Atorvastatin symptoms and conditions

I started taking simvastin (the lowest dose) about 6 months ago with amazing results when it came to my cholesterol. After about 2 months I started getting headaches. I went off the drug for about a week and the headaches went away. I went back on the drug and 3 weeks later the headaches came back. This went on for a few cycles. This last time I went off the drug was February 7. I have not taken it since and I have had a headache since then. This time it has not gone away. I HAVE NEVER had headaches before taking this drug. And all I know now is that for the last month my life as I knew it completely changed. Of course the Dr. put me on some pain meds for the headaches that made me sick, sick, sick after 3 days. I just can't take the pain meds as they are worse than the headaches themselves. HAS ANYONE HAD THIS and if so how long did these headaches take to go away.

My mother took Zocor and has the similar side effects. But has anyone
had shaking hands or been told they might have ALS (lou Geric's disease)?

Please contact me if this has happend to you. My mother thinks she has less than 3 years to live.

Contact me at ****** Please! Thank you.

This is an update. I have experienced "some" problems trying to get Doctors to believe that my muscle problems are Lipitor related. I was sent this by a nurse. It is not the full page.

"2005 Mosby's Nursing Drug Reference (pg.155)

atorvastatin
Lipitor

Uses: As an adjunct in primary hypercholesterolemia

Interactiions:
*Risk of possible rhabdomyolysis; azole antifungaals,
cycloSPORINE, erythromycin, niacin, gemfibrozil, clofibrate".

Guess what? I have been using an azole antifungal intermittently for the entire time I was on Lipitor. It is not a medication I "take". It is used topically for a fungal nail which refuses to clear up. You may have been using it for athletes foot.
Now one pharmacist says a topical application cannot cause this interaction and another pharmacist says it is almost certain that the azole antifungal gets into the blood stream and will interact with the Lipitor. I have to laugh.
Next week I start Physical Therapy on my left elbow.

I stumbled onto this website just today looking for information on another drug. Little did I know what I was going to find and so happy I did. I have been taking Zocor for nearly 5 yrs. now. My health has taken a spiral downhill. I too, have been experiencing almost every symptom that has been mentioned. Rt. shoulder pain, hand pain, pain and tingling in hands and feet, leg cramps, muscle weakness, numbness, memory loss, itching, fuzzy headed at time, can't concentrate, and trouble breathing. My doctor has told me my cholesterol is just fine the last two times I've had my checkup, but has never suggested I come off it. I guess I will be calling him tomorrow.

I am 45 and have been taking statins for 5 years since having 3 heart attacks in a 4 day period.At first I was on Atorvastatin 10mg and didn't suffer any side affects,I was put on Simvastatin 40mg 2 years ago due to cost.Since then I suffer with very sore muscle pain down the length of my right arm.My GP keeps on prescribing painkillers and doesn't mention the fact it may be side affects of the Simvastatin.I find it sad that costs of drugs are the reason I am in pain.

Had a letter today from doctor's saying that when I next renew my prescription I will no longer be getting Atorvastatin- been on that for 4 years now with very little in the way of side effects. Already have dodgy knees and hip, so don't want any side effects like that. I am taking the print out of this when I see doctor later this week. Friend of mine was on Simvastatin for a year - side effects included nausea and vomiting, joint pains. Can't afford to take time off work to deal with side effects. Just another NHS cost saving exercise. Considering paying privately to continue with Atorvastatin, but NHS rules say that if you pay for one thing, all the other prescriptions have to be paid for too.

I had Hodgkin’s Disease in 1981 at which time they removed my spleen.
I was given a supply of Erythromycin antibiotics as a prophylactic, as a result of my Splenectomy to counteract any ongoing infections etc. and I have used this now for years, on an as necessary basis rather than continual, with good results.
In 1994 I suffered a Heart Attack and they found my Cholesterol level to be 9.6. I had Angioplasty and a Stent was inserted to hold the artery open.
Following that, I was prescribed Zocor (Simvastatin) to reduce my Cholesterol level.
My eyesight, which has always been very poor as I have Cone Dystrophy, deteriorated over the next three years to a point where I was registered as blind in 1998. The form indicated “Primary loss of central field”.
I suffered various side-effects from the Statin including General Weakness, Panic Attacks and Palpitations. My Cholesterol during this period averaged around 7.
The Doctor changed my Statin to Lipitor (Atorvastatin) in 1998.
In 2000 I complained to the doctor that I had severe muscular problems, to a point where I had to wear knee supports just to climb the stairs. He referred me to the Physiotherapist who manipulated my legs and gave me exercises to help strengthen the muscles. I was unable to walk after that for about 2 weeks!
By sheer fluke, I went on holiday in 2001 and forgot to take my Statins with me. I did not start taking them again straightaway when I returned and I noticed my muscles improving. As I had an appointment with the doctor, I started taking Lipitor again and found that my muscles again deteriorated.
Apart from the muscle issues I experienced lethargy and some digestive problems.
I suspended taking the Statins in October 2001 and my muscles gradually returned.
My Cholesterol crept up to 9.2 and I was referred to the Lipid Clinic at St. Bartholemews Hospital in March 2002.
The specialist there put me on Lescol (Fluvastatin), together with a diet of fruit, beans and chicken.
My muscles continued to return but I suffered from sleeplessness, nightmares and headaches and generally felt unwell. My Cholesterol did, however, reduce to 6.1 and my Triglycerides fell from 14 to 2.3.
In July 02, I stopped taking Lescol (due to erectile dysfunction) and my general well being improved immediately.
I was not prescribed any other Statins at that time and by February 2003 my muscles had returned to almost normal but my Cholesterol had crept up to 8.7.
In February 2003 the Lipid specialist at Barts tried me on Supalip 180 Fenofibrate together with Ezetimibe, due to my intolerance to Statins
On this combination I suffered from fatigue, impotency and again, muscle wastage so I stopped taking any Cholesterol reducing medication for a few months and my Cholesterol rose again to 8.3.
Between May and August 2004 the Clinic tried me on Pravastatin and Ezetimibe but I still suffered from fatigue and impotency and stopped taking any Statins, with my Cholesterol at 7.3 and Triglycerides at around 7. Lipid clinic suggested trying Rosuvastatin (Crestor) but I had had enough by then and thank my good judgment for not taking it, as the side effects are reportedly worse than other Statins.
For the next 3 years, I felt fit and strong with no problems with my muscles nor any sleeplessness, panic attacks etc. In July 2007 my GP took a blood test. My Cholesterol level was 7.4 with Triglycerides at 7.
Over the last few months, I have been taking my glasses off more and more to be able to see more clearly. In the last few weeks the clarity of my vision has improved considerably and I can now see people’s faces and generally much more detail. Red things, like buses and traffic lights are now considerably brighter and I am now able to watch TV from a distance again rather than sitting a foot from the screen. I find I no longer need to wear glasses with a special red tint to improve my vision.
My vision appears to have almost returned to the level it was in 1994 before I had my heart attack and Statin therapy.
I have recently found that one of the side-effects of some Statins is blurring of vision, particulary the statin Zocor, and that this is also a symptom of Rhabdomyolysis which is caused by the taking of Erythromycin with Statins. I do not know what the nature of the blurring is, but nobody has ever mentioned that Statins could affect my eyesight.
Looking back at the timings, I had been on Zocor for 3 years when I was declared blind, and it could be only now that I have been off Statins for 3 years, that my eyes are recovering.
Whilst researching the side-effects of Statins which include, in particular, muscle breakdown and blurred vision, I have found that they should not be taken with Erythromycin!
I believe I suffered blindness, resulting and much discomfort for years as a result of misdiagnosis of the side-effects of the Statins and the prescribing of Statins whilst being prescribed Erythromycin.
I believe that Cholesterol levels in people who have had a Splenectomy are abnormally high and people who have a Splenectomy should be warned to immediately go onto a low fat diet and not have toasted bacon sandwiches on the way to work every morning as I did!
The Lipid Clinic also suggested that my complaints about various side effects were psychosomatic and even told me not to look at the side effects leaflet with the pills, just to give them a try for 6 months..
I recently visited my GP and suggested that the combination of Erythromycin and Statins was the cause of my severe muscle breakdown and eyesight deterioration and questioned whether the Statins should have been prescribed when I was on Erythromycin. He advised that he would not do so, would suspend one or the other, but that they probably knew more now than they did a few years ago.
I just wonder how many other people have been suffering for years, just thinking their health and vision is deteriorating with age, when it is probably the medication they are on!

I was put on Lipitor for borderline high cholesterol. I don't remember the dose. I have Type II diabetes. My A1c was controlled at between 6.5% and 6.9%. Except for the first three months of being diagnosed with DM II, my A1c was always under 7%. 3 months after starting lipitor (6 years after being diagnosed)my after meal glucose level was over 300 and sometimes over 400 whether I ate carbs or not. My A1c went over 8%. My diabetes meds were changed because my doctor had not heard of such an effect and didn't believe that it was the lipitor. So I took it for three more months. A1c still over 8%. I found a few studies on medline that say that a small population of people lose glycemic control when on atorvastatin. I told this to my doctor and told them that I refused to take it any more. They put in my chart that I stopped taking it against medical advice. My A1C was 7.2% within three months. Please make sure that if you are taking lipitor, have your blood sugar checked once in a while.

Like everyone else, I'm so glad that I found this site. I've been taking YAZ for 9 months and everything was fine/normal for the first 4 months. I didn't have any side effects, mood or weight changes. However, my arms/legs were painful when I slept at night about 5 months ago. I didn't pay too much attention but then I noticed that I started getting some celliute on my upper thighs/butt about 4 months ago. Still, I though it was just a sigh of aging and trying to put on creams etc to smooth it out....... However, after a month or two later, I started getting spider veins (just a few at first) on my upper legs/thighs and that really freak me out because I've never had anything like that before. I tried to think what was going on until I checked out this website. All these might be caused by YAZ.

In addition, taking Vitamin C supplement might worsen the situation. You can find more information under drug interaction section in the following website:-

(http://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/monographs/drug_search.jsf).

"drugs that may increase blood levels of this drug (e.g., acetaminophen, ascorbic acid/vitamin C, atorvastatin, azole antifungals such as itraconazole/ketoconazole/vaginal miconazole). "

I don't know how this affect other people but I got more ugly spider veins since I started taking a supplement which contain Vitamin C about 3 weeks ago. I just stop taking that today and I will stop YAZ all togeter after I finish the cycle.

Please do pay more attention to your body and think twice before taking YAZ ....

statins trigger neuromuscular disorders--there are many many neuromuscular disorders thought to be due to mitochondrial dysfunction (which underlies all the disorders mentioned here--including ALS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, as well as all the mitochondrial cytopathy disorders:

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jul 26 - Patients with asymptomatic neuromuscular disorders may have their condition precipitated by statin use, according to investigators from the University of Athens Medical School.

Dr. Panagiota Manta and colleagues describe four such cases in the July 24th issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Case 1 was a 46-year-old man with a history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus who was prescribed pravastatin for hypercholesterolemia. Three months later, he complained of fatigue, muscle pain and stiffness. Serum creatine kinase levels were persistently elevated. After stopping the drug, creatine kinase levels fell somewhat and there was mild symptom improvement. Mild myopathy was seen on needle electromyography and muscle biopsy showed numerous internal nuclei, nuclear clumps and variations in fiber size. Genetic testing revealed myotonic dystrophy.

Case 2 was a 62-year-old man with a history of MI and diabetes. Hypercholesterolemia was treated with simvastatin. Creatine kinase levels became persistently elevated and did not return to normal after drug discontinuation. Biopsy was positive for muscle enzyme activity. He was eventually diagnosed with McArdle disease.

Case 3 was a 51-year-old man with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia who was hospitalized with acute rhabdomyolytis after taking atorvastatin for 18 months. Exercise intolerance and muscle pain persisted for months after discontinuation of statin therapy. Some time later, he was diagnosed with mitochondrial myopathy.

The last case was a 58-year-old man with a history of hypertension, hyperuricemia and coronary artery disease. He began treatment with pravastatin. Shortly after a dose increase, he developed muscle twitching, muscle cramps and difficulty walking. Like the other cases, there was only mild symptom improvement and a modest decline in creatine kinase levels after the statin was discontinued. He was eventually diagnosed with Kennedy disease.

Statin-induced neuropathy is well recognized and reported more and more often, Dr. Manta's group notes. These four cases show that statins can also trigger underlying neuromuscular conditions.

The investigators suggest that if neuromuscular symptoms persist after discontinuation of statin therapy, clinicians should "pursue further diagnostic evaluations for the detection of underlying neuromuscular disease."

Arch Intern Med 2006;166:1519-1524.

information about Lipitor Lawsuites:
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Pfizer Inc. (maker of Lipitor)Lipitor Cholesterol Medication Users vs. Pfizer Inc. (maker of Lipitor)

Lipitor Cholesterol Medication Users vs. Pfizer Inc. (maker of Lipitor) Lawsuit
Cholesterol-Fighting Drug Tied to Liver, Kidney Injury

The Kahn Gauthier Law Group is investigating possible lawsuits against Pfizer Inc., the manufacturer of the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin), to recover for liver or kidney damage suffered by patients prescribed Lipitor. Like other drugs in its class (the statins), Lipitor can cause elevated liver enzymes. In clinical trials, this occurred in 0.7 percent of the patients, but the rate was much higher for those taking the 80 mg dose.

Another serious side effect of Lipitor and other statins is a condition called rhabdomyolysis, in which muscle cells break down and release potentially toxic cell contents into the bloodstream.

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The pictures of people depicted on this site are presented for illustrative purposes only, and these people are not clients of Kahn Gauthier Law Group, LLC.

Kahn Gauthier Law Group, LLC has its principal office at 650 Poydras St. Suite 2150, New Orleans, LA 70130. Lewis Kahn is the attorney responsible for this site. Mr. Kahn may be reached at 504-455-1400.

Legal actions listed on this site are in varying procedural stages. While some of the cases listed have made it to the point where funds are being distributed, some actions may be in an investigative stage and not yet filed in a court, while others might be individual or consolidated actions that have not been certified by a court as a class action, or are still progressing through the courts. Remember that litigation is a process, and some cases have not progressed to settlement or payout. We can make no guarantee that each case on this site will ultimately result in a successful outcome, as there are many factors that dictate the success of a lawsuit.

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Pfizer Inc. (maker of Lipitor)Lipitor Cholesterol Medication Users vs. Pfizer Inc. (maker of Lipitor)

Lipitor Cholesterol Medication Users vs. Pfizer Inc. (maker of Lipitor) Lawsuit
Cholesterol-Fighting Drug Tied to Liver, Kidney Injury

The Kahn Gauthier Law Group is investigating possible lawsuits against Pfizer Inc., the manufacturer of the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin), to recover for liver or kidney damage suffered by patients prescribed Lipitor. Like other drugs in its class (the statins), Lipitor can cause elevated liver enzymes. In clinical trials, this occurred in 0.7 percent of the patients, but the rate was much higher for those taking the 80 mg dose.

Another serious side effect of Lipitor and other statins is a condition called rhabdomyolysis, in which muscle cells break down and release potentially toxic cell contents into the bloodstream.

FREE LAWYER CASE REVIEW

File a claim today to get more information,
you may be due money!

CONTACT US


MAKE A CLAIM
Have you or a family member taken Lipitor?

We are standing by to review your case to see if you can make a claim!

CLICK HERE

CASE INFORMATION
At Issue: $$$ PENDING
Category: Drugs / Medical
Added to Site: 8/30/2001
Stage: Filing
ACTIVE LAWSUITS
ACCUTANE ACNE LAWSUIT

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Notice on Advertising
This website is considered advertising under rules that govern how lawyers inform the public about their services. Hiring a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertising. Persons accessing this site are encouraged to seek independent legal advice regarding their individual legal issues.

The pictures of people depicted on this site are presented for illustrative purposes only, and these people are not clients of Kahn Gauthier Law Group, LLC.

Kahn Gauthier Law Group, LLC has its principal office at 650 Poydras St. Suite 2150, New Orleans, LA 70130. Lewis Kahn is the attorney responsible for this site. Mr. Kahn may be reached at 504-455-1400.

Legal actions listed on this site are in varying procedural stages. While some of the cases listed have made it to the point where funds are being distributed, some actions may be in an investigative stage and not yet filed in a court, while others might be individual or consolidated actions that have not been certified by a court as a class action, or are still progressing through the courts. Remember that litigation is a process, and some cases have not progressed to settlement or payout. We can make no guarantee that each case on this site will ultimately result in a successful outcome, as there are many factors that dictate the success of a lawsuit.

USJuris.com® is a service of the Kahn Gauthier Law Group, LLC

© 2000 - 2005 Copyright. All rights reserved Kahn Gauthier Law Group, LLC.

Current Cases · Damages from Cases · Current Lawsuits · Side Effects

this is on behalf of my husband he was on zecor for about 2years and then his gp put him on 40mg of atorvastatin it was then he started to complain about pain in his legs but years ago he did suffer aspell with his legs so he just thought he was having abit of athritis he is 53 and as the weeks have gone by he can bearly walk because of pain in his calf thigh and lower back his cpk and liver blood results are raised he is waiting for an appointment with a rheumatologist on the 10 of august but he is due to take a hgv goods medical in september to renew his liscence but Ican not see that he will be well enough to do a tread mill test which is part of his medical he has stopped takeing the 40mg of atorvastatin after reading so many other people who are suffering with the same side affects he was defenately well before his dose was increased we are worried to death about his symtoms and he will proberly lose his job also he is irratable and his memory does seem to be affected no one seems to know how long the symtems go on for or is the damage permerment

my husband has been on atorvastatin for about 10 months 40 mg before them he was on simsatavinfor about 2 years when he first changed to atorvastatin he noticed his legs were aching but put it down to just age and abit of athritis but has the months have gone on he can hardly walk with pain in his hip and both calf and thigh muscles his ckp levels are raised and the liver aspartate transaminaseslightly raised after what we read on the internet he decided to stop the atorvastatin 20 days ago he is very worried because he is meant to take a hgv medical in september which involves a treadmill test any advice would be welcome.

have been taking Atorvastatin for 5 months, prescribed by the hospital after I was hospitalised for 3 days following a minor stroke. I was prescribed 20mg which I took for about three and a half months. I felt dizzy a bit and believed this was side affects from my stroke. My cholesterol was 6.2 which is considered quite high. I decided to cut down the dose to 10 mg as I hate taking drugs of any kind and a friend of mine who has low thyroid like me ( we are both on thyroxine) told me that she had been told that one should not take statins with an under active thyroid. This is why I reduced the dose. Having found this website I am beggining to realise that the shoulder and neck pain that has developed over the last months and also an increase in the dryness to my eyes and a swollen finger joint - could all possibly be due to Atorvastatin. I have now stopped taking the drug -- my shoulders are just beginning to feel easier now , I await relief from my swollen painful finger-- will let you know results.

I have read with interest (?) the 'downers' here about Lipitor (Atorvastatin). Most of the posts here are anti Lipitor.
One I read seemed to be ok with it. I have been taking Lipitor 20 mg for 18 months. Sure I have memory loss (I am 62 years of age) ... who doesn't have lapses of memory. Sure I have aching joints ... had that checked out by X-RAY's and it turns out I have arthritis, which I suspected. That's not funny. And sure I have occasional muscle fatigue - that could be due to many things particularly not getting enough exercise which I admit - and that's MY responsibility. And sure there are people who have allergic reactions to many drugs, and to many vitamin and mineral supplements as well - I feel for those people. I am allergic to Penecillin myself.

Many people here might be simply allergic to Lipitor ingredients. Others might have some underlying problem which has been exacerbated by Lipitor - still others may have had those underlying problems for a lot longer than they've been taking Lipitor but it has become easier to blame the Lipitor.

I was particularly concerned at the number of people who have taken themselves off the drug virtually overnight. I have been told and have read many times it can be dangerous to suddenly stop a medication - should be weaned off it. Sudden stopping of a medication can result in liver enzymes going out of kilter and other unwanted, sometimes quite nasty, effects.

As for the drug companies not giving warning - here in Australia anyone can go to their chemist (pharmacist) and have printed out for them, the side effects to any drug.
I think that comes under the Freedom of Information Act.

All I can say in conclusion is - Lipitor has worked wonders for me, and in working those wonders - reducing the bad AND increasing the good Cholesterol, they have taken one worry away from me - that of premature death or severe illness due to high cholesterol. My Doctor advised me (after I had dieted, exercised etc) that she was not surprised those regimens had not worked, and these were her words " a largish person can eat fat drenched food and have low cholesterol all their lives and a slender person who eats well - abstains from fats etc. can have very high cholesterol - No one factor determines it"

Hope you all obtain some form of relief - some way from life threatening high cholesterol. Anne.

my 66 year old diabetic husband took Atorvastatin-10mg for 4 weeks - 3 months later he cannot sleep at night for the pain in his shoulders and neck. he has been back to the doctors 3 times and now they have just done a blood test and given him a steroid injection. He cannot work nothing seems to ease the pain. some days he can't even walk a few steps. the stiffness in his joints is so great. Has anyone found a cure. Our doctor hasn't. she wants him to start taking it again !! NEVER.