Lipitor and joints

I started feeling much better very quickly after being off Lipitor now 7 months. However, the symptoms I had using the RX has cause significant problems. I fell so many times with my weak joints and muscles, that I had severe problems. I now need to have knee replacement surgery after falling so many times injuring my knees and weakened muscles to support myself. I am getting cortisone shots in that knee, as well as physical therapy. My MRI shows a torn meniscus, stretch PCL very thin, cartlidge loss and debris, still swollen with csyt after all these months. With no meds, and lack of being able to exercise, I now have hig-chol back. On and on it goes.... a real catch 22. Take care of yourself, watch out for symptoms. I ignored sx's thinking it was stress but after reading adverse reactions, it fit me to the T.
My original posting re: Lipitor is Forestseaski on Jan. 2, 2009

C.

Can anyone tell me if you can just stop Lipitor cold turkey or do you have to stop it slowly? I have been taking Lipitor for 5 years now and I have been trying to find out what is causing my leg weakness. I mentioned it to my doctor who said it si just a fact of getting older. The problem is getting worse and I noticed it started about 3 months after taking the Lipitor and has steadily gotten worse. I am 49 years old a little over weight {which I am working on}. I also noticed my asthma which I haven't delt with since a small child has come back. This may or may not have to do with the Lipitor but the pain in my knees and legs I believe do. It really hurts in the joints of my legs and sometimes in my shoulder area.

My second trip to this forum. A couple years ago, I developed plantar's fasciitis in both heels and had to give up basketball (at 54), and it took about nine months to recover from that. I had been on Lipitor 10 mg, and, while I can't say there was a cause-effect relationship, I had no problems of this kind before then.

Well, I continued on the Lipitor, and this past fall got horrible impingement pain in one shoulder that evolved to a frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis). Tonight I did a quick google search on this and it led me back to this site. Again, I cannot PROVE anything, but I've NEVER had any trouble with joints and just have to wonder.

I read on one link that Frozen Shoulder is on the rise, and wonder if Statin use is possibly behind it. I'm at the point that I may go off these drugs and go hard core Atkins diet again, the only thing that got the excess 30 pounds I'm carrying off, and also gave me "textbook" numbers on my lipid profile.

I'm starting to think this drug is possibly the problem. It's not worth it to take a debilitating and crippling substance just to be able to eat whatever I want.

I am a 52 year old male.8 years ago I had a heart attack.2 stents were put in.I have been on lipitor for the past 8 years.I was on 80 mg. for years,cholesterol got so low the Doctor reduced it to 40 mg.I lived with minor soreness,thinking it was age,arthritis,and a side effect of my very physical job.3 weeks ago joint pain started getting worse! Knee, hips,and especially the shoulders.It got to the point I could hardly crawl out of bed.Feb.20 called the doctor and he told me to stop the lipitor immediately! Today Feb. 24 pain is way less already.I wonder now about long term damage to muscles and joints! I am supposed to call him at the end of the week,very curious about what the conversation will be like. I do not plan to go back on the lipitor especially after reading this web-site.Thanks

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. ******

I took Lipitor for about 6 months. Right after I began taking it, my legs, especially my right leg began hurting. I got off the drug at 6 months because my legs hurt so badly I could not sleep at night. I just had X-rays of my right knee done, and I have almost no cartridge left on my right knee cap. I now may have to have knee replacement therapy. My doctor that put me on the lipitor said that it was not the lipitor that caused. I think it is very odd the pain began when I started the drug.

Hello I'm a 41 year old female, and I took Lipitor 20 mgs for 6 months about two years ago. When I called my doctor's office to complain about side effects they told me it couldn't be the Lipitor because I had been taking it for a month already, and would have had problems before that. I eventually took myself off of the drug 5 months later. Here are some of the side effects I experienced:
Itchy fingertips, increased blood pressure, 30lb weight gain, shaky hand writing, acne, poor driving skills, poor memory, hair loss, "frozen joints", IBS, incontinence, low grade fever, itchy feet, numb toes, numb hands, foggy brain, joint pain, muscle pain, foot pain, plantar pain, dizzy, jaw pain, back and neck pain, week ankles and wrists, nasal allergies, skin rashes, migraines, heartburn, Increase in Astham, heart palpitations, knee pain, difficulty standing up from sitting position, difficulty climbing stairs, water retention alternating in feet, hands, arms and legs, almost constant taste of bile in my mouth.
These are only the ones I can remember. Two years down the road everything but the muscle and joint pain and weakness is gone. even those have improved a lot. I stopped taking the Lipitor and lost all 30lbs I had gained on it, without dieting, in a months time. I still have two toes on each foot that are partially numb. I have trouble climbing stairs, and getting up from a sitting position. I can do both, but I move slowly while doing them. The pain in my muscles and joints drives me crazy, but I'm grateful that the rest of the symptoms have cleared up. My doctor never believed me about my symptoms, and neither does my new doctor really. Went to the emergency room for asthma that was not responding to my inhaler, and they were about to let me go home when I mentioned to the doctor that I had been on Lipitor. Suddenly a huge battery of tests were ordered including a CT scan and a stress test. When I asked the doctor why he said that they just wanted to be sure that it wasn't something other than asthma. Why did they do that after hearing about the Lipitor? Do they know something? Are there doctors who believe that statins are killing and seriously injuring people? I'm so angry. Even as I sit here typing I know when I stand up I will have massive amounts of pain that I will have to "walk off". My quadriceps have not recovered, and remain ridiculously weak.
If I can stop one other person from going through this I will be happy. Thanks everyone for taking the time to list your symptoms. It makes me feel better to know that someone believes me, and knows what I am going through.

Hi, I am a 45 year old male with high cholesterol. prescribed 20mg. of Lipitor to control it. Am having a strange twitching muscle in my right calf since I started the meds. Forearms hurt, trouble sleeping, twitching in my sleep, apparently, tiredness. I'm worried about going off it. My dad died of a heart attack. Would it hurt to try going off it for about 3 months?

Get off the Lipitor, me and me husband, both had the severe joint pain. The pain moved from one joint to the next. It would be in the shoulder, then the next day or so, it would move to our feet, then to the hand and wrist. It would swell , so bad, that it felt like, that part of the body was going to burst !!! My husband was on LIPITOR for 1 1/2 years, before it hit him. Doctors thought it was gout, and my husband was walking on a walker ,at 49 years old, and never being unhealthy. I was on LIPITOR for only one month, after a stint was put in my heart. Believe me, it is not the stint , it is the LIPITOR. I knew what it was when it got in my joints, so I went off it right away. It still takes about 2 weeks to get it out of your system. I now know of other people, who are on LIPITOR, that have severe muscle cramps. If this is happening to you, then you can not take anything with STATINS , in it. If you are allergic to STATINS, it can cause another muscle disorder , that can destroy your muscle tissue.

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 started using lipitor from my doctor, it lowered my cholesterol all around but I started to have lower back pains. At first I thought it might be prostate cancer, but after having to MRI's done they found no cancer, thank god. But I went to an orthopedic surgeon to see what the problem was. He looked at the mri's and saw lower dics hitting my nerve endings. He also thought that it might be muscle problems so he gave me 3 epidurals and that helped for a while took away about 50% of my pain, but I still have the pain, It is hard for me to get comfortable when I sit or even when I am sleeping. I don't want to think that it is the lipitor that is doing it to me but after talking with others I feel it is time to talk to my doctor about it. My doctor said that lipitor is the safest one that will do very little harm to my liver. I am not a doctor so I would not know.. My cholesterol level was 246 at one time now it is 175. I am now facing possible spine fusion to help correct my disc problem. But will also ask doctor to prescribe something else.

Alan

I am 55 years old. I had open Heart surgery when I was 41. In the last five years, my triglycerides where high. I was on, Lipitor, Tricor, Mobic.
I droped thr Tricor, because I went on line and learned you are not supposed to take tricor and Lipitor together. Lately I have had tingling just below my neck. I am feeling flu like symptoms the last couple of days for no apparent reason. I am weak, all my joints amd muscles ache. My Cholesterol is about 146. Well after reading all this I am going off this stuff today. Are these some of the symptoms?
Also in the last 2 years I have gone from a 8 and half size shoe to a 9 and half...like my feet have swollen.

My husband is 46 years old. He has been taking Lipitor for over 8 years. He has had several of the side effects mentioned. He has had memory loss, pain in his feet and joints. He also has had problems sleeping.

In the past two months he has developed a rash. It first started on his left leg. He went to his doctor and told him of his problem. The doctor told him to just try an over the counter medicine for rashes. He tried this and it did not help. The rash is now all over his body. He has been going to a skin specialist for the last three weeks.

The doctor took him off of the Lipitor and the rash has started to clear up. It is going to leave black spots all over his body. Has anyone else out there had any of these side effects?

I first reported the effects Lipitor had on my dad, white male age 77 in February 2008. He had been on Lipitor for about 7 years. Side effects of pain in hands, joints, muscles, tingling at wrist area, nightmares, tossing and turning. After much convincing, I took him off Lipitor Feb. 4th. It has only been 3 months, but he has done so well, not all the way free of hurt, but getting there. When arthritis doctor tested him, his tests showed no arthritis (possible cause for pain). Finally got his cholesterol checked last week and it is normal, we did put him on CoQ10 to help restore some things Lipitor takes out of your system. I am begging you all to find an alternative means to treat your cholesterol ( Fish oil tablets - with a total daily allowance of 1000 EPA and DHA combined) is a start. It took dad about 6 years of Lipitor before it really starting showing up, and luckily we got him off of it or he would be sitting in a chair in so much pain that he couldn't do anything.

Let me begin by telling you that I am a nurse with 28 years experience. My father is 76 years old with a history of cardiac problems. He has been on Lipitor for 8 years. In the past two months he has developed muscle pain that had gotten to the point he could hardly walk. His doctor diagnosed him with "arthritis." His joints did not hurt and I questioned his diagnosis. What he has is fibromyalgia. Muscle dysfunction caused by Lipitor. We have taken him off of the drug and he is improving. In place of Lipitor he now takes 2000 milligrams of vitamin C daily. Vitamin C is a natural way to control cholesterol. In my opinion I suggest anyone taking symvistatin in any form should stop immediately. It is a very dangerous drug. If you think this is what you have please request your physician order the following two tests.....CPK and serum myogluten levels. Cholesterol is very important to muscle function and that is why it is produced by the body. Zocor, Lipitor, ( symvistatin) inhibits the production thus lowering the level. Let me add that prior to this condition onset my dad was riding his bike 3 plus miles a day and could out walk me any day of the week. This drug has disabled him. We are hoping for a full recovery but that is yet to be seen.
Thank you ******

I took 10 mg of Lipitor daily for over a year and a half.

This winter the aches in my joints seemed much worse and vague, over-all aching seemed to take over my body at times. The aches seemed to move around and be non-specific at times. I thought I might have fibromyalgia and ordered some kind of balm formulated to relieve that - but nothing seemed to help. I am 69 years old, very active, and suddenly I felt like I was 100 years old. In fact, my father lived to be 99 and he felt better at 99 than I did at 69! I got to the point that I was having nights when I did not sleep at all and I couldn't figure out what was happening to me. My toes went numb on both feet.

On my own I stopped Lipitor 4 days ago and I'm already a new person. I'm disgusted that professionals aren't more reluctant to prescribe this stuff for patients, and once prescribed that they don't monitor patients closely for these symptoms. I'm hoping that my numb toes will not return. Already I'm sleeping 6 hours straight at night. I can't believe this prescription has been getting away Scott free without being treated like a danger to some patients.

I wonder how much "fibromyalgia" is Lipitor-related?

Male 58 years old. Heart Attack and 5 bypass on Jan 23,2008. I was put on Lipitor 80mg. and have had a few muscle pains which I blamed on recovery from the surgery. But, after seven weeks, I began to be exhausted and have jaw pain. Then old injuries to my back and shoulder became very painful. I started to hurt all over in joints and have nerve firing both sciatic and on my groin. my inner right elbow hurt. Then depression came on . My wife suggested I check my medication. I found this site and others and decided to stop the Lipitor . The side effects were 95 % better within 46 hours after stopping the Lipitor. Now, 72 hours later, I only have a little tenderness in the backs of my thumbs. But, even that is greatly reduced.

Hello,
I am following up with my father's case that I wrote about in January,(jb4boys). He is 77 and I took him off of Lipitor on my own on Feb. 4,2008. We have yet to tell his primary physician, but have told the arthritis specialist I took him to 3 weeks ago. The tingling going up his arms has stopped and he is sleeping better, hands still hurt, but are getting better. I have started him on fish oils- omega 3. Am told that the Omega 3 DHA and EPA totals need to be over 1000, and actual fish (sardine, anchovy, etc.). Bloodwork from arthritis doctor showed no arthritis, but x-rays did show swelling in hands and feet. He was on Lipitor for 7 years, so it will take a while for him to get rid of this drug in his system. Have heard that Lipitor attacks the muscles, joints and then the heart. I can honestly say that I have not heard of 1 person with a positive comment about this drug. Find another way to control your cholesterol, there are many natural supplements that have been proven to help - with no side effects. Have also heard that wellness doctors and acupuncture is another natural way to lower your diabetes, cholesterol, hbp - all natural.
Good luck and keep in touch with how you are progressing.

My father has been taking Lipitor for 5-6 years. It wasn't until my mother passed away in Dec. '07 that I started looking into his health. He used to be a hard working and vibrant man, but sometime in the summer of '06 he started doing less and less around the house. His hands would ache and so would his joints, he could not grip things like he used to, he would wake up at night in pain. He is 77 years old and had a stroke about 8-10 years ago. After looking into Lipitor I saw all the possible side effects and it warns not to take if you are over 70, have had a stroke , etc., etc., BUT the doctor kept him on it. Feb 4th, I talked him into getting off of it. We will let the doctor know after a month or so. Hopefully he still has a chance to get somewhat back to the man and workaholic father I know him as.

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 absolutely amazed at all the side effects that may be a result of Lipitor.I have been on Lipitor for approx.4 weeks. Accdg to my blood work, my cholesterol was extremely high...possible genetic factor.(father had hight cholesterol).My diet is fairly low in fat, exercised regularly, etc. I have had muscle, joint, breast, and all over body pain, nausea, headaches,decreased energy. I actually think I am having heart attack or stroke pain....I have become very anxious due to these symptoms. Having lipid profile done tomorrow, see the doctor next week. I am going to go off the Lipitor and see about an alternative from a health food store.(I am also a registered nurse)

I am a 47 year old female and started using Lipitor (10 mg) about 4 weeks ago. In the last two weeks, I have been experiencing numbness, pain and weakness in my extremities. The numbness and pain is excruciating from my neck to the tips of my fingers on my left side. I am also weak and my muscles ache throughout my entire body. My joints hurt and are extremely stiff from my feet to my shoulders and I was so tired yesterday (November 26, 2007) that I could not go to work. I was about ready to go to the emergency room today thinking I have some undiagnosed illness, but since reading the side effects of others, I am calling my Doctor to inform him of my problems and I have am refraining from taking anymore Lipitor. I just want to know if the symptoms will go away after the medication is completely out of my system.

I am 36 years old and have been on Lipitor 40 for about 5 years. Over time, I have noticed it very difficult to concentrate and focus. I am always dragging, and my shoulders, neck and legs always ache. I guess I chalked most of it up to getting old. But recently, I started to get burining, shooting pains in my left elbow area (doctor says tennis elbow). After doing a little research - I was shocked to find that almost every symptom that I have- can be related back to Lipitor. I stopped taking it for a few weeks, and I started to feel a little better. I stopped because I couldn't afford it. Once I was able to refill my prescription- the same issues started again. I think that I am going to stop it for good, and document changes in my body. Hopefully for the better

I originally went on 10mg of lipitor a day in January,2007, experienced leg pain,muscle ache and weakness,so after 3 weeks went off the drug on my own.In June 2007 after talking to different Dr's I went back on Lipitor,10mg, figuring that I had not really given the drug a chance as sometimes side effects do subside after a while.I saw my Dr on July 3rd & my cholesterol had gone down to 170 in about 3 weeks.I told him about my symptoms, which were the same as before & he told me to let him know if they got worse.By August 30th 2007 I just could not tolerate the pain and achiness all over my body,I was not sleeping well as every time I turned in my bed I woke up from the pain ( We even got a new mattress fguring maybe that was contributing to the joint pain) My joints became swollen & red,I could not lift up my arms,they were so sore and weak,my neck was so stiff that it was hard to drive and have to turn my head,I had a constant headache and what seemed to me like a"fuzzy brain"I am 63 years old and have never experienced anything like this,I am an active woman with a great deal of energy and people who know me could not believe what was happening, instead of scooting ahead of everyone I was barely keeping up.I found myself not wanting to eat as my stomach was constantly bloated & in pain & I was gaining weight too.
I went off Lipitor on September 1st and the withdrawal sypmtoms have been horrendous, I went to see my Dr yesterday & he put me on an anti inflamatory drug ,I have taken 2 dosages & am already feeling an improvement.This web site really helped as I felt I was not alone suffering from the side effects of Lipitor.Many people I have talked to have experienced the same symptoms but were attributing them to aging.

I was initially prescribed 20 mg of Lipitor as my cholesterol was well over 300 (365). However, the same week I started the 20 mg, I was hit my a car as a pedestrian and had so many aches and pains from that, that I felt the 20 mg of Lipitor was aggravating my recovery from the car incident so requested of my Doctor to "start" at 10 mg instead. I am also "medication sensitive". I have only been on the med for 4 1/2 months and initially things were "OK"...I did notice some aching muscles and joints, but this actually seemed to subside. However, in the past 4-6 weeks, many symptoms seemed to get worse...I feared I had Lyme Disease again, but the symptoms felt "different" though similar...aching muscles and joints...especially both my hands and wrists, hips and knees, very bad headaches, constant nasal problems including horrendous post-nasal drip and "face pain" like sinusitus, a feeling like I was getting bronchitis all the time and needing to use my asthma inhaler, even though my asthma is very, very mild, and profound fatigue. I also noticed "some" mental confusion and forgetfulness. I decided to go off the medication just two days ago and already feel better. I plan to get my cholesterol checked within the next week, but doubt seriously that I will go back on this drug...UNLESS it would be something like 5 mg every other day. I also lost weight (on purpose), have tried to get more exercise, and eat better as part of the overall plan to better manage my cholesterol...so, unless this continued health plan does not keep my cholesterol down, I will not take more than that of this drug (5 mg QOD).

I started taking 20mg Lipitor 10 years ago,when I was 53 yrs old, as I had a heart attack from unstable agina and high cholestrol.For most of this time I have suffered aches and pains, excema on my hip and stomach areas and severe leg cramps. For the past 12 months I have felt lethargic, in a 'switched off and isoloated'' frame of mind with painful hand joints and foot swelling. My eyesight has deteriorated quickly and I feel plain OLD!! After reading other people's experiences I am going to stop taking lipitor/statins immediately and monitor any change carefuly.

I have terrible ringing in my ears which never stops. The pain in both of my feet is excruciating to the point of tears every day every moment. My joints in my hands are crippling. There is pain in my shoulders and arm muscles. I have not been able to sleep through a night without waking up in severe pain. If this is how one feels with lower cholesterol, then what is the point? I am mad at myself for never questioning or doing any homework prior to beginning this or any drug but trust me, I am a quick learner and this will never happen again. I just pray I haven't ignored the symptoms too long.

I started taking Lipitor Sept, 2006. Soon after I thought I had the flu and was really sick for about 3 weeks. I assumed the muscle pain was due to the flu. I've felt really tired, aches all over, muscle pain, horrible lower back pain (I also have 2 bulging discs but the pain is worse than it's ever been) and I can't sleep a whole night through. I wake up in the middle of the night due to pain in my hands (the joints in my fingers almost feel like there's fluid around them and it's hard to move them), or back and leg pains. For the last month the pain in the arches of my feet and heels have been getting worse, to the point that I can't walk without pain. I have to have good suppory tennis shoes on at all times to be able to walk. The aches and pains started slowly and kept adding up so I just didn't pin point any one thing as the source of my problems. When my husband watched me hobble into the kitchen tonight he told me that everything started after my physical in Sept. The only medication that was added to my daily meds was Lipitor. (the only other med I take is 1/2 of a .25 HCTZ for slight elevated bp) I am schedule an appt with my doctor ASAP but I think I will stop taking Lipitor as of tomorrow. If the pain is reduced then I will be able to report that I believe Lipitor to be the culprit.

Burning & painful Heels also muscles and joints in both feet very painful. I have been on 20mg of Lipitor for 3 yrs

Starting taking Lipitor 20mg 3 weeks ago to the day and all of a sudden, over all pain in the muscle and joints to the point I needed to lie down and sleep for 2-3 hours. After I wake up, I feel like a real person again and then within 1 hour, bang right back to pains and a fuzzy feeling in my head!! Dr did some retest and told me that it's not because of the medicine and could be a flu but no flu I ever had felt or acted like this. I have been off it for 4 days now.. does anyone know how long does it take to get this stuff out of your system!!! I want my life back thank you!

I begain taking Caudet (1/2 Blood pressure med and 1/2 Lipitor) and after 1 year quite taking it. Reason: Increasing Muscle pains.... It begain in some of my joints, such as my elbow, shoulder and knees, then the pain migrated to a place in my lower back. I have some lower back issues from a major op back in 1983 (couple of disc removals). Some pain in the back when I over exherted the muscles but never presistant. While on Caudet though it got so bad I could not straighten up. I went to my doctor who took me off the med and by week 3 all pains in back and joints were gone. I knew nothing of the side affects of Lipitor nor had I ever looked them up. My symptoms would have been qicker attributed to the drug if I had only taken the time to learn more of the drug....Hope others read these post and understand that the statin class of meds come with serious potential for side affects.

I have been through all the statins Pravocal, Lipitor, Zocor, and even Niacin...they all made me very tired, my achilles tendon is torn, joints and muscles hurt, rode bike & x-country skiied all my life, but after that stuff now I am injured. Face & feet swelled up, urine brown, walked around complaining I did not feel good every day...will never take that stuff again... drug co.'s wont get my money they can shove it! Beware... live life with out those drugs and enjoy the time you have.. what is the since of being miserable for a few more yrs. (if it even does keep you from a heart attack) they can't even say for sure!

I started with 10mg Lipitor, then 20, now 40mg/day. I have experienced severe shoulder pain (can't lift the Tim Horton's tray from the drive-thru). I blamed this pain on baseball, hockey & golf). I even had a MRI on my left shoulder. The pain was worse before bed (after Lipitor)....Pain was tolerable in the mornings. I've also had pain in other joints. I will be going off Lipitor immediately and will repost in one month with pain update.

been on lipitor for 2 yrs having arthritis type symptoms in my hands and joints!! is this normal??body hurts like the dickens!!

high CK levels, muscle wasting, extreme brusing, after nearly one year off of the drug still have muscle spasms, leg cramps, and arthritis like symptoms attacking different joints intermittenly

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 am a 58 year old male diagnosed with heart failure and afib in Jan 2004. I have been taking a combination of Lipitor, Topral, Hyzaar, Pacerone and Magnesium and Potassium supplements since then. CoQ10 was added by myself since my cardiologist feels it is of little value. My body felt like it had turned to lead and my arms and legs like dead weight. My joints hurt to move. I took myself off the 80mg Lipitor two weeks ago and felt better in 24 hours. I find the Topral causes weight gain and I am a tall big fellow, but 80lbs in two years while eating like a rabbit is too much.

My mother is on Lipitor right now and has had lot of complications w/ her joints and muscles hurting, she also complains of just not feeling right all over, shortness of breath... I think doctors should become more acquainted w/ these drugs before handing them out so freely...

This is the worst stuff I have ever used. After five months, I shake as though I have MS, my face twitches my joints and muscles feel so painfull that I have had to reduce physical activity. I am less ambitious and am having trouble articulating words that I use frequently.

I thought it was just old age creeping in...my joints have been so achy and nothing helps them. I decided to read the side effects and found the drug Lipitor to be the problem! After having MRi, and multiple doctor appointments to tell me nothing is wrong the reading I've done has convienced me to STOP this drug! Denise, NY

I have taken lipator for a number of years,within the last 3 months I have had more pain in my left shoulder and arm than any pain I have ever had in my life,I was told I was told I had extensive degenertive disc desease in my neck and spine, I had a bone density test about 2 yrs ago and there was no sing of it.I was also given sinthroid abouth 4 months ago for my aches and pain in my joints and for fatigue,when I ask if the sinthorid could be iteracting with the lipator ,the doctor said it was possible,but didn't take me off of either one,I now have a frozen shoulder and am taking phyical therapy,I just at this moment thinK I will take myself off of both of these medications,Ihave a pretty big problem with my memory,I have gone from being a high energy,fun loving person to trying to figure out what to take or do for the pain.I sometimes feel like I am lost if I drive after dark.

11/14/05 I have been on Lipitor for about a year and didn't
know about any side effects until now. I have been suffering
from hip and knee pain and am hurting in other joints as well. I am on 20M and don't know if this is the cause of my
problem or not.

I have taken lipitor, first 20 mg for maybe a year, then a cardiologist put me on 40 mg several months ago. Tonight i awoke with intense pain in the muscles and joints of both my arms, to the point where I was aware of it while dreaming, andto where it woke me from sleep. The best description I can give is that it feels as if I worked out with very heavy weights today and now I am feeling the sort of pain associated with overdoing it the first time out. I have taken two tylenol and will call my doctor in the morning. Fortunately she is a doctor I used to have, who had me on a lower dose, and I think she will be at least open to the possibility of this being related to the lipitor. Whether she does or not, I'm stopping the use of it now. Many of the other symptoms listed here now make sense to me: stiff neck, irritability, trouble remembering things. I thought these things were just natural occurrances, but this extreme pain in the large muscles and joints of both arms, literaly out of nowhere, leads me to believe that this drug is doing me harm.

May 2005 I've been on Lipitor since 2001, but quit taking it Nov. 2004 due to muscle aches - I was aware of my legs, particularly my calves - and my wrist joints hurt. I'm a healthy weight, work out at the gym, am active etc. but am worried when my cholesterols levels went back up to 376 total. I started back on the Lipitor out of fear, at 20 mg instead of my prescribed dose of 40 mg. Guess what? Within two weeks my back is aching again, my wrists, and now my neck. I stopped the Lipitor again but am not sure what to do. I'm thinking of having an ultrasound done on my arteries, and looking into natural solutions. HELP!

I have been taking lipitor for about 4 yrs. now. I feel fatigue, joints pains, back pains, neck pains, especially my hands and arms. I was recently hospitalized for 5 days with a bad kidney infection which lead to a blood infection. To this day my doctor can not understand what really caused it. All my bood test for kidney problems come back normal. I also have noticed loss of memory and my moods have changed dramatically. My husband and family get very frustrated with me alot lately. After reading all these emails and side effects that people are suffering from, I have decided to stop taking this medication today and see what results occur from doing so. I will get back with results.

Hi, I never really thought about why I feel the way I do until now that I have decided to check out this site. I too feel very fatigue, aches and pains all over my joints. I feel tired all the time no energy. I am 41 yrs old and am always sick. My hand hurt the most. The back of my neck and lower back hurt very much also. I have had some memory loss and my moods have changed drastically. My husband is always telling me whats wrong now. My family never knows what to expect from day to day. I am going to stop taking lipitor today and see what happens. Maybe this is the answer I have been looking for. I too was hospitalized just recently with a kidney infection and blood disease and my doctor still does not know what caused it. Most of my test come back normal. I hope to see results soon.

I have been on 10mg daily dose of Lipitor for over 2 years now. When I was first prescribed the drug my doctor stated that because my cholesterol was so high I would not be able to control the levels through diet alone and would therefore need to take Lipitor indefinately.
Initially my blood cholesterol dropped dramatically & I & the doctor were pleased with the result.
I continued eating a similar diet to before which was balanced, with no excess fats or salt although I was eating red meat on a routine basis.
About six months ago I started experiencing severe muscular pain in my neck & shoulders. My neck muscles became so inflamed & immobile that I had days when work was impossible (I am a chauffeur/butler). These pains did not respond to antiinflamatory or pain killers. I made two visits to an oestiopath & received manipulation & massage. The relief was temporary but not complete.
Just one month ago I cut out red meat, most animal fats & changed my diet, replacing the red meat content with grilled fish or chicken. I eat lots of fruit, vegetables & salads.I also take a multivitamin dose. At the same time as my diet change I increased my excercise regime.
WITHIN ONE WEEK of the new regime I experienced severe muscle cramps & my joints 'dried' to the point where they clicked & cracked whenever I moved them. I suspected the LIPITOR so I stopped immediately.
In just a few days the joints stopped clicking & grinding & my six month old muscle pains disappeared. This I think is not a coincidence.
I am male, 43 years old & very active with no other medical conditions of any kind.

knots in my muscles and joints

I have been on lipitor for five weeks and I've been trying to figure out during this time why I feel achey,sore mucles,stiffness in my joints(feet and hands especially)back ache, just a general overall achey condition. I've had every blood test run to see if I have any signs of arthritis and I don't. People including doctors have told me I probably have Fibromyalgia, so I've been looking for how to treat that, then I read all the side effects of liptor. I am stopping the lipitor today and hope this pain will all go away. I've been extremely healthy all my life (57)until this. STOP TAKING

my 66 year old diabetic husband took Atorvastatin-10mg for 4 weeks - 3 months later he cannot sleep at night for the pain in his shoulders and neck. he has been back to the doctors 3 times and now they have just done a blood test and given him a steroid injection. He cannot work nothing seems to ease the pain. some days he can't even walk a few steps. the stiffness in his joints is so great. Has anyone found a cure. Our doctor hasn't. she wants him to start taking it again !! NEVER.