Get Informed: Lipitor

iGuard.org Answer/Reply:

Muscle pain and weakness and other muscle symptoms can happen no matter how long you have been taking Lipitor. If you are experiencing these side effects, please contact your doctor for evaluation. Muscle pain and weakness is a common side effect of Lipitor, but it can also be a sign of a rare but serious condition of muscle breakdown and should be examined by your doctor.

Posted: 2009-10-05 14:17:27

iGuard.org Answer/Reply:

This can happen at any time while on this type of medication. Other medications, such as antibiotics, and also grapefruit juice, can cause it. Let your doctor know. It may be due to the addition of another medication, or perhaps your dose is too high.

Posted: 2009-11-04 11:28:51

Answer/Reply:

Is your age a typo? 16 years old and on lipitor for 5 years? That would mean you were put on lipitor at age 11. Perhaps you meant 61.

Cholesterol is vital to hormonal growth during the teenager years. All steroid hormones are produced from cholesterol. Testosterone and estrogens all come from cholesterol.

52 year old Male

Posted: 2009-11-18 10:41:55

Answer/Reply:

Muscle pain and leg cramping is a common complaint with lipitor and other statins as well. Effects on the nervous system are also reported, and may be responsible for the parkinson-like shaking in the hand. Cholesterol plays a vital role in maintaining the human nervous system.

Cutting the dose may help. Keep in mind you are at the age where those with lower cholesterol levels have a higher rate of mortality.

52 year old Male

Posted: 2009-10-06 15:06:27

iGuard.org Answer/Reply:

Muscle pain and leg cramping are common side effects with Lipitor. Less than 1% of iGuard members specifically report muscle spasms while taking Lipitor. If the symptoms are getting worse or are affecting your quality of life, make an appointment with your physician to discuss decreasing your dose or switching to a different medication. You should not decrease your dose without discussing it with your physician first.

Posted: 2009-10-22 00:28:41

Answer/Reply:

Muscle pain, weakness and cramps are common side effects from lipitor. Muscle deterioration or damage is one of the risks associated with use of statins.

In human physiology, cholesterol plays an important role in the integrity of the muscle cell wall. LDL is a protien that carries cholesterol from the liver to the job site where cholesterol can go to work repairing existing cells, and helping build new healthy cells.

Your body uses cholesterol to make its steroid hormones. These hormones also play a role on maintaining muscle tone.

Statins block a metabolic pathway that is also responsible for the producution of CoQ10. When CoQ10 levels deplete, it can have an impact on energy levels, and induce the fibrilation you spoke of. The heart muscle has the highest concentrations of CoQ10 than any other organ. Deplete CoQ10 and it can have a negative impact on the heart itself.

Hope this helps.

52 year old Male

Posted: 2009-09-21 10:43:16

iGuard.org Answer/Reply:

Let your doctor know about the muscle cramps, it may be due to the cholesterol medications. Also, low potassium blood levels can cause muscle cramps, and your doctor may want to evaluate you for this by having blood work done to measure your potassium level. If you are not seeing a cardiologist, it would be a good idea to do so - perhaps he/she can adjust your dose of carvedilol or change you to a different drug to treat your fibrillation and help with your blood pressure.

Posted: 2009-09-27 21:35:45

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I HAVE BEEN ON LIPITOR FOR SIX YEARS(I AM NOW 64),MY BAD CHOLESTEROL WENT DOWN FROM 225 to 160 & MY GOOD HDL WENT UP FROM 50 to 65,that said,my Internist has me on Tricor also.I guess it's "different strokes for different folks".

64 year old Male

Posted: 2009-08-20 18:37:51

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What enzymes were high? I seem to have had similar problems.
66 female

67 year old Female

Posted: 2009-09-08 17:20:05

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The enzyme is creatine kinase, was around 230, now 185.

64 year old Male

Posted: 2009-09-12 19:45:34

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Doctors not listening is the most common complaint I hear. The problem at hand is they get paid the same for the office visit if they listen or not. I wish I could do my job half heartedly, not pay attention to the customer and get paid just as well. But that is not the case for me. If I don't please the customer I don't get paid anything.

52 year old Male

Posted: 2009-09-21 11:01:14

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I sympathise and relate to your comment that doctors did not listen or they dismiss symptoms. Fifteen years ago I was put on a statin drug and suffered some symptoms, told my doc and was off it. Fast forward to a year ago when I had to have a stent in the LDA and potential blockage discovered in the iliac/aorta. Then began a regimen of medications...tough for me since I "don't do" allopathic medicine well. No matter, I would behave. One of those meds was Lipitor and, sure...I was in a rebellious state of mind. In part, because I research everything I have to take and can be what is considered "non-compliant". I stayed with it some months. Have a problem with my left rotator cuff which was exacerbated by something...to the degree that I could not easily dress, the pain was searing down my arm and, basically, I just did not feel safe taking this statin. Last appointment with my cardiologist, when the examination was over and he asked if I had any questions, I told him I'd like to discuss the Lipitor (he was then upping my dosage to maximum from 40mg. per day). His response? "Look...you DON'T believe what you read, NOR what you hear or find on the internet and media...you only trust ME..." I was shocked. I had chosen this cardiologist because of his reputation, had explained at our first meeting I needed to work with someone with whom I could have a partnership, not dictated to etc. How are we supposed to "trust" someone who negates all the other findings or even opinions out there, out of hand? It only serves to enforce my belief that our doctors...to whom we entrust our health and well-being...being in the clutches of Big Pharma don't seem to necessarily care whether they have our best interests at heart. So...I took myself off the Lipitor and I cannot believe the difference. The pain in my shoulder went back to what it was and is certainly much more 'liveable'. I feel generally better and I don't have the plaguing nipping at my head because I'm taking a drug that has no many negatives.

65 year old Female

Posted: 2009-08-24 11:22:50

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Now I know why doctors dismiss patient complaints about the debilitating side effects from lipitor and other statin drugs. The justice Department just won a suit against pfizer for ilegal marketing of drugs, including lipitor.

According to news reports, the JUstice dept alledges Pfizer was giving away luxury resort vacations to physicians, including golf, massages, and cash payments. Several drugs were involved including Lipitor.

Pfizer was fined 2.3 Billion. Thats Billion with a B.

I beleive consumers should have a clear window to view exactly how the presription drugs they take are marketed.

Its sad, very sad, when a patient complains of debilitating side effects and the physician brishes it aside, and insists the patient stay on the drug, even if its "killing" them. In this senario, the relationship is obviously between the physician and the drug company.

This won't end until the public lashes back. Do not be afraid to fight back.

52 year old Male

Posted: 2009-09-17 11:45:45