Side effects of lipitor symptoms and conditions

I have ALWAYS had a high cholesterol count and over the years it has just went higher and higher. When I was 51 my Dr. put me on statins to lower my 350 count. Zocor came first....after two days it felt like someone was stabbing me in the ribs with an ice pick. Called Dr and got lipitor instead. Felt nothing while watching my count drop down to 190. Then after about a years worth of poisoning I started getting severe pains in the bottom of my feet. Hurt like crazy and I could just barely get up in the mornings. I would have to do foot rotations, while still laying in bed, in order to loosen up my feet so I could walk. My prescribing Dr. thought I stained the tendon and sent me to physical therapy (I am very active by the way, working out 5 times a week, play tennis, b-ball on a regular basis as well). PT did nothing and probably made it worse. Next stop Orthopedics where I was made shoe inserts and still no relief. Also, getting very lethargic and no desire to do anything. THEN I saw on the web a website describing side effects of lipitor!! DAG!!! Lifesaver!!! I quit taking the crap and in a couple of months all of the symptoms have gone away! Count is back up but NO MORE PAIN OR LAZY BONES!!! I went back and told every single dr. about lipitor and reminded them to take it away fm patients experiencing muscle pain.

I have been on Lipitor 10 mg for three months now. I also have a heart valve problem. So when I started to have shortness of breadth and palpitation so badly, my GP thought it must be from my heart and sent me to see a cardiologist. However, my cardiologist did not think the problem has anything to do with the heart and suggested I have a lung test. However, I started researching on the side effects of Lipitor and I can truly say that it might be the cause. I have stopped taking the drug for two days and I am feeling much better although I still feel a little short of breadth. My neck was so sore and I was always feeling so tired and my cough never fully gone away after my chect infection during the times I was on Lipitor. I think the GP should know more about this drug before asking the patient to take it. What is the use of lowering the cholesterol when I felt half alive while taking the drug? It is poison and do greater damage than good!

OMG...I am a 56 yr old female, a Type 2 Diabetic who also has a congenital aortic valve defect (which was only diagnosed app 2 yrs ago). I was placed on Lipitor app 1 yr ago "prophylactically" to "delay the need for the (inevitable) valve replacement surgery", in spite of NEVER having a problem with my cholesterol levels. I have had an ongoing problem with severe swelling of my feet and legs, which is MOST LIKELY a side effect of the Actos I take, along with Metformin, for the diabetes. I have also been having 'pins and needles' and muscle contractions in my shoulders and feet, and am unable to sleep on either hip because of the pain for about a year now. (Which 'could be diabetic neuropathy' also). Since I am also admittedly extremely overweight, any symptoms I have always get blamed on the weight issue. For the past few months, I have been getting really bad foot and calf cramps and contractions,esp when at rest; at times they wake me from sleep. The last few days, though, these cramps have 'graduated' to the point that I am SCREAMING and crying in pain when they occur, and NOTHING seems to help. I can still feel the ache in my calves and hip from 2 days ago. I have always had a pretty good pain threshold, but this pain is frightening....I found this site when looking up side effects of Lipitor, and read these stories in amazement. I am an R.N., & had never heard that the statin drugs could cause muscle problems. There is no doubt in my mind now. I am informing my Dr. tomorrow that I am finished taking Lipitor or anything like it. Since my cholesterol levels are "ridiculously low" in my doctor(s) own words, I will take my chances. I'd rather have the heart valve replacement a little sooner than become debilitated from taking meds to delay it. I only hope I am stopping it in time for me, & that there is no residual damage. Good luck to all!

I was extremely healthy all my life. After taking Lipitor for two months I started having an inexplicable pain in my lower back muscles. I didn't pay much attention but a month later the pain extended to my legs making difficult for me to walk.

Also I have a stiff neck and the pain extends to my arms and back.
My doctor thinks I have Fibromyalgia and Arthritis but I think I am suffering the side effects of Lipitor.
I stopped taking Lipitor a month ago and the pain is still preventing me to move.

Is it ever going to go away?

Pfizer and the rest of the pharmaceutical companies rule this country, and it seems to me, control our doctors as well. I am a young woman, athletic, a health-nut, my eating habits have always been excellent; HOWEVER, my body naturally produces an "excess" amount of cholesterol. My total cholesterol ranges from 215 to 250. It tends to fluctuate. High cholesterol is the only “contributing factor” I have of the multitude of abominable factors (the main one being STRESS). From what I have read, it seems to me that the "acceptable" total number, according to the AMA, has been gradually lowered over the years. In the 1990s it was acceptable to have a total number no higher than 250. Now, the number needs to be below 200. I smell a rat. This rat is the drug companies aiming to get as many healthy, young people on these statin drugs. It is actually quite sinister, in my opinion.

Before I became aware of this nonsense, I too, was prescribed Lipitor. I took Lipitor for about 4 years - 20 mg. During my fourth year I experienced muscle spasms, and on one occasion experienced thigh numbness in a very small narrow area that lasted for 24 hours. I told my doctor about this and he gave me a grocery list of the possible causes as to why this was happening, of course, not one of the reasons he rattled off was Lipitor. I took myself off of the drug and changed doctors. I now go to a holistic/Integrative medicine specialist (you know, the ones that are very knowledgeable about the natural approach, but lack the support of health insurance companies. For some reason we still live in era of 1692 as the health insurance companies are fearful of these so-called “voodoo/witch” doctors; therefore, refuse to carry them). My new doctor has been most helpful, and has alleviated much stress for me by relaying the TRUE realities of cholesterol that this society has built up into such a monster. I am now working on lowering my cholesterol naturally by NOT changing my eating habits as though they were poor to begin with, but adding foods that combat cholesterol. My spasms have subsided, but I do get an occasional twitch here and there. I am hoping it will go away altogether over time.

I would suggest that you all look into alternative medicine. Mainstream doctors are too busy, too entrenched in conventional medicine that is dictated by drug companies who are getting filthy rich at the expense of our health!

The reason is when you stop taking the Lipitor, and your symptoms don't go away is this: Lipitor cause hearing loss, which is what causes the Tinnitus! I have been having severe tinnitus for months now, seen all kinds of Dr.s who didn't have a clue. And I finally went to the House Ear Clinic, and they told me what it was, but they didn't know how I got it. I got Tinnitus a few months after my Dr. upped my dose. It's taken me this long to put the puzzle together. The Physician's Desk Reference lists hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness as side effects of Lipitor. I am appalled that not one Dr. asked me what kind of medication I was taking!

I have been on lipitor 10mg for about 6 mths (after reacting to lipex with severe hip pain and going off that). Am now experiencing abdominal pain, severe headaches, excruciating neck pain and to top it off a droopy eyelid and loss of extreme peripheral vision after a bout of flashing auras and fluid like waves in the outer edge of my eye. After tests my retina is not detaching so what is the cause then. My cholesterol is high when not on lipitor and am wanting to lower it without drugs. I could do with losing 10kg weight but will that bring down the cholesterol. I walk every morning for 30-40 mins. Diet is healthy, a few junk things each week but not overly so.

I'm a 38 y/o woman. For 7 yrs I knew my cholesterol has been high. I refused to take cholesterol medication and decided to diet and exercise but that didn't work. I've had 2 children in the past 3 yrs. In May of this year I started having chest pains and palpitations. I had blood tests done. I was given Inderal and also prescribed Zocor 20mg for my cholesterol. It was 243 with and LDL of 178. I took Zocor for a week. I felt so awful. I was weak, I lost my appetite. I was constantly tired. I couldn't even carry my 10 month old son, yet alone care for him. I informed my physician and she changed it to Lipitor 20mg. I thought I was doing fine. I checked my levels again after a month. My cholesterol was 113 and LDL 58. I trusted the doctor knew what she was doing. At the same time I also was taking Omega 3's. I asked my doc to lower the dosage to 10mg. From the time I was taking Zocor and the start of Lipitor. I was feeling tingling and numbness in my arms, hands, fingers, toes, feet and legs. I also was having muscle pain. I asked my doctor about that. She mentioned because of my heart palpitations, it could be symptoms of anxiety and panic. I had feeling of pins and needles throughout my body, not knowing when it would occur. I had muscle pain in my arms and legs and neck pain. I went online to see the side effects of Lipitor and came across this website. I decided to do an experiment. I stopped taking Lipitor 9 days ago. I was on statins for almost 4 months. I don't have the feeling of tingling and numbness, but I still have pins and needles and muscle pain. I have to say, I feel so much better. I hope to get better. I 'd really like to know, how long does the medication stay in your system? What are the effects of getting off it so suddenly. I'd love to feel myself again.

I have been taking 10 mg.lipitor for 3 years or more....I seem to loose track of time because my memory is so bad....I ache and hurt all the time...I have severe back pain...Sometimes my back hurts so bad I cannot do any of my housework....All of my muscles just ache and hurt...I am 47 and I am steadily going downhill with my health....I feel nauseas for no reason...I have headaches...I told my doctor all of these symptoms and she has run all kinds of tests...They all come back normal...She has no idea why I have no energy and why I feel the way I do....She set me up for a stress test because I was complaining with chest pains...That test was normal...She set me up a sleep study...I am now sleeping with a cpap machine with the pressure set at 11.4...After going through all of these tests, I still feel like crap...I was sure after the sleep study things were going to get better...Then I started having such bad pains in the bottom of my feet...I could just be laying in bed and my feet would be throbbing with pain....and when I would try to get out of bed I could hardly walk...After about 5 or 10 minutes I could walk okay but the pain was still there....This is when I started looking around on the internet to see if I could find out what my problem was...I found this site and begin reading all of the side effects of lipitor...I knew right away that this was most likely my problem...I stopped taking lipitor 3 days ago....The only difference I can tell so far is that the pain in my feet is not as bad...I can hardly wait for the next morning because I am so anxious to see how I am going to feel...I am just wondering how long will it take for me to get back to my old self....oh I forgot about my stomach pain...The bottom of stomach hurts so bad at times...I told my doctor and she examined me and ran more tests but found nothing....My doctor does not know I have stopped taking lipitor...I have read that taking vitamin c or fish oil will help with lowering cholesterol..Does anyone know if this really works???

I have been reading about the side effects of lipitor for several days now and am scared silly! I have been taking it for nearly 5 years now. My doc warned me about the muscle weakness/pain when I began taking it, but I didn't have any problems and it definitely provided good results for my cholesterol level. During the past several months though, I've begun to have severe symptoms. Actually, looking back, I realize I've had some of these symptoms for awhile but they were so easily attributable to other causes that I didn't pay close enough attention. I am weak to the point of not being able to walk a city block without being tired; my breathing is so labored sometimes just moving around my apartment is a problem. My knees and lower legs are painful, especially after walking. I get frequent, painful spasms in my lower arms and wrists. My speech has become slurred (I sound drunk) and my voice very hoarse - both so much so that people have trouble understanding me. I have trouble concentrating, am forgetful and am often dizzy and light-headed. I take medication for GERD, hypothyroidism, depression and asthma. But in case you think these symptoms could be from one of those (as I did!), I can assure you that I have had multiple tests which determined my thyroid levels are good, my BP is excellent, I have no signs of cardiac disease or diabetes, no sign of any type of stroke, no signs of any type of cancer or blood disease, no sign of pulmonary problems (other than asthma). I stopped taking Lipitor four days ago after consulting my doc. But I got to tell you, I am scared to death that I've been on this drug so long these symptoms won't go away. Any advice or suggestions would be most welcome.

I have posted below my side effects of Lipitor. I was wondering if anyone has tried homeopathic or any other alternative drugs instead of Lipitor

I have read many letters concerning side effects of Lipitor as I have been taking this medication for some years. I too am suffering many symptoms such as tingling in arms and legs, severe headaches, nausea,extreme lethargy and severe depression. I would like to ask if you other sufferers experience these symptoms continually or transiently. As in my case I do, very occasionally have a reasonable day with the pains slightly more bearable. 10 months ago I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease but I am now having serious doubts about this.

buddysgirl: What a relief to read all I finished reading. Both my husband have high heredity cholesterol, and presently have high strees increasing those numbers.

I went on line as I began having two things I was concerned with, besides everything I found listed in responses to this site: spontaneous tissue tears, and small pin head size blood blisters. I found both to be part of the "rare" side effects of Lipitor. If either of these bleed, it was difficult to get the bleeding stopped. At times my clothing was enough to break the small "blood blisters", and they were everywhere, except my face.

Thank you so much to everyone who wrote in. I am not sure how the doctor will react. I know my numbers are too high, but I am not interested in being killed by medication to lower them! I have already had one "go around" with my doctor, but I'd rather go when it comes my times that be destroyed.

I am a 34 year old male and was on Lipitor for 3 weeks. I had muscle cramps in my shins and the bottom of my feet. I was light headed, dizzy and suffered from nausea. I didn't have any energy or sex drive. I didn't attribute it to the Lipitor right away. I thought I had MS, ALS, muscular dystrophy, etc. I told my doctor about the symptoms and he told me to stop taking the Lipitor. I've been off of the Lipitor for almost two weeks now and the nausea and dizziness are gone. My energy is getting better each day, but I'm still not 100%. The muscles in the bottom of my feet and shins are also getting better but still not 100%. I take a bath every night just to get relief from the symptoms. My doctor has since told me to take CoQ10 to help battle the side effects of Lipitor. He doesn't know how long these side effects will last. Does anyone know how long I can expect these side effects to last? Are they permanent?

I will praise Lipitor for one thing - The side effects caused by it have scared me in to changing my diet and exercise regimen (when I return to being healthy) so I never have to take a drug of this type again.

As I write this, I'm on my fourth day taking Levaquin 500 mg. prescribed by my doctor for severe nasal congestion, sore throat, difficult cough. I have bouts like this on a yearly basis that start around Thanksgiving till late spring. I do remember taking Levaquin before though didn't notice anything bad (yet). As I read through different messages, I now come to realize that maybe I should go back and check the time I took Levaquin because I've been suffering from so much muscle aches and pains for a quite a very long time now. Since I started taking Lipitor 3 years ago, I'm inclined to think my pains were due to side effects of Lipitor. That's just another issue.

As of yesterday afternoon, on the third day of taking Levaquin, I was informed by my pharmacist that I OVERDOSED since Friday and Saturday by 2000 mg. I was prescribed 500 mg. one tablet per day. Whoever typed "Take one tablet every day by mouth after meals" in the pharmacy must have too many "ssss" in their pockets. "After a meal or after meals" are definitely not the same, don't you all agree? I didn't just read the label and followed instructions as I understood it. The pharmacist confirmed what I read back to him as typed. I thought pharmacists know how a certain drug should be taken. But that's another story to tell. I'm too concerned learning about the bad effects of Levaquin for me to find time and question a pharmacist integrity.

I called my doctor first thing today and told them of this oversight (should it be mine or the pharmacist?). I was told to continue with the medication and call them how I'd feel in a couple of days. So I took just one tablet today. That was easy.

Now after reading all these different bad things happening to people taking Levaquin, I am thinking of the future. Should I be worried about the bad side effects of Levaquin taken exactly as prescribed? What about those 2 days of overdose? I guess, I have to find that out myself in due time as I will not stop from finding out more about this drug.

I don't think I will continue taking this drug tomorrow. I don't know what will happen but I'm sure my doctor will find a way to fix my upper respiratory problems. He must have heard about other patients complaining about Levaquin. I will make sure he will take my opinion seriously.

To all of your valuable inputs and opinions and warnings about the harsh effects of Levaquin, thank you very much and may you continue on passing to one and all your valuable insights. Count me in!!!!!

Tomorrow will be a new day and I will be on my toes making sure I will fight the harsh side effects as early as I could. I know it will be worth the fight if I kick these damaging effects at its early stage, hoping I will be lucky to do so.

God Bless to all!

I originally went on 10mg of lipitor a day in January,2007, experienced leg pain,muscle ache and weakness,so after 3 weeks went off the drug on my own.In June 2007 after talking to different Dr's I went back on Lipitor,10mg, figuring that I had not really given the drug a chance as sometimes side effects do subside after a while.I saw my Dr on July 3rd & my cholesterol had gone down to 170 in about 3 weeks.I told him about my symptoms, which were the same as before & he told me to let him know if they got worse.By August 30th 2007 I just could not tolerate the pain and achiness all over my body,I was not sleeping well as every time I turned in my bed I woke up from the pain ( We even got a new mattress fguring maybe that was contributing to the joint pain) My joints became swollen & red,I could not lift up my arms,they were so sore and weak,my neck was so stiff that it was hard to drive and have to turn my head,I had a constant headache and what seemed to me like a"fuzzy brain"I am 63 years old and have never experienced anything like this,I am an active woman with a great deal of energy and people who know me could not believe what was happening, instead of scooting ahead of everyone I was barely keeping up.I found myself not wanting to eat as my stomach was constantly bloated & in pain & I was gaining weight too.
I went off Lipitor on September 1st and the withdrawal sypmtoms have been horrendous, I went to see my Dr yesterday & he put me on an anti inflamatory drug ,I have taken 2 dosages & am already feeling an improvement.This web site really helped as I felt I was not alone suffering from the side effects of Lipitor.Many people I have talked to have experienced the same symptoms but were attributing them to aging.

I started takiing lipitor about 2 years ago. I complained to my Wife that I was losing my strength shortly after that. But I am 52 and thought I was just aging. About a month ago I began to have pains in the thigh area. Again no big deal. But over the next two weeks the pain turn to cramping and spread to my lower leg and arms. I am barely funtioning. I stopped taking the lipitor a week ago but no improvement yet. I see my doctor again tomarrow. I learned of the side effects of lipitor from a newspaper article.
My question is how long does ittake others to start feelingbetter. Aafter a week I don't.

63 year old female; taking 40 mg Lipitor. About 3 nights a week, can't sleep and feel as if I'm being tormented. Muscles in entire body seem to be contracting (like a reptile) and experience a weird sort of muscle pain (burning pain??) Can't lie still and I turn and toss and moan.
Am trying to determine if this is fibromyalgia or side effects of Lipitor. Can someone please advise??? Thanks!

I am a 69 year old female and have always been in good health and very active. I have been taking Lipitor for years and the side effects have been gradual. After my daughter gave me an article on the side effects of Lipitor, I could not believe what I was reading. I have so many of the same side effects that are in the article -- weakness in arms and legs, dizzy most days till late afternoon, my hands have become shakey and I recently have been falling a lot. My hand writing is getting worse and I can't seem to remember things. I have bad pain in neck and back and I feel fatigued almost all the time. I don't enjoy doing things I used to do as I just do not seem to have any energy. If I had my way, I would stay in bed most of the day. People that have know me for awhile say that I have not been the same person for awhile. I have an appointment with my doctor and plan on discussing all of this with her.

Been on Lipitor for a little over one month. Feel very lethargic and wiped out. Not sleeping/odd dreams. Very tired upon waking. Pain in my back, went to urgent treatment center..blood pressure was 202/98 and had an abnormal EKG. Taken by ambulance to ER. Developed stomach pain that will not go away, acid reflux/indigestion, leg pain, flatulence, pain in my chest and a feeling that something is sitting in my chest, vaginal bleeding since October 22, dry mouth, sweating, joint pain and swelling. I was given birthcontrol pills to try to stop the flow. Hasn't worked yet. I took lthe last pill I had 2 days ago and feel better today than I have felt in a long time. I looked up the side effects of Lipitor and discovered that what I am experienceing seems to be directly as a result of this medicine which is the only new thing that I have added to my routine.

Lipitor has successfully controlled high cholesterol for about 2 years.
My recent diagnosis with Mitochondrial myopathy at age 54 leading to surgery for ptosis on both eyes was concluded after a year of various tests with cardiologists, neurologists and optical surgeons. There was no apparent cause and just my bad luck. No-one linked Lipitor with the symptoms experienced but I am now convinced that there is a link and intend to stop Lipitor treatment.
I suffer with tendonitis in my thumbs and elbow, have exercise intolerance, extreme tiredness, no libido, muscle aches, heavy head that neck does not support well, very sensitive to bright lights, occasional nosebleeds.
Can all this be merely a coincidence - I think not.
Happy to discuss further.

I have been on 10mg of lipitor for 3 years and had dramatic lowering of total and LDL cholesterol. Since taking this I have developed muscle cramps in the legs and abdomen, especially after 2 am, as another person on here reported, and noticeable short term memory loss, which until I started reading about the side effects of lipitor, I attributed to the heavy radiation I received 10 years ago in my bone marrow transplant.

Recently my doctor took my dose of lipitor up to 20mg to try to reach the new "target" level and the cramps immediatedly got worse and I have almost constant calf muscle pain. And my short term memory is alarmingly deteriorating to the point where my co-workers have commented on it.

I am off lipitor for now, exploring fish oil supplements, and other natural remedies. I read recently that LDL only causes arterial damage when oxidizied, and that exercise boost free radicals, so am going to focus on anti-oxidants alot more as I exercise alot. Thank God for sites like this. It is easy to blame your symtoms on the wrong thing or try to ignore them.

I am up at 3 am researching this as my leg cramps do not let me sleep!

WOW......
I found this site by "googleling.... side effects of Lipitor"...
I guess what I have observed over the past months with my SO is caused by LIPITOR>> I'm so upset. He has been in awful pain that has him spending most days in his Lazy Boy taking pain pills. Prior to taking Lipitor he was out in his garage 6 days a weeks working passionately on his cars. We would go for a short walk and he would complain of pain... it seemed so odd to have this much pain from a walk. He quit taking it 3 weeks ago, and had a MRI, the results are not in yet. I was curious about Lipitor after seeing their ad stating "rare and mysterious side effects"......

I have only been taking Lipitor for about a month. Before I started taking this drup I was warned by a co-worker not to take it. SHe complained about the leg cramps and the pain she experienced in her hip area. WHen I mentioned this to my doctor when he prescribed the medication to me, he more or less just laughed it off. I am getting the cramping in my calves and I am not sure if this is from the Lipitor or something else. I suppose the only way to tell is to stop taking the Lipitor. Does anyone out there have any suggestions? I looked at this website, because I wanted to find out what the side effects of Lipitor were. This site has really opened up my eyes.

I have been taking Lipitor for 3 years; I started having problems with my finger and thumb on my left hand. I passed it off as arthritis. Not being aware of the side effects of Lipitor. Then I started having numbness in my finger tips. My Dr said it could be a pinched nerve in my neck. However, tests are expensive with no insurance, so I bypassed the MRI. In the last 6 months I have been getting weaker in my legs, I can hardly walk a block without my legs starting to shake. Yesterday I was at work and went to walk down a flight of stairs and almost fell. I had to do a lot of walking and my knees started giving out on me. I was so embarrassed. I had to stop and rest, and let the rest go on. My husband saw a Lipitor commercial and heard the side effects one being Muscle weakness. I have stopped Lipitor affective today. I will be sending my Dr an e-mail immediately after this to let her know I am discontinuing Lipitor. I am afraid of what I have done to meself. I just hope I can get my health back.