I was given 40mg Lipitor for elevated cholesterol. I took it unti...

I too, am a victim of Lipitor. I stopped taking this poison 6 months ago. I recently had a check-up with a new dr. It is obvious that the drs. don't know anything about the side effects from this dangerous drug. I gave him a list of the side effects that I still have. He said that the drug should get out of my system by 6 months. (I took it for 8 years). I continue to take natural products to help the side effects and control my cholesterol. While the visit, the dr. was pushing me to try another statin . . . . . . .I said, no thanks.

I hope the following information/article answers your question and helps improve your health:

Dr. Peter H. Langsjoen, MD, FAAC, and Board Certified Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease from Tyler, Texas wrote this recent article in LifeExtension Magazine (February 2008) in which Dr. Langsjoen describes in detail the trouble with statins:
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2008/feb2008_Alleviating-Congestive-Heart-Failure-With-Coenzyme-Q10_01.htm

“All statin drugs block the biosynthesis of both cholesterol and CoQ10, which explains statins’ common side effects of fatigue, muscle pain and muscle weakness, and a worsening of heart failure. When CoQ10 levels are lowered by statin drug therapy, one of the first changes to occur is a weakening of heart muscle function… In 2004, a study published in the American Journal of Cardiology showed that diastolic dysfunction (heart muscle weakness) occurred in 70% of previously normal patients treated with 20 mg a day of Lipitor® for six months. This heart muscle dysfunction was reversible with supplemental CoQ10. Heart failure that develops after years of statin drug therapy can be termed statin cardiomyopathy and may well be playing a role in the epidemic of congestive heart failure in the United States. In an effort to determine the prevalence of adverse effects from using statins, we studied 50 consecutive new patients, all of whom were taking a statin drug at the time of their initial visit. All 50 patients were found to have one or more side effects from statin therapy, so we discontinued their statin drugs and began supplemental CoQ10. Patients were followed for an average of 28 months with the following observations in the prevalence of adverse effects:
• A high prevalence of skeletal muscle pain and weakness at 64% on initial visit was reduced to 6% in follow-up.
• Fatigue decreased from 84% to 16%.
• Shortness of breath went from 58% down to 12%.
• Memory loss was reduced from 8% to 4%.
• Peripheral neuropathy decreased from 10% to 2%.
There were no adverse effects from stopping statin drug therapy with no cases of heart attack or stroke during follow-up. Overall, there was an improvement in heart muscle function on discontinuation of statin therapy and addition of supplemental CoQ10. However, due to powerful propaganda surrounding both cholesterol and statin drug therapy, many patients and physicians are afraid to stop statin therapy…Over the past five years statins have become more potent, are being prescribed in higher doses, and are being used with reckless abandon in the elderly and in patients with "normal" cholesterol levels. We are in the midst of a CHF (Congestive Heart Failure) epidemic in the US with a dramatic increase over the past decade. Are we causing this epidemic through our zealous use of statins? In large part I think the answer is yes. We are now in a position to witness the unfolding of the greatest medical tragedy of all time - never before in history has the medical establishment knowingly (Merck & Co., Inc. has two 1990 patents combining CoQ10 with statins to prevent CoQ10 depletion and attendant side effects) created a life threatening nutrient deficiency in millions of otherwise healthy people, only to then sit back with arrogance and horrific irresponsibility and watch to see what happens…Statins kill people - lots of people - and they wound many, many more. All patients taking statins become depleted in Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), eventually - those patients who start with a relatively low CoQ10 levels (the elderly and patients with heart failure) begin to manifest signs/symptoms of CoQ10 deficiency relatively rapidly - in 6 to 12 months. Younger, healthier people who's only "illness" is the non-illness "hypercholesterolemia" can tolerate statins for several years before getting into trouble with fatigue, muscle weakness and soreness (usually with normal muscle enzyme CPK tests) and most ominously - heart failure

Have you tried HYDROSOLUABLE COQ10 and also magnessium citrate powder? If not you might want to research them. The coq10 is mentioned in the link that drmike has sent you. It needs to be the right sort of coq10 made by tishcon all mentioned by the cardiologist. The coq10, magnessium citrate are muscle food and along with daily fresh vegetable juice give me about 35% of my pain relief which certainly helps. I get another 45% relief from strong prescription pain killer and grin and bare the balance. I'm 8 months post statin after taking them with unkown to me adverse effects for about 4.5 yrs. Good luck from New Zealand.

Although the drug is out of your system, that does not mean that it has not left damage in its wake. You describe symptoms typical of statin poisoning. To answer your question, YES, its a cover up. Try not to be too concerned with cholesterol since the link between cholesterol and heart disease has never been proven. Its still only a theory. And the high pressure marketing of statins has people taking them that have no business on these drugs. Believe me, if they could sell lipitor to your dog, they would.

Bobby

You might want to take a look at a video posted on the nets most popular video sharing website ( if I post it, it will get replaced with **** but you know which site I am referring to) Enter "cholesterol corporate killers" in the search window of that video website, and you can see a personal experience from a lipitor user.

Bobby

Please access Dr. Duane Graveline's web site, "spacedoc.net". There are many discussions of seemingly permanent changes from statins, esp. neurological ones.

Im a RN in Critical Care...Same business!! Took Lipitor for a whopping 1 month for a cholesterol 227.!! Dr insisted this tx was necessary...Could not walk with out swelling and severe pain within short time.. No relief from Dr. His only statement:" What are we going to do if we can't keep you on Statins"....They are brain washed also...I feel my general health is ruined; no one offers a cure, I've heard large doses of Vitamin C might be the answer? Have you tried anything..? I am considering a disability because I am 4 years from retirement at VA hospital....