March 3th
2009
8:35 PM
I was on Lipitor 20 mg also for about a year. During that time I experienced breathing problems and muscle aches. The Doctor told me to take Co Q10 which helped w/ the muscle aches. But I ended up cutting the pills in half, to help w/breathing a lot. When I told my my Doc that-she said go back up to full dose, I tried for 3 days and was so short of breath I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs.
I stopped and went out and got a $129 heart scan instead. The insurance co. won't pay for it, but the 129 will be made up in three months of not buying this horrid pill. I've since rec. two letters from Lipitor saying they noticed I'm not taking my pills as prescribed.....nice
April 2th
2008
10:35 PM
A grateful thank you to Adele and Oldcarpetcleaner-
I am so sorry that you having such problems- but it is reassuring to know that I am alone-
I am going to the U of Miami Liver Institute next week- and I will ask about CO-Q10; I have had a muscle biopsy-and I will make every effort not to have a liver biopsy-
I will try to find out what the time frame is for muscular pains- weakness-
even AFTER discontinuing Lipitor.
The bizarre thing -for me- is that the pain and weakness travel- not always in the same spot- but almost always reamin in my buttocks. The reason I ignored it for a couple of monthes as I was so actively doing squats aand weights- and thought it was the exercise. This drug seems to have had bad consequences for so many otherwise- previously healthy people.I will repost after I attend the liver Institute- -by the way- finding a true Liver Hepatologist- (NOT a gastroenterologist- they have liver and I have to travel to Miami . Good luck everybody.
March 4th
2008
5:04 PM
Thank you all for making me feel as if I'm not alone. I thought this was the way I was supposed to feel. 6 years ago I experienced a sudden heart attack with no symptoms at 42. A new doctor put me on Lipitor about 2 1/2 years ago as a precaution. The heart attack was genetic as I was about an 80% vegetarian and walked about 8 miles a day. My mother had her first heart attack at the same age. I always had weight problems as a kid, but slimmed down as an adult. After the Lipitor, I have gone from a 32 waist to a 42, joint pain, sleep problems, lack of concentration and the constant feeling as if I have been run over by a Mack truck. You all are giving me the confidence to go with my instincts and stop taking this med. along with switching to a doctor who will listen to me and not tell me to get a personal trainer of which I cannot afford. By the way, I still walk my 4-6 miles a day even in the snow and rain. For me, it's always been my best form of exercise. Again, thank you all for not making me feel alone.
-- By josephri | Reply | (4) replies | Private Message me
February 22th
2008
8:51 PM
I have been on 40mg/day of Lipitor for 5-6 months and this is how I feel: totally drained - no energy at all - horrible lower back pain - I've been in physical therapy for the past 6 weeks. My neck muscles, back muscles and hip muscles were in constant spasms. Right after beginning Lipitor I woke up with vertigo and still have the dizziness. I was convinced that I must have some horrible disease and was dying at age 47. I stopped taking Lipitor 3 weeks ago and starting taking fish oil, vitamin c, coq10, b vitamin, daily vitamin - the muscle spasms are a little better - still have lower back pain, brain fog, some dizziness. I am so tired all the time - it's so difficult to work a full time job right now. Has anyone else had these same symptoms? Does anyone know how soon I should start to feel better?
-- By angie1961 | Reply | (4) replies | Private Message me
February 15th
2008
4:02 PM
I had a mild heart attack 14 months ago (aged 56). A stent was inserted in an artery. I was put on four medications (Lipitor was at 40mg) so what caused what is up for grabs.
Friends told me I was slurring my words - which I experienced as an inability to find words and hence I could not talk at talking speed. The Metoprolol was reduced and I also started taking Co Q 10 as I had read that Lipitor reduces both cholesterol and Co Q10. The slurring reduced. I also had sudden pains as if a sharp object was being pressed hard on the ends of my fingers and toes at random. The doctor shrugged.
Since my heart attack my memory has been poor and I have been noticeably clumsy.
About 6 months ago I started to get left knee discomfort - I can relate this to water on the knee from an impact at age 11. It hardly ever caused a problem since. I went to Physical therapy and had ultra sound and it seemed to take ridiculously long to improve. And at that time I was becoming increasingly aware of a "bruise" to my left elbow (I am left handed). I felt like a complainer! I had bruised my left elbow but could it hurt 3 months later. I had an X-Ray and the elbow was fine. I was getting similar sensations on the other side of my body (knee and elbow) but at like 10% of the intensity so I dismissed it as nonsensical.
Then I awoke at 3.00 a.m. one night with incredible pain in my lower left arm.
The orthopedic surgeon I saw said I had tennis elbow and I got a cortisone injection. I was beginning to feel as if my body was decaying and getting torn internally.
I then read a blog and a disability insurance assessor said she always asks if people who have been diagnosed with tennis elbow are taking Lipitor. Ping!
I quit Lipitor. Two nights later I had unbelievable cramps in my lower left leg. I have had the pins in the end of the fingers and toes again and the inability to find words appears momentarily.
But I have far more energy. My biggest surprise is that I am breathing more deeply. Spontaneously I am taking really deep breaths. I started at the gym within a week of quitting. However I am being careful. I will take a cholesterol test in a month, and have gone almost dairy free, and am vegetarian every other day and will continue with CoQ10
January 10th
2008
9:43 PM
I am a 41 yo woman in good health. I started Toprol xl about 3 years ago for a heart palp that would happen maybe once a day, and occasional racing heart beat. I did great for a long time on 25mg once a day. Then about 6 months back I was switched to generic due to insurance issues - they only want to pay for generic.
It took me a while to figure out what was happening, but several problems started happening over the last few months that I am sure were from this generic drug. Suddenly I was having vivid dreams - fish swimming on the ceiling, cats with heads 5x too big! Worse yet, over about 3 months I gained 20 pounds with no difference in diet. And I was getting more and more tired. I started looking into what could be causing these crazy effects - I was only on Toprol and birth control pills.... well, it was not the birth control!
So, I decided to wean myself from the Toprol. I decided I prefer a heart palp and occasional racing heart to this!! I gave myself a couple of weeks of lesser doses, then 5 days ago I stopped it altogether. I am having some horrid "rebound" or withdrawal effects! Numb/tingling hands and feet, headache and - surprise! High blood pressure! I never, ever took this med for HBP, and I have never had HBP! I always had a nice, low blood pressure, even when 9 months pregnant! Now it's running around 135/93 - I work in a medical office, so I got one of the nurses to check it on Tuesday...she sort of freaked! She said she has seen much higher, but mine is not normal. So we have been checking daily, and it's staying up there. I am so mad to think Toprol could have damaged my body in some way so that my blood pressure may not stay messed up for life. I have read online that the rebound effects can last up to a month, even with a fairly low dose like I was taking. Does anyone know if a month is about right? If my blood pressure keeps this high, I suppose I will have to seek treatment at some point. Ugh!
On the plus side, I don't feel so tired. No vivid dreams since I stopped the Toprol, and much better sleep! I feel "clearer" mentally. I just wish the tingling hands and feet would stop - and the high blood pressure!
-- By ree | Reply | (10) replies | Private Message me
February 16th
2007
11:49 AM
My husband, former commercial airline pilot, began taking Lipitor January 27, 1998. He was misdiagnosed with alzheimers and treated for it till Smart Money magazine article: Nov 2003. He quit the statin, but his brain was too damaged. Recently he received an Allen Cognitive Level test at a nearby Memory Disorder Clinic. Six is normal, his score is 2.2 Withing 5 1/2 months of when he began Lipitor, he had bladder, prostate, sinus, muscle pain in arm, pectoris pain and a 8 months when he first mentions that he has had problems with his memory. His Dr. wrote, "alzheimers". There are no miracles on the horizon. The doctors and pharmacists are not told. The FDA is totally broken. There is no independenet agency tracking drug side effects. This is all about greed. Everyone thinks the situation is fine. The pharmacutical companies, insurance companies, doctors, pharmacists, and nursing homes are quite pleased. Once someone is diagnosed or mis-diagnosed, you are on your own. Care-givers are told to "get on with their lives". (liquidate your assest and put your loved one in a nursing home-you are not capable of caring for them) All forms of media are also receiving huge profits from drug commercials.
Tell your doctor to take Lipitor and let you know how it works!
Both political parties get huge amounts of money from the drug companies and they won't touch this issue. A doctor told me that 80% of drugs that are given are to mask the side effect of a previous drug. Studies show that Lipitor shuts down the production of Co Q10 which results in cell death.
Bk
January 7th
2005
7:33 AM
I have been on Lipitor for 2 days and have had more sleeping problems than I already have. I have heavy hot flashes at night and wake up often. I have no trouble going to sleep, but now waking up is what I do all night long. Lipitor has made it worse. Will this subside? I have read your blogs and hope I don't have the other horrible side effects, I already have the start of arthritis in my knee and back, but it is bearable due to exercise, massage, and choirapractor. Should I get on the Co-Q10? I am 54 years old, in pretty good shape, but my colesterol is at 264 and never had to take this sort of drug before; always adjusted by diet, but not now. Please help.
-- By jguise | Reply | Private Message me
August 1th
2009
3:21 PM
Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment for Hypertension
Hello. I have been dealing with my hypertension now for approximately 1-1/2 years now and those of you that have read my findings through my previous posts know that I'm always looking for natural supplements to stay off of the lisinopril. I stumbled onto a new herb for bp. You absolutely have to try this. I went to see my doctor yesterday and I was having a really stressed out day dealing with a family crisis and my bp was 150/100. I left with a prescription, but I received my order of this stuff in the afternoon and I took the recommended two tablets twice a day and woke up this morning with my bp 108/69. This product gets shipped from India and takes approximately two weeks to arrive by registered air mail, but very much worth the wait. I have the link to order it and to read more about the herbal treatment. If you are interested, feel free to e-mail me and I will send it to you. Take care and good luck.
-- By catwomanbp | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me