November 2th
2008
10:18 PM
I commenced Lipitor 14 years ago at age 47. At that time I was a regular tennis player, walker and generally fit for my age. No problem with Lipitor for the first couple of years until I began to experience hip and low back pain. My GP diagnosed arthritis. Gradually became worse and I started to gather injuries (over stretched ligament in right knee which refused to heal, plantar fasciitis twice) My back pain became far worse, I persevered with tennis believing that exercise would help. I began to "trip" on the carpet and going up stairs (foot drop). I was sent for a CT scan in 2002 which showed spondylolisthesis and root canal stenosisss. On advice from doctor I stopped tennis. Referred to a neurosurgeon who after several months carried out a laminectomy in July 03. Cleared to recommence exercise in December 03 which is when my nightmare commenced. I developed bursitis in one hip, stopped walking until it settled, then excruciating pain in feet, and then bursitis in the other hip and continuing foot pain. I developed rib/back pain, again diagnosed as arthritis even though I felt the pain was muscular. I had one session of aqua aerobics and woke the next morning with plantar fasciitis which continued for 3 months even with doctor, physio and acupuncture treatment. I was then referred to a Spots Medicine Dr who ordered bone scans/x-rays which revealed a stress fracture in my foot. In 2006 I began to notice that my right arm had a tense feeling all the time, I had a loss of dexterity in my right hand which assumed a claw like appearance and my normally neat handwriting became practically illegible. My physio recommended I see a Rheumatologist who said I had "no more arthritis than I would see in any 62 yo", he sent me to a Neurologist who after 5 mins diagnosed Parkinson's Disease. Within 7 weeks of commencing the PD medication I was experiencing Restless Leg Syndrome every night. The neurologist said that my condition had "progressed" and increased the medication - twice. I was then getting RLS DAY AND NIGHT and getting no relief OR SLEEP!!! Finally after 12 months misery my GP suggested that I try coming off Lipitor to see if that was causing my body pain. Within 6 days I felt better, my muscles became less stiff and relax. I went back to my Neurologist who refused to accept my claims, he insists I still have atypical PD (because I do not have tremors). I told him the cure is worse than the complaint and against his advice I weaned myself off PD medication and Lipitor. It was hard going but I NO LONGER SUFFER FROM RLS AND MY DEXTERITY IS SLOWLY IMPROVING. I still have dexterity problems with my right fingers but the tense feeling in my right arm has gone and my "claw" hand is starting to relax My muscles feel bruised all the time. I am still taking my blood pressure tablets and 150mg of Co-Q10 a day. I have been off Lipitor 9 months. It has been a painful journed for the last 8 years and a nightmare for 12 months. My GP has marked my records as "allergy to statins" but says she just doesn't know if I have Parkinson's. I know that I will never take this awful drug again. My cholesterol has skyrocketed but I will have to try and lower it naturally and take the risk. I constantly feel like I have worked too long and hard in the garden, all my muscles are so sore. I really need to know if this damage is permanent and if this drug has caused Parkinson's Disease itself or just PD like symptoms. I guess I will just have to wait and see. I don't think doctor's believe us when we say Lipitor is doing damage to thousands of people. They love it!! When we are aging we are not surprised to get diagnosed with arthritis and this is why we take this medication unwittingly for so long.
-- By kirsty1 | Reply | (4) replies | Private Message me
September 29th
2008
9:37 AM
I recently lost about 25 lbs and decided after about 8 years of 10 mg of lipitor, to go off of it, cold turkey. I consulted both my MD and my pharmacist about whether or not I should wean, and both declined.
I now feel that my sweats, hot flashes are out of control. I am so hot and tired. I feel as though I cannot do the daily functions that I am responsible for.
I truly had NO side effects that I know of ON the drug. I just figured I'd see how I do now that I lost some weight. I wonder if going OFF lipitor is dangerous?
If anyone knows, please reply!
Thank you!
-- By lmarinocole | Reply | (7) replies | Private Message me
September 3th
2008
2:21 PM
I have muscle pain, weakness, and chronic lower back pain. Started statin drug, Simvastatin, on 11/21/07. I take no other drugs. Within two weeks, I could not sit without severe lower back pain. Reported problem to family medical doctor on 1/11/08. M.D. sent me to physical therapy for 8 sessions. No relief from physical therapy so I requested an X-ray on 3/20/08. X-ray shows very mild degeneration at one lower vertebrae. M.D. sent me to an orthopaedics doctor who recommended continued physical therapy. Went to a Chiropractor instead. After six chiropractic sessions with little relief, I made an appointment with an Osteopathic doctor. My M.D. sent me to a rheumatologist who prescribed high dose naproxen for two weeks. The rheumatologist ordered and X-ray of my lower back area. The lower back X-ray produced no negatives. The rheumatologist's next step will be to order and MRI of my lower back area. The D.O. suspects statin induced myopathy and because of hyper reflexes he ordered an MRI of my brain and cervical spine. I am now recommended to a neurologist who specializes in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Am I getting the run around? Only one doctor said I might have statin induced myopathy. The rest will not even mention the statin drug theory. I just pray for ache and pain relief. I have some improvement after four months off of the statin which I believe is quite a strong point that it was the statin drug and not some unknown condition. I don't think arthritis or MS conditions improve. All I know is that I had no health issues before taking the simvastatin. Good luck to everyone who has or is taking a statin drug. BEWARE!!!
-- By pdsdenver | Reply | (4) replies | Private Message me
June 29th
2008
2:33 PM
Just wanted to add another little bit of fun side effects for everyone.
Last month, I woke up with a pain in my right groin. Since no gymnastics were involved, I treated with ice and ignored it. After a few days, pain was worse, so went to the ER (My home away from home) where a bone density scan was ordered. 4 weeks later I find out that I have a stress fracture of the lesser trochanter (part of the femour just below the femoral head - English translation hip fracture).
Turns out that long term therapy on warfarin (ie. over 1 year) also increases your risk of fractures.
And what does one do for this? Nothing. Orthopedic guy said just go as usual and no physio required. Easy for him to say since he does not have groin pain, and associated thigh/Knee/calf pain associated with accommodating my gait. Needless to say, seeing a new orthopedic guy.
I have started iron infusions monthly as my iron and ferritin levels are low (but hemoglobin is fine).
Still wondering which came first - the insanity or the warfarin!
Fiona
-- By fiona | Reply | Private Message me
April 4th
2008
4:34 PM
My chronic pain has really increased since being on Lamictal for 15 months for bipolar. I have had fibromyalgia for years. The bipolar developed after that. Since starting Lamictal, I have developed headaches so severe that I have been off work 3 times in the past 7 months, inc. 5 weeks recently. I've always had headaches, but these new, more severe headaches are non-stop. I have to take 3 time-release 100 mg codeine tablets every day, plus Gravol to keep the headaches bearable. Even then, many days I end up bed-ridden. I've also developed chronic, very bad plantar facsiitis in my left foot since starting Lamictal. I did weeks of intensive physio, plus swimming therapy to no avail. Finally had to get a cortisone injection in my foot.
I hate being like this; I like my job and was used to leading a very active life, despite the fibromyalgia, before I went on Lamictal. I briefly tried Lithium recently, but it had a whole other set of side effects, so I am really frustrated.
Has anybody else had increased or new pain since being on Lamictal?
Rosslyn
-- By rosslyn | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
February 15th
2008
11:12 PM
I'm a 47 year old male and have been on 20Mg Daily Lipitor for about 4 years. Everything was mostly fine until about 1 year ago when I started experiencing severe hip and groin pain. I played hockey regularly up until that time and assumed the problem was a hockey related injury, though never remember any specific incident that may have been directly responsible. I told my doctor I thought it was a sports hernia because the symptoms and suspected cause held a close resemblance. X-Rays, MRI and Bone Scans were all negative. Physical Therapy was a useless waste of money. I was in agony for over a year and barely able to walk some days. Could no longer participate in hockey or other sports. Even coaching youth sports was a challenge due to the pain that greatly limited my mobility. The maddening part of it all was the doctor's had no explanation and just wanted me to continue with Physical Therapy. My wife casually suggested to me that maybe it was the Lipitor as she had heard some recent news on TV related to Lipitor and muscle pain. I told her she was being ridiculous and that's when I started to do some internet research and came across this site. It's all starting to add up. I've been off Lipitor for a week and the pain on my left hip is almost completely gone while the pain on the right side has shown significant improvement. While I am seriously happy that I think I have found the cause of my pain, I am incredibly angry that not a single doctor (I saw a total of 3) even suggested the possibility that the problem might be the Lipitor. They all new I was taking it. I know the drug has had highly positive affect on most people and saves lives but I feel that I've lost a year of my life to it.
-- By mogorisn | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
February 3th
2008
5:16 PM
I have been on Warfarin since Sept 2004 when I had multiple blood clots in both lungs. Since then I have had two more PE's (one with a therapeutic INR) and a blood clot in my left arm (INR was also therapeutic). Genetic tests show nothing.
Since starting Warfarin I have had
- dizziness issues,
- eternal extreme fatigue
- hair loss
- short term memory and cognitive issues,
- joint pain and
- head aches all the time. I think the headaches are the worse since I can't take any NSAID's for them.
I have lost weight and push myself to exercise because it is supposed to make you feel better, right? Well not yet. I keep waiting.
I have not been able to return to work and worry about the long term implications of this.
Many times I have wondered about my sanity and if I was imagining all of this, so finding this forum at least lets me know that there is a possibility that it is not all in my mind.
I have been seeing a psychiatrist to help me work through the almost dying 3 times thing, but it is hard to accept since no one knows why I throw the clots. My INR is not stable in spite of close monitoring of Vit K and other drugs, and my INR must be taken twice a week.
-- By fiona | Reply | (6) replies | Private Message me
November 3th
2007
11:25 AM
I was diagnosed bipolar a year ago and worked my way up to 200 mg of Lamictal a day but recently desided to wean myself off of it as I have found some chinese herbs that will stabilize my moods without the side effects. Since being on Lamictal, I have had horrible pain in my left foot when I walk and it just kept getting worse. The pain got so bad I could not stay at work. I am a welder and have to be on my feet all day but after two hours I would be in so much pain and have to take tylenol 3 with codeine just to make it through an 8 hour shift. I am now down to 25mg of lamictal and soon to be totally off. My foot is now healing and I feel great personally. I am not irritable or moody but am taking Chinese herbs . I noticed when I got myself down to the 100 mg level then went to 75 mg of Lamictal, I got really sick like I had pnuemonia and I had severe chills, bad headache, swollen lymphnodes and very nauseated with no appetite for three days. I lost 5 pounds during this time. I got through it but felt like I was haveing a illegal drug withdrawal big time.
Lamictal was poison to my system. I feel great now. I can now start to run and exercise again. For anyone who has interest, go to Ron Teegaurdens Dragon Herbs web site and find a natural way. you will be much happier.
Lamictal is bad stuff.
anonymous
-- By dragonwitch | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
October 30th
2007
10:22 AM
I am 59. Not overweight and now eat intelligently .Had moderate heart attack in August 2001 and have taken 20mg of ZOCOR every day since.About four years ago I stated getting mild pain in right buttocks muscle and groin but thought this was just "AGE" setting in.Doctor thought it was arthritis in lower back and causing associated musle strain.Went to physio but no progress in pain alleviation, in fact pain and weakness kept getting steadily worse.Pain then started in left shoulder last spring (2007) then about three months ago really severe in left hip and buttocks. Sleep was interrupted every night by pain.Movement from sitting position to standing/walking was like a ninety year old,slow and stumbling.My legs felt nearly numb when walking.Getting out of bed in the morning and putting on my socks became an ordeal of PAIN.
Seen my doctor last week and told him of current status and that I couldn't go on like thisanymore.He said to STOP the Zocor immediately. I can feel the difference already, in one week!!! Not perfect but maybe 50% improvement!!!
He ordered a battery of blood tests including PSA . I just hope something else isn't now really F--ked Up from taking this stuff for six years ?
I will defiately NOT TAKE ZOCOR or any other STATIN again!!!
September 21th
2007
8:46 PM
I started taking yaz about 8 months ago January 2007. I started getting some calf pain in the morning but didn't think anything about it, then when I went on vacation at the end of June both calves were hurting, I ended up going to a doctor on vacation and she gave me some muscle relaxers. By the time I flew back home in July, I ended up in the emergency room and given a strong pain reliever. I ended up going on line and went to my doctor the next day and told her that I thought it was Yaz, she send me for an ultra sound and I had a superficial clot in my left calf. Since I have ended up going to a vein specialist and am wearing support hose. Both legs are still really hurting (including my knees and ankles), I also have had severe eye pain and have gone to the opthalmologist, I have been prescribed glasses but feel now that it is the yaz, I have been off yaz for about 2 months and still having severe muscle pain, does anyone know how long this lasts...
-- By regensurf | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
August 14th
2007
4:37 AM
I began taking 10mg per day of Crestor on 19th May this year. I received the documentation regarding side effects and read it. After two days I had tingling pains in my legs and I was checked for further cardiovascular problems, and cleared. I enquired if Crestor may be the problem but I was assured it was not.
I had a CT scan and then subsequently an MRI of my lower back looking for restricted blood flow but after seeing a neurosurgeon this was ruled out as the cause of the tingling. There was some degeneration of the back but not serious blood flow restriction. At about this time the Crestor dosage was increased to 20mg. At this stage I had back pain but it was not thought to be related. I enquired again if it might be Crestor but was assured it most unlikely.
Pain in my back increased dramatically one night shortly after and was so intense not only could I not sleep, I simply could not get myself to think of anything else despite intense mental energy to try to do so. I was on the verge of calling an ambulance, but walking around and applying heat seemed to relieve it slightly and I lasted until morning. Doctor thought it was a locked facet joint and sent me to a physio. She helped considerably and I assumed this was the problem. However, the next day it returned. Upper body strength was fine but from the middle down was just plain sore. The physio worked on my back again, and suggested I get a back brace which I did and I struggled on with that as a help.
The pain shifted from my back to the top of my hip and I went back to the doctor to check my hip. He assured me the pain was on the top of the hip, not the groin area and was unlikely to be my hip. I began taking over the counter pain killers for the pain which was hitting about 8 out of 10 spasmodically. The physio was mystified and suggested it may be kidney stones, and so I went back to the doctor to check that out. He had already taken a urine sample which had no blood at all. The pain shifted to the hip and upper right leg. By the time I was able to see him, the pain was quite severe and I was sure it was my hip. He was not sure, but prescribed Panadine Forte for the pain and sent me for an Xray of the hips.
I was very distressed about this, as it appeared I would not be able to continue working. The hip Xray showed perfectly normal hips but the pain was even worse, by this stage in the right thigh. In desparation I saw the doctor again and agreed to try and “tough it out for a few days” using pain killers, another round with the physio, and as much rest as possible. The physio was so convinced it was not muscular but rather a possible kidney stone she sent me back to the doctor. While waiting to get to see him I began looking at the side effects of Crestor on the internet and after checking with the doctor I stopped taking it on Aug 1st to see what happened. Within a day I began to improve but I still thought it might be kidney stones (possibly a big one blocking a tube completely and therefore no blood) and my doctor ordered a CT scan of the bladder area which confirmed that both kidneys were working just fine.
Slowly over a week and a half the pain is completely gone, the back is fine, the hips are fine, the groin is fine and I feel so much more like living. I am now absolutely certain it is Crestor that has caused the whole problem. The docotrs have now prescribed Lipitor in it’s place, and I have the tablets but as yet I have not begun taking them. I am a bit fearful of doing so, but I will begin in a few days time. However, if I get any repeat of the muscular problems I have had I will stop immediately.
I decided to document this as I realise this is important feedback concerning a relatively new drug. I don’t know how this is conveyed to a national data base, but it seems to me this is a serious side effect that has very nasty consequences. Was it that my kidneys were objecting violently to the drug? I don’t know. But it caused me great distress and this is surely a concern.
November 14th
2006
5:23 AM
I've been on Yasmin for nearly 4 years and decided to stop taking this pill because like most of you I felt REALLY bad!! I had symptoms like cramps in my feet and legs, regular blackouts (I was taken to ER everytime), dizziness, shortness of breath, migraines, ear congestion, complete lack of energy and worst of all anxiety. I've also developed arthritis in my right shoulder for which I went to see a physio and thank god it is getting better.
I saw so many doctors and none of them could find anything wrong with me and none of them had the wonderful feeling that this may have been caused by Yasmin. When I told them I wanted to stop the pill, they told me there was no reason why and that I should carry on. So that was my decision to stop it and a very good one!! The doctors are wrong !
I am off Yasmin now since 1st of July 06 and it's only now that I start to feel better! I've been through so many weird symptoms: pains and swelling in both of my calves, cramps in my legs (streching helps!), nausea, heavy sweating during the night, my ears feel like they are blocked but no more of the other symptoms (blackouts have not come back)and my periods have come regularly but are very short (3 days).... My body is recovering and my calves are getting better. I also found out that I start to get cellulitis on my legs (what a nightmare), I was told by a friend that' s because of the pill!!
I am now full of energy, the anxiety has gone (I can face the world now), and I am determined NOT TO GO BACK on any C pills anymore.
I am 38 years old and have been on different pills since the age of 19, I would like to know if anybody of my age (or anybody) experienced symptoms like mine after they stopped Yasmin and how long it takes for them to disappear....
August 8th
2003
5:11 PM
9/8/03 On the advice of my physio, I have been taking one or two Voltaren Rapid 25 tabs each day - one after dinner at night. I have noticed I have had an extremely dry throat with difficulty swallowing during the day, but at night, I wake about 3 am with breathing and swallowing probs. When I swallow, my throat seems to hold the swallow for a second before it releases - very similar to symptoms I had once before with prawn allergy.. I then get up and take an allergy tablet and a large glass of water. The symptoms subside over the next several hours but on waking, I have a very thick and phlemgy throat. I will discontinue taking them today and see if the symptoms abate. Laurel Beale, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
-- By laurel487 | Reply | Private Message me
December 22th
2002
9:30 AM
Been on Lescol for 3 years, under constant monitoring. Suddenly knee joint pain. After a break and physio, my knee was much better. Then suddenly, very severe muscle pain from buttocks right down to calves. MD stopped Lescol. Awaiting LFT and other tests. What's happening?
-- By favaat431 | Reply | Private Message me
Lipitor (3) Lamictal (2) Yasmin (2) Warfarin Sodium (2) NuvaRing (1) Voltaren (1) Crestor (1) Simvastatin (1) Zocor (1) Lescol (1)
January 30th
2009
2:45 AM
The nuvaring should not be legal. It made me insane and violent and gave me racing thoughts. I could never sleep. I was mean to people. It made me itch like hail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S.- Here is a comment from my boyfriend who got very upset because of my side effects on the NR:
"She went crazy one night and threw something across the room for no reason, because she said something to me that made me furious. She was completely irrational and i though she was being possessed by Satan. Than, we found out it was THE NUVARING ALL ALONG!"
-- By junebugissexy | Reply | (5) replies | Private Message me