Lipitor and hair loss

I wrote the message below on March 9th, 2008, but I think it might be useful if I repeat it.

Please educate yourself.

Are you really sure that it`s high cholesterol that is causing heart disease?

All statins have similar side effects!!
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It`s very disturbing to read all these stories. I really feel for you.

My experience comes from seeing what happened to people close to me.

They all took statins.

I started to look for information on statins, and other medications in 2004 and it continues to this day although two of my relatives are dead.

I have nothing to do with the health or pharmaceutical industry.

I saw the suffering and it made me very angry.

I am an ordinary lady in her sixties who live in Sweden.

The situation is almost the same here as in the U.S.

There is very little discussion about risks/benefits with this kind of medicatications - or others.

I think it`s a good idea to turn to the Internet and books to get other views about the cholesterol issue.

Is it really true that it`s the cholesterol that is causing heart disease?

Are you sure?

Please visit:

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Also search articles etc on "Stopped our statins" and on the names of the different authors below.

Also read:

The Cholesterol Myths (Uffe Ravnskov)

The Great Cholesterol Con (Antony Colpo)

Book with the same title (Malcolm Kendrick)

Overdosed America (John Abramson)

The Truth about the Drug Companies (Marcia Agnell)

Malignant Medical Myths (Joel M. Kauffman)

There are many more.

Please look on the Internet for more information about each book.

It´s good to have some other information than the one given by doctors because most of them have been "educated" by the pharmaceutical companies themselves - and why should they talk about risks, side effects etc. They are interested in profits.

Finally - here are some side effects that I have seen:

pains in legs, hands, elbows, shoulders, knees, hips, cracking noise in ribs, muscle weakness, loss of hair, head ache, burning, tingling sensations in hands and feet, numbness, difficulties to swallow, loss of taste, ringing noise in ears, cramps, insomnia, irritation, depression, difficulty with short-term memory and then advancing into more serious problems.

These side effects - for 3 different people - all over 65 - did not come at once.

All of them had taken statins for years (Zocor)

It doesn´t matter which product -all statins have similar side effects.

Search for "Stopped our statins" on Google. It´s a very informative site and under "print articles" there are som articles that you can take along to your doctor for discussion.

I particularly like the one from Weston Price Foundation
and explains the different statin studies and side effects. .

My relatives also had some other medications which makes it even easier for doctors (and patients) to say that it`s just old age.

I am happy for those who get problems right away because then there maybe a chance for the patient and the doctor to see that there is a connection.

You really have to look out for yourself and the people around you!

Good Luck.

I am a 62 year old widow. Have insulin-dependent stage 2 diabetes. Was put on Lipitor 20 mg 2 years ago. I am astonished by this web site which lists every one of my concerns: short term memory loss, severe hip pain, shooting pain (especially in my eyes) foggy vision, fatigue as though I'm on chemotherapy, nausea, hair loss and, no surprise, recurrent depression with weepiness. What's motivating me to write is I've recently met a kindly, attentive gentleman, and now I discover I also have zero libido! I've been married more than once; I know what's missing. More than all the other aches and pains, I would love to sue for "loss of pleasure in life"

Hi
I am 64 years female and have been on 20mg Lipitor for 1 year, about 3 months ago my hair started falling out and I now have quite big bald patches My head hurts and I am having bad head aches. I also had knee shoulder & elbow pain. I stopped taking Lipitor about 2 weeks ago. The pain in my shoulder etc has eased. My Doctor was not very happy about stopping the Lipitor. I do not know if the hair loss is from Lipitor and how long it will take to stop falling out if this is the culprit ,if so will my hair grow back.

61 year old female, on Lipitor 2002-2005 10 mgs a day. Doc increased dose 2006-current to 20 mgs a day. No muscle problems BUT hair has thinned out dramatically! Doc called today and reduced dose back to 10 mgs for 6 weeks as liver enzymes up with tests last week. Also have tingling in feet. Haven't read all the posts here yet as just found site today but anyone else losing hair and taking drug? If you had hair loss and quit the drug, did your hair come back? If your liver tests were higher and you cut back on the dose, did your numbers go down?

I'm a woman, about to turn 50.....and have been experimenting with the statins for about two months(not by choice either). I tried Zocor and had a stop that after 10 days because of massive hair loss. Once stopped....the hair loss stopped immediately. Just a ill more than a month later I started on Lipitor. All seemed to be going ok. NO hair loss. BUT.......mannnnn I don't sleep hardly at all. I'm tired beyond all belief......and its that bone deep OMG I'm sooooo exhausted type tired. I often times don't eat an evening meal after work because I seriously don't think I cant stand long enough to make anything. My legs feel as though they cannot move another inch. I have horrible cramps in my fingers.....the calf of both legs and now in my rib area. Ive had horrible horrible blurred vision.....my attention span is about as long as a gnat!!!!! I seem to have an all over bone deep body ache. It gets to the point that if MOVING A MUSCLE would save my life........Id have to die sitting still....I cant do it. The every day you wake up in the morning headache is way beyond OLD. I also notice I'm nauseous and or have a gut ache almost all the time. Its effectively killing my appetite so maybe I'll lose weight, but damn..is this the way to do it?

WHY wont the doctors believe that this damn drug is responsible?

I am an active 63 year old male. I have been on 10mg lipitor for 5 years and have experienced a very gradual muscle degeneration in my legs, feet numbness & tingling and hair loss from my ankles up. I have been to a neurologist, two Chiropactors, and Physical therapy and got some relief, but these symptoms never really disappeared. Recently, my bad cholestrol level increased and my doctor doubled my level to 20mg. After a month, my symptons are now worse and I can hardly get out of bed in the morning with sore muscles in my legs. I have had full skeleton x-rays and MRI's and Bone Bi-op. and have been cleared from other problems such as cancer. I have a strong feeling that my problems are from Lipitor. My doctor is in love with the drug. I am going to stop the Lipitor for a month regardless and see what happens. Joe

I was taking 20mg of Lipitor for over a year and noticed that I was losing significant amounts of hair from my head. I
decreased the dosage to 10mg, every other day, but I
still saw hair loss. I stopped taking Lipitor about 3
months ago, and I don't see any new hair growth, and
I'm still losing some hair, but at this point I suppose some
hair loss is normal. Has anyone else experienced this
problem, and if so, what steps did you take to correct it?
I am a 69 year old female.
Thank you.

My doctor increased my dosage from 20mg to 40mg per day. I've noticed sudden,rapid hair loss. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with Lipitor.

I would like to worn anybody who is about to start to use Lipitor to please read the side effects first. I have been using Lipitor 40 mg for the past four years, and durning that time landed 3 times in hospital (taken by ambulace) with misterious chest pains, plus several visit do the doctor with the same complain. After the check-up , they told me I had muscle inflammation and was given strong pain-killers. The pain in my chest muscles was so severe, that I couldn't move, or take a breath... I also experienced progressing lack of concentration, hair-loss, numbness in my both feet, memory loss, and bad itching on my legs. Just recently I had a severe pain in my chest again and started to ask myself what is causing it. I read the information leaflet (for the first time...!!!) from my Lipitor tablet box and decided to stop taking it. It's been mow 4 days, and no pain. However, I still wonder if there is some permament damage done to my system, as it is too early to tell.

Been taking statins for several years and have put up with the muscle aches and general feeling of unwellness for some time now. Took myself off Lipitor 20 mg dose this week after having investigated side effects. Why does it take years of people suffering through these side effects, poisoning their body for someone to come up with a better, less toxic drug. My mother has been on statins much longer than I and has all of the classic symptoms:hair loss, tinnitus, weakness, muscle pains, loss of balance, pains in her head so sharp she says it's like someone's sticking a knife into her. Unfortunately, she comes from a different generation that doesn't dare go against her Drs. advice and will probably suffer these side effects to her grave.
Looking now for an alternate, with my family history of cardiac problems, thought I was doing something good for myself by taking Lipitor. Started taking garlic pills but would welcome any safe alternatives.

Hair loss, which didn't occur to me until I read the postings - my hair is everywhere in the house but on my head! Muscle pain, weakness, and atrophy, itchy skin and eyes, joint pain (from muscle weakness??) is excruciating - after months on physical therapy was pronounced a failure and referred to a pain specialist and another surgeon. Could not raise my arms w/o terrible pain, hurt to drive my car. Nausea, dark urine, alternate constipation and diarrhea, dizziness.

I don't know whether to be excited or terrified after finding this site and reading the postings. At first reading, the only symptom I have NOT had while on Lipitor is the numbness and tingling in legs and feet. I've been concerned I have some terrible, undiagnosed and terminal disease.

Have had surgery on one shoulder and am awaiting surgery on the other, plus a re-do of a scoped knee which is now unbearably painful. Also have had multiple steroid injections at different sites, and am scheduled for another next week - this time in my lower back. Was put on Paxil for pain, but have weaned myself off that. Was diagnosed with spinal stenosis and fibromyalgia. Wouldn't take the meds for the fibromyalgia because of the side effect mentioned in the literature - HAIR LOSS! I was already losing my hair! Finally found a surgeon who told me to GET OFF THE LIPITOR!

Problem is, I had also been on Bextra at least four years, I think, for long term mild lower back pain, and knee pain, so am wondering if arthritis could have set in and been masked by the Bextra, which I came off of at the same surgeon's insistence. One week later it was taken off the market.

Am now off all anti-inflammatory drugs while awaiting my latest steroid injection, and yes, I do fear the side effects of THAT! My pain is back to the "rocking and swaying" stage, and I'm awake in the middle of the night researching Lipitor! Does it ever stop??

I am Executive Director of Montana Celiac Society. Complaints have come to me from patients stating that Lipitor was causing diarrhea, hair loss, mouth sores, stomach cramps, bloating, weight loss, etc; so I checked the ingredients, almost certain that I would find the ingredient lactose. And I did...
This is dangerous, especially since 70% of the world's population is lactose intolerant. Your drug is not absorbed when taken by a person unable to digest lactose--it is lost in the storm of the intolerance. I suggest better labeling.

Hi fellow sufferers, my wife sent me this link a while ago, been a little scared to check it out, until now. So glad I did. Thanks to all who contributed, and I wish you all the best in your recovery.
I asked my " quack " about side effects of Lipitor a while ago, he said there were none ! ( Time for a new doctor )
I will print your comments out and hand deliver to him.
I took myself off Lipitor a few days ago, before reading all these sad stories, maybe I knew something was going on.
I have experienced most of the symptoms you all describe, except hair loss, and very painful cramp like pains.
I HOPE THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS TERRIBLE DRUG, COUNT ME IN !
Once again, thanks to you all and speedy recovery.

I have had severe pain in my right hip-joint area and difficulty sleeping on that side for several weeks now, and it is increasing in intensity. I have experienced the "fog" that many have discussed as well, leg and foot cramps are all too familiar as well as the dizziness periodically! I had noticed increased stiffness upon arising in the morning but attributed that to possible arthritus, hmmm, now makes me wonder. I also thought the increased hair loss (nothing creating baldness) that I found inconvenient, I feel like a shedding dog, was from aging! After reading so many comments about Lipitor, I am wondering if there is a link with this medication.

I do have one symptom I would like to inquire with others about...I had a bout with Hemoptysis (bleeding lungs) and recently nose bleeds, for no apparent reason other than minor activity. Also I have a feeling of being "Anxious" for no reason and it is not a normal feeling for me to experience even during duress circumstances. Are others experiencing similar reactions that may be related to taking Lipitor? Thanks. Tomball, Texas

severe calf muscle pain,back pain ,loss of hair,loss of sleep

Muscle pain feet severe hair loss.

I have been taking lipitor for 2 years and have esperienced hand swelling with muscle and leg pain. Hair loss has also been noticable. Also have considerable amounts of hand/feet swelling. I have been seeing several doctors for back pain/shoulder pain with the recommendation I need surgery.They have never suggested the medication could be a contributing factor.

I am stopping the lipitor and see doing more research. Thanks for your imput everyone!

Hair loss, joint pain, bloating, itchy rash, dry skin
weight gain.

Have been on Lipitor for nearly four years. Cardiologist told me to stop taking it today.

I'd like to know of side effects from stopping! Will hair grow back?

I'm female in my 70's with a recently installed pacemaker.

Hair loss ,sever pain in muscles taking oxcodone for pain,iam a Lupus Patient i dont need this pain have enough to began with.So weak un real few steps pain gets unmangeable,this is unreal is there a class action suit against this or not? would love to know , how can they get away with this and nothing heared in news on it unreal!
Shannon Fadness

40 mg lipitor for 2 months, I am experiencing daily headaches and muscle pain in calves. Also have had an overall feeling of disconnection, and some minor hair loss that I'd attributed to a chemical treatment on my hair. Beginning to wonder if this is all connected to Lipitor...

I have been on lipitor for 21 months. However, not steadily. During that time period, when my husband and I were trying to have a baby, I'd stop it, then I'd go back. (Did not get pregnant). My point is, during the last 3 months, I have noticed a significant hair loss. On the top of my head, I am developing a bald spot. This would be greatly upsetting to anyone, but since I'm a 39 year female, I'm taking this pretty hard. My doctor claims, it's not the lipitor, the side effect would have shown up months earlier. A friend of mine, also said she had significant hair loss after 18 months on Lipitor. Why is my doctor so adamant that it cant be the Lipitor?

Extreme muscle tear. Hamstring,shoulder tear reconstruction twice. Daily falls and muscle pain,
80mg. Lipitor for about 5yrs. Hair loss.
Undergoing ct. scan
Rang Pfizer Pty Ltd. Sympathetic Pharmacist , told to see doctor at once. Condition not always reversible.
Where do I go from here?

Dose 20mg/day. Been taking for 1 yr. Severe Muscle pain around neck area and joint. Headache, dizziness. Some memory loss. Feel a bit better with excersise, but still have muscle pain. Also some hair loss. Cholesterol level did drop from 298 to 175.