Liptor symptoms and conditions

I was on Vytorin for about 3 years. Originally I was prescribed 40 mg and when my ldl didnt go down enough for the doctor. I was prescribed 80 mg a day about a year and a half ago. A bit of history....I had a heart attack at 33 years of age and at that time was given angioplasty. I am now 44 years old and have not had another attack. I have been having muscle pain for over year, although it feels more like my syatic sp? nerves in my lower back. My knees are so bad that I have been having to wear knee braces periodically and can no longer kneel without falling over in extreme pain. My muscles in my thighs have been deteriorating even though I have been working out with a personal trainer for over a year and my calves were getting huge to compensate. I also went to an eye dr. as I was having trouble reading and driving at night due to blurry vision. They said that I still had 20/20 vision and to start using very light reading glasses when reading and that should help. The last straw was when I was on vacation and had a terrible bout of paranoia. It was so bad that I can't even tell anyone what it was about. Another major effect that I have had over the years from any statin is the fact that my sexual urges are basically non existent.

Now for the good news!!!! In late April, after returning from my vacation, I decided that I wanted to see if the Vytorin/Simvastatin was giving me a majority of these symptoms and decided to quit cold turkey. Well 2 months later I can say that I feel about 90% better. I haven't had to use the reading glasses within 48 hours of stopping (I'm not even sure where they're at now). Within a week I noticed my libido returning and the paranoia completely gone. Within the last 2 weeks I have noticed my thigh muscles coming back and the muscles around my knees getting stronger. I am so thankful that I am returning back to normal!!

I will never, ever take another Statin again!!!!

I wrote the message below on March 9th, 2008, but I think it might be useful if I repeat it.

Please educate yourself.

Are you really sure that it`s high cholesterol that is causing heart disease?

All statins have similar side effects!!
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It`s very disturbing to read all these stories. I really feel for you.

My experience comes from seeing what happened to people close to me.

They all took statins.

I started to look for information on statins, and other medications in 2004 and it continues to this day although two of my relatives are dead.

I have nothing to do with the health or pharmaceutical industry.

I saw the suffering and it made me very angry.

I am an ordinary lady in her sixties who live in Sweden.

The situation is almost the same here as in the U.S.

There is very little discussion about risks/benefits with this kind of medicatications - or others.

I think it`s a good idea to turn to the Internet and books to get other views about the cholesterol issue.

Is it really true that it`s the cholesterol that is causing heart disease?

Are you sure?

Please visit:

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Also search articles etc on "Stopped our statins" and on the names of the different authors below.

Also read:

The Cholesterol Myths (Uffe Ravnskov)

The Great Cholesterol Con (Antony Colpo)

Book with the same title (Malcolm Kendrick)

Overdosed America (John Abramson)

The Truth about the Drug Companies (Marcia Agnell)

Malignant Medical Myths (Joel M. Kauffman)

There are many more.

Please look on the Internet for more information about each book.

It´s good to have some other information than the one given by doctors because most of them have been "educated" by the pharmaceutical companies themselves - and why should they talk about risks, side effects etc. They are interested in profits.

Finally - here are some side effects that I have seen:

pains in legs, hands, elbows, shoulders, knees, hips, cracking noise in ribs, muscle weakness, loss of hair, head ache, burning, tingling sensations in hands and feet, numbness, difficulties to swallow, loss of taste, ringing noise in ears, cramps, insomnia, irritation, depression, difficulty with short-term memory and then advancing into more serious problems.

These side effects - for 3 different people - all over 65 - did not come at once.

All of them had taken statins for years (Zocor)

It doesn´t matter which product -all statins have similar side effects.

Search for "Stopped our statins" on Google. It´s a very informative site and under "print articles" there are som articles that you can take along to your doctor for discussion.

I particularly like the one from Weston Price Foundation
and explains the different statin studies and side effects. .

My relatives also had some other medications which makes it even easier for doctors (and patients) to say that it`s just old age.

I am happy for those who get problems right away because then there maybe a chance for the patient and the doctor to see that there is a connection.

You really have to look out for yourself and the people around you!

Good Luck.

I too am taking Lipitor and have been for a couple of years now.
On Nov.19th I was given the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia.
Now I read the side effects and they are they same!

I am a 34 year old female who was accidentally given Lipitor by my pharmacist instead of my regular Rx. I unknowingly took Lipitor for almost a month and had terrible side effects. I experienced dizziness, nausea, lower back pain, forgetfulness, clumsiness, hot flashes, and night sweats. Thought I was prematurely going through menopause. All I can say is Lipitor is a horrible drug and I have no idea what long term effects it will have on my health since I did not have high cholesterol. I stopped taking Lipitor 4 days ago when I realized I was taking the wrong drug. I'm still having some dizziness and bad lower back pain.

38y.o F taking toprol 100mg once a day for hypertension x 15mths History of Hypothyroidism which is controlled w/ synthroid and closley monitored w/ lab work.
Experience weight gain, unable to lose weight w/ diet and exercise including w/ a nutrionist and personal trainer. Hairloss, lack of libido, chronic joint pain, swelling in hands and ankles/feet, back pain and/or muscle aches, lack of interest in everything, no energy. Major swelling after high sodium intake. Ear drainage, tingling of extremities especially in feet and fingers, visual disturbances. Blood Pressure is okay.
Has anyone experienced an improvement since they've stopped using toprol?

72 year old male,been on 10mg lipitor over 5 years,last month developed pain in both shoulders that spread down my armsalmost to my elbows,then pain started traveling from shoulders across the top of my back to the top of my spine.started insomnia over a year ago ,but never connected it to lipitor.Have stopped taking liptor last week ,the pain has lessened slightly,will stay off lipitor for a month to evaluate any improvement.
Lou3161

After by-pass heart surgery in 2002, my cardilogist put me on 40mg of zocor.
I was in good health with no physical limitations. I had no heart damage. The restriction of heart arteries were found due to my stress test that was performed each year as a part of my annual Physical. After surgery I was on zocor for three years, during that time I experienced a little tiredness, little weakness, a little muscle aches. some tingling in my right arm and shoulder. I went to my heart doctor Jan. 2006 and he changed me to vytorin (10mg zetia and 40mg zocor). about 6 months all of the about symptoms got worse.
By Jan. 2007, my muscles became so stiff, I could not walk, had balance problems, severe muscle aches and cramps, numbness and tingling in both arms and hands, also stifness and pain in my hands, stiffness and pain in both feet, stifness and pain in my back and weird nerve sensations over my entire body. During Jan. and Feb 2007, I was seen by my family doctor, a neurologist, and a muscle doctor. Thanks to the internet, I found info on zocor and zetia, which is the drug vytorin. Warnings described the same symptoms I am experiencing. I stopped vytorin, I am not taking any statins drugs now. My doctor order a blood test to check for muscle damage, It indicated severe damage, a Creatine level of 770. This level should not be over 200. After being off the drugs for 30 days the creatine level dropped to 645. My condition has improved by 25%. I am walking a little better, but I still having muscle problems, there is improvement. I think there will be a very long recovery. There seems to be some evidence that these Statins affect people of age much more than the young. I am 70 years old. PLEASE PEOPLE, IF YOU ARE TAKING STATINS DRUGS, STOPPED NOW! SLOVE YOUR CHOLESTROL PROBLEMS BY OTHER MEANS. Since I stopped my cholestrol has gone from 157 to 280, but I am not going back taking these drugs. I am trying the natural way now. I have read post after post on many web-sites of people with the same symptoms that were using these drugs. The drug companies and the FDA are responsible for the the degradation of people's health taking these statin drugs.

Male age 50. Used Lipitor 20mg for 10 months, having previuosly taken Lescol and Zetia. I am suffering very serious side effects including: slurred speach, loss of muscle mass and strength in right arm and hand, sore right foot, muscle tremors, severe cramps in legs and abdomen. I stopped Liptor 6 weeks ago. Cramps have stopped but little improvement in other conditions.

My Mum took liptor for 2 weeks it almost killed her. Her muscles degenerated and her liver almost gave up. 2 years afterwards she is still suffering.

She has found relief by taking each day a teaspoon of a good quality powdered form of MSM, also powdered Noni.

She has also done a cleanse using 3 teaspoons of powder activated charcoal for 5 days. She also did a colon cleanse by taking one tablespoon for seven days of calcium bentonite clay and also pascalite bentonite clay.

She also cleanse her liver by drinking the juice of one organic lemon each morning one hour before food for seven days.

She drinks Naked\Odwalla carrot juice to help cleanse the blood and Naked\Odwalla Green Machine\Green Superfood, helps with pain and gives energy.

She also uses white willow and ashgawandha for pain and swelling.

I have been using Lipitor (only 10mg) since Jan 06 and have started to feel pins and needles all over my body. My face, hands, legs and feet. My right legs goes weak and both my feet are numb. As I type right now my hands are numb. I asume it's the lipitor but worry it's something more serious. My GP said it's possibly side effects from Lipitor but suggested the benefits out weigh the side effects. However he suggested an alternative prescription to be taken immediately. He also stated that if I came off the Liptor now and waited awhile before taking the new drug it would be three months before it kicked in so he wants me to start the new drug immediately. I have stopped taking Lipitor since Thurs last 18th May and will not take the alternative until I get the results of blood tests. I'm worried that because I'm on a small dose and it's only 4 1/2 months since I started taking the Lipitor that it may not be side effects at all. Any positive comments would be appreciated.

I have inherited high cholesterol and have been on Lipitor for over a year,first 10,then 20 now 40 mg. For the past year I have gone from exercising 4 to 5x's a week to feeling like Im 80 (Im 43) chronic shoulder pain,neck pain,hip pain and leg pain. I have been to pt,neurologist,orthapedic dr. and even had an mri. No diagnosis. Today my chiropracter asked what meds I was on and was really concerned that my problem could be the liptor. Has anyone had success with flaxseed oil and omega 3 for lowering cholesterol?? I was reluctant to take this drug to begin with but with my family history of heart disease, I went along with it.

After being on liptor for about six weeks I began to feel very depressed and unmotivated and weepy. I had pain in my shoulder and back and left arm and forearm and couldn't sleep at night. I had tingling in both hands. All in all I was miserable. My doctor has since taken me off-only a couple of days off-but already all of the above symptoms have disappeared. I am trying to control my high cholestrol with diet and exercise only. It was only slightly high!

I began taking Liptor on March 12, 2005, which is the day I had my heart attack. I have taken myself off of it on Nov. 3, 2005. Even during my cardiac rehab I had pain down my right leg and right foot. The nurse said is was from the surgery of going into the groin and putting two stents in my heart. However, on two occassions I've had chest pain and had to be hospitalized and the leg and foot was still bothering me. Now both my feet hurt very badly that I find it difficult to even walk around in a grocery store. I've went to a new cardiologist they did blood work and my LDL was 107 and my HDL was 47, making my total choleserol of 195. At one time, the total cholesterol guideline was s up with that?

The cardiologists need to listen to their patients and not worry about how much money they are going to make from the drug companies for prescribing all these drugs. Yes, they are fine in the beginning, but down the road all they are bad for you. I am going to find a better way to reduce my cholesterol naturally.

I started taking Liptor, maybe 2-3 months ago. I too have experienced the muscle problem in my knee and elbow. I also have the tired feeling. What I am wondering about is, I have been having a aching feeling in stomach. Has anyone else had this type of a symptom' while they were taking Liptor. I just went to see my doctor the other day; and he took me off of Liptor. I have decided, just to go to Weight Watchers; and reduce my cholesterol natrually. You figure medicnes are chemicals. For every chemical there is a reaction. If I had know the side effects of this drug, I never would have taken it. I glad to have this web sight. I feels good to be able to ask these questions. MMcG

I initially started taking Lipitor from my doctors prescription about two and a half years ago, after I was diagnosed with type two Diabetes. (as well as taking blood pressure medicine and a diabetes pill twice a day) I didn't really notice any side effects for a about a year and a half,(I now realize that I was starting to have them, but didn't know they were attributable to lipitor)until about 8 months ago when my doctor increased my liptor from 20mgs to 40mgs. She did this because the cholesterol limit had been lowered.

I immediately started to get more tired and fatigued. Lots of muscle aches and lethargy. I noticed more tingling (especially at night or upon waking)in my right arm and especially my fingers on both hands. As well as feeling of having arthritis. I previously had some tingling and shoulder pain in the past, but I had always attributed this to the fact that I am a cameraman and carry cameras on that shoulder. (I had memtioned some of my pains to my doctor 8 months ago and she sent me to get an x-ray for my neck and shoulder which ended up negative.) At this same visit 8 months ago, my doctor increased my Lipitor dosage and then I really had more noticeable problems with my right neck, arm, elbow and fingers. I could not sleep on my left side because my whole neck would tingle, and I was having severe pains in my right elbow like tennis elbow, I also developed a trigger finger (kind of a bad arthritis feeling)where I can barely close my right middle index finger. It hurts and throbs most of the time, and I can't close it normally without pain. And when I try to open it up, it kind of pops open like the knuckle is stuck...I am going to get it x-rayed. It was also very hard to concentrate, and my memory was getting worse.

I recently went to see my doctor about all this fatigue and muscle aches. I asked her if my symptoms could be from the lipitor (because she once said to tell her if I develop any bruises or muscle aches) and she said they could and that some people won't take statin drugs because of the side effects and that people do a lot or research on the internet. Anyway, she was going to schedule a blood test for muscle enzymes that would possibly show muscle weakness from my prescriptions, but she looked into my mouth and said Aha! You have strep throat! And she totally blamed all my symptoms to strep throat and prescribed antibiotics. She even said that my finger could be a by-product of the strep throat. I never even had a sore throat! I took the antibiots for the 3 days and then I did my internet research and found this site and I couldn't believe my eyes that so many people were having the same type of symptoms and problems from taking Lipitor.

Well here I am 3 or so weeks later and I have stopped taking Lipitor! I have a ton more energy and am not tired all the time. I can also concentrate better and I also noticed my memory and attentiveness has gotten better since I stopped taking Lipitor on August 7th. I still have my trigger finger though, it hasn't gotten any better. But most of my muscle aches have gone away. I am going in soon to my doctor again and show her all this information from the web site.

I will probably try some of the natural remedies that I have read about on the website to lower my cholesterol and also mention these to my doctor.

If you guys think you had a rough time with Lipitor read this.

I sufferered a heat attack at the age of 45 without knowing I had high Cholesterol. They put me on 80mg of Lipitor for about 8 years. About 2 years ago I was suffering so much body pain they tested me for Rhumatoid and although the tests were negitive off they sent me to the Rhumatoid Doctor who said I had classic Rhumatoid. They put me on Prednazone and Methotrexate which is about the worst drugs of all.

After 2 years my live function fails so they reduce my metho and increase the pred BUT KEEP ME ON LIPITOR ???????

I took myself off Lipitor and within 4 weeks my Liver tests go back to normal BUT THEY WANT ME TO STAY ON LIPITOR ????

I said NO WAY so I started to also reduce the Pred and the Metho. I'm now down to 1 mg of pred and 5mg of Metho and NO LIPTOR.

Results so far are as follows:

Body pains have continued to reduce
Skin has started to clear up
Sleep is better
Mental upsets have reduced to almost nothing
plus plus plus

Now I don't think I have Rhumatoid and if I'm correct then there needs to be a full enquiry into the side effects if Lipitor and the doctors who diagnosed me. If I have Rhumatoide then time will tell.

Good luck everyone
Bob

I sometimes experience lightheadedness, coughing, constipation, mild body aches (chest area), and have this mild stabbing pain in my lower right leg. It's not really painful, just annoying. I just noticed it after taking these medications. However, I'm also taking Metaprolol and Liptor. So, it could be those meds as well.

I'm gonna have a talk with my doctor and discuss more natural alternatives. If you're deciding on going the natural route too I know a lot of doctors will not support it, what a surprise huh? I think doctors hate to admit there could be new and better ways to treat a problem. It like offensive to them because of what they learned in school for years.

After taking liptor for six weeks my blood test showed Kidney disfunction. The doctor prescribed a twenty four hour urine test. Could this disfunction, which I never had before be attributed to first use of Liptor?

I have been on lipitor for five weeks and I've been trying to figure out during this time why I feel achey,sore mucles,stiffness in my joints(feet and hands especially)back ache, just a general overall achey condition. I've had every blood test run to see if I have any signs of arthritis and I don't. People including doctors have told me I probably have Fibromyalgia, so I've been looking for how to treat that, then I read all the side effects of liptor. I am stopping the lipitor today and hope this pain will all go away. I've been extremely healthy all my life (57)until this. STOP TAKING

Hi there:

I came down with an upper respiratory infection which caused me to have a tight feeling in my arms and legs for a couple of weeks. About two weeks later I started Lipitor, only 10mg. It seems to have made the weakness in my legs and arms worse. In addition, my upper legs and arms are sometimes weak. I can barely walk for more than an hour or two a day at times/ This happens especially after exercise. Exercise makes me feel good but I pay for it after. I went off Lipitor for a week and the fatigue went away. But now I'm back on it and those symptoms are worse again. My doc thinks that the symptoms are not from Liptor but fatigue from the URI. However, I am thinking the Lipitor made the muscle fatigue worse.

leg twitches when at rest. I am liptor 10 for four months. There are a sudden onset (1 week). I dont know for sure what is wrong. Anyone with similar symptoms, I would be really interested in hearing from you.

Thanks

the drug-zocor and lipitor--if u are experiencing any muscle pain-weakness-it is a side effect and your doctor will take u off of it,(u can lose all your muscles-very seruois side effect,-if u feel like your moving in slow motion-with your bodyfeeling heavy that is side effect of liptor also your dr will take u off of it,,)try some garlic pills to get the cholestrol down--taking a diet pill will bring cholest,,down too=and alot of walking,,kswiss

I have taken all the medication for high cholesterol- the side effects are the same as everyone that I know have had- muscle pain- depression. anxiety, headaches etc etc. even went to see a foot specialist becasue i could hardly walk- after spending $265 for special inserts for my shoes and almost going crazy with the pain now tranferred to my hips , i decided that i was going to stop the cholesterol medications- it has been 2 weeks and i already feel good-
I am so mad at the so called specialists- not one of these doctors even suggeted that could have ben the zocor or liptor . what aprice to pay for lowering your cholesterol. I will continue to investigate and see if there are any other options besides suffering with all those side effects.