Lipitor and neurologist

I have not had good experiences with various statin drugs through the years. I was on Zocor a few years ago. I suffered from a tripping gait at times (seemed as if the bottom of the toe area would stick to the sidewalk and I felt as if I was going head over heels and balance issues), so much so that I was referred to a neurologist. My internist poo-pooed my symptoms at the time until I mentioned the formation of cataracts. That did it. Zocor stopped. On to Crestor. Crestor was briefly tolerated until I was walking up four flights of stairs. While on the second flight, my legs literally locked. I could not raise my legs (thigh muscles had tightened so badly, that I had to stop, regroup, and start again. Next course after a brief respite, Lipitor. I am taking between 5 and 10 mg. as tolerated.

I have had issues with Lipitor as well, despite the 'pediatric' dose. I have felt occasional ankle tweaks, and most recently over this past weekend, upon going down a flight of stairs, my left knee buckled. Thank goodness I did not fall, but the weakness was there for the day. I have not taken Lipitor since last Friday night. My cholesterol level (off the statins) had reached a high of 357. As of the last testing (my first after being started on Lipitor), it was 255 - my LDL was 137. I know that if I stop the medication that the numbers will start to rise. This yo-yo effect is very frustrating but my overall well-being is of my utmost concern. Both parents had heart disease. My father passed away at 63 years of age (heart attack, recuperation, then massive heart attack 22 months later), and my mother had angina pectoris, bypass surgery and recurrence of blockages, only to die from multiple myeloma at the age of 89. My newest symptom is pain in the right side, outer portion of the rib cage area. This started two days ago. I had this when I was on Welchol as well.

I had a small stroke associated with weightlifting--my neurologist put me on lipitor 80 mg (despite the fact that my cholesterol was totally normal)--now about 3 months later my liver enzymes have doubled and I have developed a heart arrhythmia I never had before. I have had to go to the emergency department twice from palpitations and diaphoresis

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

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

My husband, a 55 year old diabetic who is currently on dialysis was initially prescribed 20 mg Lipitor about 5 years ago. He began experiencing leg pains, but continued to take the drug. In May 2007 in suffered a minor stroke (clot). Upon release from the hospital, the neurologist prescribed an 80 mg dose claiming studies showed those who have had a stroke benefit from the higher dosage. He recovered from the stroke and was able to return to work in August 2007. On December 31, 2007 he suffered another stroke, however this time it was a full blown cerebral hemorrhage. After he suffered this stroke, I searched Lipitor on the web and to my surprise found an article that stated the higher dosage of Lipitor could cause brain bleeds in people who have suffered a prior stroke. I truly believe this high dosage of Lipitor was the cause, however the neurologist and his regular doctor say no. Of course they would say that, since they are the ones who put him on it in the first place. They blame it on the fact that he has other health issues, however he has been on dialysis since the beginning of 2004 and was able to work and function normally. Needless to say, when he was released from the hospital, Lipitor was no longer one of his prescribed medications. They wanted to prescribe a low dose statin of a different brand, but his cholesterol levels have been excellent without them and I won't let him take another statin. The damage is done, he has difficulty walking, has lost his balance and was forced to go on permanent disbility. He was an active volunteer fire fighter for 35+ years and the fact that he can no longer do all the things he use to do depresses him.

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

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

I have been on 10 MG of Lipitor for almost 3 years. Since I began taking it I have had recurring issues with an anxious feelings, my lower GI is constantly churning and I feel like I am stressed out. I have a low stress job, a stable happy family life and yet I feel nervous all the time. I sleep for 3-4 hours and then wake up and am unable to get back to sleep. I have been forced to take a nap ever day after lunch just to get through the day. Additionally, I developed tremors in my hands and was diagnosed with something called Benign Essential Tremor and put on another medication to control the shaking.

Yesterday I decided I had enough of this and went to see my cardiologist to discuss the symptoms. I stopped taking the Lipitor on my own 2 days before. The doctor told me that none of my symptoms were related to Lipitor! I replied that I was convinced that they were all in fact caused by this drug. He suggested I stop taking the statin for 2 weeks and see if the symptoms stop. I am now on day 4 without lipitor and am already feeling less anxious.

I went to the Nuerologist 2 weeks ago and got her to discontinue the anti-tremor medication. I am going to get all this crap out of my system and hopefully get my life back.

I had tingling and numbing in my hands and feet. After few weeks without Lipitor all that tingling stopped. My doctor said that it could not be Lipitor's side effect but after doing research online I really wished they listed tingling and numbing as side effect of that drug. It would have saved me a lot of money I spent on all kinds of tests my neurologist did.

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.

Bobby you are so right "BIG Pharama" and thank you for your well researched comments that you post.
BUT let's not forget big pharma whom I do hate over this issue does state a lot of the adverse side effects on the labels.
SO MR and MRS DOCTOR why don't you read the instructions and advise us of what to watch out for. I told my doctor over a 3 year period of leg cramps that made me squeal and physically dropped me, I also told him over 3 years that my swimming speed overnight dropped by 25% which I now know is a dangerous condition called loss of muscle power. In the end I went to him knowing I was dying, I could only shuffle not walk straight and my whole body was hunched like an ape, people in the street were looking at me. My speech was slurry. This clown who was previously highly respected and revered by myself and wife asked me if I had a low pain threshold, he stood up behind his desk imitated my ape like shuffle then told me to stand up and walk straight. So in my mind there are 2 very clear issues.
1) The big pharma criminal scam.
2) The doctors failing to be safe, read instructions and think for themselves.

I'm in New Zealand a couple of months ago a 69 yr old fellow in Australia with an axe chopped up his wife and grandchildren killing them. A neighbor said they were an ordinary family and the man had become deeply withdrawn.
I stopped a car in the middle of the street and attacked it with my walking stick, I heard "voices" and stalked my house at night with an axe in my hand.

Go to space doctor DOT net and type in Allen Woodley suicide. There are 3 examples here where people lost their minds and took their own lives through statins.

We the "small" people have to originally put the pressure and file the complaints against the doctors then they can resist the pharmas.

No I am getting my faculties back make no mistake I will be filing a police complaint of criminal negligence.

Get the instructions and front the doctor after all he/she is the "retailer" and they can take it up with their "wholesaler"

These b#$%^&&ds are not only wrecking us but they are demonstrably negligently and criminally wrecking the lives of society's grandparents whose golden years we must protect.

Incidentally when I asked my doctor in January for an apology he rammed his bunched fist in my face in his surgery and said how dare you doubt my ability as a doctor. Not bad some of these clowns.

Then of course as we who have been forced to research ourselves we all now know that cholesterol and elevated cholesterol as we get older is absolutely essential for longevity.

These practitioners are totally unbelievable.

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

I commenced Lipitor 14 years ago at age 47. At that time I was a regular tennis player, walker and generally fit for my age. No problem with Lipitor for the first couple of years until I began to experience hip and low back pain. My GP diagnosed arthritis. Gradually became worse and I started to gather injuries (over stretched ligament in right knee which refused to heal, plantar fasciitis twice) My back pain became far worse, I persevered with tennis believing that exercise would help. I began to "trip" on the carpet and going up stairs (foot drop). I was sent for a CT scan in 2002 which showed spondylolisthesis and root canal stenosisss. On advice from doctor I stopped tennis. Referred to a neurosurgeon who after several months carried out a laminectomy in July 03. Cleared to recommence exercise in December 03 which is when my nightmare commenced. I developed bursitis in one hip, stopped walking until it settled, then excruciating pain in feet, and then bursitis in the other hip and continuing foot pain. I developed rib/back pain, again diagnosed as arthritis even though I felt the pain was muscular. I had one session of aqua aerobics and woke the next morning with plantar fasciitis which continued for 3 months even with doctor, physio and acupuncture treatment. I was then referred to a Spots Medicine Dr who ordered bone scans/x-rays which revealed a stress fracture in my foot. In 2006 I began to notice that my right arm had a tense feeling all the time, I had a loss of dexterity in my right hand which assumed a claw like appearance and my normally neat handwriting became practically illegible. My physio recommended I see a Rheumatologist who said I had "no more arthritis than I would see in any 62 yo", he sent me to a Neurologist who after 5 mins diagnosed Parkinson's Disease. Within 7 weeks of commencing the PD medication I was experiencing Restless Leg Syndrome every night. The neurologist said that my condition had "progressed" and increased the medication - twice. I was then getting RLS DAY AND NIGHT and getting no relief OR SLEEP!!! Finally after 12 months misery my GP suggested that I try coming off Lipitor to see if that was causing my body pain. Within 6 days I felt better, my muscles became less stiff and relax. I went back to my Neurologist who refused to accept my claims, he insists I still have atypical PD (because I do not have tremors). I told him the cure is worse than the complaint and against his advice I weaned myself off PD medication and Lipitor. It was hard going but I NO LONGER SUFFER FROM RLS AND MY DEXTERITY IS SLOWLY IMPROVING. I still have dexterity problems with my right fingers but the tense feeling in my right arm has gone and my "claw" hand is starting to relax My muscles feel bruised all the time. I am still taking my blood pressure tablets and 150mg of Co-Q10 a day. I have been off Lipitor 9 months. It has been a painful journed for the last 8 years and a nightmare for 12 months. My GP has marked my records as "allergy to statins" but says she just doesn't know if I have Parkinson's. I know that I will never take this awful drug again. My cholesterol has skyrocketed but I will have to try and lower it naturally and take the risk. I constantly feel like I have worked too long and hard in the garden, all my muscles are so sore. I really need to know if this damage is permanent and if this drug has caused Parkinson's Disease itself or just PD like symptoms. I guess I will just have to wait and see. I don't think doctor's believe us when we say Lipitor is doing damage to thousands of people. They love it!! When we are aging we are not surprised to get diagnosed with arthritis and this is why we take this medication unwittingly for so long.

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.

hi,daer777 i like to know the natural product that lower cholesterol.also since you stop the medication any changes or not if you don't mind?I took my father to many neurologist and they test many Parkinson medication and my father did not respond to any medication but he got worsed,yesterday he had another appointment to another neurologist he said if it is not Parkinson disease then must be genetic disorder witch is we never had in our family history and also doctor noticed that many my patient who are using lipitor responding very well with Parkinson medication ,and when i said about lipitor he got mad on me and very rudely said medication never doing this and don't blame medication,so every doctor that i saw never believed us that lipitor or ezetrol (zetia)is that cause.also doctor said if it is the medication then he must be symptom free by now ,he quit ezetrol just three months ago and lipitor 2 years ago.

hi, dear 777 i like to know about the natural product that lower cholesterol .and also like to know since you stop the medication any changes accure or not?i took my father to many neurologist and they test many Parkinson medication and no response yesterday i took him to another neurologist and and he diagnose him to genetic disorder witch is we never had in family history and he got mad on me when i said about the cholesterol medication side effect.what was his answer that when he quit the medication he should get better and as i said coz months ago he improved 80%,he said it is impossible and if it is it is miracle so no doctors are believing that medication is the cause.most symptom is disappeared but his walking and stiff muscle is not improving yet except some times.

I am 53 years old and was almost 4 years on Lipitor and started experiencing periphial neuropathology that was horrible! I had a keen neurologist who took me off after doing several tests for Lyme, Lupus, MS, etc. She said she sees more and more of my symptoms 3 to 8 years plus on Lipitor. I went off Lipitor on June 1st (my birthday), so have been off for more than a month. All of the zapping and tingling has subsided in my hands, feet, face, arms, and head. I still have neuropathology in my hands, some muscle weakness in my arms, and numbness in my toes which are all slowly diminishing. My neurologist says she expects full recovery in 4-6 months. Take B complex vitamins. I take Shaklee's twice a day.This greatly helps in the repair of the nerve damage from Lipitor. My neurologist also recommended me taking FBCx, ******(1-2 with every meal containing fat, the website explains dosage), and 1 tablespoon of omega 3 fish oils in the form of flax or fish to reduce cholesterol. There are other things I take like garlic, cinnamon extract, green tea extract. If you type in "lower cholesterol with supplements" online you will find other things like red rice yeast as well. Good luck!

I took it for one month only. In the first week I was extremely fatigued but ignored it. Then I got stiffness in my fingers. I started getting cramps in my feet and legs. I stopped the medication after exactly one month. It has been one month since I stooped taking it. But my symptoms have not gone away. My arms and legs are still stiff. I develop severe pain in my left arms. There is a terrible tingling sensation in my body when I sleep. I am going to see a neurologist next week. I hope there is no permanent nerve damage. I have started taking Lyrica 50 mg in the mean time to get rid of this tingling sensation.

I had TIA two years back, my neurologist put me on 80mg Lipitor (Lipiget in Pakistan). I have a whole list of problems since then: tingling in lower part of legs, memory loss, cold sweats, swelling in upper abdomen, lethargy, leg cramps and backache.
Seemeen

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

My 44 year old, otherwise very healthy husband has been taking Lipitor (10mg) for several years. Currently been showing ALS-like symptoms. Left foot dragging, muscle cramps, twitches, etc. We are headed to Duke University to find out of he has ALS. He is off of Lipitor for 3 weeks now, taking CoQ10 and lots of vitamin C. If anyone else has had these symptoms and they've been rectified, could you share how long it took and how soon you began to feel the initial improvement? Thanks KCC>

Allow me to introduce myself, I am Christopher Wunsch. I was a practicing Critical Care RN for 13 years active practice, until September 2002, the onset of my disability at age 34.
Until Sept 2002, I had been a healthy adult with very few medical problems. I had elevated cholesterol since I was in college that I know of, and I had always chosen to eat right and exercise regularly. which had no appreciable impact on my cholesterol.
In 1999, my father had bypass surgery at age 58, and it was decided that I be started on statin therapy, and I was started on 10 mg QD, which I tolerated well until September 2002, when I began to have terrible unrelenting headaches, disorientation and confusion. I would sleep for 14-18 hours per day, therefore I missed a lot of work over these 4-6 weeks. I had a CT scan done at a local hospital, despite my persistent request for an MRI scan. The CT scan was normal. After the 3rd visit to our local ED, I was discharged home with a diagnosis of a probable Migraine Variant, and was given Imitrex, which I could not even figure out how to give to myself. I called my PCP at home after we were sent home, and I requested he order an MRI scan for me, which he agreed to and was done the following day. revealing multiple scattered lesions throughout the grey matter of my brain. When my PCP received these results, he referred me to a Neurologist who diagnosed me with a migraine Variant. My wife and I sought a second opinion from the University Hospital and Clinics in Madison, where I was evaluated by a Neurologist who specialized in MS. When I was evaluated by him in the clinic, he did not think what I had was MS at all, he did not know for sure what I had, but was quite sure it was not any form of MS. I was sent home, to be rechecked in a few weeks.
Over the course of the next few weeks, my symptoms of Headaches, Lethargy, Fatigue, and confusion had worsened, only now it was accompanied by Ataxia and slurred speech. My wife called to UW Madison and spoke with my Neurologist who informed her that I should be re-evaluated as soon as possible. We dropped off our 2 year old son at my parents and headed to UW Madison to be seen again. When we arrived, I was given a mini neurological exam, which I failed terribly, and I was admitted. I was hospitalized for 28 days, I underwent a brain Biopsy, which revealed multiple areas of vacuolization, mitochondrial changes under electron microscopy revealed thickened disarrayed cristae, inclusions of lysosomal and autophagic vacuoles.
The Differential diagnosis from the Brain Biopsy was a new Variant CJD, a Mitochondrial Disorder such as MELAS, and a few others. My muscle biopsy done at this time, was suggestive of a Mitochondrial Disorder such as MELAS or MERRF. I was started on a Mitochondrial cocktail, which consisted of 12-14 Vitamins, amino Acids and Ubiquinone. I was scheduled to transfer to a nursing home, pending bed placement. When one of the residents suggested increasing my CoQ10 dose, which was done, now 150 mg BID.
Over the next few days, I began to become more alert, less confused, and less ataxic.
I was discharged home with aggressive Physical, Occupational and Speech therapies which continued for approximately 15 weeks. After several months of rehabilitation, I tried to go back to work as a Workers Compensation Case Manager, and after a few weeks of trying to do this, I was approached by my boss, who informed me that what I used to do in a couple of hours, was now taking several days, and was inconsistent with employment, and suggested I return to Disability, which I reluctantly did. A few months later, I had neuro psychiatric testing done, which revealed cognitive slowing and other issues consistent with significant frontal lobe pathology. After this occurred, I saw Dr. Beatrice Golomb on Good Morning America one morning, talking about a Statin Effects Study she was going to be doing, I never thought for one minute, that my Lipitor use could have had anything to do with this illness and disability, but I enrolled. After about 1 year in this study, I was informed by Dr. Golomb, that "Lipitor was the likely causal contributor to my diagnosis of MELAS, as well as the holes in my brain as evidenced on my Brain Biopsy.
I havd done probably thousands of hours of research into this, and I have found that most Doctors do not nor will not listen to your opinion no matter how much proof you have, nor how many studies you have found that prove your case. It is going to be a lifelong battle for me, but for each person I can get to not believe the lie that cholesterol causes heart disease, and convince them not to take a Pharmaceutical, thats just one step in the right direction.

I am a 52 year old male from South Florida. Two years ago my Dr prescribed Lipitor. I started to feel weakness in my legs after mowing the lawn but I dismissed it as just being worn out from the summer heat and humidity. About six months ago the little toe on my left foot became numb and it spread to my other toes. I get continuous spasms in my left big toe and now the toes on my right foot are becoming numb. When I sleep at night I am continuously being woken with leg cramps in my feet, calfs and thighs. My feet feel heavy, my legs feel weak. There are times that I just lose my balance. I have a physical job and when I get home I don't want to do anything. I am going to see a neurologist on 3/31 to see what he thinks. My biggest fear is that I now have permanent damage. I have not read any articles about individuals having a full recovery after stopping the medication.

Hi ..this is a follow up on my first posting of Jan 31 (see kookoo). I have been off Lipitor (20mg/day) for about 6 weeks now and I feel better than before but nowhere near normal yet. Hands are stronger but weakness in arms still persists. I have not had a bad tremor incident in about 2 or more weeks. But I have a lot of involuntary twitching and light burning in my arm muscles. I constantly feel like I have a stiff sore neck and the fatigue is unbearable some days. My neurologist (my hero since he is the only one who believes this is statin related) has sent me for additional tests like EMG, MRI and thoracic vascular scan to eliminate other causes. So far all my tests have come back within normal ranges. I still cannot exercise much because when I try it seems to trigger the burning and pain in my arms. Night time is very scary to me for all my symptoms seem to heighten and I think this brings on some added anxiety which leads to sleeplessness. Well I fired my primary care physician and am scheduled to see someone new next week. Hopefully she will listen to me more intently and have some beneficial suggestions. Hang in everyone, I have to believe we are on the right track and soon someone with some sense will finally listen and do something about these terrible statin drugs. KOOKOO

My father (87) was on Lipitor for many years. He had a stroke and serious brain injury a few years ago and has been in assisted living since. About a year ago he began to complain that different foods tasted bad. He was convinced that the assisted living chef wasn't any good! This problem with taste and smell got worse until nothing tasted good to him, and he basically stopped eating and became seriously depressed. His neurologist suggested to his primary physician that this loss and distortion in taste and smell might be related to Lipitor, so his primary read the Physician's Desk Reference on Lipitor side effects and found one sentence that described my father's experience perfectly. So his primary immediately took him off Lipitor (this was last fall), and my father's sense of taste and smell returned gradually over the next 3-4 week and is now back to normal. I haven't seen a description of this side effect for Lipitor as I've researched it, but I'm convinced that this effect is one that many others may have without realizing the "culprit," so I thought I would share our experience.

II started taking Lipitor in August of 07. My cholesterol was 180 with my good always being low in the 30's. My first blood test revealed a dramatic change in my readings with my total being 144 and my good rising to 41. At the end of December I started developing a slight ringing in my ears which progressed into a stiff aching neck, burning eyes and equilibrium issues. As someone else describe having whip lash. I was told by my doctor that these are not side effects due to Lipitor. I have also developed a buzzy feeling in the nerve in my right calf with slight weakness sensation in my thigh. The symptoms are constant and exhausting to deal with. It has been six weeks since the onset of these symptoms. I was given an antibiotic for an inner ear infection but no change in symptoms. I have seen a neurologist which gave me exercises to do for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, wasn’t that. I am waiting to see an ENT in two weeks to see what he comes up with and then back to a different neurologist after that. I keep asking myself is it the Lipitor? I am going to stop taking it to see if these symptoms disappear.

What a wonderful site.. thanks for all of you and your stories. I too was a Lipitor user ... 20mgs/day for at least 6 years. I didn't notice any problems until last summer. I couldn't grip a golf club so I didn't play all summer. My doc told me it was arthritis. Strange, no history and never had any problems til then. As the months went on, things got worse. Burning in my upper left arm muscle, so intense it would cause me to have to sit down. Heart racing, pain in back, shoulder and jaw, I thought I was having a heart attack. Started reading about Lipitor and told doctor I wanted off. Of course he said no way and he did an MRI thinking it was skeletal. He sent me to a neurologist, who immediately told me I have statin myopathy. Cause...Lipitor!!! Amazing he admits this, also told me his own doc prescribed it for him and he will not take it because he sees too many patients with these side effects. I am liking him and his honesty. I have been off Lipitor for 2 weeks now. Hands are much better but muscle weakness and burning and sometimes tremors persist but I am optimistic that this may take time but I will recover.

I too am taking Lipitor and have been for a couple of years now.
On Nov.19th I was given the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia.
Now I read the side effects and they are they same!

53 y old male,took lipitor in april 2007 20mg i have had problem in past with disc in neck and tendinitis in elbow but nothing for 10 years by aug i had very bad wrist and thunp pain even holding a pizza box so off to Dr said tendinitis use a thumb brace and phy therapy nothing after 2 months so i am going to different orthopaedic dr.Than 4 weeks ago woke op oct 3 pain in lower back i said ok use some ice went to work and it would be gone in 3 days by oct20 could not take pain in back and siatic nerve server pain down to foot gave pain pills and nothing went to spine specialist said hernaited disk L-4 L-5 and spinal stenosis from disc touching nerves in channel so he wants to operate i ask can lipitor cause this he said nojust look at the MRI but what causes the iflamantion to cause problems in wrist and servere pain in lower back and leg was it lipitor.The pain was so servere the best pain meds could not take the pain awayseep fir 2 hrs than walk around house for 1hrs at o330 in morning caused it hurt so much.@ weeks wastes so i went to chiro dr and after 2weeks i am more liveable and can sleep better .I will go to pain mangerment ti get a shot or operate,its called Discectomy,hope all theres dr know they might be fighting affects of lipitor.We all must get educated and give this info out to ithers

My husband is taking Lipitor for high chol. just like all of you. In June 2007 he began to complain of mild pain in his body...including joints and muscles. He also had a very painful stomach ache with a feeling of tightness. He takes many meds. due to Parkinsonism and depression. As time has passed the pain has become so increasingly bad that I took him to a neutologist to determine if the pain could be a Park. symptom. His doctor is no dummy. He first determined that it was not parkinsons, but did order some tests to analyze a number of other possibilities....one being a form of rheumatiod arthritis that suddenly attacks the entire body without warning. ..it is very rare. In addition he ordered an immediate rheumatology appointment to have another doctor give him an opinion from that specific area of expertise. When we get there the rheumatologist will determine if it is a rheumatoid syndrom or not and then put him on a regimen to help that.if necessary...BUT, HERE IS THE THING THAT THIS FANTASTIC NEUROLOGIST ALSO DID....HE ORDERED HIM TO STOP TAKING ....LIPITOR.....FOR A MONTH AND SEE HIM AGAIN AFTERWARD FOR A FOLLOW-UP FOR THAT POSSIBILITY...LOVE HIM...DON'T YOU!!!!!!
For all those doctors out there who don't want to test the possibility that LIPITOR could be the cause for these life dibilitating symptoms....may ALL THE ATTORNEYS BONE UP ON THIS PROBLEM...AND PREPARE TO GO TO COURT. WE WILL BE FIRST IN LINE.....I am almost positive it is the Lipitor...and I will try to get back to this site and let you know what happens.
God Bless you all.....and God help all of the care givers who also feel pain from their loved ones' physical dilemas.

I was put on Lipitor in 2004 and didn't realize what was happening to me-I thought I was just getting old. (I'm now 66) I went from a very active person to one who struggled to get out of the car and my entire body ached. I was constantly tired, I had trouble putting thoughts together. I would sit at the kitchen table and cry because I felt so awful. I started losing my balance and falling down. In one of my falls in December 2006 I injured my left hip. I went to a chiropractor to see if he could help relieve the pain in my hip. While going over my symptoms and medications he pointed out that the Lipitor I'm taking could cause most of my symptoms. He suggested I call my doctor and talk to her. I did and she said that Lipitor could cause severe muscle aches-she wanted to do a blood test and said that I could just go off the Lipitor. My blood test was normal. That was in March 2007 and I have been off the Lipitor since. The fatigue and muscle aches have gone away. I still have the hip pain (bursitis) and have been going to physical therapy for that. My memory is improving but I still have to concentrate, repeat names and write things down trying to remember. I'm trying to lose weight (most of it gained around my middle). I go to the gym and exercise to try to build my muscle strength. I'm not tired all the time, I've read that the symptoms can last a long time and sometimes may never go away. I've been told by the doctor that if my cholesterol is up at my next visit that she wants me to go back on Lipitor. She also said that if it had been the Lipitor, the symptoms would have gone away right after I went off the Lipitor. I will absolutely refuse to go on any Statin-I cannot take the chance of feeling so badly again.

57 years old male. I took Lipitor for 5 years. I didn't notice that 3 months ago I was getting very weak - attributed it to being out of shape. I went to the Dr when I started having trouble swallowing, and shortly after that I lost most of my strength and have difficulty walking, getting out of chairs, rolling over in bed, etc. If I walk more than 200 yards, I need to be supported by friends on both sides, and my legs and arms start shaking. I have been off Lipitor for 3 months with no improvements.

I would recommend to anyone on this drug to get off it if any sign of these side effects shows up, no matter how mild...

I was taking Lipitor (can't remember how long and what mg) and started feeling like I was continously in a fog and having memory problems. These were so bad that my GP sent me to a Neurologist for MRI and CT scans with results showing nothing wrong. I decided that this started after I went on the Lipitor and took myself off of it. The "fog has lifted" but I still have some memory problems. I am now taking Zetia and have started having muscle pains and cramps. I'm going to give up on cholesterol lowering medications. If I can't lower it with diet and exercise I'll just take my chances with the high cholesterol!

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

hi olsen i think you have pretty information about statin drug my father was on lipitor for the period of 6 years at first he had pain specially on his shoulder and since 2 and half years he is barely walk and after i found this side i consider all my fathers problems are due to lipitor i have took him to two neurologist and many doctors they did not find anything but he is very weak and cant move proparly the way he use to he has been stopped lipitor for 4 months and now he is on EZETROL 10mg but his symptom hasnt being improved just slightly one or two days he is walking good and then he turn back weak again how long will it take to recover fully and symptom free also is there any one who took lipitor this posion drug for 6 to 7 years and recoverd back from the symptomand if yes how does it takes plz email me to ******thanks for your time and good luck every one

I took Lipitor for a number of years until I started having pains in my thighs. I was switched to Provacol and 2 month later I had rabdomialisis (sp) I was paralyzed from the waist down for about 3 months and it gave me neuropathy, myopathy, carpal tunnel in both hands, hypothyroidism and increased my sleep apnea (according to my neurologist) This has been going on for almost 2 years. I am just waiting to see what else could happen. It is the gift that keeps on giving.

I will say that since taking Lipitor I have fallen 3 times , have a stsggery fell when I walk ,legs feel weak,hand and fingers are tingley ,have no engery,depressed, and angery . That a doctor I trusted with my life and health care could hurt me so bad.A year ago I wouild never beleive I would be in such a shape as I am too day.I now am going to a neurologist to see (?) what wrong with me. I know what I beleive it's 80 mgs of Lipitor for 2 months of my life that really messed me up.My girlfriend has me on the prayer list at her church.Thanks pray everyone gets better.

Female, 53. I had been taking Lipitor for about 4 years, starting at 10 mg/day, then increasing to 20mg/day (at my insistence) to get maximal benefit and protection. At first and when increasing the dose, I noticed muscle pains in my legs and hips which subsided, and "restless legs" type symptoms that persisted. I belonged to a Curves gym and continued to work out regularly. About one year ago I developed tingling in my left forearm down into my thumb. I had nerve conduction and muscle tests which were normal. The neurologist told me it must be a cervical disc problem. The symptoms improved on their own, but then I developed tingling in my left leg down to my 4th & 5th toes. About 5 months ago, my leg muscles started to weaken and ache making walking and even standing difficult. I continued to work out when I could, thinking that it was due to the onset of menopause (which was also happening), but I ended up injuring my knees (chondromalacia patella) because of the weak quad muscles.
I logged on to this website and read some stories similar to mine, so I decided to stop the Lipitor. It has been almost 2 months now, and I think that there is some improvement in muscle strength and less muscle pain, but the patella problem and tingling in the left leg remain. My cholesterol shot up to 277 one month after quitting Lipitor, higher than it ever was before treatment. The doctor wants me to try Crestor, but until my knees are better, I'm afraid to do this.

I am a South Florida female, now 61, who started taking 10 mg daily Lipitor in 2000, when aged 55, for high cholesterol. Lipitor worked. My cholesterol dropped from 270 to 207 and stayed there for 5 years.
Early 2006, I began feeling unsteady in the mornings so started taking Lipitor at bedtime, instead. Also began taking CoQ10 along with it.
Then I started feeling oddly foggy, mentally, but was under a lot of stress at home, so discounted it. I became clumsy, dropping things and stumbling. Had a bad fall in February and injured my left knee. As the left leg got better I realized I was also limping on the right leg. Soon I had to use a cane to get about and needed to use my arms to get up out of a chair. I was slurring my words. I sounded drunk and was tired all the time. I couldn't turn keys or door handles. Emotions were near the surface. I would burst into tears over a newspaper cartoon.
Before long I was so weak I could only stagger around my house by hanging onto the furniture. Still no pain whatsoever, (apart from horrible nightime cramps and spasms throughout my whole body) just increasing muscle weakness and being in a constant daze. I was having difficulty swallowing and often aspirated bits of food. I began worrying about having MS or ALS, or having had a stroke, so made an appt to see my doctor. Suddenly the possibility of it being the Lipitor dawned on me at last and I stopped taking it the first week of April 2006. (I now know I should really have eased myself off it in case of sticky platelet rebound.)
Within a week of stopping the Lipitor I felt so much better and brighter. By the time my doc's appt came around in May my mental fog was lifting and I was walking a bit better, but dragging my right foot. My right calf was wasting just as my right thumb muscle had. My doc diagnosed a dropped right foot and a claw hand and referred me to a neurologist. She also sent me for a brain tumor MRI, which was negative
I had for years been waking at 5am every morning to urinate. Within two weeks of stopping Lipitor I was sleeping through till 7am and having no problems during the day. Bladder muscles must be able to regain their strength quickly. I also noticed that the dry mouth that for years had plagued me was gone. Instead of constantly chewing gum and carrying bottled water I have regained a normal saliva flow, something I had completely forgotten ever having. The muscle cramps completely stopped, and also the awful nightmares.
Two months later I seemed to reach a plateau in improving, so decided to see the neurologist in July 2006. He dismissed my theory that it was Lipitor, saying he'd never such seen such side effects and sent me for two MRIs of my spine. The neurologist thinks it's probably ALS as he observed some muscle twitches and has referred me to a specialist in Miami. I haven't made an appointment as I am convinced it was the Lipitor and hope no permanent damage has been done and that I will eventually regain muscle mass and strength.
Lipitor is a poison derived from toxic mold -- red yeast rice. And though it may be safe for some, I believe there are many people suffering needlessly from taking it and the other statin drugs.
I was lucky enough to have a home pc and discover others are in the same boat, but what about all the old folk and working moms and dads taking Lipitor who don't have the time, ability or resources to research this? They are alone in their Lipitor fog, stumbling and slurring, many being diagnosed with dementia and neuropathies, having no idea that their medication is causing such horrible side effects.
Yes, my cholesterol shot up without Lipitor, but I am now on an organic, glutamine-free diet, mainly vegetables, fish and fruit, oatmeal every day, CoQ10, Omega 3 and lots of vitamin C and hoping to keep it somewhat under control.
Any other South Florida sufferers of similar statin-induced myopathy are welcome to e-mail me. Let's get the word out and some support groups going.

I AM A 63 YEAR OLD FEMALE WITH A GENETIC IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT. OVER A YEAR AGO I TOOK LIPITOR FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS. THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BODY - FACE, ARM, HAND, LEG, AND FOOT, STARTED TINGLING AND GOING NUMB. ONLY THE LEFT SIDE, AND IT WOULD LAST SECONDS, MINUTES, OR TWO HOURS AT A TIME. I COULDN'T RELATE IT TO ANY PARTICULAR ACTIVITY OR MOVEMENT. MY CARDIOLOGIST INSISTED IT WASN'T CAUSED BY AN INTERACTION WITH MY HEART MEDICATIONS (TOPROL AND RYTHMOL) AND REFERRED ME TO A NEUROLOGIST.
THE FIRST MRI SHOWED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A CYST IN THE THIRD VENTRICLE OF MY BRAIN. VERY SCARY. SO I
INSISTED ON A SECOND MRI. THERE WAS NO CYST AND I LEFT THE NEUROLOGIST WITHOUT ANY DIAGNOSIS AND A HUGE BILL. MY HUSBAND TOLD FAMILY I HAD "MAD COW'S DISEASE" WHEN I WAS UNABLE TO WALK PROPERLY DURING AN EPISODE.
DESPITE THE CARDIOLOGIST'S OPINION I STOPPED TAKING
LIPITOR AND WITHIN A WEEK THE SYMPTOMS DISAPPEARED.
A FEW MONTHS LATER I EXPERIENCED VERTIGO EPISODES,
EVEN WHILE TURNING OVER IN BED, BUT IT ONLY LASTED A WEEK, AND IS PROBABLY UNRELATED - WHO KNOWS - THE CARDIOLOGIST STILL WON'T BELIEVE THE LIPITOR CAUSED
ME A PROBLEM. I TOLD HIM I KNOW MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TAKE IT SUCCESSFULLY, BUT I'M HIS ONE IN A MILLION THAT CANNOT TAKE IT. NO MORE PRESCRIPTIONS!

Extreme muscle pain in legs, upper arms, shoulders, and lower bacK. I thought I was just working too hard in my garden but nuscles never ached while I was at work, only after I sat or lay down afterwards. Lately it has become very difficult to get up once I'm lying down. My neck and shoulders stab when I move them, and my lower back has a kinfe-like pain when I try to get up from a lying position. My neurologist has just ordered a blood test to check for the possibility of what he called an extremely dangerous side. For several years, I've had trouble with imbalance and tingling in hands and feet. I am looking forward to hearing the test results. Problem is, he says, just getting off he drug might not cause the symptoms to disappear. I feel frightened. I've been taking lipitor andfive years or more.

I was given Lipitor for high cholesterolseveral years ago and took it a long time.I began having pain in my feet and was sent to a neurologist, his report was Neurophy and there was nothing to help it, In looking on the enternet I found some who had the same symtoms and had found that lipitor was the cause. I stopped the lipitor against the Drs. advise I am still going to Drs. with my feet. I attended a workshop in Austin, Texas on Neurophy and after suggestions of Drs that worked with people that suffered from neurophy he started me on Cymbalta 50 It had helped some but I wanted to sleep an awful lot. I recently had a bout of gout in my left foot and went to a foot Dr and he gave me Methyprednisolone for the gout and told me to take the Cymbalta both morning and night , In less than 5 days I felt like a zombie, sleeping most of the time and just did't give a darn about anything. I have finished the gout med and cut back to one a day on the Cymbalta and my outlook on life is a bit better but still not good. Any help i can receive would be great.

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.

I have inherited high cholesterol and have been on Lipitor for over a year,first 10,then 20 now 40 mg. For the past year I have gone from exercising 4 to 5x's a week to feeling like Im 80 (Im 43) chronic shoulder pain,neck pain,hip pain and leg pain. I have been to pt,neurologist,orthapedic dr. and even had an mri. No diagnosis. Today my chiropracter asked what meds I was on and was really concerned that my problem could be the liptor. Has anyone had success with flaxseed oil and omega 3 for lowering cholesterol?? I was reluctant to take this drug to begin with but with my family history of heart disease, I went along with it.

I have been on Lipitor since May and am experiencing severe neck pain along with pain and weakness in my legs and arms.
Also, I have buzzing in my feet especially my left foot. Doctor told me it wasn't the lipitor but I have been reading up on the side effects and took myself off the lipitor (notified my doctor) three weeks ago. The effects are lessening but I am on my way to a neurologist next week to find out what damage has been done.

Olsen: Isn't it ironic that 3 persons close to you all came down with the same symptoms. When I mentioned the possibility of my husband having Lipitor-induced Parkinson's Disease to my internist, he was adamant about it and said Lipitor had been on the market a long time and that my husband was probably going to get Parksinson's whether or not he took lipitor. After reading of so many instances in this site, I cannot agree with my doctor . I asked my husband's neurologist (who treats his Parkinson's with medication that doesn't help) if there were any data banks that accumulated information from people diagnosed with Parkinson's to see if there was a common thread that would link Parkinson's with anything in particular, and he said there wasn't anything like that. It seems that a questionnaire asking what medications they take, what type of work they did, what chemicals they had ever handled, etc. should be given to all Parkinson's patients to fill in data and sent to a Parkinson's Institute for evaluation. I hate to see my husband's quality of life taken away and wish there was something I could do to make things better. I've also had to become the designated driver.

Please tell me where I can go for help. My mother is having terrible side effects from taking Lipitor a couple years ago. She will need a wheelchair soon. I can't believe so many of her problems are linked to this drug! Her doctors won't even consider the problem being Lipitor. Even though she is off it now, her problems seem to be progressing. Her feet are numb with the numbness moving up her legs. Muscle tone is gone and her left foot hangs. She was diagnosed with dropped foot last year. She also had a pace maker put in after she recovered from pneumonia. She has been told she has spinal stenosis and needs back surgery she probably is too weak to survive. Now she is being treated for neuropathy with no success. Her doctor has done a spinal tap and a nerve biopsy. She has seen a neurologist who sent her to a doctor in Houston. She has had gamma globulin IV's and an IV treatment in the hospital. I don't remember what it was called. Next step is a blood cleansing treatment done in Houston for 2 weeks to remove antibodies attacking the myelin sheath. Her eyes have occasionally hemorrhaged and she faints due to low blood pressure. My mother was very healthy except for slightly elevated cholesterol 3 years ago. What can we do? She is dying.

I am a 47 year old man. A year and a few months ago I was put on 10 mg a day of Lipitor. After about a month my feet began to hurt and burn, then my legs felt week. Now my hands feel strange, (week, and kind of crampy). I drop things, my hand writing is terrible, I have a hard time typing etc. My ankles, knees, hips, back, elbows, wrists, and knuckles ache. The pain and burn, tingling, and numbness in my feet is constant. I have had problems with memory loss and loss of concentration. I have days that I am so week it is hard to go up stairs, roll over in bed or just get out of a chair. I feel like I am over 100 years old at times. I feel like I have been poisoned! About 2 months ago I asked my DR. if it could be the Lipitor and he said " no, I doubt it, quit taking it for a week and see if you feel better" and ordered a blood test, which came back normal. I quit for 2 weeks with no change and started taking it again. I dont think he understood how bad I was feeling & was not much help! I am feeling much worse and changed my Dr. I have had an MRI to check for MS, which came back normal and now have an appt with a neurologist. I have just found this website and I am on my 3rd day of no Lipitor. The last 2 months I have been afraid that I am dying of some horrible disease! I hope this is my problem and I start feeling better soon!!!! If Lipitor is the cause of my problems, it has taken a year of my life away from me!!

I'm a 44 year old male. I was on Lipitor for four years and recently started having severe cramps in my thighs and calf muscles, severe dirrhea, severe fatigue and bloody urine. I asked my doctor if it was the Lipitor, and he said it wasn't. Probably a virus he said because the Liver tests came back okay even though had some jaundice.

Like a fool, I continued with the prescription and the cramps got worse in my legs and feet. I ended up stopping the Lipitor on my own in February 2005, nearly a year later, as the symptoms had not gone away, and I developed muscle twitches and tremors. My doctor then sent me for more blood work that showed my muscle enzyme levels were over 350% above my normal range, and a subsequent EMG/NC&VT showed the muscles had been weakend on my left side! He then had me discontinue the Lipitor and all statins indefinitely.

As it turns out I am not the only one in my family with adverse reactions to statin drugs. My cousin and his father, both on my dad's side both have the same total cholesteral level I have at 268, and both are statin sensitve. My grandmother (same side) and her sister had very high cholesteral and both died from congestive heart failure at 87 and 92 respectively.

I went from a fairly active person to someone who became really old fast. I now have to push myself out of a chair like my 93 year old uncle did.

I am no longer taking any statin drugs and will control my cholesteral through diet and exercise. If I live to 92 like my great aunt did with no problems until she became that age, I should be so lucky.

John

I am a 53 year old female. I have been taking Mevacor and Lipitor for over 20 years. NO great side effects until recently. I am experiencing tingling in my body especially hands and feet. My big toe feels numb.
I had a MRI which was nonconclusive. My cardiologist decided to change my lipitor (20 mgs) to pravachall (40 mg). I am so afraid now..my parents and sister all died at an early age of heart disease. I try to exercise and take care of myself. I am afraid to get off statins, but even more afraid to stay on them with most folks on this sharing board have not received relief. I am going to a neurologist next week. Since no one has said the lipitor has caused this, they are looking at MS...
Any advice? Would this develop after being on statins for 20 years?
If I take CoQ10, can you take it at the same time you take a statin?

I started taking lipitor and a few months later ended up with peripheral neuropathy. I have stopped taking it because my doctor and neurologist did alot of testing and still cannot find the cause. I told my doctor that i read that lipitor can cause this and informed her that until they find the cause of the neuropathy i will not take it. She said it was ok because my cholesterol level was down from 255 to 146. I have not noticed the neuropathy to be getting better yet and I stopped taking it approximately 3 weeks ago.