Less than 2 months after taking Lipitor I have been experiencing ...

So many people are taking this dangerous drug . . . .you were smart to research and you will stop taking it. I quit "cold turkey" . . .the sooner the better . . .I wanted to get rid of the poison in my body ASAP. .. Unfortunately, the drs. and drug co's continue to push statins . . .big $$. . but, your mind/body needs cholesterol to function properly.

Muscle weakness in the legs is the most common place people experience weakness from statins. Perhaps because we are so dependent on our leg muscles. If its restricting your ability to get the physical activity you need, then its bad for your cardiovascular health since daily exercise is most critical in maintaining heart health.

I took Zocor for about 9 months in 2002 I started having severe muscle cramps and leg weakness I even thought I was having a stroke could not pick up my legs and walk. I cannot climb steps we put ramps in at home cannot pick up legs so weak. I stopped taking it and the cramps stopped but I have never regained the strength in fact it has gotten worse due to the inabilibty to do activities. I have had 2 back surgeries because the doctors say it is my back with no success. They say I even need a 3rd surgery they think I have a pinched nerve because I now have drop foot and big toe hangs down on left. I have told them all along it is from the Zocor but they say that when you stop taking a statin drug it gets better but I told them I feel it had already done the damage and because I am unable to exercise or walk it can't get better. I cannot get anyone to agree with me they just keep guessing. I am so tired of doctors not wanting to say I am right and nothing can be done the damage is already done. They just want to keep dragging me on.

Tyleen , back surgery is usually not the answer . . . unfortunately, some people never recover from statins. . . .drs. don't want to admit about the side effects since the anti-cholesterol drug SCAM is a big $$ business . . . . VERY SAD.

My husband has been suffering similar effects: initially, he could not even lift up his feet to cross his legs. He has great difficulty getting in and out of cars and standing from a seated position. He can't dance anymore. Initially, he shuffled when he walked, had severe muscle weakness, and extreme fatigue. The neurologist thought it might perhaps have been Parkinson's - which eventually was ruled out. He's been taking fish oil and COQ10 (1200 mg/day) for about six months. He just started physical therapy. There has been some improvement, but he still has extreme weakness in his leg muscles and hip area. Are there additional treatments/supplements/medications which might help?

Elinore . . .I stopped takig this POISON 16 mos. ago and I still have side effects . . . .everyone is different. . .age, dosage, how long did your husband take it, etc. If you are interested, we can discuss further.

Update:
After reading these replies, I first want to say my heart goes out to all of you who have become victims of this foul mistreatment by a major drug corp. How greedy and unfair for them to ignore these things and continue to market their drugs.
I am so very glad I stopped taking this stuff after two months.
I no longer have any symtoms other than my right leg still becomes tired rather quickly, but at least I can walk normally again and do so every single day. This is the one thing that has not steadily improved, but I remain hopeful that eventually this will right itself.

For the first couple of weeks after I stopped, during the night that same leg would "jump" and twitch all through the night. Frankly, this was scary, and of course I was releived when one, two, then three nights and on passed without this issue.

I'm still not eating red meat nor saturated fat, am eating very low salt, and have continued the VitC, gingko/giner/garlic and buckwheat therapies. I've not had my cholestoral checked, but I check my blod pressue every couple of days and it has steadily gone from a "high" high, to a lower "high. I feel pretty good.
I am no doctor, just a woman living by the sea, but my suggestion is for anybody taking this stuff to stop asap. I know blood pressure meds have to be stopped slowly and gradually, but I've seen no such warnings regarding Liptitor or other statins. Whenever I see a Liptor commercial on TV now, I become angry.
They are nothing but poison prescribed based on skewed research.

I saw post a few days back which caught my attention since a very similar thing is happening to me. Weakness in the legs from walking a few yards. Of course went to my physician which immediately said that it was a reaction from the statins. I was not quite convinced since I could not find a proper pulse on my left foot or groin. I went to a cardiologist friend of mine which did an arterial duplex scan and found severe blockages in both the left and right leg (claudication). It is now quite clear that I have peripheral arterial disease at the age of 50. Statistics says one in three people over the age of 70 will suffer from the disease.

As a matter of fact, I am back on the statins and aggressively have to bring the cholesterol under control. Proper diet and exercise is the key. I am not saying that this is what's going on with you, as a reaction to statins can cause muscle weakness in the legs. It wouldn't hurt though to get your doctor to put a blood pressure cuff on both ankles to check the heartbeat.

Doepie . . . .it is certainly your choice to continue to take this dangerous drug that can cause MANY side effects. . .in this case, your dr. was correct. Hopefully, you will take the time to research and then you will know what damage this POISON can do.