Lipitor and liver

memory loss, headaches, tias/mimi strokes, kidney stones, blood clot,vertigo, disorientation, muscle spasms, shaking, trembling could not control , dry eyes, stiffness in neck, back pain, twitching of all muscles , blackout when really sick, cant hold arms up, thought I had Parkinson, ms or Muscular dystrophy, motor skills are no longer great, arms and leg muscles bad, cannot write much at all, no strength in fingers or toes.
chronic fatigue and fibromyalga diagnosed not so sure after reading all these side effects.

Hi I started taking Lipitor when I was about 41 and gradually noticed a big toe becoming numb. Then later another toe became numb. I had just started swimming about this time with fins and thought at first it may have been caused by them. But then I stopped swimming and the numbness continued. I visited a Neurologist a couple of years ago who tested for everything and found some peripheral nerve damage to the feet. I said the only thing I could think of was Lipitor. He said here was no conclusive evidence it causes this but explained how nerves are made of Lipids and lipitor limits the production of lipids. I stopped taking it but later my GP said I need to go on something for my cholesterol. He put me on Crestor. I took a Lipitor the other week and my toes tingled that night. So I am convinced it is Lipitor. I am not sure how to reverse the damage though.

I am wondering if the plantar foot pain that my husband is suffering for 6 months could be from lipitor that he is taking for several years now. Has anyone have this problem?

I am a 65 year old female taking 20mlg of lipitor for almost 10 years. All of a sudden I started having severe pain, shaking and weakness in the calf muscle. The pain is unbearable. Doctors after doctors including a cardiologist, rhoumatologist and internist don't know the reason. I have stopped lipitor for 3 days. I cry and pray to god to help me everyday. I cannot exercise which is my passion for many years. I am hoping the lipitor is the reason and not something else. I have to wait and see. But I suspect it is.
SR
I do have nausea, depression and low back pain and arthritis and frequent headaches.

I WORK WITH AN ARCHITECTURAL SOFTWARE DESIGN AND BILLING SOFTWARE. 1 MONTH AFTER I STARTED LIPITOR I STARTED TO FORGET THINGS LIKE CODES THAT I WORK WITH EVERY DAY AND BY THE SECOND MONTH I ALMOST LOST MY JOB WITH AN EVER INCREASING NUMBER OF MENTAL BLUNDERS AND VERY SERIOUS AND YET SILLY MISTAKES. ON MY WIFE'S (NOT MY DOCTOR WHO STILL DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM) ADVICE I QUIT TAKING IT. 6 MONTHS LATER I AM FINE AND THANKS TO THE PATIENCE OF MY BOSS I KEPT MY JOB. BUT I DEFINITELY HAD A MEMORY LOSS THAT WAS ALMOST DEBILITATING. IT IS ONLY AN OPINION, BUT I THINK BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF USERS ARE OLDER THE MEMORY PROBLEMS ARE CHALKED UP TO OLD AGE AND NOT THE DRUG. IF I WERE NOT IN A DEMANDING MENTAL JOB I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE NOTICED IT.

I'm a 38 y/o woman. For 7 yrs I knew my cholesterol has been high. I refused to take cholesterol medication and decided to diet and exercise but that didn't work. I've had 2 children in the past 3 yrs. In May of this year I started having chest pains and palpitations. I had blood tests done. I was given Inderal and also prescribed Zocor 20mg for my cholesterol. It was 243 with and LDL of 178. I took Zocor for a week. I felt so awful. I was weak, I lost my appetite. I was constantly tired. I couldn't even carry my 10 month old son, yet alone care for him. I informed my physician and she changed it to Lipitor 20mg. I thought I was doing fine. I checked my levels again after a month. My cholesterol was 113 and LDL 58. I trusted the doctor knew what she was doing. At the same time I also was taking Omega 3's. I asked my doc to lower the dosage to 10mg. From the time I was taking Zocor and the start of Lipitor. I was feeling tingling and numbness in my arms, hands, fingers, toes, feet and legs. I also was having muscle pain. I asked my doctor about that. She mentioned because of my heart palpitations, it could be symptoms of anxiety and panic. I had feeling of pins and needles throughout my body, not knowing when it would occur. I had muscle pain in my arms and legs and neck pain. I went online to see the side effects of Lipitor and came across this website. I decided to do an experiment. I stopped taking Lipitor 9 days ago. I was on statins for almost 4 months. I don't have the feeling of tingling and numbness, but I still have pins and needles and muscle pain. I have to say, I feel so much better. I hope to get better. I 'd really like to know, how long does the medication stay in your system? What are the effects of getting off it so suddenly. I'd love to feel myself again.

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.

46 yr old male and was started on Lip. about a month ago. Overall cholesterol level was 116!! Within 3 weeks I began having soreness move across my legs and hips to begin with, Just a drained feeling. Then leg cramps in my left legs. The drained feeling intensified until I went back to my Dr. last week who immediately ordered me to stop taking any more. I had been off about 4 days when I began have severe pain, lost all color, was not able to get out of bed, could barely talk or walk and was taken to the Doctor's office this past Sat.. I was not able to set up.My wife had to basically talk for me because I was in so much pain, could not communicate, was feeling like I was leaving my body. I do not and have not taken any narcotics or alcohol, but I was given "the field sobriety test", or what I would call it, as I am retired from law enforcement and have given thousands..... But never one for lipitor!!!

I told the Dr. I do not want no drug, I want an answer. I was told to come back on Monday as the Lab. folks wouldn't be in until then. I would not have to wait.

I have used this facility for many years, but I am totally shocked. I feel I have came as close to dying as any situation I have ever been in. I have never hurt to bad. I have never have so many leg cramps. I have never woke up each morning feeling like I have never slept a minute but have been working my butt off chopping wood or digging ditches or climbing mountains all night, simply exhausted.......I will always advise people about this drug....

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

Statin Drugs cause congestive heart failure, muscle wasting, memory loss, cancer, damage to the liver and kidneys and generally disrupt the quality of life of anyone who takes it. I know because my elderly mother was prescribed 20 mgs lipitor after her stroke in 2006. She suffers from everything I listed except for the cancer. The doctors did all the tests to rule out other causes but her problems are worsening to the point where she can barely walk. The doctors still don't want to stop the lipitor and won't even require that she take Coq10. How criminal is that? According to Therapeutics Initiative, statins provide only a 4% absolute benefit from having a major coronary event for people in the secondary prevention group like my mother but you have to take the statin for 5 years in order to get that lousy 4% benefit.
Add in the nasty side effects over the 5 years and I am sure that the side effects would cancel out all those benefits.
Lipitor is a scam drug that ruins the lives of the patients who take it.

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???

My mother started on Lipator about a year ago, she's been having shakes that last about 30 seconds in her legs and one arm. The shakes come and go and she can go a month without them but they seem to have gotten worst. She also has a hard time walking 4 out of days a week, she feels like her legs aren't under her. She is always tired and has restless leg,sometimes at night. She has respiratory problem that also seems to have gotten worst in the past year.
She is seeing a nuro but a cat scan, eeg and blood have all come back ok. Do you thing these are common problems with Lipator?

I am 59 years old Asian male and have gone through six angioplasty and have seven stents in all three arteries in the year 02-03. No heart attack so far. I am taking 10 mg of Lipitor and can not tolerate 20 mg or higher strength because pain in the knee, thigh and leg increases. I tried to reduce my cholesterol by changing food, weight reduction and 40 minutes of tread mill at 5 mph, 5 days a week. I did not get the desired results i.e. keeping LDL below 70.
Since liver makes 80 % of cholesterol, I have to take 10 mg of Lipitor and tolerate the minor side effects. With change in diet, exercise, weight reduction, and 10 mg of Lipitor, I am able to reduce my total cholesterol from 247 to 116, LDL from 164 to 62 and increase HDL from 32 to 42.

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.

A grateful thank you to Adele and Oldcarpetcleaner-
I am so sorry that you having such problems- but it is reassuring to know that I am alone-
I am going to the U of Miami Liver Institute next week- and I will ask about CO-Q10; I have had a muscle biopsy-and I will make every effort not to have a liver biopsy-
I will try to find out what the time frame is for muscular pains- weakness-
even AFTER discontinuing Lipitor.
The bizarre thing -for me- is that the pain and weakness travel- not always in the same spot- but almost always reamin in my buttocks. The reason I ignored it for a couple of monthes as I was so actively doing squats aand weights- and thought it was the exercise. This drug seems to have had bad consequences for so many otherwise- previously healthy people.I will repost after I attend the liver Institute- -by the way- finding a true Liver Hepatologist- (NOT a gastroenterologist- they have liver and I have to travel to Miami . Good luck everybody.

I took Lipitor for about 2 years- 5 mg.
Leg cramps-soreness throughout my muscles- very sore buttocks-
my legs are shaky- if I use them too much; (as in walking 3 miles)
I am (was ) an avid body builder that could squat with 100 lbs- and now ( I am a health conscious -non drinking- NO other medication 104 lb slim female) have quivering legs if I stand for too long. I even had a muscle biopsy- and it cam back negative- I have not had a statin for 6 months- but I still have cramps- and abnormal liver values- and I have NO other conditions-I have been scanned from head to toe - open MRI- closed MRI -but the muscle stiffness- soreness- especially legs- continues-
does anyone know how long it lasts? I have also been tested for liver cancer- thank God-negative.
I really feel that Lipitor did this- has anyone else gone from fit as a fiddle to a quivering -achy person- I have gone through 5 doctors- internal - gastrointestinal - neurologist- hematologist and all is negative- just high liver values and muscle pain. Thank you so much.Maxine

51 yr old male; Lipitor therapy for 3 yrs due to high cholesterol levels and family history on both sides; always been pretty active but noticed a lack of energy and fatigue; muscle aches, tingling legs, loss of memory; figured it was me aging but I wasn't willing to accept it. Also have been tested for and found to have abnormally low testosterone levels; guess what the doctor prescribed for that- testosterone hormone, the cream Androgel. He never once mentioned that the Lipitor could be working against the testosterone; I've been on doses as high as 60 mg but down to 40 now. I have an appt with a new doctor and you can be assured we'll be discussing this; I recently had a cardiac calcium scoring exam and it revealed a cyst on the top of my liver; ? could it be related, who knows.

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 was on Lipitor 6 yrs. ago for approximately 6 months. The pain and weakness in my arms and shoulders was unbearable. Deep pain that felt like it went right to the bone. On occasion since then I seem to have flair ups. This past week I have been in pain. The strength in my arms is diminished. Has anyone else had this experience?

those people who have side effect with cholesterol medication is better to see a nutritionist and bring the cholesterol under control.Apple cider vinegar taking before meal one tea spoon in water is very helpful.also milk thistle which is cleaning liver from toxic, the healthier the liver the normal range of cholesterol in the body.once again see a nutritionist those who are crumbling with weakness and difficulty walking .good luck

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 SOOOO RELIEVED THAT I' M NOT ALONE!!!

I thought I was going crazy or something. I started taking Lipitor 10mg in Oct '06, then in January 2007 my "a.r.n.p" not an MD, increased my dosage to 40mg.....(the lab tests indicated that my cholesterol had not gone down any), which she didn't bother to check up on after prescribing such a huge dose. You know, like within 2-3 mos. Now comes my appointment with her Dec 4 2007, they do labs and low and behold I have inflammation of my liver!!! She called me in a panic and told me to immediately stop taking the Lipitor. Now my body feels like it's going to break. (a couple of weeks before I went to the doctor I started feeling like crap.....lethargic, can't raise my arms above my head without crying, knees aching to the point of not being able to walk,etc) It's even worse now.....now I can't hardly go to sleep at night, my arms just below my shoulders ache to the point of agony, I had arthritis in my knees - but now I can hardly walk without holding onto something - which is very hard to do when your arms won't function properly. I HATE THIS !!!

There was absolutely nothing wrong with my liver prior to this medicine. Now I'm worried that I'll have irreparable damage to my liver, not to mention all this pain in my arms, wrists, thumbs, knees and hips. (Last night I just couldn't take it anymore and I took some Tylenol - I was instructed by my physician not to take anything at all for pain.....RIGHT) I've been wishing this misery on her since it started - just for her prescribing this mess to me!!!!

I am 50 yrs old and feeling older as time goes by.
Thanks so much for listening and letting me share with you all; someone who really understands my pain!! I'm so glad to know I'm not alone in this. I have contacted an attorney - this is ridiculous that humans could do this to other humans. I'll look for another means to get my cholesterol down (right now it's only 129!! - But I feel like I just crawled out of my grave. I'd rather have high cholesterol....

I dread the night coming (pain is almost intolerable then)

Good luck you guys - I'll include you all in my prayers!! B. Carpenter

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

I'm aged 51 and have had high blood cholesterol for years, diagnosed in my mid thirties. Over the years I have tried changing diet but it didn't reduce tha bad cholesterol. Three years ago I decided maybe I better reduce the cholesterol as they say it clogs up you arteries etc. I went to the doctor and he put me on Lipitor and within a few months my levels were down to normal. I got joint pains in my hands, back, neck , legs and had sore heels after long walks. The doc then decided I'd go off the Lipitor to see if my levels stayed normal but they went back up. After a week the new pains had gone away. I came up with a plan to take 3 x 10mG a week rather than one each day and this worked with a lot less joint pain. The last test I had my levels are back up again so he put me back on 10mG a day and now three weeks later the pains have built back up and I don't like them. Desperate for a different solution I was listening to one of the Juice Plus promotions and something they said set me thinking. They said that having a high level of bad cholesterol doesn't always mean it will badly affect your arteries as it has to react with free radicals in your body to cause the damage. Their theory is that a diet rich in antioxidants will combat the free radicals and generally reduce the risk of disease which also includes any bad effects from high bad cholesterol. Now I'm wondering two things, how do I know if my high cholesterol is causing me any harm? is there a test I can get done to measure how it is or is not affecting me? Can anyone throw any more light on this?

I was on Lipitor for several years with no side effects. After time it didn't seem as effective as it did at first but maybe I wasn't watching my diet as well. I know I wasn't exercising as much. I've been on 4 pills to lower cholesterol. Zocor gave me stomach pain, as though someone's fist was pushing into my stomach for a moment several times a day. I went on Provachol with no side effects. My doctor switched me to Lipitor because she thought it was more effective. I had no problems on Lipitor. I'm now on Crestor - 40 mg with no side effects. My brother has had problems taking statins. Some have no affect on his cholesterol and the ones that do help his cholesterol were effecting his liver. He's had a heart attack, bypass surgery and has changed his diet and exercises regularly and is doing fine and has found a statin that helps.

I have been taking Lipitor for the last year. Recently I started to have stomach pains on the right side. An ultra sound revealed that I had developed cysts on my liver.
I had a CT scan this week which confirmed the cysts, and also a thickening of my stomach walls.
I had a colonoscopy and upper GI, and everything checked out ok but they took a biopsy of my stomach lining.
Even though I had low cholesterol my doctor prescribed Lipitor as a preventative drug. I strongly urge people to discontinue its use. I exercise daily, am a vegetarian, and have a low stress job. I have always been very healthy. This is the first time I have a problem.

I am almost 50 and have had high cholesterol for at least 19 years. I have taken various statins as prescribed by my doctors, including Zocor, Lipitor, and Crestor with mixed results. Although my numbers came down, my left arm muscles withered, coordination through out my body deteriorated, pain and numbness in hands and feet became constant, my liver began to fail, and I became aphasic. The entire time I was on statins of any kind I felt like I was poisoned. I have refused statins for 2 years and have made remarkable progress back to good health. I find it interesting that the man who invented the artificial heart peddles Lipitor so vigorously, especially since Lipitor is so effective at damaging muscle tissue.

My Mum took liptor for 2 weeks it almost killed her. Her muscles degenerated and her liver almost gave up. 2 years afterwards she is still suffering.

She has found relief by taking each day a teaspoon of a good quality powdered form of MSM, also powdered Noni.

She has also done a cleanse using 3 teaspoons of powder activated charcoal for 5 days. She also did a colon cleanse by taking one tablespoon for seven days of calcium bentonite clay and also pascalite bentonite clay.

She also cleanse her liver by drinking the juice of one organic lemon each morning one hour before food for seven days.

She drinks Naked\Odwalla carrot juice to help cleanse the blood and Naked\Odwalla Green Machine\Green Superfood, helps with pain and gives energy.

She also uses white willow and ashgawandha for pain and swelling.

my experience with Lipitor. Cholesterol a hereditary problem Ive taken so many types of Meds they work to get my nbr down but after a few yrs ended up with dbl
bypass surgery. Went from 20 to 40MG by cardio doc. Which is what the common nbr shudbe for lowering chol. nbr
Now I also take 10mg Ezetrol and now my nbr is down to 4.3 which is great for me. I hv not had any serious side effects with taking this drug in all these yrs. I hv bloodwork done every 6 mos. to check out liver nbr etc and all is great so far. I am 70 yrs old. But I can tell you my son on 80mg is having trouble swallowing 1st bite of food, and he thinks it is the Lipitor, but yet to be proven.
Very interesting comments on this site

ive been on lipitor since 2002 i had to have my right lung removed after a yr the drs. let me go back to work i ended up getting fired i cant breathe anymore my legs back and about 2 wks ago my liver started hurting now my wife and i think it is from lipitor i drink a couple times a wk it really hurts a numb feeling and my legs and back shoulders neck im only 47 i feel 87 is there anyone else feeling this way?

Persistant muscle tremors, muscle weakness, extreme fatigue, dizziness, loss of balance, neuropathy in both legs and hands, tinnitus, memory loss, inability to concentrate and make decisions, pain in back of neck and legs.

The symptoms started six months ago--two years after first starting to take Lipitor. I did report muscle pains to my doctor early on, but he just tested my liver and said I was fine. I went through two MRIs and extensive blood tests by a neurologist. Every week my symptoms continued to worsen. Finally, a friend mentioned another friend with similar symptoms who had linked it to Lipitor. I stopped use of Lipitor and within four days, all symptoms but the tremor and nerve damage was gone. I have no idea if the damage is permanent.

I consider Lipitor to be the worse health issue I have ever faced.

effecting the liver

I have been on lipitor for 2 yrs. Finding that it has reduced my chol.from 238 to 144 is great. Now the side effects.
I itch all over, I am yellow -skin and my whites of my eyes.
My urine is almost brown and my stool is white. I found out that my liver is effective. I am not secreting protein from my body. If anyone needs to read anything , there is the time magazine from week of December 19th and the side effects
on Lipitor. My Dr. tells me no it is my liver but I am not a drinker or smoker and I am 58 yr. female and never to any drugs till Lipitor.

I am in so much pain right now...am considering going to the emergency room. I've been on Lipitor for 4 or 5 months and have recently began to experience pain in my side from about the middle of my ribs in my back to my hip bone. It has been coming and going and tonight it is almost unbearable. I thought it was just that I had been turning wrong or had pulled a muscle. I was fine this morning when I got up...then I took my medication and within an hour was almost unable to move. The medication is Lipitor. That's when I decided to check out the side effects of Lipitor, because it feels like the pain is in my liver. And I found this site. I am calling my doctor in the morning, that is if I['m still here. I am praying right now the damage isn't too severe to heal on it's on.

this is on behalf of my husband he was on zecor for about 2years and then his gp put him on 40mg of atorvastatin it was then he started to complain about pain in his legs but years ago he did suffer aspell with his legs so he just thought he was having abit of athritis he is 53 and as the weeks have gone by he can bearly walk because of pain in his calf thigh and lower back his cpk and liver blood results are raised he is waiting for an appointment with a rheumatologist on the 10 of august but he is due to take a hgv goods medical in september to renew his liscence but Ican not see that he will be well enough to do a tread mill test which is part of his medical he has stopped takeing the 40mg of atorvastatin after reading so many other people who are suffering with the same side affects he was defenately well before his dose was increased we are worried to death about his symtoms and he will proberly lose his job also he is irratable and his memory does seem to be affected no one seems to know how long the symtems go on for or is the damage permerment

my husband has been on atorvastatin for about 10 months 40 mg before them he was on simsatavinfor about 2 years when he first changed to atorvastatin he noticed his legs were aching but put it down to just age and abit of athritis but has the months have gone on he can hardly walk with pain in his hip and both calf and thigh muscles his ckp levels are raised and the liver aspartate transaminaseslightly raised after what we read on the internet he decided to stop the atorvastatin 20 days ago he is very worried because he is meant to take a hgv medical in september which involves a treadmill test any advice would be welcome.

OH man. I am so glad I found this site.
I STARTED TAKING LIPITOR A YEAR AGO. ABOUT 10 WEEKS AGO I WOKE UP WITH A BACK PAIN SO BAD I COULDN'T WALK, MY RIGHT SIDE HURT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY RIBS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MY LEG. i FIRST WENT TO A CHIROPRCATIC DR. HE ADJUSTED MY BACK BUT SIDE & HIP STILL HURT. SO I WENT TO MY DR WHO SAID IT'S NOT THE LIPITOR. I HAD A SONAGRAM & A CT SCAN NOTHING SHOWED. I QUIT THE LIPATOR 3 DAYS AGO. THE CHIROPRACTIC DR HAS PUT ME ON A LIVER & GALBLADDER FLUSH. I WONDER IF ANYONE ELSE HAS THE HIP,SIDE & BACK PAIN. I WONDER IF I'LL EVER BE ABLE TO WALK OR STAND WITHOUT PAIN. IT HURTS SO BAD TO LAY DOWN FOR MORE THAN A FEW HOURS, TURNING IN BED IS A REAL JOB. I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU. i'M 51 GRANDMOTHER OF 13.
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I have been on Zocor and Lipitor for several years. I have had muscle pain over most of my body. I was diagnosed with arthritis by my Dr. Recently I had blood work done and my liver panel is elavated and am in the process of having tests to determine problem. I stopped Lipitor 4 weeks ago (without the advise of Dr) and am having pain but not as much as before. Other symptons have been tired, sleeplesness, short term memory loss, constipation, heel pain and have been to Therapist with neck and back pain. Since coming off Lipitor, not as much pain but still bad. I have had heart racing since coming off and am worried about that. How can we stop others from taking the drug.