Lipitor and short term memory

Well it has been 10 days since I stopped taking Lipitor. I am now sleeping 7 to 9 hrs straight - headaches gone - not as moody as I used to be - better concentration at work and huge improvement in short term memory. I forgot to metion that my doctor put me on 40mg hence it didn't take long for the side effects to start. I saw my Doctor and explained that I was off the Lipitor and told him why. He is keeping an eye on me and I will keep you all updated.
cheers from Down Under.
Goose

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 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.

After being on Lipitor for over 5 years, I was told to stop cold turkey by my doctor after my routine blood test. Within 10 days I got blood clots and a pulmonary embolism. I had been on an aspirin a day for over 10 years, I drank cranberry juice often and always ate green leafy veggies. I never had any blood clots before coming off the Lipitor and I am convinced that it caused them. It has been a struggle with the pains in my legs ever since. Has anyone had the same or have heard of someone with the same side effect? ******

My husband had a day fuzzy thinking and memory loss That scared me more then I can explain. With years of Joint pains back pains, loss of patiences and sometimes showing signs of depression for unknown reasons. He has a lot weakness in his arms and legs,he is tired more then ever. I thought he was just being lazy. constant fatigue and the shakes real bad. His knees pop in and out sometimes.
He difficulty with short-term memory and when we tell him things he did or said he has a hard time believing it. Also through the night he has to 'go' more often then ever. I always wondered where it came from.
Lipitor has almost destroyed our life in ways that we hope to be able to overcome in time. This is the only medicine he took so it has to be the BLAME.

I've been on Lipitor for 1 year and have all the side affects that you all are describing.
I've also developed an inflamed liver.
Any one else?
if I get more response, I'm seriously considering a lawsuit against the pharmacy company.

Tom

Can Statins Cause Chronic Low-Grade Myopathy?
Statins (hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase
inhibitors) are highly effective drugs for reducing serum
cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
Clinical trials have shown that they also reduce risk for
coronary heart disease events, coronary procedures, and
stroke by about one third (1). Millions of people in the
United States and worldwide are being treated with statins.
In clinical trials and in clinical practice, statins have proved
to be remarkably safe.
The one notable side effect of statin therapy is myopathy.
A small fraction of patients who are treated with
statins will develop severe myopathy (2). In the worst cases,
severe myoglobinuria, acute renal failure, and even death
can occur. The incidence of severe myopathy is low, perhaps
1 in 1000 patients (2). Predisposing factors for severe
myopathy appear to include advanced age, relatively low
body weight, female sex, certain medications, use of multiple
medications, multisystem disease, and acute illnesses
or major surgery (3). If statins were avoided or used in low
doses in these circumstances, it is likely that the incidence
of severe myopathy could be greatly reduced.
Less severe forms of myopathy undoubtedly occur. In
some patients, fatigue and muscle pain and weakness develop
with moderately high serum creatine kinase levels
but not acute renal failure. In these cases, the myopathy
resolves when statin therapy is discontinued.
Still more patients report various muscle symptoms—
fatigue, pain, and muscle weakness—but have normal creatine
kinase levels. These symptoms probably are unrelated
to statin therapy in many patients. In middle-aged and
older people, muscle, joint, and tendon symptoms are very
common. Naturally, if a patient takes a medication that is
believed to produce muscle problems, symptoms are often
attributed to the medication. On the other hand, the major
controlled clinical trials have not detected a higher prevalence
of muscle symptoms during statin therapy versus placebo
(1). This failure of detection has generally led clinical
trialists to conclude that statin-associated myopathy with
normal creatine kinase levels essentially does not exist or
that, if it does exist, it cannot be detected above the “background
noise” of muscle symptoms in the general clinicaltrial
population.
Many physicians in clinical practice nonetheless believe
that they can identify a subset of statin-treated patients
who have a unique set of statin-related muscle symptoms.
Some patients clearly relate the onset of muscle
symptoms to initiation of statin therapy. These symptoms
may abate after discontinuation of therapy, only to reappear
when statin therapy is restarted. The number of such
patients is not large, and thus it may have been impossible
to identify them in large clinical trials.
In this issue, Phillips and colleagues (4) report on a set
of studies in four patients who had muscle symptoms during
statin therapy that resolved during placebo use. Quantitatively
measured muscle weakness also resolved during
placebo use. Muscle biopsies were performed in three patients
during statin therapy and then during placebo use.
Several pathologic changes were seen on biopsy specimens
obtained during statin therapy: increased lipid content of
mitochondria, fibers that did not stain for cytochrome oxidase
activity, and ragged red fibers. The authors suggest
that these patients had statin-associated myopathy with
normal serum creatine kinase levels.
Despite the study’s small size, we cannot dismiss these
observations as random variation in muscle structure.
However, these highly suggestive results are clearly preliminary.
The number of patients was small, and all appropriate
controls were not used. Nonetheless, this study is novel
because it used quantitative measures of muscle strength
and muscle biopsy to address the question of myopathy
with normal creatine kinase levels during statin therapy.
To be confirmed, the current data would have to be
extended to many more patients in whom muscle symptoms
are closely correlated with statin use. Reproducibility
of symptoms during therapy and symptom resolution after
discontinuation of statin therapy would be necessary. A
definitive study would have to be carefully designed and
executed. It would need to be double-blinded and placebocontrolled
and include sufficient numbers of patients to
provide a valid statistical comparison. In addition, investigators
would have to carefully consider the appropriate
selection of patients. The development of a registry of candidate
patients at multiple sites could facilitate a multicenter
study.
Is a carefully controlled, sizable study of this type
worth the investment of time and effort? To date, no evidence
indicates that prolonged statin therapy leads to permanent
muscle damage or progressive myopathy in patients
with normal creatine kinase levels. Controlled
clinical trials attest to the general safety of statins, and
symptomatic side effects appear to be limited to a relatively
small proportion of treated patients. In addition, no therapy
prevents or treats statin-induced myopathy, short of
withholding the drug. On the other hand, statins are being
prescribed to millions of people, and are usually continued
throughout the patient’s lifetime. It is certain that statins
cause myopathy in some patients. For these reasons, a valid
argument can be made for a more extensive study of lowgrade
myopathy in patients treated with statins.
In the meantime, physicians should recognize the great
benefit of statin therapy in high-risk patients and their
documented safety for most patients. For high-risk persons,
the proven efficacy for preventing cardiovascular disease
outweighs the unlikely possibility of permanent muscle
damage. Phillips and colleagues’ preliminary results
certainly do not provide adequate information on the spec-
Editorial
www.annals.org 1 October 2002 Annals of Internal Medicine Volume 137 • Number 7 617
trum, scope, or prognosis of myopathy with normal creatine
kinase levels during statin therapy. For these reasons,
prescription of statins for eligible patients should continue
despite the current results. Moreover, before discontinuing
therapy, physicians should carefully evaluate any patient
receiving statins who reports muscle symptoms. In most
cases, the symptoms will be found not to be consistent
with chronic myopathy, and often they will not be related
temporally to statin treatment. High-risk patients in particular
should not be deprived of major cardiovascular risk
reduction just because they display symptoms not clearly
documented to be closely related to statin therapy.
Despite these comments, the actions of statin on muscle
metabolism and structure deserve further investigation
to clarify the confusing area of low-grade myopathy apparently
associated with statin use in a few patients.
Scott M. Grundy, MD, PhD
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
Dallas, TX 75390-9052
Current Author Address: Scott M. Grundy, MD, PhD, Center for
Human Nutrition and the Departments of Clinical Nutrition and Internal
Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas,
5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Y3.206, Dallas, TX 75390-9052.
Potential Financial Conflicts of Interest: Honoraria (from Merck &
Co.; Pfizer, Inc.; Bristol-Myers Squibb; and Bayer); Grants (from Merck
& Co. and Pfizer, Inc.)
Ann Intern Med. 2002;137:617-618.
References
1. Executive Summary of The Third Report of The National Cholesterol Education
Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, And Treatment
of High Blood Cholesterol In Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). JAMA. 2001;
285:2486-97.
2. Staffa JA, Chang J, Green L. Cerivastatin and reports of fatal rhabdomyolysis
. N Engl J Med. 2002;346:539-40.
3. Pasternak RC, Smith SC, Bairey-Merz CN, Grundy SM, Cleeman JI, Lenfant
C. ACC/AHA/NHLBI clinical advisory on the use and safety of statins (1)
(2). J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002;40:567-72.
4. Phillips PS, Haas RH, Bannykh S, Hathaway S, Gray NL, Kimura BJ, et al.
Statin-associated myopathy with normal creatine kinase levels. The Scripps Mercy
Clinical Research Center. Ann Intern Med. 2002;137:581-5.
© 2002 American College of Physicians–American Society of Internal
Medicine
Editorial Statins and Low-Grade Myopathy
618 1 October 2002 Annals of Internal Medicine Volume 137 • Number 7 www.annals.org

Hi
I started taking 10 mg. daily ofLipitor 8 yrs. ago and about a year later I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. There's no test for Fibro, just blood tests to elimate everything else ex: Lupus, RA etc. I've been suffering so much from muscle pain, all the tender points as in Fibro and also diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Three doctors diagnosed me with Fibro. and chronic fatigue. I had most of the symptoms everyone else is complaining about also. The pain in my stomach muscles are just about gone too.

It reached a point three weeks ago when I was having sharp pains all over my body and muscle cramps and charlie horses at night and I could just about walk up the stairs my hips hurt so much that decided to stop Lipitor. I was so tired all the time and in constant pain.

My doctors said it couldn't be the Lipitor. The pain in most of the tender points are just about gone but I know it will take a while to get out of my system. I lost muscle strength over the years and hope to get that back. I'm 64 years old and know it will take awhile .

I went to my doctor Tuesday and told him I took myself off the Lipitor and that I now remember being diagnosed with Fibro shortly after going on Lipitor. He got so mad at me and said that Lipitor doesn't cause a disease. As I said there's no test for Fibro and it's not a disease it's a syndrome or condition where the brain sends pain signals to the tender point muscles but there's nothing actually wrong with the muscles. I told him that 6 years ago when I tried going off Lipitor for 3 months and joined a gym, Curves, I felt fine and thought I was in remission. Then when I started taking Lipitor again I couldn't do the exercise in Curves and had to stop going. It never dawned on me it was the Lipitor.

I now have a problem with my heart, one condition I might have been born with but the Arrthymia I don't know about. My heart beats too many beats and it beats 4 beats and the 5th beat is backwards. Now I'm on 25mg of Topricin (the generic) beta blocker to slow down the heart beats. I don't know if this is caused by the Lipitor or not. My cardiologist said that Lipitor can affect every muscle in your body and she suggested that I get a RX for a blood test to tell whether I have muscle damage. I went for the test Tuesday but haven't received the results yet.

I'm going to change doctors, I don't like my doctor's attitude with me over the Lipitor. These doctors think they're God. When I told him on Tuesday about the 3 months that I felt fine 6 years ago he said that there are other drugs besides statins to lower cholesterol. I don't want to go on any drugs and the non statin drugs can cause intestinal blockage, he got upset when I told him that too. I'm going to try to lower it with flaxseed and fiber and see if that works. I go to Weight Watchers and kept 17 lbs. off for 6 years now, I do try and eat healthy.

I can't believe it cost me almost 8 years of my life in pain. It's even hard for me to get down on the floor with my granchildren, I have to crawl to the couch or chair to lift myself up and I get tired so easily. I just hope I get back to normal.

I'm so glad I found this website and figured out what was wrong with me. I hope my writing helps someone else dignosed with Fibromyalgia and taking a statin.

Thanks for listening.
Marie

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

I am 56 year old New Zealander, had stent inserted 1 year ago.
Was first put on Lipex, after 6 months on that would have welcomed departure. Came off it voluntarily and problems went away.
NZ is too mean to provide Lipitor with out a fight, so after much cajoling my doctor finally got permission to provide me with it.

At first it was fine, but slowly the same symptoms as with Lipex returned.
I have every single symptom I have read about here.
Joint pain, short term memory loss, nausea, swollen ankles and by association I am getting pretty depressed.

I had to come off beta blockers for similar reasons.

Finally this week I have developed kidney pain and have decided that that is it.
Lipids are out for the duration, I am told that half an onion a day will reduce your cholesterol naturally, so that is where I am going.

Thank you all for providing me with proof that these drugs do not work for all of us.

I'm a 49 year old male taking 20 mg of Lipitor a day for three years, lately I have noticed short term memory loss.
Talked to my Dr. he wants me to keep track of times and dates for a future

I am a 46 year old male prescribed Lipitor by my doctor for cholesterol above 300 and high triglycerides. 10 mgs for approx 5 months. During this time have developed muscle pain and weakness. Thought I was just getting older. Left shoulder pain started, I have never had shoulder pain in my life (avid weight lifter). Strength and muscle deteriorated rapidly, wasting of shoulder and upper arm. Got extremely tired and confused. Started having short term memory problems, could hardly get out of bed in the morning to come to work...became depressed and despondant. Took myself off two days ago, no improvement yet. Right hip has been aching badly, have been walking with a limp. Just a miserable experience, wish i had known about all this ahead of time, never would have agreed to take it. This has been a humbling and dibilitating experience, feel the life just being sucked out of you. Look forward to relief at some point. If anyone is thinking about taking it....dont!

Are side effects reversible after you stop taking Lipitor?
Has anyone that was experiencing fatigue, concentration, and short term memory problems that was taking Lipitor and has stopped taking it seen these problems go away? Are they reversible?

I am totally shocked at what I have learned about Lipitor. My physician prescribed 10mg for me over 4 years ago. No major problems until recently. Severe neck/shoulder pain for about 3 months. Dr said it was a pulled muscle. Gave me Skelaxin. No help. Went to Chiropractor--yanked, cracked, beat, etc--no help. In the past 2 weeks or so I have developed pain in my hips, back and legs. Blamed it on being 52 years old. As I read some of the experiences on here I could relate to each one. I also have gained about 30 pounds in the past 4 years, short term memory is terrible. NO ENERGY> 3 years ago-Dr started me on Wellbutrin for depression, then added Zoloft. I am to the point now I want to get off of all this and see how I could really feel. Not sure about withdrawals. Any comments on stopping the meds?

I have been taking Lipitor for about 5 years now and have had numerous things happen to me. Just trying to find out if they relate to the Lipitor or not. Have developed extreme fatigue and depression over the years. Always seems like I am in a fog. Have tried numerous anti-depressants trying to conquer this. Nothing seems to work and the problems continue. I was thinking that I just have to live with it and then I thought about the Lipitor. Has anybody experienced any of these symptoms too? I am on 20mg.

My mother has been taking Lipitor for four or five years. We moved and the new doctor increased her to 80 mg. He also put her on Zetia. Mother is 86 and weighs barely 100 pounds. This past year her short term memory started getting worse,more so than normal for her age, according to doctors. I was also noticing cognitive problems. She went through a battery of tests. She did not have alzeimers and nothing could be pinpointed other than she was worse than normal for her age as I already stated. Then this last week of the year, her muscles all over her body started hurted and feeling very sore. Then she started have lots of trouble walking, getting in her car, etc. It was so bad so quickly that I became extremely alarmed. My sister mentioned Lipitor and I started the research. I talked to two pharmacists, since we could not reach the doctor. They were both alarmed at the symtoms I described. We stopped both medications three days ago and she is already improving. I now believe that even the memory problems and other things that were gradual were because of the Lipitor. (the pharmacists did tell us it would be okay to stop both for the time being.) I was ready to take mother to the emergency room. That is how bad she had gotten is such a short time. I watched her and talked with her. She was very discouraged at the rate of decline in her walking. It was as if paralysis was setting in. I believe she would have been in a wheelchair soon had we not stopped the Lipitor. We are going to try some natural things to keep her cholesterol down. The quality of life is important too. This has been very scary for us but we are hopeful as she is already experiencing some improvement. We do understand that it can take time to get back and at her age that is expected. Being an elderly person though does not justify that all of these symtoms were 'just' her age. She has always been very active and alert and could outdo me (and my sisters) on most days! I will check this site often for comments and stories of others on this drug. Thank you for the help to those of you that I read your stories and good luck to you that are having difficulties.

My husband had a TIA in July of 2004 and had some short term memory loss and has polycythemia so in fall of 2004 doctor put him on 10 mil of lipitor , I immediately noticed a difference in him he couldn't remembeer things like he did before had skin problems hurt all over but dr. could not believe it was lipitor so in March of 2006 put him on 20 mil. of lipitor to lower his cholesterol more, he started getting hateful, mean and hard to live with. Nov. 15 we got a flu shot and 2 days later he lost it completly didn't know where he was what he was doing and didn't remember me. It came and went for a week and on 24th. put him in hospital. Doctors did all kinds of tests and could not find what was causing his problems so told me to put him in nursing home in the lock down ward, I couldn't do it so brought him home with ativan if I needed it so 2 times in 5 days I had to give it to him and was odd as his problems always came on at night after taking his lipitor. so on the 5th day looked on the computer and immediately knew what his problem was so stopped it right then. He is slowly getting better has good days and bad days. I am hoping it will improve some. The sad thing is the doctors wont agree with me that lipitor has caused all his problems. I wish there was a way to broadcast it so other people could see what can happen and if I could just prevent one person from having to go through wat we have been and still are , I think that would be wonderful
Thank you

I have been on 10mg of lipitor for 3 years and had dramatic lowering of total and LDL cholesterol. Since taking this I have developed muscle cramps in the legs and abdomen, especially after 2 am, as another person on here reported, and noticeable short term memory loss, which until I started reading about the side effects of lipitor, I attributed to the heavy radiation I received 10 years ago in my bone marrow transplant.

Recently my doctor took my dose of lipitor up to 20mg to try to reach the new "target" level and the cramps immediatedly got worse and I have almost constant calf muscle pain. And my short term memory is alarmingly deteriorating to the point where my co-workers have commented on it.

I am off lipitor for now, exploring fish oil supplements, and other natural remedies. I read recently that LDL only causes arterial damage when oxidizied, and that exercise boost free radicals, so am going to focus on anti-oxidants alot more as I exercise alot. Thank God for sites like this. It is easy to blame your symtoms on the wrong thing or try to ignore them.

I am up at 3 am researching this as my leg cramps do not let me sleep!

Heart attack 15 years ago, bypass 5 years ago. Have been taking 40 to 80 mg lipitor per day for about a year after being switched from zocor due to high triglicerides (400+), high LDL & diabetes. Also taking zetia & niacin since March. Results, over last 5 months fatigue and short term memory impairment have become debilitating, affecting home & work. For awhile I thought it was all in my mind.
Stopped lipitor about a week ago and have noticed less fatigue & way better short term memory.
Lesson: Pay attention to what your body is telling you.

short term memory loss. forget things i'm suppose get at the store. can't remember if i took my morning meds. walk into a room and don't know what i came for etc.tec.etc.etc. i'm a 61 year old female. forget things at work too!

I am 48. Family history of Cholesterol problems. Tried a change of diet with some success, but, according to my Doctor, not enough. Doctor strongly encouraged me to take Lipitor to lower cholesterol. I had never been on any meds, so I was reluctant. I asked about niacin as opposed to a statin. He said no.

for 2 years, I've been on Lipitor-10mg/day. I was informed to look for side effects related to liver and muscle. I have never experienced any of the muscle aches/side effects described in the postings I just scanned, with the exception of mild lethargy. Liver tests have always been normal.

However I have been experiencing what I consider significant cognitive decline. I have experienced difficulty concentrating, short-term memory loss (e.g., did I take my medication, or only THINK I took it). I feel inept when trying to carry on conversations, helping my kids with homework, reading an article in the paper. Ask my age--I have to think about it. recalling words to put together a complete sentence--challenging at times. I also have experienced occasional feelings of dizziness/floating.

For a long time, I blamed much of these symptoms on stress and a preoccupation with a variety of family problems, however when these problems subsided, and the symptoms persisted, I then assumed that they might be menopause-related.

Until a week ago, I didn't realize there might be a possible link between Lipitor and cognitive decline, until I read an syndicated medical advice column in our local newspaper.

My annual check-up was 4 days ago, and was prepared to discuss with him, my concerns/fears about my cognitive decline in relation to menopause or early-onset alzheimers. Instead, I asked him about a connection between Lipitor and cognitive decline. He acknowleged a link, but minimized it in relation to the studies performed. Never-the less, he agreed that I go off lipitor and come back into the office in 2 months for a recheck. I have been lipitor-free for 3 days.

I have been on Lipitor for several years.Just recently, heavy fatigue, severe pain across lower back and buttocks. Stopped Lipitor after reading an article several days ago, Strating to fee; better after 3 days. also, some short term memory loss.

I am a 54 year old male and have been on Lipitor 10mg for nearly five years. I had a heart attack and since then have also been taking warfarin and also Atenolol 25mg and Candestartin 8mg. I have experiences some hair loss and some back pain. My short term memory is getting poor and I have dad days when I have felt generally unwell. Fairly recently I have had cramps and muscle pain in my legs and arms. Recently I began to have fluid collect on my knees and my knees joints have become stiff and painful. I have had the fluid drained from them and had various tests and x-rays. Everything is negative - there is no sign of infection or athritis. Liver and kidney functions are normal and gout has been ruled out. I am going to ask my doctor to check for muscle damage although he has already said that there is evidence of wasting and prescribed excercises for my legs. Is this the lipitor? He has give me some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to take in the short term but these interfere with my Warfarin and I cannot take them for long. I have looked up the side effects of the other drugs and they do not seem to be so severe as those of Lipitor. I live in the UK where self help in medicine is not so prevalent as it is in the States and my Doctor will, no doubt, be sceptical when I tell him about this site. What can I take to replace this drug?

Had been on lipitor for over ten yrs now being 44
side effects that it has caused over a long peroid of time muscle cramps nightly short term memory loss joint pain shoulder next and thighs loss of sex drive
stopped taking it about six weeks ago memory has inproved dramtically cramps have gone aching joint seem to be improving and sex drive slowly improving hand put all these side effects down to other causes as we do but now kmow better

extreme pains in arms particularly the right arm. Pains worse at night.Aching elbow joints.Sore wrist joints.Short term memory loss.

My husband was on Lipitor for about eight months. In that time his personality was drastically altered. A very kind, loving, wonderful husband and father turned into a monster. He began having temper tantrums, was moody and suspicious, suffered muscle pain, and had short term memory loss. He was no fun to be with. My daughter broke my heart when she tearfully pleaded "I want my father back."

We have you all to thank for geting him back! He would not listen to any suggestion his medication might be affecting his personality. So I printed out 25 pages from this web site and just left them on the kitchen counter. Once he started reading, he could not stop. He recognized himself and immediately cut all his pills in half, weaned himself off Lipitor and now we are trying diet and exercise. The husband and father we cherish is back!

I had all kinds of pains like others discribeded. I also had short term memory loss weakness,tired and felt like I was too old to do anything at 42. I was taking 10 mg. of lipitor for 5 or more years. I tore my bicept tenden ( think from muscle degeneration from the staten) and had sergery to repair it. The lipitor slows down the healing process from sergery or any other injury. I also had a double hernia(more torn muscle) opereration three years ago and had complications that did not go away till a month after I stopped taking lipitor. I no longer have pains and I can go up and down stairs with no problem now. I gained over fifty pounds while on the lipitor and have lost thirty of that in the two months since I stopped the lipitor. I no longer fall asleep at seven thirty every night and I can get jobs done around the house I could not get myself to do when on the lipitor. Lipitor is a good way to keep people sick and kill them slowly. There is hope if you stop the drug. The cloudy felling in your head will go away also. You get a great sense of awareness when you stop the drug. good luck...your Dr. will tell you that none of it's from the drug. My doctor told me I was just getting old and getting arthritis. Well it went away and i'm getting younger since not taking it.

High cholesterol. currently 56 y/o. been on lipitor a total of 4 years. put on lipitor 10 in the beginning. triglycerides doubled on this dose. changed to lipitor 20. cholesterol went down from 259 to 144. triglycerides came down to normal.

stated suffering the following symptoms within one month of going on lipitor. doctor has ignored my complaints of constant tiredness & weakness. i don't think he knows that lipitor can cause these side effects. i will be educating him on friday. when my triglycerides doubled again recently, he raised my lipitor to 40mg. i have only take it one month & stopped taking it yesterday. my symptoms are getting worse with the doubled dose. surely there is something else they can do to lower cholesterol.

(1) numbness & shooting pain in my right leg from hip to foot (was put on neutontin 600 three times per day)
(2) short-term memory loss. sometimes i just can't put a coherent thought together. sometimes i reach for a word & i just can't grab hold of it. i have felt like i was getting alzheimer's.
(3) bloating of the abdomen
(4) so hot at times i feel like my body thermostat is going haywire or i am going to spontaneously combust.
(5) muscle weakness in legs when walking, weakness/tremors in my hands when trying to hold something.
(6) pronounced changes in vision
(7) weight gain (especially at the abdomen)
(8) occasional dizziness combined with nausea
(9) alternating constipation & diahrrea
(10) total and complete exhaustion
(11) severe depression (treated with zoloft 100)

thyroid was checked. everything a-ok (although i still believe i could be having some thyroid issues inspite of those normal readings).

Barbara

muscle aches, short term memory loss, irritable, anxiety, neck aches, loss of sex drive, gas.

muscle aches, fatigue, sore lips and tongue, headache constantly, no patience, irritable, neck ache, short term memory loss, loss of sex drive, tingling/numbness in fingers,

Hello Nanato2,

YES!!!! I had the short term memory loss as well. I'll be 53 in one month....so glad we aren't "losin it" yet...eh? I even put it down to us being in the "Flower Power" generation. LOL . What is the saying? "If you can remember the Sixties.....you WEREN'T there." LOL

The weight gain, from the water retention, was also getting to me. Iv'e been off Lipitor, ater being on it for four months, for over two weeks now.

The only issue I have, is the EXTRA anxiety kicked off by this drug!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrr. A heart attack four months ago wasn't enough I guess......SHEEEEESH!

Good luck. Peace&Luv,

GeeDub

I am 53 (female) and have been taking Lipitor for about 5 months. I haven't read the whole list below, but is anyone having problems with mental clarity and thinking that it might be related to the Lipitor.? I am experienceing short term memory loss and mental confusion. My M.D. is sending me for a brain MRI this week. While I don't fear this is early dementia, I am beginning to think it might be a side effect of the Lipitor. I stopped taking the Lipitor 7 days ago and it seems I am more clear minded.
I have felt a general overall "puffiness" since starting the Lipitor. This combined with the mental clairty issues are making be suspect of the Lipitor.
I also am experience an overwhelming fatigue. This too seems to have lessened since stopping the Lipitor.
My M.D. just stares at my blankly! I am starting to think I am really loosing it. Anybody having similar reactions?
Thanks for any responses!

I am a 46 old male in good health. My doctor put me on Lipitor bacause my cholesterol was 286. After taking Lipitor for approx. one year it was lowered to 219. In my opinion, the cost was to high. My short term memory is shot all to hell. I have pain in areas I never hurt at before. My vision is blurred, my sex drive went from 110% to 10%. I used to be on the go work outside all day. My wife would ask "why can't you set still for awhile?" Now I don't feel like getting off the sofa.

65 year old female highly energetic with super brain functions.
Taken 20 mg lipator for 1.5-2years and definately noticed short term memory loss.Also had severe leg muscle cramps
like charlie horse in upper thighs, totaly excruciating pain. Stopped lipator for six weeks and cholesteral shot up to 290
but I feel great and energetic. Doc wants me to go back on
and recheck blood in 7 weeks. Will try 20mg every other day
and not let him know until blood results, otherwise I'm off it for good. I would rather die at 80 with a good functioning brain, then 100 like a zombie.Doc also said memory loss atributed to getting older and I said bull crap. I'm fine now and workiing full time as I was before even though things were not as sharp to me as now without the lipator. Will advise.

I have been on Lipitor ( 10mg) for 4 years-side effects are terrible. I have loss of hair, major pain in shoulder area-and in left arm.
Loss of feeling in feet has progressed from the toe area to the middle foot. Eye sight is affected-vision dims at times. Short term memory loss is increasing, loss of sleep at night due to pain in shoulders. I can not hold my arms above my head for any length of time. I also loss my balance 2-3 times per week for no apparent reason.
Costipation is a continuing problem-I must take a stool softner daily to over come that effect.
I have also experienced small red blister like sores (?) on my arms from time to time. Pain is so severe in shoulders the past few days that standard pain killers ( aspirin, tylenol. Aleve ) do not help. Effective in the morning I'm taking myself off this terrible drug.
Ted Elston

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.

My Father has been taking Lipitor for 4 years. At the present time, he is alomost completely immobile due to severe muscle weakness. He has short term memory loss, cannot taste his food, was only sleeping for a couple of hours each night, and has developed blotchy red spots on his arms. At first they (Doctor)said he was having mini strokes. Now they just have no answers. This drug has robbed my father of his health and mobility. These drug companies will be held accountable for destroying peoples lives!

I am so glad I decided to check out side effects for Lipitor. I was on Lipitor for the past 5 years at the 10mg dose. I could not tell of any side effects. But recently, my work performance was going down, I was always a top performer. I could not remember things that happened they made reference to at work.I also saw mistakes, and did not correct them and wondered why things did now work right. Also I have experienced loss of short term memory, my face is swelled up and I was already losing hair, but now I think the Lipitor maybe responsible for the majority of the loss. My stomach is always churning and making noises.

On lipitor for about a year. My side effects are muscle weakness (no major pains yet), thinning hair, and some short-term memory loss. I read an article in Smart Money about serious side effects and it scared the @#$% out of me. I've stopped. Now about 2 weeks after stopping, I am getting severe upper back/shoulder pains - muscle type.

muscle pains especially in shoulder, dizziness, loss of short term memory, fog like symptoms, i am willing to take any advice to lessen these symptoms.

dizziness, significant short term memory loss, frequent loss of balance, constant low grade head ache