Lipitor and pharmaceutical companies

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

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

I am a 51 y/o white female that has been on Lipitor for 2 years. I am 5' 1" and when I had to go on it my cholesterol was 267 I weighed 112 lbs. I was shocked.... my doctor told me weight had nothing to do with cholesterol. She kept a close watch on me and my cholesterol came down...... and then my ex-husband of 17 years and I re-connected and got back together and I moved so I had to get another primary care physician. I took all my meds to her, she also kept a close watch on everything. At this time my cholesterol is down to 109 and I asked if I could stop taking it, as I take quite a lot of meds, due to different things and if I could stop anything it would be great, but she said it I stopped it, my cholesterol would go right back up. So since I am not experiencing any side effects I'm okay with continuing it.

I surely hate to hear what you all are experiencing with your Lipitor..... could your doc try another cholesterol medication?

The only one of my meds that is giving me any problem is TOPAMAX........ that we are using as a Migraine preventative! HORRORS!!! Today is pretty good day. But my cognitive abilities are in the trash... I say the wrong word when I mean something else...... I search my mind looking for a memory...... I am also on disability since 2002 because of the Migraines....... I have has them since 1978, but they got progressively worse over the years until I was sick more days per week, sometimes more than 7-10 days at the time, having to be in the hospital being rehydrated and on IV pain meds.......... and as awful as the TOPAMAX is.....it has been reduced the migraines to approx 2 per month and they do not last nearly as long.

So sorry, I got waaay off topic, but I know that it is not the Lipitor that is giving me the side effects as it the last med I had to go on and I had no new side effects....... but that TOPAMAX is kicking my behind.

I am a 51 year old male. November 2007 jaw pain sent me to the hospital where they found a 99% block in my right coronary artery, yep 4 stent's. Three month late the same this time 2 stent's and two weeks later 2 more. I now have 8 stent's. My DR. put me on several meds including Zocor. The zocor made me very tired and headaches. He change it to Lipitor 10mg. I have been on it for 7 months and a few day's ago I have notice pain in both knee's and hip. I once again find it hard to concentrate, feel sluggish and have headache's. I NEVER have headache's. Stopped taken the Lipitor, hope the pain goes away. It a shame that the medical field is so quick to put us ALL on drug's, how about herb's instead. I'm going to look into a natural way to lower my cholesterol.

On lipitor for 1 1/2 years.... starting taking yoga a month ago. Had ache in knee and leg which then went to toe on other leg. Thought it was overstretching from yoga. Pain moved to hips and lower back. All very painful but worst was yet to come. Pain moved to neck and shoulders. Could not move head. Excruciating SOBBING pain. I was in so much pain for weekend. Everyone wanted me to go to emergency room but I wanted to stick it out til Monday.

PS... went on web. Saw this is lipitor side effect. never would have expected that after 1 1/2 yrs on a 10 mg dose.

Went to pain management doctor ... got Soma (muscle relaxant), an oral steroid and Percoset. Relief was almost instant.

Called my cardiologist. He says it is the Lipitor.

No more statins for me.
And back to yoga.

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

It`s very disturbing to read all these stories. I really feel for you.

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

They all took statins.

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

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

I saw the suffering and it made me very angry.

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

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

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

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

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

Are you sure?

Please visit:
******

******

******

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

Also read:

The Cholesterol Myths (Uffe Ravnskov)

The Great Cholesterol Con (Antony Colpo)

Book with the same title (Malcolm Kendrick)

Overdosed America (John Abramson)

The Truth about the Drug Companies (Marcia Agnell)

Malignant Medical Myths (Joel M. Kauffman)

There are many more.

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

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

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

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

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

All of them had taken statins for years (Zocor)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good Luck.

Because of a “Global economy” - I suspect ingredients (even for Brand names) are coming from China or being manufactured in India with poor to non-existent quality control standards, and is the primary reason for the majority of Adverse Reactions to the Statins in general. Please take time to submit your complaint directly to the FDA, and hope they investigate and take action (see bottom of page for web sites to submit complaint).

My own recent experience with statins: After 3-weeks of being on generic Simvastatin 80mg for elevated LDL, I experienced significant fatigue, shortness of breath with tightness around my chest and a bout of Gout in my left foot. I would encourage patients/consumers to directly send their complaint to the web sites listed at the very bottom, if you are either a U.S. (FDA Form 3500) or Canadian resident. Also, if your physician is unresponsive to your negative experience with Statins (generic or Brand Name), inform him/her that you refuse to continue with this drug, and that you have sent an adverse reaction complaint to the FDA/Canadian equivalent. Provide both your doctor and pharmacy with a copy of the FDA Form 3500 if you’re a U.S. resident, so they know you're serious. Lastly, I'm back to feeling normal, after I "demanded" my physician switch me to generic Pravastatin 40mg (2 tabs a day - 80mg), manufactured by Teva Pharmaceutical - corporate HQ Israel with manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania. By the way, a 90-day supply of this quality-controlled drug is available at Walmart Pharmacy for $10. I hope this helps, especially seniors on a fixed income.

U.S.A.
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/problem.html

CANADA
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/alt_formats/hpfb-dgpsa/pdf/compli-conform/gui-44_consumer_complaint-plainte_consommateur-eng.pdf
Contact Name: Drug Compliance Verification and Investigation Unit Tel: (613) 952-9906 Fax: (613) 954-0941 E-Mail: DCVIU_UVCEM@hc-sc.gc.ca

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

Please educate yourself.

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

All statins have similar side effects!!
_________________________

It`s very disturbing to read all these stories. I really feel for you.

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

They all took statins.

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

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

I saw the suffering and it made me very angry.

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

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

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

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

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

Are you sure?

Please visit:

*******

******

*****

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

Also read:

The Cholesterol Myths (Uffe Ravnskov)

The Great Cholesterol Con (Antony Colpo)

Book with the same title (Malcolm Kendrick)

Overdosed America (John Abramson)

The Truth about the Drug Companies (Marcia Agnell)

Malignant Medical Myths (Joel M. Kauffman)

There are many more.

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

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

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

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

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

All of them had taken statins for years (Zocor)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good Luck.

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

It`s very disturbing to read all these stories. I really feel for you.

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

They all took statins.

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

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

I saw the suffering and it made me very angry.

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

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

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

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

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

Are you sure?

Please visit:

www.thincs.org,

www.ravnskov.nu,

www.spacedoc.net, www.statinalert.org

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

Also read:

The Cholesterol Myths (Uffe Ravnskov)

The Great Cholesterol Con (Antony Colpo)

Book with the same title (Malcolm Kendrick)

Overdosed America (John Abramson)

The Truth about the Drug Companies (Marcia Agnell)

Malignant Medical Myths (Joel M. Kauffman)

There are many more.

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

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

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

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

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

All of them had taken statins for years (Zocor)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good Luck.

I have just read Maxineps very long text about the benefits of statins.

I totally disagree that the benefits far outweigh the risks.

Besides - don´t be sure that it`s hig cholesterol that is causing heart problems and therefore should be lowered.

There are other opinions by professional people all over the world, but they don´t have the financial resources that the pharmaceutical companies have and therefore it`s more difficult for them to reach out with their message.

The best thing you can do is to educate yourself on this issue and here are som books/addresses that I recommend..

The Cholesterol Myths (Uffe Ravnskov) + www.ravnskov.nu + www.thincs.org

The Great Cholesterol Con (Antony Colpo)

Book with the same title (Malcolm Kendrick)

Malignant Medical Myths (Joel M. Kauffman)

Overdosed America (John Abramson)

The side effects of statins are much more common than is suggested.

They are often thought to be problems of aging both by the patient and by the doctor.

So, please trust yourself.

It`s your body and you know best how you are feeling.

I think all of you folks with side affects are are blaming your ills on Lipitor rather than putting the blame where it belongs: on your own mental health. I am a 65 YO male and I have been on Lipitor for more than six years now. I have no side affects, I work out four days per week with cardio and weights and feel that Lipitor should be added to the public water supply. My total cholesterol has gone from the high two hundreds to under one-forty on a single daily dose of 10mg. All of you hypochondriacs get a grip.

It`s very disturbing to read all these stories. I really feel for you.

My experience comes from seeing what happened to people close to me. They all took statins.

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

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

I saw the suffering and it made me very angry.

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

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

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

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

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

Please visit:

www.thincs.org, www.ravnskov.nu, www.spacedoc.net, www.statinalert.org

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

Also read:

The Cholesterol Myths (Uffe Ravnskov)

The Great Cholesterol Con (Antony Colpo)

Book with the same title (Malcolm Kendrick)

Overdosed America (John Abramson)

The Truth about the Drug Companies (Marcia Agnell)

There are many more.

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

They are interested in profits.

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

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

These side effects - for 3 different people - all over 65 - did not come at once. All of them had taken statins for years (Zocor)

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

There is a very interesting article on "Stopped our statins" under print articles.

It´s from the Weston Price Foundation and explains the different statin studies and side effects. .

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

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

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

Good Luck.

I posted a note about all my aches and pains on the 16 of this month and have since done a bit more research and I found several sites that have posts from people on their experience with certain drugs and Lipitor seems to be the one main drug that every one complains about. Granted, there may be a few that have no ill side effects from Lipitor, but you have to remember - - - we are not all alike. But to have so many people complain about the same drug with about the same side effects has got to tell you some thing . There must be a way to make these doctors and the pharmaceutical companies realize that the BENEFITS DO NOT OUT WAY THE SIDE EFFECTS ! And that a LONG TERM study MUST be done on any drug for human consumption !!!! And not to use us as their guinea pigs.

This will not be a report on side effects because I have never taken this kind of medication (similar side effects with all lipid lowering drugs).

I don't work in the health field.. I am just an ordinary women I my sixties who is discussed at what I see around me and the stories that are told here.

The pharmaceutical companies and the brain-washed medical staff has really managed to convince the public, all over the world, that they need to lower their cholesterol levels.

Are you sure that they are right?

I am not convinced after reading lots of different books (please see suggestions in message November 3rd, 2007).

I have also visited many different sites on the Internet with other opinions.

Lipitor - and others - are the most prescribed medications in the world.

Many users are ignored when they want to discuss benefit/risk or side effects. The situation is the same if you live in the U.S. or in Sweden, where I live.

I think it`s time that people educate themselves and make up their own mind about this issue.

Also search for "Stopped our statins".

There are some very good article under "print articles". You can take them along to your doctor.

There is one that I particularly recommend - it`s from the Weston Price Foundation, Dangers of Statin Drugs.

In it you will find information about side effects - such as:
muscle pain and weakness, neuropathy, heart failure, dizziness, cognitive impairment, cancer, pancreatic rot, depression etc.

There is also a lot of information about different studies.

Hope I have encouraged you to learn more about this issues.

It`s the pharmaceutical companies that have the money - that`s why you seldom hear about different views.

Good luck!

I took Lipitor for 36 days. At first I noticed only some increased heartburn and constipation. Then came the insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and increasingly severe depression. One day I took my usual walk with my dog and felt as though I were walking through waist-deep mud. I went home and took a nap and when I awoke I felt as though I had been beaten with baseball bats. Every muscle in my body ached. By the next day, I was suffering with nausea, upper abdominal pain, and could barely stumble to the Dr.'s office. She drew blood to test for muscle damage and it was negative, but told me to stop the Lipitor. Many of the symptoms subsided almost immediately. Still, 3 weeks after stopping the Lipitor, I have constant muscle pain, especially in my legs, also weakness and fatigue that prevents me from living my normal life. I also have a constant tingling and burning sensation in my feet, and muscle twitching. I wish I had researched Lipitor on the Net before taking. I am very angry that this drug and others like it are being pushed on the general public by the medical community and the pharmaceutical companies. It is sad to read the experiences on this forum. I wish you all the strength to recover and regain your lives.

I am so appalled to read these sad stories as to what has happened to their loved ones while taking Lipitor (or, for that matter, any drug! I was lucky though. My doctor put me on Lipitor but only took it every other day. I'm not one that believes in medicines unless it's an emergency. I go by how my body feels. Well, did not respond well to Lipitor. Starting to forget names, places, and even got lost driving in my own neighborhood. I'm 55 yrs old.

What ashame. I now do not take anything except for red wine vinegar and honey (mix it together) and swallow that. Just in a shot glass. You only need a little. Do it maybe once every two weeks. But everyone needs to read this fantastic book by Kevin Trudeau. It's about natural cures and how all these pharmaceutical companies & doctors do not want us to know about what he (Trudeau) has to say.

Believe me, read this book and see what he has to say! It could save your life.

Within 10 days of taking Lipitor I developed an unusual nodule on the knuckle of a finger on my left hand.

Within 14 days, I began awakening at night with INTENSE, BURNING PAIN in my right arm and hand. Also carpal-tunnel-like symptoms of hand and arm tingling in right arm and hand.

Within 21 days my left wrist developed a type of arthritic joint problem, which left me wearing arm splints on both arms.
Stopped the Lipitor, under Dr.'s advice, blood tests showed no muscle damage, but all problems listed above are now improving. SLOWLY IMPROVING. Left wrist may never be the same.

I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SIDE-EFFECTS FROM THIS DRUG!!!! And they say it's safe? This is our pharmaceutical companies talking here, this DRUG IS NOT SAFE... IT IS MAIMING PEOPLE.....
Donna

please refer to the postings on another message board "DIT message board ". once you are on their web site scroll down to "Lipitor '. once you access this board, use the "search ' feature at top of page and type "ear" into search box--indicate you wish to find it within the body of the message, and select
'lipitor" of the boards available. I have read several postings in which the individual has suffered ear pain! also, please, please email dr. beatrice golomb at : statinstudy@ucsd.edu and ask to report your suspected side effects for the one and ONLY study about statins that has NOT BEEN FUNDED by the PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURED THE STATIN BEING STUDIED. Did you know that the studies that are carried out at academic centers are funded by pharmaceutical companies--and that the pharm scientists DESIGN THE STUDIES, DETERMINE THE PROTOCOLS, AND DETERMINE WHAT GETS REPORTED FROM THE STUDY? THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED LEGALLY OR ANY OTHER WAY TO REPORT ANY NEGATIVE FINDINGS- and they do not! only with the unbiased compilation of information about side effects will one be able to even begin to convince one's physician that the muscle pain, leg weakness, ear pain, headaches, hand tremor, etc.are due to the statin one is taking!

I have been put on five different drugs for my cholesterol. I react within a week of taking these....... I wake at night with my hand cramped and loose the power of my hand temporiarily .. then my feet go ice cold .. then get great sharp pains in feet....... aches in neck and back.....I stop the statins right away and the Dr insist we try another. Now I have said NO MORE........... this has beenover a period of three years. I am shocked at the sudden and quick problems of the drugs. I have stiff joints and swollen fingers sice the last trial of two one week......... any cholesterol lowering drug affects me....I keep telling them I can not use statins and they say this is a new drug it will be different. Nothering is different.
I have not brought my cholesterol down to normal with diet and non flush niacin...... plush omega -3 oils.
I asked the Dr why they do not try the natural route first?? He said " patients do not like the side effects!!!!" I said have you not heard of NON FLUSH NIACIN. Have just had blood tests done for rhemoid factor......... all because of my swollen joints and aches .. as a result of statins.
DO NOT TAKE THESE DRUGS...... TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH... DIET EXERCISE AND TAKE NATURAL PRODUCTS

WE ARE NOT EXPERIMENTIAL OBJECTS FOR THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES......

THEY DO NOT HAVE OUR HEALTH AT HEART .. IT IS ALL ABOUT PROFITS AND MORE AND MORE MONEY

Thanks to this website, I've learned that my mother is not alone. She has been on Lipitor for 5+ years. She is suffering from rhabdomyolysis and myotosis. Her sympthoms are severe muscle pain, every daily task is 10 tens as difficult. She can not raise her arms over her head to brush her hair. She has difficulty walking, or picking up a kitchen pan. Her doctors have prescribed Prednisone and Azathiprine because she has horrible bruise like blotches all over her body. The doctors seem to think she has arthritis, so they've prescribed- Methotrexate. Sadly, her muscles are severely damaged to the point that she has IV infusions at least twice a month to help get rid of muscle tissue in her bloodstream. You see, the disease (rhabdomyolyis and myotosis) has caused her muscles to disintegrate... and are bodies are made up of muscle- skeletal muscle, heart, lungs, kidneys, esphogus, etc.
She has also experienced hair loss, loss of taste, and like mentioned earlier severe muscle pain, and immobility. I agree with all of you, the pharmaceutical companies need to be held accountable. Thank you for your support.
******