Lipitor and eye infection

I am almost 54, a female. Twice since October I have tried to take Lipitor, but couldn't make it past the fifth dose. By day five (both times) I developed flu-like symptoms, the worst of which was severe nausea and vomiting every ten minutes, muscle aches and pain (including lower back), extreme weakness, dizziness, shakiness, feverish feeling, and "fuzzy" head. The last episode - just two days ago - made me realize it was more than likely the Lipitor. The first episode happened while I also had a staff infection in my eye, and although I quit taking the Lipitor just in case, I attributed my ailments to the eye infection, and totally forgot about the possible Lipitor connection after that. At that time I also had extreme head pain, and now I'm not sure which was the cause, the infection or the Lipitor. I was bed ridden for five days that time.

This time I was away on a business trip and had to spend two extra days in bed at a hotel because I could hardly walk. As soon as I got sick I quit taking the drug. I had to take prescribed suppositories to stop the vomiting because I couldn't even keep water down. The nausea was so severe I had to keep a trash can next to the bed. I drove three excruciating hours to get home tonight, and still feel very sick with the flue symptoms and aching legs. I promised myself that the first thing I would do when I got home was check the internet for Lipitor side effects, and I'm sure glad I did. I had no idea what the drug is capable of doing.

I will try to see my doctor tomorrow and discuss an alternative way to lower my cholesterol, which is only marginally elevated - in fact, if it weren't for my type-2 diabetes (which I keep under control through diet), my cholesterol would be normal.

Good luck to all of you who have more serious, long-term effects of this drug. I consider myself lucky to have gotten ill at the onset of taking Lipitor so hopefully I will avoid more dire consequences later. I will now go to bed before I fall over.

RBS