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What Causes Breathlessness And Muscle Spasm Under The Breast While On Lipitor?
Question: My heart feels like it is flopping around, I have put my hand under my breast and actually physically felt it like a muscle spasm. No pain just a little breathless. I am on 40 mg of Lipitor per day could this be a side effect?
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that you may be right. Lipitor (Atorvastatin) may be associated with muscle spasms in up to 2-5% of cases.
But before concluding for such an adverse effect, it is necessary to exclude other causes of flopping heart feeling.
So, it is necessary to exclude any arrhythmic events like premature heart beats (extrasystoles), or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
In such case, if the unpleasant feeling persists, I would recommend to consult your attending doctor for a careful physical exam (including cardiac auscultation) and a resting ECG.
Also some lab tests like:
- ALT & AST,
- CPK,
- LDH,
- blood electrolytes level,
- thyroid hormone levels
are necessary to check for any possible Lipitor adverse effects or other reasons of flopping heart.
Meanwhile, try to relax and control your anxiety as it may be an important contribution in your actual clinical symptomatology.
Hope to have been helpful to you.
In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that you may be right. Lipitor (Atorvastatin) may be associated with muscle spasms in up to 2-5% of cases.
But before concluding for such an adverse effect, it is necessary to exclude other causes of flopping heart feeling.
So, it is necessary to exclude any arrhythmic events like premature heart beats (extrasystoles), or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
In such case, if the unpleasant feeling persists, I would recommend to consult your attending doctor for a careful physical exam (including cardiac auscultation) and a resting ECG.
Also some lab tests like:
- ALT & AST,
- CPK,
- LDH,
- blood electrolytes level,
- thyroid hormone levels
are necessary to check for any possible Lipitor adverse effects or other reasons of flopping heart.
Meanwhile, try to relax and control your anxiety as it may be an important contribution in your actual clinical symptomatology.
Hope to have been helpful to you.
In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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