Lipitor and fish oil

CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE COMPLAINT FILED. I copped the worse of everything and almost croaked with statins. 20 months since stopping the poison, I'm still not right but vastly improved. Medsafe in New Zealand twice posted to prescribes ".. . . warn the patient of muscle pain and if muscle pain or weakness occurs cease the medicine immediately ... "they also warned prescribes "20% of adverse reactions being reported included mental disorder including violence and anger .... "Apart from all my pain, I suffered severe mental disorder and violence to others. I repeatedly presented painful muscle cramps to the doctor, who repeatedly told me age, arthritis, salt in diet etc. I went to my doctor frightened at the nasty way I was treating my wife of 30+ years, telling him it was so bad one of us was going to have to move out until the problem was sorted. he was sympathetic and told me none of his patients had said this to him before, probably true, but Medsafe had. Today in writing I hand delivered a written complaint of criminal negligence to our police and the New Zealand medical council, the doctor ignored clear written instructions putting my life at risk and those around me with my violence and dangerous driving, heres hoping others may be saved. There is a new report out from JACC journal of American cardiology stating the wonderful strengthing and healing power of fish oil, google it. We personally know of about 20 customers, friends and family who have been poisoned, a couple have indicated they will consider following and laying criminal negligence charges.Saturday afternoons are visiting days for prisons in New Zealand if the after hours doctors are closed. I'll post when I hear from the police. This very dangerous practice has to be stopped for the sake of humanity.

I have been taking 40mg lipitor for over 9 years now.

I have had back issues since an injury to one disc (L4?), and had microdiscectomy in 2001? Took about two years to actually get close to normal.

The last few years, I have had multiple issues with shoulder pain, wrist pain, elbow pain, lower back pain, Upper rump muscle pain , and now both hips are killing me (the shoulder, upper rump muscles and hips are by far the worst). And I am now so weak in my lower back muscles, that it feels like I will (and do) pull out my back.

I have seen NO many doctors I can't even name them all. I have had operations, multiple injections (cortisone) taken pain meds, etc. Nothing has helped and in the last year and a half, I have gotten steadily worse. To the point where I can't really do much of any activity. Sleeping at night is painful. Can't lie on left shoulder, and can't lie on either hip for more than a few minutes. If I fall asleep on my side, the pain wakes me up. When I try to walk, 80% of the time, I end up with a pain in my upper right rump (sacroiliac area), that I MUST sit down to get the intense pain to go away, which it does. But comes right back when I walk again.

I have had x-rays, MRIs etc, and never reveals all that much. Disc issues, yes. NOt much else.

Recently, I have begun to get a nasty clicking (catching) on my left jaw (joint?). Not really painful, but something definitely wrong. My dentist sent me to his Chiro. I went and liked him right away. I had gone to another chiro for years and I believe in them. But this one is the best I have seen.

Anyway, one of the FIRST things he suggested, was that it was POSSIBLE that the Lipitor is causing all of my problems. Put me on COQ10, and doing multiple adjustments and treatments. I will be seeing my regular doctor 5/26, and my chiro wants me to see if he will take me off lipitor and put me on Niaspan instead.

I guess my question is: Can Lipitor be fine with me for so long, and then in such a short period of time, turn me into a compete wreck from the pain and wasting away of my body/muscles? I've told doctors for over a year now that there is SOME connection as to all these issues and pain. One Doctor, of course, gave me the "you are getting old" bull. Yes, I am 56 yrs old. But I understand the process of getting old, vs the complete failing of ones body.

Also, IF it is the Lipitor, can it possible all go away? Or should I expect some damage forever?

One more thing, the last ortho I went to the other day for a second opinion, wants me to do a EMG, to see if there is muscle damage. I was not planning on doing it, but wonder now, should I? He was not doing it because of lipitor, as he never even talked about that to me. I had shoulder operation and have not had the results I feel I should have had.

Less than 2 months after taking Lipitor I have been experiencing intense weakness of the legs, especially the hip area. A normally avid walker, last week really woke me up when I was unable to walk over 40 feet without having to stop from sheer leg exhaustion. I'd have to actually lean on my partner until I could manage to shuffle again- a shuffling gait is what I had to resort to just to make it back to the car.
This is bullshit because even though I've had some angina symptoms, right up until I went to the hospital I was able to hike; was still relatively strong.
So today I have spent hours researching side effects and have seen on this site alone many mentions of intense leg weakness and pain with Lipitor.
This, along with simultaneously educating myself on the truth about high cholesterol has convinced me to gradually cease taking this medication.

Instead I will replace with sufficient quantities of VitC, buckwheat combined with gingko, and of course I can never stop with the garlic because it is delicious.

I am 62 years old and I was taking Lipitor 10 mg for the last 5 years in New York. When I moved to California the new doctor switched to Lipitor 20mg and I started to have strange side effects. After a pause of two days, I restarted and the symptoms were worse: my muscle in the upper arms, and my calves were hurting and week, my back ached, my head was empty nad I felt dizzy all the time.
I stopped two days ago and today I had blood in my urine. What's happening? should I go on any medication at all to lower my cholesterol? My new test was: 179 Cholesterol
HDL 71
LDL 95
I am too scared to start any other drugs like Crstor or Niaspan as I was recommended.
Please advise,

My husband has been taking Lipitor for a year. Several weeks after he started taking it he had muscle aches and when he went for a follow-up we discussed this concern and the neurologist said that it was ok and would go away. He had a stroke several years before and had some damage and he was tired. He complained about him getting weaker and his muscles hurting, he has left shoulder and arm pain. His chest hurts on the right side and doctors told him that he has inflammation between the muscle and chest wall but it has not cleared up after many months and meds. He is so weak now and is dropping things. He has some muscle twitching. I think it is from the Lipitor because the symptoms started after he was put on this drug. Doctor says that it is very unlikely..Has anyone else had these problems while taking Lipitor???

I have stopped taking Lipitor after 3 yrs. I was told I had a mini-stroke because of my slurred speech 6 mo. ago. Since then I have had a battery of tests and my neurologist told me "I don't think you had a stroke." I saw the words "Motor Neuron Disease" (I looked it on the web because I never heard of it before) on the script for my EMG. I blame it all on Lipitor and the wasting of the nerves and the muscles. I sound as if I am drunk. No one can understand me . I am taking speech therapy but it doesn't seem to help.

Hi . I am a 69yr old male. My doctor has recently increased my Lipitor from 20 to 40mg. My cholesterol reading was 3.6 which he considered to high after a quad bypass. I am suffering painful cramps down the front of both lower legs as well as cramps down the back of my lower right leg. I plan to revert to 20mg to see if the cramps stop. I am not sure if I should stop completely.

Wow! I must be the latest in a long line of Lipitor users and apparently pain sufferers. I have been on Lipitor for over a year. I am 56 years old, active and healthy (thank God). Around November 2008, I noticed a "twinge" in my left hip while sleeping. This has gotten progressively worse over the months and I thought it was due to arthritis (which runs in my family). But after reading these blogs, I am not so sure. If anyone has anything definitive regarding this, ie: tests, studies, etc., I would really appreciate a point in the right direction for more information. I was thinking (until today) that I was headed for hip surgery or something equally drastic. Now that I have a clue that it may be the Lipitor, I want to investigate further and then, if necessary, change to another medication that won't break me down like this. My heart goes out to anyone that has suffered through hip pain. It is a miserable, painful condition that saps your energy and your desire to even move sometimes. I appreciate any help you can offer. God bless all of you. - L. B. ******

777
I've been noticing that you as well as bobby are continuously replying to many of the posting. I stopped taking lipitor in December after having chest pains for 10 months which included being hospitalized for 2 days of testing. I'm still having the chest pain although I believe it's getting better. There was a week in the beginning of this month that I had no pain at all but now it's back. My question to you and bobby is you keep saying you still have some side affects for months but fail to list them. What are they and with your experience, why does Lipitor cause chest pain? What have you found out in your research? Is this drug causing damage to the interior lining of the arteries? Is this why many people are getting the pains from?

I was 50 and the doctor prescribed lipitor 10mg since my cholesterol had doubled in the past twelve months to 300. I took it for four months and began to have pain in one leg just below the knee. I had talked to a woman about 65 years old once who was walking on the sides of her feet and I had asked her what medical problem she had. She explained that her Lipitor had caused this terrible pain. You would think that I would have refused to take this drug. You see the doctor had already prescribed a very large dose of fish oil per day and the cholesterol had not fallen. However, I began taking it. About two weeks before my enzyme checkup I began to notice the pain in the leg just below my knee and I stopped taking the Lipitor. I expected the pain to subside, but it did not. My cholesterol level had risen and my doctor asked me if I was still taking the Lipitor. I explained that I had been of it for about two weeks. The doctor insisted that the pain probably wasn't associated with the Lipitor. The reason being my enzyme level was within the range of acceptable. I began taking it again. The doctor wanted to have another test within four weeks to check enzyme levels again. This time the enzyme levels were borderline high. So the doc recommended stopping the Lipitor for a while and then another enzyme level check. You see, my body was telling me something. The only new factor in my medications other than blood pressure was the Lipitor. It has been about three weeks since I stopped the Lipitor, yet I am continuing with even more pain in tops of feet and above one knee a know seems to have appeared. It is sore and feels like it is bruised. I am not a doctor, but I had done some investigating Lipitor on the internet and read that in some patients the Lipitor actually causes small to large fissures in the arteries of the heart. Also, the muscles begin to attack themselves, thus the pain and atrophy. I am going to start taking flax oil. One cardiologist reported that he two cases a week of heart attacks due to Lipitor. He was enraged that Lipitor is still being prescribed and manufactured. I just hope it doesn't take years to regain my original self without pain. I am an active person who likes to work outside, garden, snow-ski, and anything else I want to do. I am trying to search for a detox program for Lipitor overdose, not that I have overdosed. According to my body's signals, I have overdosed on a toxic drug. I pray that returning to normal won't take as long as I have heard some people say it has taken them. Please try some other alternative to Lipitor and the other debilitating statin drugs. I will have to start an exercise program, even though I have put it off for years. I hope my laziness about my physical fitness hasn't crippled me for life. I am 20 lbs overweight and never took it seriously. I hope others will discontinue to take this life-threatening and debilitating drug!!!!!!!!!!1

January 26, 2009
I stopped taking 20mg of Lipitor for the following reasons: arm and muscle pain, wrist pain, neck and shoulder pain, knee pain, foot pain, arm weakness when raising my arms, mental fuzziness. I
Withdrawal symptoms : headache, eye ache, increased neck pain.
My goal is to see if the dosage symptoms decrease within two weeks and maybe I will try 10mg of Lipitor and see if that amount produces the same symptoms. My doctor directed me to a Rheumatologist as recent blood work showed inflammation in the arthritis panel. I am waiting to see if being off Lipitor for two weeks might reduce my arthritis symptoms .
I had a stint put in March 2008 and I am on Plavix (75mg), Lisinopril (10mg) and Lipitor (20mg).

JILL HERE . THANK TO THOSE WHOM HAVE RESPONDED TO WHAT I TALKED ON WITH LIPITOR AND MY EXPERIENCES. THE PRINCIPLE OF WHICH IME STILL INTERESTED IN WITHOUT BEING DIVERTED.
ONE WEEK ON EATING VEGIES, FRUIT,SALADS, WEIGHED OUT PROTEIN, FISH,CHICKEN. BROWN BREAD, NO MARGARINE OR BUTTER,VERY LITTLE CHEESE, NO LIPITOR, A GOOD QUALITY VITAMIN C. NOT USING ANYTHING ELSE BUT A GOOD FISH OIL AS WELL, NOW TOTALLY BACK ON TRACK. LIPITOR WAS MAKING ME NOT ONLY FEELING ILL BUT ILL IN A WAY I KNEW I WOULD BE IN TROUBLE TAKING IT ANY MORE.
THANK GOD IME NOT. I MAY NOT STAY ON THE VIT.C. BUT THE GOOD QUALITY FISH OIL , YES. IME WORKING HARD ON OTHER THINGS ALSO AS A ALL ROUNDER WITH PERSONAL GROWTH, AND WILL ASK FOR A BLOOD AND URINE TEST IN SIX WEEKS TIME, AND TAKE IT FROM THERE, ON THE RIGHT TRACK NOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT.
HOPE ALL WORKS OUT FOR ALL OF YOU. BY THE WAY THE DR. WILL BE A DIFFERENT ONE TAKING MY BLOOD AND URINE NEXT TIME. IRRETRIEVABLE DAMAGE NIPPED IN THE BUD JUST IN ENOUGH TIME.
REGARDS. JILL.
FOR ME IVE BANNED STATINS. AS A LADY WHOM HAS NOT HAD ANY MOOD ALTERING CHEMICALS FOR OVER FORTY YEARS. IME NOT ABOUT TO MESS MY LIFE UP WITH ANYTHING JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE SAYS ITS OK, AND HAS QUALIFICATIONS.
I QUESTION ALL , AS THERE IS TOO MANY SCIENTIFIC CONS OUT TODAY. TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONES HEALTH IS A MINE FIELD I ADMIT AND I WILL ALWAYS HAVE THINGS CHECKED THROUGH, IME NO FOOL. BUT ALONG WITH THIS I ALSO MUST KEEP AN EAGLE EYE OUT , AS A INDIVIDUAL I CANNOT TELL ANOTHER WHAT TO DO.
GOODBYE. J.

i m 43 year old male, i took lipitor for almost 5 years(20mg) then on February 2008 my doctor increase my dose to 40mg and then my nightmare begin, i work in a company, very physic job, in end of June 2008 i start to feel bizarre, difficulty to walk, get up in the morning was very hard, climbing stair was more and more dificult, i didn't know at this time that lipitor doing that, i just work harder to compensate for my weakness, and continue to take lipitor until September 2008, almost 3 month after feeling the first sign, but i was blaming aging and my weight to be the cause of my sudden weakness. end of September i was unable to do my job anymore, my co-worker start to do my job for me..it was very humiliated, then i call my doctor and tell him how i feel, and he order a blood test, he said to me after that i have a CK result near 6000, he never speak of lipitor side effect yet, i was suspecting a disease, like poliosis or something else...on my side i search on internet for answer, then my girlfriend read about side effect of lipitor, reading the side effect, i saw rhabomyolisis, reading the sign, was like reading my life for the last 3 month, i stop lipitor, after 3 days my urine became normal, a lot of stiffness i my neck stop etc..but my leg and arm where almost destroy, i past two magnetic resonance + one Emg, that s was the test that tell me lipitor destroy my muscle very severely, i saw a specialist who told me that is the most severe reaction to statin that she ever see along some colleague, the most important thing to know is that you can take lipitor for many year an it s ok for you, but the change of dosage is very critical and had to be check,ck and liver tested, it s almost 4 month now and i still not return to work, they think i be ok at the end of march 2009. statin is dangerous don t take that, vitamin C do the same effect without the trouble...

I was put on Lipitor 10 mg. last Spring about 8 mos. ago. I have never taken medications/drugs other than aspirin or Motrin or antihistamines. Since that time I have had a strange combination of unexplained symptoms arise throughout the months. These sx's included: Headaches, stiff neck and severe neck pain, acute shoulder pain, hip pains, joint pains, severe knee pain (tendon or Ligament problems?) and loss of movement, hair loss, jaw pain and some memory confusion. Initially, I had severe HA's for several months, but attributed them to stress, however, I had never experienced HA's as a common occurrence. Then we went away to our Maui house to get away from stress, HA's continued, along with leg and shoulder pains. At the same time, I started noticing several strands of hair falling out if lightly touched my hair to move it out of my face. The pains seemed to move around my body at different times, for no apparent reason. I am used to daily exercise, living in CO in the mountains @ high altitude, not usually having muscle soreness. Now, given my leg and knee pains have gotten so bad, I cannot hike and have difficulty climbing my stairs. Skiing is out. Snorkeling caused leg cramps. No explained reason for having muscle tenderness or soreness without my usual exercise at present time. When the pain leaves one area it tends to arise in a different part of my body. At the present time, my hair loss has subsided, as also my jaw pain and headaches. However, my leg pains and knee pains are so acute (for no apparent reason) it is impossible to exercise and difficult to walk that I looked up adverse reactions to Lipitor, finding all my sx's most probably might be attributed to this drug. Partially my fault for not looking up RX information prior, especially being a medical professional for many years. My husband kept throwing away the info when purchasing the RX. Too many unexplained symptoms, I decided to obtain the drug info. myself. I tended to make excuses for months, such as: I am getting older, under stress, must be an old injury, not exercising properly, need PT therapy etc.... I am dc/ing the drug immediately and have an appt. with my MD on 1/5/09 to discuss.

I am a 62 yr. old female and in good health. In January 2007, my doctor ordered a cholesterol test and the results indicated a number of 237..."bad" cholesterol was not horrible, "good" cholesterol was very good. The doctor put me on 20mg of Lipitor without any hesitation... After a week or so, I started having horrible leg and muscle pain, so when I went back in 3 months (cholesterol 181), I told him I couldn't take this med, so he put me on Zocor. Really bad joint pain with this one, so I went back again in 3 months(cholesterol about the same) and told him again that this one had similar side effects and diarrhea. He then put me on Crestor...took this med, but was so lethargic and in a fog, my family told me to get off of that one. Went BACK to the Dr. in 3 mos., told him I couldn't take this one...he put me on prescription strength fish oil (6 per day) saying that this one should not have side effects. Other than some gastric/intestinal rumblings and some diarrhea, it was ok, but when I had my cholesterol checked it had gone up HIGHER than when I started this whole ordeal, so he put me on Welchol...saying that this one was not absorbed in the blood...blah,blah, blah... Still had the gastic/intestinal issues, SO when I went back 3 mos. later in March 2008 (cholesterol 200)and having already stopped this one myself, I told him I was NOT going to take any more meds for this "issue," and I would manage it with diet and exercise. I told him that this was supposed to be the best time in my life, and I was tired of feeling so poorly. He blatantly told me that if I did stop taking the cholesterol "you'll probably have 10 good years and 10 "crappy" years, and he was visibly angry about MY personal health decision. I had at one point during that the 1 year + mentioned to him about the information that I had been reading online...he pooh-poohed the whole "internet" thing, indicating that he had better information (I"M THE DOCTOR" syndrome!). Needless to say, I don't trust him, BIG PHARMA, or anyone else who says that these statin drugs are NOT harmful...My husband has since stopped taking Lipitor, due to our children and me noticing lapses in his memory. These drug companies and doctors are totally ignoring the side effects and health issues of the unsuspecting public. Hopefully, the truth will emerge, but how long it takes...who knows??????? I am glad I'm not on them anymore...I feel GOOD, and I know that whatever aches and pains I have ARE from aging and not drugs!!

I have just started taking Lipitor this week and starting searching the internet about side effects. This site has really helped me. I am already having light cramps in my legs and my diabetes has already done nerve damage to my feet so I sure don't need any drug doing it. I also had nausea the first two or three days.

And now that I think about it I have also had headaches off and on for the last few days and I never have headaches. A rash has broken out on my shoulder and I never would have connected it to Lipitor if not for the information I read here.

I am calling my doctor Monday. I got myself into this mess by not eating right, I can get myself out by eating right. Already take CQ10 and fish oil, glad to know that was a good decision.

Thanks

About eight years ago I felt heaviness in my chest along with some pain/discomfort when doing hard physical labor and occasionally in the hot-tub. Following my doctor’s advice and an angiogram, a stint was placed and medication administered – Lipitor and plavix I also went through a 6-month program for cardiac recovery including dietary changes and a proper exercise program. About six month following that I gradually just stopped taking my Lipitor and plavix and returned to my old eating routine and other life-style. I don’t smoke (never did) and don’t drink or otherwise indulge in any recreational drugs. I’ve never been hypertensive with blood pressures typically at 115/68. I maintain a trim and healthy appearing body just naturally or genetically. I eat lots of red meat, not a lot of vegetables, drink gallons of orange juice, and eat much more junk-food than I should. About six years after that (near heart attack) event I was given a “stress test” by my physician… I was then 61 and tested at the level of a 38 year old! Two years after that I had a significant heart attack out in the middle of nowhere! It took almost 6 hours to get me to an emergency room in Spokane, Washington (that’s a story of its own). That was on a Thursday – I was back to work full-time the following Monday (four days later). This time around with more drugs than I could swallow in one gulp! Lipitor, Plavix, Coumadin, aspirin, and carvedilol. The combination or amount was more than I could tolerate and I was weaned off all but the Lipitor and aspirin within a year. My heart has returned to nearly full-function and I have no physician imposed restrictions. All that said, I’ve been gradually developing muscle soreness (pain, actually) in my fore-arms and legs. I’ve been growing more lethargic and tired with each passing month. I’m now 65 and feel that the Lipitor is inhibiting my health… I want to get off it and be “normal” again. Or is it just being sixty five? Can I just quit taking the drug? Leaving only aspirin for blood thinning and the hope of a better diet for cholesterol control.

No hearing loss in family history. Doctor put my father on 80 mg Lipitor, 1-1/2 years latter he started having trouble hearing. I was taking 40 mg Lipitor after 2 years my left ear went bad, 9 months latter my right ear went bad the same exact way. The ears went bad with a tinny sound to all when the hearing came back the 3 kHz area was very low. I have just put this together the recently. This is not a coincidence, I am sure Lipitor caused this. I also think this caused me to go through Hell from hard bump break outs on my body, had me spend thousands hunting for a parasite that was not there. It was not a rash, small bumps with a hard center.

started 10 mg in 1998. was controlling everything ok. In 2004 developed weakness in both legs, started slurring words and eye trouble, went to several doctors then in April 2005 had to quit work as I was just to weak. That was at age 54. Finally a neurologist diagnosed me with Myasthenia gravis, and lambert eatons myasthenic syndrome. Had my thymus gland removed, which is supposed to put disease in remission, also had small cell lung cancer surgery at same time. improvement did not come and the drugs for myasthenia only made me sick. started having chest pains and doctors ,.found several blockages in my heart ,still do as to weak for surgery, cardiologist took me off of lipitor and I seem to have stabilized, still have trouble with short term memory, and vision, and really weak

I have been on 20 mg Lipitor for years, and as I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis, all my symptoms have been blamed on that. I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and put on Lyrica because of the muscle aches and depression. My lower back, hurt in a car accident when I was 17 years old, had gotten so much worse that I had 12 steroid shots in my lower spine a couple of years ago. They didn't help my back at all, but my blood sugar went from normal to diabetic levels, and I am now on Byetta to try to lower it.
I am a 56 year old woman who was the math specialist in a school district until last December when I had to retire early. My back pain was so severe that I could no longer go from school to school carting materials. I could barely make it from the parking lot to my office. Mentally I was not ready to retire, but physically, I was (and am) a wreck. I have severe muscle pain in my shoulders, sometimes one or the other, but always present. I have tingling in my right hand, especially in my fingertips, and have trouble gripping and drop things easily. In the last few months the pain in my right thigh and calf has gotten unbearable. I thought at first it was sciatica, but I have had sciatica before, and this isn't the same, although there is tingling, burning , but the pins and needles is so deep in the muscles I have just sat and cried, or wanted to scream. I have wished I could just cut my leg off. And...I am on some pretty heavy duty pain killers for the RA: a small dose of prednisone plus Enbrel, Methotrexate, and Vicodin, and this pain is cutting right through all these meds. I get severe headaches, I went off Lipitor for 5 days and seemed a little better, but then went back on, and it came back.
Since I no longer work, I sleep longer, am exhausted ALL the time, have terrible mental fog, am clumsy, cannot stand for more than a minute or so without wanting to scream, cannot walk more than a few yards...just getting to the car is an ordeal. I tell people that I can only shop in shoe stores and furniture stores...the only stores with places to sit down.
I no longer cook or clean, cannot play with my granddaughter, even holding a book to read can be too much, and I love reading. I feel I am just dying bit by bit as I lose parts of myself.
My doctor is really into lowering cholesterol, and has put me on Zetia in the past few months...and it has been in this time that the pain in my leg has gotten unbearable. He wants my cholesterol to be between 50-60, and has said that the Zetia along with the Lipitor will do that. Is this normal or in any way reasonable??? I am having a full blood workup done tomorrow morning, and I want to go off the Lipitor starting the day after.
I came across this web site tonight while looking up Lipitor side effects, and I am shocked. I have so many of these symptoms, and there are so many I had no knowledge of at all. I knew about the muscle aches, but that's all. I hope someone can help me with what supplements and vitamins I should be taking. I started taking CoQ10 a month or so ago. What else should I be taking for my health? I know vitamin C and fish oil, but don't know how much or anything else. Right now I am just stunned with the thought that all of these problems that have left me unhappily retired, exhausted and in constant pain can all be caused from a drug I have been taking to help me be healthier.

Moderately high cholesterol and BP 150/90. Was put on Lipitor 20mg and after a week felt more fatigued than usual but nothing much more than this. Had stress test and angiogram which showed 60-70% block in one artery as well as arrhythmia. Cardiologist bumped Lipitor up to 80 mg which I took for 2 weeks. But by then I was suffering most of the effects described in these postings: aches and pains, giddiness, nausea, extreme weakness and fatigue. I took myself off Lipitor and even after one day my head started to clear aches started to diminish, though urine still a reddish color suggesting a lot more flushing out required. And, best of all, the arrhythmia reduced from moderate/severe to mild (which it always used to be before taking Lipitor). This drug is not for me. I'd rather take my chances without it and rely on strict diet, weight loss, etc. It is surprising that the possible side effects are so understated in the manufacturer's descriptions.

I recently lost about 25 lbs and decided after about 8 years of 10 mg of lipitor, to go off of it, cold turkey. I consulted both my MD and my pharmacist about whether or not I should wean, and both declined.

I now feel that my sweats, hot flashes are out of control. I am so hot and tired. I feel as though I cannot do the daily functions that I am responsible for.

I truly had NO side effects that I know of ON the drug. I just figured I'd see how I do now that I lost some weight. I wonder if going OFF lipitor is dangerous?

If anyone knows, please reply!

Thank you!

I am a 60 yr. old woman and was on simvastatin for several years before I realized that all of my aches, pains, and muscle weakness could be because of it. I stopped taking it in March, and had very little improvement until June when I started taking 100 mg CoQ10 twice a day. I am now pretty much pain free but the muscles in my thighs are still very weak, and I am still very fatigued. Anybody have any suggestions?

15 years ago, at the age of 35, I had a major heart attack. After testing, the doctors decided I needed a quadruple bi-pass operation, followed by Lipitor, among other things. I was taking 20mg (the doctor ordered 40mg), but due to financial reasons I took only half. Everything was just great for 15 years. During a routine annual physical this year, my doctor noticed that my liver enzymes were off the chart high. He immediately had me discontinue the Liptor, but stay on all of my other medications. One month later, my liver enzymes were normal, and so was everything else; however, my cholesterol had climbed to 204, and I eat no meat, eggs, or other dairy products. They say my liver damage is permanent. Having had 4 lumbar surgeries and 1 cervical surgery to fuse disks in my spine, I have always attributed my back and other muscle pains to that. Now that I have been of the Lipitor for 3 months, I have not noticed in decrease in pain in these areas.

I am a 43 year old male in good health that decided to get off lipitor about 3 days ago due to the advice of my physician. I have been on it for 3 years at 20 mg daily. I am an avid runner completing 3 marathons in the last 4years, but lately haven't been able to run more than a mile or so without feeling tightness in my abs, legs, hips, and most recently my hands and elbows have mild to moderate pain. I've been noticing this over the past few months or so. I always thought it was due to over training, but I am convinced these are not normal muscle soreness/strain and I am eager to share my results as to how I feel in a few weeks/months. Today, which is day 3 without the drug, I have INCREASED pain in my hand, and an overall fatigue feeling. Has anyone else noticed this upon stopping the drug? God help all of us. This can't be doing mankind any good other than making the drug companies rich, and unfortunately, most physicians believe that these statins are wonder drugs, and prescribe them like candy.

After being on Lipitor for over 5 years, I was told to stop cold turkey by my doctor after my routine blood test. Within 10 days I got blood clots and a pulmonary embolism. I had been on an aspirin a day for over 10 years, I drank cranberry juice often and always ate green leafy veggies. I never had any blood clots before coming off the Lipitor and I am convinced that it caused them. It has been a struggle with the pains in my legs ever since. Has anyone had the same or have heard of someone with the same side effect? ******

Lipitor 20mg
*Muscle deterioration:*
I had to stop taking walks.
*Diarrhea:*
I am sorry to tell my doctor doesn't know how to treat me.
He raised Tenormin to 50 mg a day, and it made a catastrophy. Severe electrical heart problem. Very debilitating. Permanent chest pain. I acted: I reduced it to a minimal level of 12.5 mg a day.
I have stopped Lipitor 20 mg and replaced it with.

Nattokinase
CoQ10 (Ubiquinol)
Cucurma
Lecithin
Omega 3
Magnesium supplements
Very effective!
Above is from science. Lipitor is from business.

Now, all angina symptoms are gone. No more arythmia.
I have also dropped one aspirin a day, and replaced it with Allicin. (Concentred garlic)
I have learn that aspirin is doing the opposite of the expected effect for 40% of people. It is causing a sever eye pathology, macular degeneration, and stomach bleeding. And after many months it has no beneficial effects, only adverse effects.
Garlic has so many positive side effects.

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???

Hubby had angioplasty last month for 95% blockage and still has 75% blockage in two other arteries. Doctors put him on a handful of drugs (blood thinners, blood pressure meds, fish oil, aspirin) including Lipitor. Hubby has gone from healthy to being in constant pain, mostly in the legs. He had knee replacement last year and cant believe that this hurts worse! Also, his urine is darker and he has to 'go' more often. It's only been 1 month, but after reading up on the drugs, I've told him to refuse to take any more of the statins. I love him and want him around a long time, PAIN FREE. What's with these doctors?
For all of you who are suffering and wanting to get off the statins, increase your exercise to as much as you can stand, and then some! You'll not need the drugs anymore. Hubby and I are doing this as well as increasing our intake of legumes (my homemade bean soup for starters). I'd much rather he farts than cries in pain! Good luck to all and God bless you.

I am 54, I was diagnosed with diabetes type l in 2003. I started showing high cholesterol levels about 2 years ago. When it reached 280 I was prescribed Lipitor 10 mg at first after no improvement it was increased to 20mg. I was very much against this. I have problems with muscle pain, and dizziness.
I checked into an alternative from a doctor who is an MD but prefers natural solutions if possible. I stopped the Lipitor without the knowledge of my primary physician and started taking fish oil 3600mg daily in the evening.
9 weeks later both my cholesterol and triglycerides were normal. I told him about the fish oil, but he wanted me to continue the Lipitor, because diabetics should be on some type of statin medication to help protect the heart. I have visited a couple of sites and haven't anyone talking about liver function problems. I have had an ultra sound for my liver which showed some problems, I am still waiting on some of the tests to return. I also have an appointment to schedule a liver biopsy. When reading my first lab results his first words were." Your results are uncommonly abnormal, stop taking the Lipitor, I am going down and get an ultra sound set up for you." "You might be thinking it could be the diabetes causing this. My diabetes is completely under control, and haven't tested high sugar levels since first diagnosed. I don't drink or smoke. I would like to know if others have had problems with liver function tests being abnormal. Please everyone remember my doctors first response to the abnormal tests stop the Lipitor immediately, it wasn't let's run some other tests to see the cause, because you need the Lipitor as protection for your heart. This medication works in the liver which we only have one of, and it is an extremely vital organ for maintaining health on several levels.

I had been taking Lipitor for well over six years to help lower my Cholesterol count with no know side affects. A problem developed about two and a half years ago with nerve damage that gave me excruciating pain in my shoulder and arm. After an MRI and three cortisone shots I was referred to a neurologist for help. He had no idea what was causing the problem.

About six months after many doctors could do nothing for me, and referring me to a physical therapist, my wife showed me a story in a magazine, which I can no longer find, that talked about problems with Lipitor that had not been properly documented. The article talked about exactly the side effects I was having. The article said there was a problem with nerve damage. It had been well documented that some people had muscle problems, but it was not know there could also be a problem with nerve pain.

I contacted my doctor and stopped taking Lipitor. Two months later, the pain just disappeared. The very day the pain ceased, I had a visit from a good friend of mine who is a Radiologist and who had studied Lipitor because of a problem he was having.

He explained that Lipitor was doing the job it was supposed to do, namely keeping the liver from producing all fats. The problem I was having was that I had injured a nerve and Lipitor was keeping the liver from producing a particular fat needed to help heal that nerve. It seems that the myelin sheath around the nerve needs that fat to help the nerve heal itself, and Lipitor was preventing the production of that particular fat.

Once I quit taking Lipitor it took about two months for the healing fat production to do it's thing. Recovery of the nerves in that arm has been very slow, but they do seem to be healing now.

I thought this was such an important finding that I notified all the doctors I had seen about this problem. To my great surprise I heard from no one. Not even a thank you. I guess that since they didn't find the solution, they just were not interested.

I hope this discussion helps someone else. Thanks for listening.

I have been on 40mg/day of Lipitor for 5-6 months and this is how I feel: totally drained - no energy at all - horrible lower back pain - I've been in physical therapy for the past 6 weeks. My neck muscles, back muscles and hip muscles were in constant spasms. Right after beginning Lipitor I woke up with vertigo and still have the dizziness. I was convinced that I must have some horrible disease and was dying at age 47. I stopped taking Lipitor 3 weeks ago and starting taking fish oil, vitamin c, coq10, b vitamin, daily vitamin - the muscle spasms are a little better - still have lower back pain, brain fog, some dizziness. I am so tired all the time - it's so difficult to work a full time job right now. Has anyone else had these same symptoms? Does anyone know how soon I should start to feel better?

I have been posted before about my father symptom due to Lipitor, he has been stopped Lipitor nearly one year's ago and doctor put him on Ezetrol another name for zetia in Australia, he had the same side effect with that despite CPK normal and no doctors believed his problem is due to Lipitor or zetia. thanks to this side it help us a lot after one year's that he couldn't walk , getting up from chair, stoop posture, low energy he is now improving not completely but 20 % which is a lot I took him to many many doctors but it is shame for doctors that prescribing medication but don't know about the side effect. now he is taking half ezetrol5mg but nutritionist gave him therapy to lower cholesterol with food (Apple cider vinegar one spoon in water before meal 2 a day,lecithin,coq10,fish oil 4tab,oat bran,and milk thistle or st mary thistle liver tonic to detox the liver from Lipitor toxin) it is really helped him apple cider vinegar not only normalizes cholesterol but also gives energy as well so his weakness is improved 20%and also milk thistle really helped him, dizziness is getting lesser now he has hope that he is going to improve which is he did .seeing nutritionist helped him a lot rather than doctors. i will post his complete improvement .I hope for every one to get better soon

hi, my father was on lipitor since 6 years and he quit the medication last october 06 with not big change he still has dificulty walking very weak muscle cant stand stright and hard to get up or sit in the car,but he has some improvement that before all his body was numb which is he never felt pain now the numbness is gone but he is crumbling form severe pain,he dreamed all night and scared and maked noise while he was aslept but now he doesnt his upper leg was very hard like stone and numb and stiff but now it is abit like normal but very painful his memory improved his dry eyes subside but cant walkhe is starting coq10 50mg fish oil and also taking zetia10 mg and will see his improvement even my doctor refuse that lipitor is not doing this damage and i am a doctor study for 7 years and you means me just read few post from net and chalanging a doctor even he wants my father to put him bach to lipitor and write a prescription for him and i said to my father dont take it i copy some of these post and gave it to my doctor he didnt even look at it and siat it is all lies and none of them are rightand told me dont trust to these topic but i do coz all the symptom that i see here my father has and i dont believe to doctors any more about this what ever he say i wish full recovery for all the people who suffering from this medication and please if any one recoverd plz send me a private email on ******
i think pfizer should be sued by people who are suffering and this medication should be withdrawnfrom the market before it harm others.

I had been taking Lipitor for several years and had many of the common problems listed as possible side effects, however, since bloodwork showed no liver problems my doctors kept me on the drug. In Novemeber 2005, I had a 'charlie-horse' so bad that it tore a muscle in my right leg.

I stopped taking the drug, but the damage was done! Since that time my condition has continued to go down hill and no doctor has been able to help.

I am 48 years old and I have been taking Tricor for about 4 years. About 2 years ago my doctor added 10 mg of Lipitor. My cholesterol went from 235 to 145, however during the past 2 months I have started to develop joint and muscle pain in both my arms. I went to the doctor and he told me it was tendonitis. I felt that having it in both arms at the same time was weird. I have always been very physically active and have not changed my routine. Last weekend I stopped taking the Lipitor and I felt a little better. I took it again this week and the pain is back. My doctor told me it is not the Lipitor. I am going to stop it for a week a see what happens.

hi,iam writing regarding my father he was on lipitor for the period of 6 years and being 4 months which has been stopped lipitor but no significant change he is very weak the change is only that he is before feel numb and didnt feel the pain but now he feel pain and just 2 days ago he was changed felt abit better and then declined back i dont know what to do he is taking fish oil 3 tb per day and also doctor put him on zetia and alsohe is taking asprine ,losec,karvea for blood pressure norvox and aropax for deppreion is there any one who recoverd from lipitor side effect and if yes how long will it takesplz email me ***** i am so desperate for help plz plz help

My husband has gotten upper leg numbness and can hardly get up from a chair. He is taking red rice yeast, flaxseed oil and fish oil to help but so far he isn't any better. Hope someone out there can give us more help. The doctors just say exercise but it hasn't helped so far. Thank you all. Darlene and David

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!

Had triple bypass Feb. of 05. Been taking 40mg of lipotor eversince. Choles. stays down very well, however, wife thinks I am depressed, I know my energy level is very poor, and I have alot of soreness in my joints, mainly hands and knees. I am going to stop the lipotor and either use Bios-Life2, I know works, or try fish oil & flax seed

I have continued to check into this website periodically. I took two different statins with the same side effects that other folks are experiencing. I took myself off of the drugs even though my cardiologist told me to stay on them. I have zero side effects now and have returned to normal. I got my cholestoral to acceptable levels with heavy doses of fish oil, niacin, diet, and exercise....I cannot take statins and it is obvious others cannot either. My husband takes statins with no side effects...I am amazed at cardiologists ignoring these effects. The only way they will take you off is if your blood shows muscle loss...and, then, it is too late...

I am 48 years old and have been on 10mg of Lipitor for over a year. I have had bloating, constipation and occasional muscle cramps. I can't say for sure that this was all caused by Lipitor, but after reading so many posts here, it got me thinking about it. Recently I began experiencing bleeding gums, which I've never had before. Has anyone else had problems with their gums since they began Lipitor? I plan to stop taking it and begin exercising more regularly. Also I'm getting off red meat and eating more fish and chicken and fresh veggies. Perhaps my cholestoral will lower without the aid of drugs. Any thoughts?

Rob

Off Statins for about 2 months,,,,all of my side effects have disappeared, tinititus, muscle pains, muscle cramps, tingling,etc, etc...I am trying fish oil and niacin. We will see if it works..I am trying it without the doctor because he told me to stay on statins..I will keep you posted

Nell

I have written several times on this page. The latest, I told you my cardiologist was unhappy when I took myself off of Lipitor and he is trialing me on another statin, Crestor. I immediately had similar signs plus nausea. I have again taken myself off of statins. I do not have a family history of heart disease but do strokes. My husband takes statins so far with no problems. I am going to try and take over the counter fish oil and Niacin and not tell my doctor. Then, I will take a cholesterol test and see what happens. I am going to watch the diet sooooo close and really stick to exercise. If it does not work, I do not know where to turn. I just don't think everyone can take statins and doctors won't admit it and think the affects without it are worse than with. I will keep everyone posted on my over the counter stuff.....nelll

I have read with concern the side effects posted by others.

My wife was on 10 miligrams of Lipitor for a little over a month and began having severe pain in her legs. I told her to stop until she visited our doctor, but she went ahead. Our doctor immediately took her off. He will try something else in a month.

It is ironic to because I have been on Lipitor for two years now, over 80 mg for the past year or so, and can't say I've had any side effects at all. I can say that my total cholesterol is under 100. Not sure if that's from the diet and fish oil or from the drugs.

Yessir Mr Guest #5666. You are not alone in feeling "old" before your time. I'm 52 and only after 4 months on the Statin am feeling practically everything you speak of and more. Like I'm 82 instead! Yikes!

I need to report.....since having my LAST dose on Friday morning (the 14th of May) and none since I'm ALREADY starting to feel a bit better as of tonight, midnight Sunday night. I know that the chemistry will hang out in my system for a while but am already encouraged.

Since all my "numbers" are very good (I've hit all the targets) and my Ejection Fraction on my last Echo is at 2% above "normal for 52 year olds".....My plans are to stay on the Plavix, aspirin and Metoprolol and also use natural supplements such as Vitamins E, Bs 6 and 12, CoQ10, Fish oil tabs, 2 tblspoons of vinegar, Green Magma®, and plenty of juicing of carrots, apples, and other essential veggies. I'm also eating TONS more salmon and hardly any beef. Plus I'm walking fast for 45 minutes daily.

I'll keep you all posted at least weekly on my new plan. I feel very encouraged as to the outcome. Not nearly as anxiety ridden as I have been lately.

Prayers,
Geary

I was put on Lipitor because of a one time spike in my Trigliceride. It was only 10mg for three weeks. Within a week my ankles were stiff and my feet heavy. I had cramps/pain in the legs. Within a couple of weeks, I had pain in all my joints and muscles, especially my legs. It has now been a year, and I've have been told that if I don't stop the process, I may not make it. All of my muscles have atrophied to the point that I can hardly walk. My spine is no longer being supported my my muscles so I have three torn disks. No one will address that problem because the muscles are not strong enough to undergo even the most minor procedure. In addition, my hips have seperated as though I had been in an accident. The only accident was taking Lipitor. I am desperate to find some help. Time is running out. I am already on CoQ10 and Fish Oil. If anyone can point me in the right direction, it would greatly be appreciated. I have been to California with no help. Please, please, please. I will do whatever necessary to stop this horrific illness. It is beyond my imagination how they can get away with passing these drugs out like candy. Help, Dianne