Lipitor and few minutes

I too was taking LIPITOR. After 3 months I became short of breath. At first I put it down to the weight that I had regained.I had lost 18kg.the year before. I had muscle pain, nausea, headaches.The Lipitor reduced the LDL alright,but the shortness of breath became worse and worse. If I was sitting on a chair and dropped a piece of paper on the floor I would be completely out of breath from bending over and picking it up! If I was walking for more than a few minutes I would be out of breath and had to stop. I quickly regained my breath; but the moment I started to walk again I would become breathless again!! My heart specialist decide to do an angiogram, that was o.k. He told me it was my weight that made me short of breath, I disagreed with him. My G.P. did not know what caused it either. I had had problems with Pravachol, severe muscles stiffness and pain. I could not straighten a bend leg or bend a straight leg.It was only after I studied the enclosed leaflet in the box of Lipitor that I noticed the RARE BUT SERIOUS SIDE EFFECT: Shortness of breath, if you suffer from this stop straight away and see your Dr. it said. It turned out that the ALVEOLI are affected. I had a lung function test done which showed my lung capacity was down by 20%.After cortisone treatment it has improved a bit but it is still 10% down and it effects me every day. I tire quickly and get out of breath walking uphill or against the wind.If there is a class action going let me know please! I am so fed up . I am only 63 but feel like an old woman.I will not take anymore cholesterol lowering medication; I rather live 5 years less, if that is the consequence.

Started Lipitor 5 months ago. Noticed a tingle and slight pain from left elbow down to hand. Had to go off of Lipitor after two months b/c of upcoming right knee replacement. Started taking Lipitor 6 weeks ago after surgery. I have started having severe shoulder pain and upper pain in the left arm and again the tingling in elbow and hand. But the worst is I now have a pain and weakness in my left knee so severe that when I first stand it takes a few minutes before I can put my weight on that leg. Have to use a cane for first few steps and then pain subsides and strength comes back and I am able to walk.
Went to Dr yesterday and he did not think Lipitor was the cause, but agreed I should go off for a month. Anxious to see if anything changes or was this all a coincidence.

Hey you all......the lipitor saga continues. I posted #23428 on Sept 6th. On Sept 13th I picked a 30 pound piece of fabric up at work and there was a big POP in my left arm. Distal Biceps Tendon rupture.....TORE it off the Bone. I have been weightlifting for 20 years and never had an injury such as this. I am used to lifting much heavier weights with no problem. Had surgery to reattach 9/18...7 weeks post op and still in brace. Will take a year to fully heal. Both my doctor and Ortho said they have never heard of tendon rupture caused by statin drugs...but I am convinced that it was directly related to lipitor damage/side effects. I did have my doctor shaking in his shoes, I told him with conviction that I would never again take a statin drug and I held him responsible. Would like to hear from anyone who may have had tendon issues while taking this drug. I hope we all get better soon!
Peace
Brian

I took Lipitor for 4 or 5 years. I lost count. I am a type II diabetic and the Dr. threw tons of prescriptions at me. I was convinced all my problems were not the result of Lipitor because my sister's Dr. told her that if you had the muscle pain you would have it all over. Well I got sick of feeling like I was 85 years old. I am 57. I know I am not young anymore, but I couldn't sit for more than a few minutes without having trouble getting up. The right top of my leg hurt so bad some times that I could hardly walk . I also had really bad pain on the right side of my lower leg. I had pains in my neck and shoulders and attributed it to stress at work.Last, but not least I had terrible gas and bloating. The gas was downright embarrasing. Well I took it upon myself to stop taking it. Within several days I felt like a new woman! The minute I woke up one morning I could feel the difference before I even got out of bed. I felt like I had been given my life back.

When I called my Dr. to let her know she wasn't very happy and wanted me to come in. Well now she put me on Crestor and it's been two weeks and the old pains and gas are coming back. I am NOT going to take these terrible statins anymore. They say that the muscle and joint aches are rare, but that is only because most doctors won't listen to their patients. You know your own body better than anyone else.

I have heard that some of the "older" statins are not as powerful and they don't have as many side effects. Has anyone else heard this or had any experience using them?

All I know is that for now I am off statins.

I'm 57 years old and have been on Lipitor for probably 5-7 years (was initially on ZOCOR). I have neuropathy in both feet and have recently begun to have muscle aches in my legs and lower back - have the "lipitor shuffle" and have to take a few minutes to get my balance and fluid movement when I begin to walk after sitting for any length of time. I think it is strange that they reference a "seldom but dangerous" side effect concerning the muscles "which should be reported to your Doctor immediately" As others, my GP who is an internist is very much a statins guy - even went so far as to reference that Lipitor could possibly reduce the chances of Stroke.... After reading the stories on this website, I'm setriously considering dropping my Lipitor and reverting to Viatmins and Diet to moderate my Cholesterol.....Any suggestions?

I am a 63 year old female who has taken Lipitor for 3 years. Since I have arthritis in my right knee, I dismissed symptoms starting last summer in my thumb. I had pain and gripping problems, very difficult to lift anything. By first of October my left knee became involved. Had minor popping in my ankle and left knee until I turned over in bed one night and felt big pop in my knee. Knee was sore and within about two weeks stiffness started in both knees - so stiff after sitting that I have to stand for a few minutes before walking. The stiffness in my knees became painful and then my left hip developed sharp pain and some discomfort in my back. Walked very slowly and stiffly, difficult to get out of car, put on panty hose, step in and out of shower , or lie on left side. Started taking more ibuprofen and aleve, using a tensunit, and applying heat to both knees. Had some improvement but on December 9, notice my left leg was quite swollen from knee down to ankle. Called doc who said to quit taking Lipitor to see if that was problem. Will be 3 weeks this Friday since I quit taking Lipitor and I am experiencing a lot less stiffness in my knees, less pain in my hip, but my left leg is still somewhat swollen. I will see doc January 26 and get his verdict.

I am 63 years old and have been on Lipitor 3 years. Since I have arthritis in my right knee, I dismissed symptoms starting last summer in my thumb which by October involved my left knee, increased problems in my right knee, and left hip and back. This finally became so stiff and painful I could hardly walk across the room. I have to stand for a few minutes when I first get up before walking and am so stiff I walk with an unsteady gait. I also tended to trip over nonexistant things on the carpet. I have had a few experiences with vertigo. I started doing some leg strengthening exercises, using a tens unit, applying heat to my knees, and taking a lot of ibuprofen and/or aleve. I finally mentioned this to my internist and he said to discontinue the Lipitor and it could take 5 to 6 weeks for it to get out of my system. It has been 1-1/2 weeks since I discontinued the Lipitor and don't know if I have improved ever so slightly or it is just my imagination. I have an apointment with my internist Jan 26 to evaluate the situation. I would like to hear from anyone who has experienced improvement and what was their time frame for improvement.