron deficiency and underactive thyroid.

When to get advice or urgent help

Severe muscle pain with red or brown pee can be a sign of muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis). NICE says this is extremely rare on statins, but it needs checking straight away. You can report side effects through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.

Pregnancy: the NHS says you shouldn’t take statins if you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant. We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Supplements on statins: check first

No supplement treats statin side effects. The NHS asks you to tell your doctor about any herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements, and names St John’s wort as one that doesn’t mix well with atorvastatin, so check with your GP or pharmacist before adding anything. See magnesium for muscle pain and does stress cause high cholesterol?

Our pick

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Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex is a berry drink powder with 290mg of magnesium (77% NRV) per 4.75g serving, from bisglycinate and citrate, plus glycine and L-theanine. Magnesium contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue. It doesn’t override a medicine side effect. Check with your prescriber or pharmacist first.

Add Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex to bag See ingredients and reviews

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iIf you take any regular medicines, check with your GP or pharmacist first. We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Both are vegan, made in the UK and for adults (18+) only.