Lipitor and shortness of breath

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

Bad experience-After taking Lipitor I noticed a distinct loss of memory-couldn't remember from hour to hour or day to day. Then came the foot neuropathy, then the shortness of breath. Finally said to hell with it and stop taking it. Most problems went away within a month. What a horrible drug.

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

I have had shortness of breath,slurred speech

1. Sciatic pain
2. Left leg is numb; tingling, burning, shooting pains
3. Foot pain/numbness
4. Constance shortness of breath/palpitations
5. Incident of high blood pressure
6. Weight Gain: Belly! Bloated appearance
7. Constipation
8. Fatigue
9. Periods of depression
10. Anxiety
11. Neck pain.
12. Coughing like choking

I only took Lipitor for 20 days but those were the worest twenty days of my life. And well be with me for ever. All the above started 3 days into taking the pill. One night after another one I was in so much pain. But worst of all I couldn't breathe. My back and neck hurt so bad. I couldn't lay down on my back and breathe. I felt like in one week I was finally going to die. after 20 days I threw the Lipitor away and went to the internet. Scared me to death, I called my Doctor. I went in for more test, he said I was just having a heart attack and put me into the ER. They said NO heart attack here and sent me home. $3000.00 for hospital and $900.00 for doctor's. And no one knew what was going on.
After four days I started feeling better but the breathing didn't get better. so went back to the doctor after two weeks. He said he read up on Lititor and it was a good thing "I" stopped. Lipitor will effect your muscles and the heart is a muscle. What the Lipitor did to me was trigger off COPD. He said I might of gotten COPD 10 to 15 (maybe) years down the road becuase I'am a X smoker but the Lipitor changed all that. Lipitor did nothing for me except to make my life harder on Oxygen. I'm only 59. Constance shortness of breath/palpitations for the rest of my life. Let me stress this I was totally in good health. Always had low Low Chocholesterol 120. But something else was a little high and Lipitor could lower it. GOOD Health. 20 pills trashed my life forever.

Ten months ago I was persuaded by my MD to start taking Lipitor . In less than two months, my numbers went from 349 to 189. However, this initial positive outcome never prepared me for a host of adverse conditions!

In the past three months, I have experienced some Red Flag physical problems but the Light Bulb Moment came with a weight increase of 15 lbs, concentrated on my belly. I have not increased my food intake and my diet continues to include fruit, vegetables, fish, chicken, milk/cheese, and some sweets. When I started taking Lipitor, I weighed 122 lbs; now I'm at 134!!!!
My level of physical activity has remained the same as has my food intake.

It was this weight increase that prompted me to search the internet for a possible connection between Lipitor and weight gain. Three days ago, my fears were confirmed as I read similar postings.

But my problems go beyond the weight gain. Here's is my "laundry list" of symptoms and I believe that Lipitor is the ugly culprit:

1. Sciatic pain
2. Left leg is numb; tingling, burning, shooting pains
3. Foot pain/numbness
4. Periodic shortness of breath/palpitations
5. Incident of high blood pressure
6. Weight Gain: Belly! Bloated appearance
7. Constipation
8. Fatigue
9. Periods of depression
10.Anxiety

I have stopped taking this dangerous drug. I am due for lab work and MD visit.

Hope to hear from you.
Jessica

Shortness of breath, not able to walk very far, get awake during the night gasping for breath, difficulty swallowing, and dizzy spells, where everything is spinning for several minutes.
I quit taking lipitor on my own, and within two days, I was walking and running 6 miles with no problem. No more shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, and not waking up gasping for breath.

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

I am 44 years old and had a block artery 4 weeks ago. I was fine until the doctor increased my lipitor dosage. Has anyone had pain in the upper chest and bouts of shortness of breath and anxiety? My heart is fine though since I have no problem on the tread or bike. Doctor thinks I am making htis up?