Feedback on Lipitor Side Effects and Usage Page 10
About Lipitor
If you use Lipitor or another statin please help others by sharing your experience. What would you tell your best friend about using Lipitor? Please remember that we do not give medical advice. That is for your local health care provider, who is familiar with your medical history.
Subj: Loosing muscle
Date: 1/21/2009
I began taking lipitor about 6 months ago because the cholestorol medicine that I was on cause me to itch all over. I have osteo-arthritis, so whenever I began to feel soreness I attributed it to my arthritis. I started having charlie horses at night and terrible leg pain in my right leg. The leg pain was worst at night whenever I rested. Eventually, getting out of bed was extremely painful; I could barely put one foot in front of the other without great pain. I also began to have soreness on the bottom of my feet; a tenderness that I have never felt before. It took me several days to realize just what might be happening. I suddenly remembered the side effects of lipitor and called my doctor immediately. I was taken off of lipitor and the soreness is not quite as bad, but my feet are in bad shape.
I saw a podiatrist for them yesterday, really not making a connection to them and the liptor, until he mention that I was loosing muscle in the bottom of my feet and eventually if I wasn’t careful, I would be walking on bone instead of muscle. I was shocked to say the least, I have never had a problem with my feet hurting and burning the way that they do. Could this possibly be from the lipitor and if so, how long will I feel this way? I went out and bought several different and expensive pairs shoes, hoping for some relief, but nothing helps. The doctor suggested that I do exersizes to relaxed my calf muscles which he said were very tight. I hope this doesn’t last or that I have muscle damage. Any sugesstions? Thank you for your help.
Mary
AskDocWeb: Like you, we are also trying to find out how long it takes to recover from such muscle degeneration. More input is needed from those who have recovered before we can make any suggestions.
Subj: I hear my heart beat
Date: 1/24/2009
I have been taking lipator for 25 yrs started with 20mg did not lower anything so he went up to 80mg. It lowered my cholesterol to 191 but bad hdl high. My problem is that I hear my heart beat in the back of my head which I’ve had going on 9 years 24-7 I’ve had all kinds of tests cat scan mri ear does any one else have this problem or am I the only one. Is lipator the culprit? Please let me know. Thank you,
Angelo
AskDocWeb: It is not listed as one of the side effects of Lipitor and you are the first to report this particular possible side effect. If that makes you feel special just remember, sometimes feeling special is not a good thing.
Subj: Lipitor alternatives?
Date: 2/9/2009
First, thank you for providing such a useful website. I had been taking Lipitor for about 5 years. I’ve experienced serious muscle pain in my back that I now believe was caused by the lipitor. About 3 months ago I told my doctor that I was having muscle pain and he switched me to crestor. I’m still having the muscle pain. Is the pain associated with statins in general? Also you mentioned alternatives, could you name a few that I could ask my doctor about? Thanks,
-Bill
AskDocWeb: The most suitable alternative to Lipitor for you is something your doctor needs to decide. Possibilities include generic Lovastatin, Lescol XL, Prevachol, Zocor and Advicor. Statins in general deplete the body of an enzyme necessary for muscle and cell function.
Subj: How long does it take?
Date: 2/21/2009
I was on Lipitor for about a month after a heart attack. Suddenly my body ached so badly I was actually bed ridden. My doctor took me off the drug immediately but how long does it take for the aching to stop – or does it ever??
V. A.
AskDocWeb: Most of the drug will be out of your system in just a couple of days but the effects may linger after that. Some people report getting relief the day following discontinuing Lipitor and complete relief of side effects within two days. It appears that the best you can hope for is a few days.
Subj: I could hardly walk
Date: 2/22/2009
About 2 years ago I was on lipitor, I had broken my foot and was in a wheel chair for a bit. I woke up one morning and could hardly raise out of bed. They attributed it to a minor stroke. I stopped taking lipitor because I hated the big pill and it tasted really nasty if I cut it. I recovered and had been working out and getting a lot stronger, feeling great. My Dr put me on a generic for liptor with in 2 weeks I could hardly walk, my back muscles were killing me. I read the side effects on the bottle and stopped 4 days ago. I am feeling better already though my legs are still a little sore. They should take this med off the market. I also lost some memory and got very spacey.
Arna
Subj: Get rid of the pain
Date: 2/24/2009
Has anyone found anything to get rid of the pain as a result of taking lipitor, any particular antidote or medical facility? Thank you,
Gini
Subj: Warning for Lipitor or any statin
Date: 2/25/2009
Please if you have just started or you are thinking about taking lipitor or any statin drug please don’t. Six months ago my dad was walking working in the garden, yard, driving doing what ever he wanted to do. He came in from the garden one day and fell to his knees not being able to get up my sister and me had to lift him and get him on the sofa. He was put in the hospital and three doctors diagnosed him has having sever muscle damage because of lipitor and now he is in a wheel chair. He has had in home physical therapy and he still cannot walk, not he can barly speak and his memory is really bad and this all steam from taking lipitor for so long. It even effected his prostate which caused him not to be able to urnate or have a bowel movement on his own.
My dad went from a strong 220lb. 6ft 2in man to a shell of a man he has lost about 30 to 40 lbs. Lipitor has almost killed my dad. The doctors said if we had not have caught it he would probably be dead my now and my dad said he would rather be dead. It is sad to know that doctors who you trust to write scripts for this life threathing drug for people.
My dad is not the only person I know that has had bad experiencs with this drug. My own husband who is only 55yrs old. Had trimmers in hie legs so bad I had to set on them and my boss who was a pharmacist told me to tell to get off the lipitor and thank the Good Lord after about three weeks he began to get better. My dad always blamed his tiredness and week hips and legs on back surgery he had years ago. We found out it was not back but lipitor. It is to late for my dad but for someone who reads this please listen to what I am telling you this drug can kill you. Thank you,
Regina
Subj: Experiencing muscle spasms and cramps
Date: 3/7/2009
I have been on lipitor since Nov./08. I have been experiencing muscle spasms in my legs, cramps in my feet, freezing feet and weakness. The doc had put me on 40mg and I want to go off the meds. Would it hurt if I go off them, or should I go off gradually?
Betty
AskDocWeb: Do not stop taking Lipitor without first talking to your doctor.
Subj: 10 years of Lipitor
Date: 3/7/2009
I have been on lipitor for about 10 years. The first few years I took 10mg, but my doctor increased it to 20mg. The past couple of years I have been having leg pain and the pain has slowly increased until now I can not sit for more than an hour or work in the yard for over an hour. Lately, The pain in my legs comes a couple of times a day and at that time I need to elevate my leg for 103 hours and then the pain comes back a few hours later. I have had numerous Xrays and even an ultra sound. The doctors can not find any thing. Finally after reading the numerous articles about pain as a side effect, I decided to quit taking lipitor. The pain gets so severe that I can not walk. Will I get enough reduction in pain so that I can play golf or go fishing? I am 75 years old.
John
AskDocWeb: Of course it varies from one individual to the next but some people report getting relief the day following discontinuing Lipitor and complete relief of side effects within two days. It appears that the best you can hope for is a reduction in pain in a few days. Please let us know if discontinuing Lipitor allows you to play golf or go fishing.
Subj: Why is it so expensive
Date: 3/10/2009
Why is it so expensive and why isn’t their any generic brande?
Dicky
AskDocWeb: The reason there are no generic brands of Lipitor is that it is still under patent protection and will be until July of next year, 2010. After that we should see some price dropping competition.
Subj: Intense pain in hip
Date: 3/11/2009
I’m a 47 year old man with no prior health issues aside from high cholesterol. Last July I had a heart attack that required the insertion of stent. All my other arteries were deemed squeaky clean and I’ve been able to return to all normal activities. I was prescribed a rather high daily dose of Lipitor (40 mgs once a day) and over the last month have been experiencing really intense pain in my hip. The pain is so bad it causes me to limp during the day and is so bad that it keeps me awake at night. There is no comfortable posture and it’s not dissipating. I’ve been told that I’ve got a normal life expectancy ahead of me, but I don’t think I can bear the pain of these meds. Help anyone?
David
AskDocWeb: You might ask your doctor about alternatives but suggestions from readers are also welcome.
Subj: Off lipitor for a week and improvement in memory and less pain
Date: 3/13/2009
Why don’t doctors listen? About 10 yrs ago, my doctor put me on lipitor (10mg) and after 4-5 yrs he increased it to 20mg. At first, I experienced leg pain and my doctor had xrays taken of my legs with no cause(s)were found. I also experienced headaches, muscle pain in my shoulder and legs. Then the past 2-3 years, I started experiencing memory loss. The memory loss was a problem because I was teaching memory and critical thinking. At times, I would forget what I was talking about in the middle of an explanation. This became so bad that I decided to quit teaching at the local college. After finding numerous articles about taking lipitor and memory loss and muscle pain, I decided to stop taking lipitor. Hopefully, I will be able to go back to teaching in a few months. To me, the absence of the truth about the side effects of lipitor is the same as a lie and the makers of the medicine should be required to post the true list of side effects. I have only been off lipitor for a week and I have not had any serious side effects. I have noticed an improvement in my memory and less pain in my muscles.
John
Subj: Liver tests have more then doubled
Date: 3/14/2009
In 2 years my dosage was increased from 10 to 20 mg. I had moderately high cholesterol, and mederately high sugar levals, type 11 diabeties, and high blood pressure; basically “high pressure lifestyle symptoms”. The Lipitor was prescribed as a preventative medacine. Not only do I have the muscle problems and foggines of thought and memory but my liver tests have my Alt (97) and GGT (82) at more then double the maximum of 41 and 49. This is almost double what they were 2 years ago. I’m getting off Lipitor and at 55 will ease up on overindulgence and try to restore my health. Unless it’s in the genes, we have a choice.
Jerry
Subj: Alternative treatment?
Date: 3/15/2009
I have been taking Lipitor for approximately 4 years. During this time have experienced worsening pain and weakness in my knees and upper legs. Also stairs are a big problem with pain and breathing difficulty. After reading articles I am going to stop taking Lipitor. As I have elevated cholesterol, is there an alternative treatment which is safer and does not have these side effects?
Paula
AskDocWeb: There are alternative cholesterol medications. Making changes in your diet and exercise can also control cholesterol but please do not stop taking Lipitor without talking to your doctor first. Read more feedback about Lipitor.
Report – 7 – 8 – 9 – Page 10 – 11 – 12 – 13 – Last Page 23
If you find this page useful share it with others. If you have used Lipitor, use the form below to add your review of Lipitor, feedback or suggestions that may help others. Please note that all addresses are held confidential.