Question/Comment:

I am 65 yo and taking Lipitor for about 5 years. I have some professional sample bottles with a date of March 2007. Is it safe to take these? I have heard many perspectives about outdated meds & was told these are safe as long as the bottles are sealed.

Answer/Reply from iGuard:

Expiration dates are put on medications to ensure that the contents of the tablet are the proper strength. When taking medications after the expiration date, there is no guarantee that the medication will have the potency that is written on the label.

Question/Comment:

What is "coq10"?

Answer/Reply:

Coq10 is another name for Coenzyme Q10, a dietary supplement that, amngst other things, is supposed to help reduce muscle pain/weakness associated with drugs like lipitor.

Answer/Reply:

CoQ10 is co enzyme Q10 which shares the same metabolic pathway as Cholesterol. This is why statins deplete coQ10. CoQ10 is needed for cellular energy of muscles. The highest concentrations of CoQ10 is in the heart. Hence cardiomyopathy ( weak heart musle) is one of the risks of statins. Merke got a patent to combine CoQ10 with statins, but the combination pill never made it to market. So if you take a statin, its probably a good idea to take CoQ10 with it.

Question/Comment:

Are there any other cholesterol medications that can replace Lipitor, less expensive but just as effective?

Answer/Reply:

Yes. Red yeast rice is lovastatin and is available over the counter at the grocery store. Its about $8.00 at my grocery store. Most people are not aware that statins have been available over the counter for as long as there have been counters. BUT... I don't recommend it because it can have all the same side effects as lipitor because it is a statin. It will inhibit cholesterol production and deplete coQ10 levels.

Question/Comment:

I'm doing this for my Aunt. I'd like to know if anyone knows about side effects of lipitor in the elderly.
My Aunt was put on lipitor 2 years ago. She was 83 then and healthy as a horse, walked an hour every morning and was very active. Slowly things began to happen from backaches to leg pains, restless sleep. Then flu like symptons and shingles for 3 monthes. It was like something hit her immune system. She just wasn't herself. Then 3 months ago she couldn't breath and went to the Doctor who treated her for pnuemonia. It didn't go away and she was then diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. I honestly believe the lipitor brought all this on. I noticed her decline a couple months after she started taking it. She ask her Doctor to take her off lipitor but he swore by it. She wouldn't stop without his approval. Her total cholesterol before starting lipitor was 213. I still cannot understand why any Doctor would put an 83 year old healthy women on a drug that was not needed. My Aunt will not be with us much longer. I hope people read this and keep their elderly loved ones off these drugs.
There is not much evidence that these drugs help people over 70 who have no previous heart problems. And there is a 25% increase of cancer in the elderly who take these drugs. Please warn your loved ones.

Answer/Reply:

I am sorry to hear about what happened to your Aunt. Once a person passes age 65, higher cholesterol is associated with longevity. There is a solid medical reason for this. Cholesterol is vital to repair cells, maintain steroid hormone levels, protect nerves, and produce vitamin D. The best way I can relate it is this: Suppose you had an old victorian house, and you stopped all maintenence. No repairs at all. Didn't even cut the grass. It wouldn't take long for that old house to fall into poor condition. Thats what can happen with cholesterol inhibition in the elderly. Normal cholestrerol in the 1950's was 250 to 300. A healthy cholesterol in the 1970's was 240. I see nothing wrong with your Aunt's 213. But some people would disagree.

Question/Comment:

I was taking Lipitor for over 15 years and it did lower my cholesterol. But the severe muscle pain was so overwhelming that I could barely move at times. I also noticed a significant decrease in mental acuity. I would forget things, seem to be in a mental fog.
One day while refilling my medicine case for the week I forgot to add Lipitor and went without for over 3 weeks. The pain disappeared, I remember things now! I can read, study and learn without forgetting.
When I spoke to my doctor about the pain (before I went off it myself) she didn't listen. Just told me to take ibuprofen when needed, despite telling her it didn't work.
Currently not on Lipitor and I'm pretty concerned about my cholesterol levels, but there's no way I'll go back to living in that kind of pain.

Answer/Reply:

I hear you!

Answer/Reply:

Lipitor makes me very forgetful and sometimes confused. My doctor still insists that I take it and hopes I will build up an immunity. It's not working. I quit taking it.

Answer/Reply:

Thank you for publishing your problems. I am 36 years old and have been having severe muscle pain that keeps me for doing a lot of things, especially sleeping, since I started Lipitor 3months ago. And the forgetfulness, I thought I was "Getting Older REAL FAST". Now I have some answers that my doctor would not explain. Thank you so much!

Answer/Reply:

Wow, while I was reading your comment I wondered, I was diagnosed with MS about four years ago, and I have been taking Lipitor for almost two years now, since I have been really weak and my muscles just hurt so bad, especially the upper part of me. Maybe its not the MS working so fast and its the pills instead? Just want to say I read all the comments posted and I would like to thank everyone!

Answer/Reply:

I am so sorry you had to endure those side effects. But you are not alone. Lipitor has been on the market long enough that it has developed quite a reputation for muscle pain and weakness along with memory problems.