Lipitor Hypothyroidism, Lipids, High Risk, Allergic Reaction, Armour

Posted over a year ago

I have been using Lipitor 10 mg for 10 years, to lower my cholesterol from 220 to 160. Six months in use Dr asked me to take Synthroid due to Thyroid issues. I had none of Thyroid related syndromes but doctor advised I should use the drugs. I thought it was normal aging.. I was 48 when started on Lipitor. Over the time I developed -
1. After 5 years - ringing/flutter in my ears and severe sinus pressure while sneezing. Previously, I had a very loud and effortless sneeze and never experienced pain while sneezing. Now I have to clasp down my head before I will sneeze..
2. I continue to have some significant unexplained sinus pressure and have to expel phlegm often specially in the evening when I go for long walk - it is not due to cold. I live in Bay Area , CA
3. Six years into using Lipitor, I developed what is called Planter Fasciitis. Before I could go for long 10 mile hikes, now I get heel and arch pain even after two mile walk and I have to use extra cushioning pads. I have spent much time in researching what kind of arch supporting shoes are better, before that shoes were purchased if they fit well and style was acceptable.
4. Seven years after using Lipitor, I started to see my hairs thin on scalp, forearms and legs. Within one year, hairs from forearm and legs are gone. Within three years scalp hairs have thinned down to 30% and looks like I am surely go bald at scalp within another year or so.
5. For last three years, I have noticed that if i pick up something very cold, like a chilled can of drink or just drive a car that has been parked outside in cold weather for the day. My fingers in hand will turn white as if there is no circulation. They become normal in about an hour of putting down cold drink or stop driving or putting hand in warm water.
6. Earlier this year I also noticed that my feet and lower legs swell after a long flight and I can hardly put my shoes back. This has never been the case.
7. Almost since i have been taking Lipitor, I have been wondering why I have become poor in remembering names while most other memory is pretty good. I used to be known for very sharp memory in remembering names. ... more »

Now I am wondering if this is all Lipitor. I have been wondering for long time if many of my syndrome are related to Synthroid but it appears culprit may be Lipitor.

I am also wondering if Cholesterol is a disease or symptom worth even treating. I took both Lipitor and Synthroid for preventive measure. I had no symptoms but now have a quite a few, but none which I took the medicine to prevent.

5 Replies

Propsguy - yes, chances are- it's all lipitor. you need to get off it while you have a life still worth saving. once you develop early onset alzheimers or ALS, it's pretty much game over. 220 cholesterol is not high! it's high if you are a drug company trying to convince otherwise healthy people that they are sick so that they will buy your product. what is your LDL/ HDL ratio? the point is, if you hadn't had your cholesterol checked 10 years ago, you wouldn't know what your "number" was and you'd go by how you felt. and it seems that you felt fine. now, you take this drug to keep a "number" to a certain level but you feel like shit! what's the point of all this? i repeat- to make big $$ for the drug company. get off the lipitor safely. you've taken it for 10 years so taper down slowly. give yourself at least 2 weeks. cut the pills in half and take 5 mg a day for one week and then 5 mg every other day for the next week. then stop. if you haven't been taking coQ10, start it immediately! one of the ways statins damage the heart muscle is by cutting off the production of coQ10. take vitamin D3 and omega 3 oils. since the body uses cholesterol to synthesize vitamin D and your normal cholesterol levels have been kept artificially low, i can only assume that you are deficient. get some sun- no sun block in addition to taking more vitamin D. you can get your levels checked- now here is a number worth knowing. i bet many of your issues are now permanent, sadly, but if you get off the statin and get optimal nutrition and gentle exercise, you certainly won't get worse and you might get better. don't let any doctor talk you into a different statin- they are all the same. if you do have overly high cholesterol, you can reduce it on your own by cutting all animal foods out of your diet. if that doesn't work, you can take simple niacin which will lower your LDL and raise your HDL. it is ridiculous that you have deteriorated over 10 years and no, in most cases cholesterol is NOT a disease or symptom worth even treating.