Lipitor: Side Effects And Natural Remedy - LONG

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Lipitor: Side Effects And Natural Remedy JoAnn Guest May 30, 2006 14:22 PDT --- Lipitor: Side Effects And Natural Remedy http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2004/03/18/lipitor_side_effects_ and_natural_remedy.htm Pharma Serious side effects have been reported for Lipitor and other cholesterol-lowering drugs - the so-called statins - prescribed to millions for preventive purposes. The prescription of these drugs is based on the discredited hypothesis that high cholesterol levels cause heart attacks. The cholesterol myth has been one of the most long lived falsehoods around - probably because it has been excellent business, both for large pharma producers as well as for the food multinationals, who introduced margarine telling us how

much healthier it is than butter. There is an easy, widely available nutritional solution to heart attacks: Vitamin C. Needless to say, taking more vitamin C has been opposed by big pharma and its mainstream medicine followers for decades. When a "preventive" medicine causes severe muscular degeneration as a "common" side effect, something must be awfully wrong. Jonathan Campbell examines the side effects and postulates a mechanism - proposing an astonishingly simple remedy. Lipitor - Reports of Neuromuscular Degeneration by Jonathan Campbell, March 16, 2004 Numerous adverse side effect reports have implicated Lipitor as a possible cause for severe neuromuscular degeneration. Some people who have been using Lipitor for two years or more report symptoms similar to multiple sclerosis or ALS - Lou Gehrig's Disease - in which they are losing neuromuscular control

of their bodies. For instance, in an article entitled "Life After Lipitor" that appeared in the newspaper Tahoe World on January 27, 2004, Tahoe City (California) resident Doug Peterson began having serious neuromuscular problems after taking Lipitor for two years. He began losing muscular coordination and slurring words when he spoke. Then he lost balance, followed by loss of fine motor skills - he had difficulty writing. He went from doctor to doctor, trying to figure out what could be happening. Finally one doctor suggested that he stop taking Lipitor, and the downward health spiral stopped and his health is now slowly improving. These adverse effects have begun appearing in peer-reviewed medical journals, and numerous people have reported similar symptoms at public adverse effect reporting websites such as medications.com. People have reported "trouble swallowing, trouble

talking and enunciating words, feeling fatigued all the time, neck aches,motor neuropathy which mimics ALS,Blinding headaches, nausea, vertigo, disorientation, memory loss, extremely dry eyes, pain and stiffness in my neck and calf muscles, abominal pain," and "Muscle pain, weakness, spasms, buzzing in right leg. Can't hold arms or head up in vertical position for 2 minutes without extreme pain and weakness." How could Lipitor potentially cause this kind of harm to so many different parts of the body? Lipitor is a "statin" drug which inhibits the production of cholesterol in order to lower LDL cholesterol counts. By limiting the production of cholesterol, Lipitor may be indirectly causing membrane degeneration in neural and muscle tissue. The problem is this: cholesterol is essential in your body for many functions. It forms part of what is called the cell membrane - the outer

layer of every cell in your body. It helps transport and pack the major components of the cell membrane, called "phospholipids," that are made from essential fatty acids (EFAs). Without sufficient cholesterol we would die, because our tissues are constantly being repaired and replaced with new cells. Our body produces several thousand milligrams of cholesterol per day to carry out these essential functions, and each day the excess of cholesterol is supposed to be naturally recycled. If your body doesn't have enough new cholesterol each day, you cannot repair and replace your cell membranes and they will eventually degenerate. The continual recycling of cholesterol happens naturally when you have sufficient ascorbate, another name for vitamin C. Excess cholesterol is naturally converted to bile acid and then excreted. But if you don't consume enough vitamin C (about 2000-3000

milligrams per day for an adult), cholesterol builds up in your bloodstream. It is here that doctors make a critical error: instead of telling you to take more vitamin C, they prescribe Lipitor. If Lipitor and other similar statin drugs are in fact indirectly causing neural and muscular degeneration, this is a very serious matter indeed. There are twenty million people in the U.S. on Lipitor alone, and probably millions more on other statin drugs (Zocor, Pravachol, Mevacor, Altocor, Lescol, Crestor, etc.). Are they all going to become victims of cell membrane degeneration and nervous system problems? There are few long-term studies that bear out the safety of these drugs, and side effects such as "muscle pain or weakness" are just classified as a reason for some to stop the medication rather than an indication of something very wrong with the drug. What is most horrifying about this

problem is that cholesterol balance can be achieved without drugs, simply and safely by taking 2000-3000 milligrams of vitamin C per day for an adult. Unfortunately, vitamin C was misclassified as a micronutrient in the 1930s and 1940s, rather than an essential nutrient involved in dozens of body processes. Our health authorities recommend that we take only 60 milligrams per day, barely enough to prevent scurvy. It is my hope that people on Lipitor and other statins learn that they do not need to take these potentially harmful drugs. For more information about the connection between vitamin C and the prevention of cardiovascular disease, see the article Natural Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease, or visit the research website of Dr. Matthias Rath. References: Ginter E. Ascorbic acid in cholesterol and bile metabolism. Annals of the New York Academy of Science.

258 (1975): 410-421 Medications.com. Lipitor Drug Information - Atorvastatin Calcium - Lipitor Side Effects. Medications.com - Your online medication discussion resource. March 16, 2004. Rath M, Pauling L. Solution to the Puzzle of Human Cardiovascular Disease: Its Primary Cause is Ascorbate Deficiency Leading to the Deposition of Lipoprotein(a) and Fibrinogen/Fibrin in the Vascular Wall. Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine 6 (1991): 125-134 Siig M. Life After Lipitor: Is Pfizer product a quick fix or dangerous drug? Residents experience adverse reactions. Tahoe World, January 29, 2004 Silverberg C. Atorvastatin-induced polyneuropathy. Ann Intern Med. 2003 Nov 4;139(9):792-3 Ziajka PE, Wehmeier T. Peripheral neuropathy and lipid-lowering therapy. South Med J. 1998 Jul; 91(7):667-8. - - - - - - Several of those who commented on this

article have asked for information on natural ways to lower cholesterol. Here is a link to a site discussing this question, found on the Alternative Medicine Forum (): Lowering Cholesterol with a Healthier Way of Eating How is high cholesterol defined? High cholesterol or hypercholesterolemia is defined as total cholesterol greater than 200 mg/dL with the high risk category greater than 240 mg/dL. At these levels, particularly when the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol is greater than 4:1, risk of cardiovascular disease is significantly increased. The ratio of LDL: HDL should be at least 4:1 because each HDL can pick up and transport 4 LDL back to the liver. If I have high cholesterol levels, can a healthy way of eating help me lower them into a normal range? ... - - - - - See also: STATINS MAY CAUSE NERVE DAMAGE A Danish study reports

that some people who took statin drugs to lower cholesterol developed a type of nerve damage called polyneuropathy. Polyneuropathy is characterized by tingling, numbness and burning pain as well as decreased sensitivity to temperature or pain. When a person suffers nerve damage, a doctor is supposed to look for a cause, such as diabetes, lack of vitamin B12, Lyme disease, kidney disease, thyroid disease or alcohol abuse. People who had taken statins and developed polyneuropathies were checked for known causes of nerve damage. Researchers showed that people taking statins were 4 to 14 times more likely to develop polyneuropathy than those who did not take statins. Statins include Lescol, Lipitor, Mevacor, and Pravachol. Check with your doctor about any side effects from your medications. Reference: Neurology May 14, 2002;58:1321-1322, 1333-1337 THE HIDDEN ORIGIN OF STATIN DRUGS THE

TRUTH ABOUT CHOLESTEROL By Dr. James Howenstine, MD. - February 20, 2005 Cholesterol is not really the villain portrayed in the pharmaceutical ads. It is actually a vital substance needed in every cell of the body... November 23, 2004 - Report: Bayer Held Back on Drug Dangers Another pharmaceutical company may have concealed safety information about a dangerous drug - this time Bayer and its once-popular cholesterol medication Baycol - according to a report in a prominent medical journal. Baycol was pulled from the market in 2001, but an analysis released Monday by the Journal of the American Medical Assn. argued there were strong indications of its dangers three months after its introduction in 1998. Statin drug Crestor damages kidneys of patients, says Public Citizen The statin drug Crestor is a highly dangerous prescription drug that causes an alarming rate of kidney damage, says Public

Citizen, a consumer protection group. The drug, manufactured by AstraZeneca, is responsible for a rate of kidney disease 75 times higher than with other similar drugs. "You're my Wife?" Amnesia is Possible Side Effect of Statin Drug Statinalert Org Cardiologists Overlook Lifesaving Discovery NATURE'S PERFECT STATIN The Vitamin C Foundation's Statin Drug Alert The Dangerous Truth About Crestor, the "Super-Strong" Statin Drug Deaths linked to heart drugs Lois Rogers, Medical Editor - The Times EXPERTS are calling for a complete safety review of heart drugs taken by millions of Britons. Government figures released last week show that 92 deaths have been linked to the statin drugs developed to lower cholesterol. Vitamin C beats statins in cholesterol - heart disease Statin Drugs - A Critical Review of the Risk/Benefit Clinical Research Let

them eat cake, butter, cream ... For decades the advice has been to cut cholesterol and protect your heart. Now some doctors think it makes no difference Cholesterol Drugs Tied to Birth Defects U.S. government study finds an unusually high number of abnormalities in babies of women who took statins during first trimester of pregnancy Lipitor, Thief of Memory, Statin Drugs and the Misguided War On Cholesterol Lunatic Recommendations For Statin Drug Use Colesterol Myth - It's official: Statins proponents have lost their minds! here is another highly interesting article on statins, just posted by Chris Gupta: Statins And Our Immune System Consumer Group Seeks Cholesterol Drug Ban AstraZeneca sends advisory on Crestor Cholesterol drug warning issued As Death Toll Rises, Consumer Group Calls For Ban on Crestor More Insane Uses For Statin

Drugs Statin Drugs can Devastate your Health Muscle problems are the most common problems associated with taking the cholesterol lowering drugs, statins. A new study found that 98 per cent of patients taking Lipitor developed muscle pain and/or weakness... The Dangers of Statin Drugs: What You Haven't Been Told About Cholesterol-Lowering Medication, Part I The Dangers of Statin Drugs: What You Haven't Been Told About Cholesterol-Lowering Medication, Part II The Dangers of Statin Drugs: What You Haven't Been Told About Cholesterol-Lowering Medication, Part III The Dangers of Statin Drugs: What You Haven't Been Told About Cholesterol-Lowering Medication, Part IV The Dangers of Statin Drugs: What You Haven't Been Told About Cholesterol-Lowering Medication - References The Truth About Deadly Cholesterol Lowering Drugs Vitamin/Nutritional Supplements for Heart

Attack http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040804/D84831AG0.html Cholesterol is NOT the Cause of Heart Disease ...an article on Dr Mercola's site for more background on cholesterol Lipitor, Severe Diabetes A Fatal Combination The Pfizer-funded study compared the effect of a 20 mg dose of Lipitor versus a placebo on more than 1,200 type 2 diabetics who were severely ill over a four-year period. The main result was no surprise: Taking Lipitor made absolutely no difference in the participants' combined risk of heart attacks, strokes and death. Even worse, more than twice as many patients who took Lipitor suffered fatal strokes (27) than the placebo group (13). The Hidden Truth About Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs ... is yet another weapon fit for your arsenal of intellectual self-defense against the myth that

cholesterol causes heart disease and that, to protect your health, you must contribute your fair share to the $26 billion/year empire of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. The author Shane Ellison possesses a Master's degree in organic chemistry. After first-hand experience in drug design, he abandoned what he calls "synthetic medicine" to become an independent researcher, nutritional consultant, developer of product testing certification, and designer of numerous nutritional supplements. He is also a member of The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics. Class Action - Statins Increases Heart Disease By 10% In Women Hopefully this will settle the question once and for all. The side effects are a sign of toxicity of the drugs and hence should be stopped. Cholesterol in the main is not the cause of heart disease but can be a symptom of heart disease and is often protective.

Lowering it in many cases, as shown here, can be more detrimental the leaving it alone! - - - Group: Crestor Side Effect Report Delayed Aug 3 [2005], 8:40 PM (ET) WASHINGTON (AP) - A drug company illegally delayed reporting side effects linked to its anti-cholesterol drug Crestor, a consumer advocate contended Tuesday in urging a Food and Drug Administration investigation. It's the latest attack on Crestor by the private group Public Citizen, which argues that Crestor is riskier than its competitors and should be banned. FDA requires drug makers to reveal reports of serious and unexpected side effects within 15 days of learning about them. While those reports don't prove a drug was to blame, FDA evaluates them to determine whether a medicine is riskier than initially thought. Public Citizen's Dr. Sidney Wolfe charged that AstraZeneca delayed

its reports to the FDA by as long as 97 days. The company ultimately reported that 19 Crestor users suffered an often life-threatening muscle-destroying condition - and filed four reports of kidney failure. The delays "have unquestionably impaired FDA's ability to promptly assess the safety of this uniquely dangerous drug," Wolfe wrote FDA Acting Commissioner Lester Crawford Tuesday. AstraZeneca insists that Crestor is no more risky than other cholesterol-lowering "statin" drugs, and that it followed FDA rules. The company says it wasn't subject to the 15-day deadline because the side effects were mentioned on the drug's label. Wolfe countered that Crestor's label implies the muscle-destroying side effect occurs only with an unapproved high dose. The company's own reports, however, implicate far lower doses. The drug's label only mentions kidney failure in passing, Wolfe said.

FDA hasn't formally determined whether AstraZeneca should meet the 15-day deadline, said Dr. Mary Parks, medical officer. So far, the agency says it sees no signal that Crestor is riskier than other statins, which all can cause rare cases of the muscle side effect. --- ----------- posted by Sepp Hasslberger on Thursday March 18 2004 updated on Friday May 19 2006 Print this article TrackBack URL of this article: http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2004/03/18/lipitor_side_effects_ and_natural_remedy.htm Related Articles Lipitor - The Human Cost Lipitor, a cholesterol lowering drug made by Pfizer and sold to millions of health conscious but ill informed patients, is one of the

most profitable drugs the pharmaceutical industry has ever come up with. Sales account for a quarter of Pfizer's $ 32 billion annual sales. Expected to gross more than $ 10 billion this year, Lipitor is poised to become the largest-selling pharmaceutical in history, surpassing Pfizer's other wonder... [read more] January 31, 2004 - Sepp Hasslberger STATIN DRUGS Side Effects and the Misguided War On Cholesterol is an incredible book (an update of an the earlier book LIPITOR,® THIEF OF MEMORY, no longer available, now includes all statin side effects not just cognitive, hence a new a title and cover). A must read for anyone who is even remotely interested in how our sickness care, billed as health care, system works. Dr. Graveline, like many, obviously a very conscientious doctor,... [read more] June 28, 2005 - Chris Gupta Bad News About Statin Drugs The following article

form the "Center for Medical Consumers" summaries the real Cholesterol sham that is being imposed on the unsuspecting. I have highlighted the key points to assist all to get the gist of this issue and ramp up on these concerns. Naturally, pharma and their medical cronies will not discuss these openly due their funding dependencies. Chris Gupta ..."Dr. Ravnskov managed to push the envelope further by making... [read more] November 07, 2003 - Chris Gupta Statins May Scramble Memory Adding to the long list of side effects of statin drugs, a charge was made by Dr. Golomb that statins may "hamper the brain's performance and trigger other serious problems." She is leading an independent clinical trial to find out what harm statins may be doing. CBS talks of "mind boggling effects" of the statin drugs and relates the story of Jim Matthews, who found himself reeling "struck by cognitive...

[read more] May 25, 2004 - Sepp Hasslberger Frequently Asked Questions About Statins Here is an early draft FAQ that will be much expanded in the forth coming book "Statin Drugs - Side Effects" by Dr. Duane Graveline M.D which should help with so many questions that have been posed on the comments sections at: Comments to: Bad News About Statin Drugs Comments to: LIPITOR,® THIEF OF MEMORY Comments to: Lipitor - The Human Cost Comments to: Lipitor: Side Effects And Natural Remedy... [read more] March 28, 2005 - Chris Gupta NATURE'S PERFECT STATIN® This great article form many on Owen's site is an appropriate follow up to the recent articles in Vitamin C. See also: Orthomolecular Solutions to Heart Disease Researchers: Vitamin C Deficiency Widespread - Link to Heart Disease, Infections, Cancer Bad News About Statin Drugs LIPITOR,® THIEF OF MEMORY Chris Gupta NATURE'S PERFECT

STATIN® Copyright 2004 by Owen Richard Fonorow Vitamin C is the original HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor I've not only... [read more] July 12, 2004 - Chris Gupta Readers' Comments See also: Bad News About Statin Drugs Posted by: Chris Gupta on March 20, 2004 05:12 AM I thank you and other scientists who are bringing forth the need for concern about statins. I, too, experienced grave physical sxs while on Lipitor for 1yr. #balance problems,severe muscle spasms and pain to bilat. legs, numbness in my feet, and dangerously elevated CPK. I've been off Lipitor for 6mos. and note slight improvement. No more Lipitor for me....... Elaine Posted by: Elaine Plunkett on March 26, 2004 02:12 AM Hi, I have been feeling an aching and swelling in my right calf. My leg feels like it is swollen and weak and I can't

stretch it out without discomfort. I don't remember hurting myself. I have been taking Lipitor for a few momths. Do you think my problem could be connected to the lipitor? Posted by: nancy S on April 18, 2004 06:00 AM Hi, I have been feeling an aching and swelling in my right calf. My leg feels like it is swollen and weak and I can't stretch it out without discomfort. I don't remember hurting myself. I have been taking Lipitor for a few momths. Do you think my problem could be connected to the lipitor? Posted by: nancy S on April 18, 2004 06:02 AM you must do your own research on this. Also, you should consult a doctor on your symptoms, and tell him you take Lipitor. Ask him if it might be the cause - you can also copy some articles you find by typing Lipitor side effects into a search engine such as Google. Posted by: Sepp on

April 19, 2004 03:55 PM Go back to the top of this page and click on "side effects" in the first sentence. When that page comes up, scroll down until you come to the area where several people have sent in their stories and how Lipitor has affected them, including me. Gerry Posted by: Gerry on April 20, 2004 07:11 PM I have taken zocor for about 1 1/2 years. Did wonders for lowering cholestrol and etc. but I have hurt and pains in my lower back and in my lower leg muscels. I shall call my doctor and see if their is a substitute for lowering my cholestrol problem and eliminating the numbness in my hands and arms when I din,t take zocor. chow Posted by: charley magestro on June 4, 2004 05:17 PM See also: Orthomolecular Solutions to Heart Disease Posted by: Chris Gupta on June 9, 2004 09:40 PM

I took Lipitor for about a year and started noticing a slight pain in my hip about 4 months ago. When it gradually got worse, I told my doctor and he told me to discontiue the drug. I have been off Lipitor for almost a month and the pain in my hip is getting much worse. I have a very sore glute muscle that sends shooting pain down my leg when I try to stand up. Does anybody have any experience with how long it takes to start feeling normal again? Thanks Posted by: jim heller on June 17, 2004 04:47 PM Someone in my church has serious liver damage from Lipitor, incl. lesions, which may be permanent. The damage was discovered when she fell & broke her hip (she's old). This lady is hospitalized, more from liver damage than hip damage, & will be for some time. Liver damage is another common dangerous adverse effect of Lipitor to beware. We

have another DES on our hands. Posted by: MES on July 2, 2004 06:15 AM The following is a reply to a BMJ opinion piece about medical harm. I am copying it here because the discussion adds important information on statins. First, do more good than harm - OTC statins 2 July 2004 Malcolm E Kendrick, Medical Director Adelphi Lifelong Learning Adelphi Mill Bollington SK10 5JB You may justify doing harm to do good e.g. drilling a hole in the skull to drain a subdural hematoma. But when one is doing no good, the only possibility left is harm. So it seems surprising that the BMJ remains silent on a hugely important, and potentially very harmful, development. Namely, OTC statins. Statins have achieved a remarkable status as the new 'wonder drug.' The reality, however, is somewhat more prosaic. For example, in no clinical

trial done so far, have statins reduced overall mortality in women. This includes the much publicised 4S, and HPS studies. In fact in the 4S study slightly more women died in the treatment arm; the HPS authors will not publish overall mortality rates in women, but it appears there was no benefit. Equally, in men, none of the primary prevention trials using statins have been shown to reduce overall mortality rate. A report last year by the British University of Columbia (part of the Cochrane collaboration), concluded that statins have not been shown to provide an overall health benefit in primary prevention(1). In reality, there are only two groups where statins have been demonstrated to reduce both CV morality and overall mortality: men with a history of CHD, and men with diabetes (regardless of cholesterol levels). It is difficult to establish the exact prevalence of these groups in

the UK (there is some overlap, no doubt). However, a Scottish study reported that men with IHD/Angina represented 6.2% of the adult population; and that diabetes had a prevalence of 2.8% (2) Scotland has a higher rate of CHD than England, not lower. But even if do extrapolate the Scottish figures (and assume no overlap between IHD and diabetes) to the rest of the UK, this still means that less than 10% of adult males in the UK, or less than 5% of the total adult population, will gain any overall health benefit from using statins. This would not matter a great deal if statins had no side-effects. But they do have some major, and highly unpleasant side-effects up to and including death from rhabdomyolysis. They create muscle pain/myopathy in up to ten per cent, and there is a high incidence of liver function disorder, and neuropathy. Reports in the USA suggest that they may

cause transient global amnesia. Most worrying for an OTC drug, is that fact that statins appear to be extremely teratogenic. A study reported in the NEJM (3) found a very high percentage of severe birth defects in children born to women exposed to statins in the first trimester. Defects such as duplication of the spinal cord, spina bifida, holoprosencephaly, bone shortening and aplasia. Whilst statins are contradindicated in pregnancy, this is a common warning, sometimes ignored, and it will be missed (or dismissed) by almost anyone buying a statin OTC. The very fact of making a drug OTC suggests that it must be very safe. Therefore it is inevitable that a number of women will use OTC statins, unaware of the true risk they are taking if they fall pregnant. In short, the evidence from clinical trials suggests that less than 5% of the adult population can gain any benefit

from taking statins. The remaining 95% will not only gain no health benefit, they will also risk suffering side-effects, some of which are extremely severe. A number of women will fall pregnant whilst on statins, resulting in severe birth defects in their children. First do no harm? Before risking harm it is a good idea to ensure that you may actually be doing some good in the first place. OTC statins have the potential to harm a great number of people, whilst benefiting only a few. The medical profession should try to reverse this decision. References (1) trials. http://www.ti.ubc.ca/pages/letter48.htm (2) http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/scottishhealthsurvey/sh802- 01.html#23 (3) Central Nervous System and Limb Abnormalities in Case Reports of

First -Trimester Statin Exposure NEJM April 8th 2004 1579 - 1582. Posted by: Sepp on July 8, 2004 04:29 PM I took your advice and took masive doses of vitamin C in lieu of Lipitor. You were wrong, for me at least, for my cholesterol went right back up to 240. Posted by: Robert Gant on July 10, 2004 08:55 AM Robert, why are you trying to "get down" your cholesterol? New scientific research indicates homocystein is an indicator for heart trouble, while cholesterol isn't. See Forget Cholesterol - it's really not relevant Posted by: Sepp on July 10, 2004 07:37 PM See also: NATURE'S PERFECT STATIN® Posted by: Chris Gupta on July 29, 2004 09:07 PM Actually, your rise in cholesterol was probably caused by the plaques on your arteries breaking up. See Dr

Rath's site http://www4.dr-rath- foundation.org/NHC/cholesterol/cellular_solutions.htm ... Interestingly, some patients report a transitory rise in cholesterol levels when they start taking vitamins. Because the rise in blood cholesterol levels is not the result of increased cholesterol production, it has to come from other sources — primarily atherosclerotic deposits in the artery walls... By the way, you should be taking Vitamin C with lysine. See: NATURE'S PERFECT STATIN http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2004/07/12/natures_perfect_stat in.htm Posted by: Kathy on August 11, 2004 10:08 AM I took Lipex for almost 2.5 years and became very stiff and sore had trouble sleeping because of hip, shoulder and back discomfort. I had difficulty

going from sitting to standing, then from standing to walking. I had sore feet which also got pins and needles started drbbling from one side of my mouth, my memory was failing and my sight becoming worse - I'm only 45 fit,in healthy weight range, healthly cholesterol range, normal blood pressure but had a coronary event which triggered the taking of Lipex. I stopped taking Lipex two months ago and feel so much better. I am much more mobile, the joint pain has all but gone, no more dribbles, my sight and memory seem to be improving. The discomfort was so bad I had stopped walking! I am back walking now. It will take a lot of convincing to get me to take Lipex (or its relatives) again. Posted by: Jenny on August 20, 2004 12:15 PM Do you know if Lipitor has any effect on cardiac arrhythmias? I've been on the 10 mg dose for about a year now with no problems. Just

had dose raised to 20 mg and my arrhythmia seems to be bothering me more. Don't know if there's a connection here. Any info would be appreciated. Posted by: Shelly on August 31, 2004 04:44 PM I took lipitor for two mo. could not walk around the block without calf muscles becoming week and my feet feeling extremely heavy. I saw an add on television about P.A.D. I had a lower extremity arterial doppler ultrasound done. They said suggestive severe femoral vascular disease. The problem is, I did not have any problems before I took the lipitor. Doesnt make sense to me, but what do you do? Posted by: Don G. on September 3, 2004 09:36 AM please i wonder how you can help me i am a boy of 21years old and i have a weak memory associated with anxiety,faint mind ,i have been having this problem for the past 7years now, please do me this favour

for it has been preventing me from moving forward with my education thanks God bless you ehima edwin my mobile email adress is 2348056- Posted by: ehima edwin on September 5, 2004 02:09 AM Hi Ehima, I don't know where to start. Best might be if you go to a doctor who uses natural products and nutrients. There definitely are a number of substances that are harmless, natural, and can help with memory and mood. You can also search the internet. Start with a google search for memory, anxiety, natural remedy (all the words together) and see what you get for starters... Posted by: Sepp on September 6, 2004 08:34 PM health- To download the book, "What You Must Know about Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs", right below. Then choose to save it on your desktop. After completion of download, you will be able to open it. Then print and read. www.health-fx.net/eBook.pdf Shane Ellison M.Sc. www.healthmyths.net www.health-fx.net Posted by: Sepp on September 8, 2004 11:13 AM Help! After reading all of the comments posted on this site I'm thinking my grandfather is experiencing the damaging effects of Lipitor. He is in the hospital - has been for 4 weeks. His arms and legs are completely numb. The Dr's have done countless MRI's, x-rays and blood work and have found nothing. He

mentioned a possible connection to the dr's and they dismissed him. What do you think? The doctors are still giving him a drug for cholesterol, not lipitor at this time, but by the sounds of it, it doesn't matter which drug it is. Any info. would be greatly appreciated! Thanks. Posted by: Kristen on September 12, 2004 04:10 AM I have been taking Lipitor for a little over a year. I have had several back surgerys, hip replacement and had tendons in both legs stretched. After all that my legs are continually getting worse, weak, extreme numbness and severe leg cramps and spasms. After reading these stories, I am convinced that is why I am so troubled with these problems. I also have balance problems. I am done with Lipitor. Posted by: Carol on September 16, 2004 06:49 PM I have been taking Lipitor for 6 months now. I started to notice

pains in my wrists and last week I experienced cramps in my feet and even the muscles in the right side of my stomach. One night I could not fall asleep with cramps on my toes. Two days ago my left foot started to swell and I did not think much of it, but it has been getting worse, I would like to know if anyone has had similar simptoms with Lipitor or statins in general. Thanks! Posted by: Liz on September 24, 2004 01:41 PM I started taking lipitor in Nov. 2003. In Apr. 2004 the pinky finger on my right hand dropped while moving a light wieght box. I was told I injured it, they called it a ruptured tendion or mallet finger. In july the left pinky droped while answering the phone,was told I unjured it too. COME ON! I checked lipitors website. It admits to imflamation of the tendions also contracture. Was told that this couldnt be from the lipitor

because my tendions are ruptured and not a contracture. Our we nit picking here????? Posted by: aleta on October 4, 2004 04:24 PM I've experienced a lot of the problems mentioned by most of the patients above. I've had a heart disease for some years now, I've had a stent put in and am on medication since 1997, I have been taking lipex40 ever since and have been experiencing the following symptoms for the last 2 years: aching muscles, sore tendons, tinglingin and numbness in the hands, cramps in the feet, degeneration of the muscle in my right hand, tiredness, constipation, spells of dizziness, bloating of the stomach, dribbling from one side of the mouth. Initially, the specialists have been addressing these problems as emanating from the stomach, I've had numerous tests done resulting on a diagnosis showing a syndrome called Leak Gut Syndrome, a

nutritionist put me on a gluten free diet without any success for the last six months. I went back to my GP doctor who checked me and is of the opinion that these are the symptoms of the after-effect of Lipex40. I organised to go and see my cardiologist. Posted by: tnanth on October 11, 2004 01:22 PM I have just stopped taking Lipex due to the continuing tiredness and pain in my upper and lower arm muscles. I have already noticed change and I am sure it is due to this medication. Posted by: Ian Gregory on November 15, 2004 08:34 AM does anybody have any speech problems along with the tireness problem. I have been taking CRESTOR for about a year. Before that I took LIPITOR for about two years. Posted by: raymond palmerine on November 19, 2004 09:09 PM I have taken Lipex for approx 3yrs, and regularly queried my

doctor as to why I was feeling so weak, aches and pains through my whole body. Various tests were done including x-rays and CT scans of back, hips etc revealing nothing. A friend alerted me to the problems associated with statin drugs. I was prescribed Vioxx for the pain! I had not realised how badly my memory was affected, and had become mildly depressed. After identifying a clear example of cognitive impairment, my doctor agreed that I should stop taking the Lipex for 2 months to see what would happen. Needless to say, all the complaints I have had in the past 3 years have been relieved - sleep impairment, aches and pains, cognitive and memory problems, depression etc. I am off STATINS for good, and now take Omega-3 supplements and daily aspirin. It seems I suffered needlessly for at least 3 years with no recognition by my doctor of the source of the problem. I was normally a healthy

and reasonably active 62yr old female, and am hopefully returning to that scenario. Posted by: Meryll W on November 29, 2004 12:28 PM After three months on Lipitor I suffered cognitive/affective side-effects similar to those mentioned by Meryll W.(above). I also began having trouble pronouncing words, just as Raymond did. Discontinued the medication and things have improved a lot. Am taking CO Q-10 and Aricept. A friend of mine taking a different statin had even worse cognitive problems. He's now being treated with several new anti-alzenheimer medications and his physician hopes the damage wasn't permanent. Statin's cognitive/affective side effects have resulted in formation of a new acronymn: SID - Statin Induced Dementia or SIDD - Statin Induced Dementia/Depression. Posted by: Pete Stark on December 7, 2004 07:04 PM i have been

taking liptor for 3 months and i first had an auful pain in my left hip.I thought i had hurt myself. then i was in lowe's and the calf's in my legs just shut down. I am going back on the vitiam C and watch my diet Posted by: john smith on December 14, 2004 10:14 AM I Had been on lipitor for two and a half years. I am 50 and female, I started on 20 mgs then up to 40 mgs eight months ago. I have suffered severe muscle spasms in my neck and back, Causing me difficulty in holding my head up at times,as well as pins and needles in my feet.My eyesight was deteriorating and my fine motor skills getting worse, I had a general feeling of tiredness and a low grade temp, this was put down to possible menopause.When discussed with my doctor,I was ordered a neck x-ray which showed general age related deterioration and I was told to just put up with the pain and it

will subside in time. I attended a physio for neck pain and spasms for about one month, but even he could not explain the severe spasms.I became curious about the side effects of Lipitor and did some research.I was amazed at the list of side effects and the fact that my GP did not even attampt to connect the drug with my complaints. I approached my G.P for a discussion about ceasing lipitor , she agreed to to allow it for a month to see if I became any better, and ordered ck levels but refused to check my cholesterol levels when I stopped. My ck level was ok. I felt a million dollars within a couple of weeks and have not gone back to my GP . I have since heard about policosanol as a natural therapy for reducing Cholesterol.I have organised a cholesterol baseline test and will start policosanol as soon as this is done if needed. I suggest you look up policosanol on the net it appears to

be an excellent natural alternative to lipitor Posted by: Julie Ats on December 31, 2004 05:39 AM I started on 10mg of Lipitor about 9 months ago and had good results lowering my chlorestoral; I renewed a prescription just a week before Christmas and immediately had severe right hip and calf pain, night and day. I thought I would need hip replacement surgery and then remembered I had seen something about the possible side effect of the statins. I discontinued use about 6 days ago and nearly all of the pain in hip and calf have disappeared. Posted by: NCB on January 4, 2005 05:02 AM Lipitor gave me neuropathy of the feet,fibromyalgia and today was DX'ed with torn meninces (sp?) of my knees. I never injured them, and was wondering if this could be caused by my 4 years of lipitor at 80mg a day? I finally found a pain specialist who said my

problems are defenatly related to or caused by lipitor. Haven't had a chance to talk to him yet. Any info would greatly help. Posted by: Cathy N on January 14, 2005 08:41 AM Everyone trying to recover from the adverse effects of Lipitor and other cholesterol-lowering meds should be aware that it is important to move anything electrical away from the head of their bed. This is extremely important for those who take large amounts of Vitamin C and it appears from research I just came across a couple weeks ago (been on vacation) that Co-Q-10 can possibly also become a free radical under certain circumstances. I have not yet had a chance to find out why the researcher who suggests the Co-Q might become a free radical thinks that may be the case. I do know that my husband, diagnosed with Alzheimers and said to have "profound and unusual memory loss" has

documented proof of "improvement" on his neuropsych test following removal of his electric clock radio from his bedside. I lowered his Vitamin C. I note on this site the mention of Lysine as being important and do not think his Vit C contained that. Vit C when one is exposed to radiation tho can become a free radical thereby causing harm. That info is avail in Dr. Russell Reiter's book "Melatonin" and Dr. Reiter (Texas Univ San Antoinio) wrote back to me that "it is well-known that radiation causes Vitamin C to become toxic. We have stopped my husband's Lipitor (I brought the concern up to our neurologist and he agreed with me but offered no help other than mentioning Alz drugs which husband can't tolerate). Have increase his Omega 3 fish oil to 1,000 mg 3 x day plus other suppls but so far since stopping Lipitor, he has worsened. Will check with alternative med docs this week. Take care -

Joanne Posted by: Joanne Mueller on January 17, 2005 04:10 AM I am female and 66 years of age. My general health is very good. I started with Zocor 10mg October 2003. After a few weeks, I complained about unusual pains in my upper right leg and right hip. Had x-rays that produced nothing. As my cholesterol was still too high in the Dr's opinion, my subscription was raised to 20mg. Zocor. Still experienced hip and leg pain. Also started to develop sinus infections, something which I had NEVER experienced before. Over the next year these sinus attacks became acute. I was put onto Lipitor 20.mg in August 2004, as the Dr. considered my cholesterol not lower enough. Last week, January 2005, I was put on to 40mg Lipitor and within 2 days, I was unable to stand due to the pain in my lower back. Dizzy head and pain in the left side of my neck. My son is a Naturopath and

has helped me over the years with my health and because of his assistance my general health is very good. My personal opinion is that my cholesterol reading is genetic, and is not detrimental to my health, as my blood pressure and heart are in very good condition. I am now going to take measured doses of Vit. C. Lysine and Q10 and see what the results are over the next couple of months. I shall keep you informed. Good health to you all. Posted by: Mareea Baker on January 18, 2005 03:08 AM My dad's doctor prescribed Lipitor after his cholesterol test results came back high. After 6 months on the drug, he developed severe leg spasms. After a check up re:leg pain, especially his right leg, diagnosis was that his circulation was in trouble...they upped the Lipitor amount to prevent the need for leg amputation. The pain worsened. He couldn't sleep and could barely

walk...became dizzy...speech slurred. Thanks to a visit from his younger brother..a longtime natural healing advocate...he challenged his doctor's prescription of Lipitor and discontinued the use...He feels great , is back to his long walks, and ,at 75 years old, plans on living well with his high cholesterol. Posted by: Donna Pappas on February 1, 2005 01:58 PM I was on zocor for 4 years and my muscle pain got un-bearable. I kept telling my dr. but he said my kidney amd liver functions was ok. I went back because of the pain and ask for a ck test and it came back over 400 and normal is 0-200 he sttoped my zocor on dec. 20th2004 and now I van walk and don't hurt. Does anyone know of policosanol and some one that has tried it and does it work. Please email me if anyone has any info on policosanol Posted by: emmett jones on February 18, 2005 10:28

PM I am a 60 year old male.I had been on 20mg of Lipitor for about 2.5 yrs without any noticable ill effects. My Dr. increased this to 40 mg about 7 months ago and within about a month I was having difficulty walking anymore than for a few minutes without experiencing sciatic pain. My daily walk was reduced from the normal 45 minutes (pain free) to 20 minutes with some sciatic pain through out the walk. I also suffered from some memory loss and pins and needles in my right hand. I insisted that I be taken off Lipitor 6 weeks ago and my Dr substituted this with 2 fish oil capsules per day. I'm having blood tests in 4 days time and will be most interested in the results. I have been feeling considerably better since being off lipitor. My memory seems to have improved and the pins and needles have vanished. Some sciatic pain is still evident however. I hope so much

that this disappears in time. Posted by: Russ Railton on February 21, 2005 11:08 AM I too started my cholesterol treatment aproximately 4 years ago. It began with 20mg of Zocor,upped to 40mg, upped to 80 mg and this past November was switched to 80mg of Lipitor. All in an effort to get the Chl level under 100. I have had a general feeling of illness for 2-3 years along with leg spasms & sciatic pain. After reading these testimonies I stopped the medication. Indeed I too have felt a great deal improved, although the leg spasms have not left me. The general feeling of well-being has greatly improved.When I related this to my daughter she said that a friend's mother almost died from taking Lipitor. It took her daugter's intervention to hospitalize her mother and stop all drugs.The woman greatly improved and returned to her home. This was a year ago. These past 2 weeks the woman

was hospitalized with liver failure. The diagnosis was a virus, and she has had 2/3 of her liver removed. I can only wonder if the virus' name is Lipitor. Posted by: Beth Ogburn on February 27, 2005 04:47 PM I HAVE BEEN ON LIPTIOR FOR ABOUT 4 YEAR AND IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS I HAVE HAD A BAD STINGY AND PAIN IN MY FEET. MY DR. SAID I HAVE NERVE DAMAGE MAYBE EARLY ONSET OF DIABETIS. CAN THIS BE FROM PROLONG USE OF LIPITOR? Posted by: buddy waters on March 10, 2005 12:24 AM I have peripheral neuropathy in both feet. I had no such problem until I was switched from 40mg of Pravachol to 20mg of Lipitor. My blood sugar was 130 and A1c is 5.6. Since the blood sugar is >126 they classify me as diabetic. My dr. did not think that this should have caused the neuropathy at those levels. I stopped the lipitor in Oct 2004 and as of today my feet

still hurt as bad as ever. However, I have felt relief from the muscle pains, which leads me to give it a few more months. The drs. want me back on Pravachol since my cholesterol is 240. Lipitor brought it to 160 in 4 weeks, however I still believe it is the cause of the neuropathy in my feet. It is hard to find anybody who believes this. They just ignore me and tell me to go back to the Lipitor. Posted by: MALMAN on March 11, 2005 12:28 AM A recent calcium scoring of the arteries near my heart revealed that I have moderate calcified plaque build-up. I also have elevated LDL cholesterol (157) but my HDL is terrific. My doctor wants me to take 20mg of Lipitor. With much reluctance after researching statins I started with 10mg, but after a week (with some aching limbs) I've decided to quit. I have been taking policosanol for about 6 months which has helped lower

the LDL and I've recently started a program with Nanobac Labs. I recommend highly the book, "The Calcium Bomb." I really believe in this treatment and would suggest the Nanobac website. Just type nanobacteria into Google. The information is very impressive. Posted by: J Veeder on March 11, 2005 01:20 AM I met with the doctor today for my 6 month check up for my liver since i am on lipitor, My number in all areas are great, I am in good physicl condition, I started about 4 years ago with 20mg daily, in them 4 years I have been having muscle weakness and leg pain. I am sore in the morning getting out of bed and I also had within the past 2 year acute achilles tendonitis pain and plantal fascia in one foot, I usually heal really fast, but today they still linger, I spoke with my doctor about these side effects and also mention that I felt general weakness

throughout my body, I am a active mailman and walking is becoming a problem, My doctor said that i have the symptoms of what these statins can do, and she told me to stop taking this medicine immediately, she said to stay on the once a day 80mg aspirin and also to try fish oil supplements, she also is checking my blood work for some muscle problems, I hope my symptoms go away and also hope this help other people with the same symptoms that i am experiencing. Posted by: Mike on March 12, 2005 05:27 AM I also should mention that over the course of starting lipitor, i have had a EMG ( Electromyography ) test and a Nerve conduitivity test because of the pain in my legs, both results came back negative. Posted by: mike on March 12, 2005 05:32 AM Took Liptor 10mg 90 days muscle cramps various area feet, toes, hands, forearms, calves, thighs (on stretch,

exertion) repeat first word in phrase poor memory little cramps in sides of abdomen, stich in side One day awoke with severe cramps both legs, fexing, unable to stand or straighten legs, Emergency room trip, better after 4 hours rest, fluids sore throat, eyelids, dyr eyes and skin Posted by: David on March 17, 2005 02:13 AM I have had 2 close friends pass away in the last 6 months both diagnosed with liver cancer of unknown origin. Both on lipitor for 2+ years. any connection? Also a neighbors mother same scenario. Gene Rodammer Posted by: gene rodammer on March 20, 2005 07:35 PM To all commenters, here a recent message I sent to a lady who contacted me: ... there is really no reason to suffer. For starters, cholesterol is an indicator rather than a cause that needs to be expunged. This site has an internal

"google search" function (top center of each page). If you put in "cholesterol", there are many articles to follow up. Here is what I recently wrote to someone else who asked about taking cholesterol lowering drugs: please understand that I am not a medical doctor but merely an interested layman who mistrusts what we are being told about the necessity to take pharmaceutical products to protect our health. For that reason, I really cannot give the type of advice you are asking, without making very clear that you should consult a doctor or other health professional who is conversant in the use of natural products. Some suggestions would be Dr. Mercola (http://www.mercola.com/article/statins.htm#) Dr. Andrew Saul (http://www.doctoryourself.com/) Jon Campbell (http://www.cqs.com) That said, I will give you my personal opinion. Cholesterol is not the bad guy. It is a substance the body needs and produces in the liver, in addition to finding it in foods. It's a cleansing substance, a kind of soap. Any constant poisoning (think for instance poisonous chemicals applied to golf courses) or other factors in the diet, will cause the body to increase cholesterol production in an effort to combat the poisoning. Cholesterol has been connected to heart trouble, but that does not mean its presence is more than an indicator. While high cholesterol (or high counts of certain cholesterol fractions) are associated with cardiovascular disease, the cholesterol is not necessarily the cause. If you drove your car and the red light came on blinking, warning of too much oil pressure, would you rather find the reason for the

oil pressure increase or unscrew the bulb of the blinking red light? Perhaps those sites linked will give you some more information to "get your teeth into"... Good hunting. Posted by: Sepp on March 24, 2005 11:26 AM I have been on Lipitor 20 mg (plavix 75 mg) for 4 months now and apart from getting aches and pains all over , I have developed Microscopic hematura in my urine. Increases Creatanin and Proteins were also noticed Dis anybody else faced this side effect of Lipitor?. Posted by: Gupta haresh on March 30, 2005 07:39 AM After being on Lipitor for a year and a half, I started experiencing muscle weakness, muscle aches, and forgetfulness. I've been off of Lipitor for about a month. The aches have gone, but the muscle weakness is still there. Blood test also show elevated liver enzymes. Posted by: Robert on March

31, 2005 04:21 PM Have been on Zocor & Lipitor for about 4 or 5 years total. This after a severe diet dropped 40 pounds & my levelactually went up from 240 to 260. Am 72 and currently experiencing almost all symptoms. Have been off the drug for 2 months but muscle pain continues. Blood tests indicated no damage. But I'm still having some serious symptoms. How long can it take? More than two months? Posted by: Janet on April 12, 2005 12:03 AM BEEN ON LIPITOR 5 YRS GOT SLLEP APNEA ANY CONNECTION? Posted by: larry on April 21, 2005 02:44 AM I was off lipitor for 1 month and had my profile check and sure enough my cholestrol went back up to 260. My earlier post talked about my problems with lipitor, doctor has put me on vytorin 10/20 which is a two part program, doctor said that I should have no reaction to

this drug, will post reply in a few months with results, I started to feel alot better since going off the lipitor so i will be able to tell if this drug works. Posted by: michael on April 22, 2005 02:01 AM i was on lipitor 40mg for 8 month's , having trouble with my leg's i have stopped taking the lipitor for a month now . how long does it take to get out of your system. im going for a dopler test but i know they won't find anything for they don't belive lipitor can do this much damage on my leg's they feel like they are wraped to tight, im a little over weight but not that much my cholestrol isn't that bad but my good cholestrol is low any thing to make good cholestrol go up??? and that's why they put me on 40mg in the first place , had a mini stroke and then the dr went nut's giving me all these pill's my husband has high cholestrol and he's taking 10 mg and

he had a stoke 10 year's ago. and he is fine and cholestrol is down. Posted by: ginny goldsmith on May 10, 2005 12:15 PM What a discovery this message board has been for me. I've been taking lipitor for nearly 10 years (I'm 61) and living with increasing pain(s)for some time now. I'm delighted to find each of my symptoms - foot pain, achilles tendonitis, and more described here by others. I'll stop taking the pills for a while and see if things improve. Wish me luck. Posted by: Richard Kapelsohn on May 14, 2005 06:33 AM i took lipitor for 10 years have stopped f0r a year now..i have every symptom mentioned in these postings,leg buzzing, so sad to fine these out,i have not gotten better, if anything i have more miseries then ever and dont know if they will ever go away, i am 73 and feel very very bad all the time,i have

myopathy,lipitor stole my health Posted by: lillian on May 16, 2005 05:17 AM I started taking Liptor about one month ago. I have fibromylagia and always have muscle pain, but my calves and thighs were very painful and felt swollen and very sensitive to the touch. Although I have chronic pain, this pain was very distinct and uncomfortable. I just started sleeping better now this pain is keeping me awake. I stopped taking Lipitor three days ago. I called my doctor and she said to wait a few weeks and try it again. I don't want to; is there anything else (other than statins) that can help lower cholesterol. Diet and exercise don't seem to be enough for me at this time. Please help ~ Posted by: Kathleen on May 17, 2005 07:06 AM Hello Kathleen, there are some natural ways of lowering cholesterol, but the crux of the matter seems to be

that cholesterol is not a cause of heart attacks, merely an indicator that the body is occupied with de-toxing (cholesterol is necessary for that). Cholesterol is produced in the liver or absorbed from foods, and it is a vital substance in human metabolism. Cholesterol lowering drugs forcefully change liver pathways to stop the natural production of ocholesterol, interfering with what the substance is supposed to do in the body. See this article - Forget Cholesterol, it's not really relevant and follow some of the links. There is a whole different interpretation of health to be discovered. Posted by: Sepp on May 17, 2005 10:28 AM dear sir, i didn't want my name on a list , all i wanted to know if and how long the leg pain last. i haven't heard from the dr yet go may 23 to see what they found i will write again if he tell's me something to help other people.

thank you ps amd why don't dr's believe lipitor does this to patient's? Posted by: ginny goldsmith on May 19, 2005 04:04 PM took lipitor for half a year off and on started at 80mg. went to 40mg. then switched to provocal then back to lipitor. I took myself off for the same reasons as everybody else. Iam a young adult and never felt this way until i started on lipitor. nauseas and spells of dizziness. stillseem to be as bad as when i started. will this go away. Posted by: vinnie on May 21, 2005 04:46 AM I my earlier post on march 12 and April 22, i talked about my problems with lipitor, I have been off lipitor for 2 months and my leg discomfort has gone away and my muscles have gotten stronger, i am on vytorin 10/20 and will be going later this month to see what my cholestrol numbers are. Going off lipitor was the best thing for me, i

actually can feel the muscle aches have left completely and my weakness in my legs have gone away Posted by: Mike on May 22, 2005 05:10 AM This has to be one of the most ignorant articles I have ever ridden. Discredited hypothesis that increased cho causes MI's? Why then on a daily basis do we see fresh MI's with drastically elevated cholesterol levels? Hope people educate themselves with more info than this dangerously inadequate site. While there are side effects with statins very very few what you call muscle deterioations takes place sure some people will have mild Myalgias( muscle aches) but other than that very few side effects are seen with lipitor or others you people very well could be the cause of loss of life and happiness Posted by: John Briscoe on June 6, 2005 03:10 PM John, you are of course entitled to your

opinion. I don't agree with your view, but if you have any actual data (other than mere propaganda) that would invalidate the research linked, why not share it? Maybe you should read the article and the comments before spouting things such as "very very few side effects". Most all the commenters are people who have experienced these effects on their own bodies and they might take offense to your unsubstantiated offerings. Posted by: Sepp on June 6, 2005 04:07 PM Been off lipitor for 4 months, and guess what no aches and pains, no muscle lose, got my strength back and no tendonitis pain and plantal fascia problems, must of been all in my head, I know for a fact that this drug was making me weak and if you did read the side effects of this statin you should know that the number one concern is muscle problems, You don't know what your talking about, i guess waking up every

morning and being in your 40 that you should be having aches and pains everyday, i don't think so, I am in great shape and concerned enough that diet and exercising was not helping my cholestrol and found out that family history is a major cause of high cholestrol. anyone on these statins and if you are experiencing any of the side effects mentioned in earlier post, contact you physician and check into other options, I changed to vytorin 10/20 and have had no side effect and the cholestrol number have drop to when i was on lipitor. John wonder how you came across this site. LOL Posted by: Mike on June 8, 2005 02:33 AM I have been on Lipitor, Zocor and Pravacol. Granted as I age I expect muscle and moving problems. Has any one else has facial muscle problems. My tongue does not seem to be moving correctly and I feel (unavoidably) my check muscles pulling up

so I seem to be slurring.Dr. just looks at me as if to say "another one of those". I quit taking Zocor for 4 months and my cholesteral went way up. 5577 Posted by: Judy Mason on June 8, 2005 06:54 AM I'm 51 years old. Maybe 10 lbs overweight. Generally in good shape. My cholesterol was slightly high. On Lipitor for 10 months. My doctor took me off due to the liver counts. In my case the first phase of muscle pains started one month after I was off the Lipitor. Severe pain in my upper chest (thought I broke a rib), then moved to my upper left back, then moved to my left upper butt. Pain went away in about two months. Phase two started about six weeks ago (six months after stopping Lipitor). Extreme pain in my right side hip, then calf, then thigh. The pain has increased as time goes on. The worse time is getting out of bed in the morning. I'm not able

to exercise properly. I do appreciate everyone's comments. Nice to know that other people can relate and discuss this problem. Anyone with remedies please add your ideas. Posted by: Roger on June 10, 2005 06:24 PM Wow,just stumbled on this site and found my problem. I have many of the symptoms described here. Sore right calf, legs, forearms, twitching, buzzing, etc. I've been on Lipitor for 5 plus years and have been having symptoms for about a year. Just went off 40 mg of Lipitor 4 weeks ago and feel no better. Does anyone know for sure how long it takes to get rid of symptoms? Posted by: Tom on June 13, 2005 05:55 PM Hi there. I'm soooo confused with all of this. My doctor just prescribed 10mg of Lipitor per day and I'm terrified about taking it. No one else in my family is on an cholesterol lowering drugs. We

all pretty much practice natural medicine. I am a heatlhy active 43 year old male with no history of my own heart problems. I had the prescription filled but it sits on my bedside table untouched. I try to eat a healthy diet and supplement with vitamins and minerals, including 600mgs of Ester C daily. I also eat a lot of citrus foods so I know I'm getting a lot of Vit.C. I'm also thinking of becoming a vegetarian as I'm practically one now (just eat chicken and fish). I do indulge my sweet tooth three to four times per week and love carbs. I think with a radical change to my diet I can do this. Would love to here any experts comments on my situation. Many thanks and keep up the great work! Posted by: Chris on July 1, 2005 05:53 PM I have been taking 10mg. of lipitor daily for almost 2 yrs. and have experienced a lot of muscle pain and

tiredness. The worst problem I have experienced is neck pain. Almost every time I have a beer or a glass of wine, I get a terrible neck ache. My Dr. says to give up alcohol. Does this sound as if it may be linked to Lipitor? Posted by: Bill Stafford on July 10, 2005 03:55 PM I was on 40 mlg of zocor for a couple of years. I had some upper let muscle pain, neck pain etc. then my dr. decided to put me on 40 mlgs. of lipitor because he still did not like my numbers. I was put on it on march 4, 2005 and by the middle of march I stared with an ache in my right arm as if I slept wrong on it. It gradually got worse and my groin and upper thigh and other arm became so unbearable that I could not get up without pain. It has been at least 6-7 weeks off any statin and I am better although not 100%. I am haveing nee surgery in about a week. my miniscus is torn among other

things. I am wondering if that is related as I read about a woman on this site that had a similar problem. I also had surgery on my other knee a couple of years ago while I was on zocor. one dr. thinks I have polymyalgia rheumatica but the numbers are not there. How long to fully recover,although my arms and legs are about 75@ better. anyone care to answer?? anna greeley Posted by: anna greeley on July 15, 2005 02:21 AM I took Lipitor for two years and relied on doctors recommendation. Developed muscle weakn ess and pain-terrible pain, especially in legs, but also in arms. Dr. said I could stay off it a week and see how I felt. I didn't feel any better, so went back on it. Pain became so severe I could barely walk. Have been off Lipitor for 2 months, and am beginning to feel better. Still weak, recently had Pancritites. Drs. could find no reason for that. I am

not a drinker. I am a 73 year old woman who has been very healthy until the past 1 and 1/2 years. I willl never take a statin drug again. More should be done about publishing the the side effects- especially to doctors. Posted by: nancy harris on July 15, 2005 06:11 PM I've been on lipitor for two years.Found article about more severe side effects.I have noticed a high amount pain in back and down through legs.I have also noticed a lack of concentration and loss of memory.There has been muscle pains across my chest and find it difficult to breath at times.All testing seems to be O.K. according to Dr.Would like feed back as alot of this was not explained when drug was given. Posted by: Ron Fitzsimmons on July 17, 2005 06:04 AM I had a heart attack in April 04 during a squash match. My business had been on the slide for about two years

and two days earlier it had ceased trading. It was the two years of stress dealing with this situation that was the cause of the attack. There was a 90% blockage of the main right artery and a stent was inserted to open it up. Straight away the doctors proscribed a cocktail of drugs including Lipitor. After a three months I was only taking the lipitor. At the same time I was determined to get back to full fitness. I am 56 years old and very fit from the squash and I also used to race a bike at a high level 20 years ago so I started to train in earnest with a view to race again in 2005. It was frustrating as I seemed to fatigue easily. I naturally put this down to the after effects of the heart attack. Anyway I persevered with the training and got fitter. At the same time a pain started to develop in my upper left arm and my neck became very sore and stiff. I ended up going to

see osteopaths and physiotherapists for teatment but nothing worked. On a spur of the moment decision I decided to stop the lipitor and rely on my diet to reduce my cholestrol. Out training with the guys I was getting back to my old self and was at the front on training spins and leaving them behind on the climbs. About four weeks later I was still suffering from the neck pains then I got my check up at the doctors. They told me that my cholestrol was elevated from the last readings and that I should definitely be taking the lipitor 40mg a day. I told him about the symptoms which he said were nothing to do with lipitor. Like a brainless idiot I took him at his word and started to take the 40mg a day. That was in February this year. There was no immediate change in my fitness levels. I raced a few events and did quite well but nothing like the standard I had been used to. Other

muscle problems started to appear. My right foot on the pedal was now at a funny angle. My libido was now non-existent. At night in bed I was getting palpitations and my heart rate rhythym was very irregular with the heart stopping for about two/three seconds about six times a minute. My performances on the bike were getting steadily worse. In May I raced a 25 mile time trial and barely finished the distance totally exhausted. It was then that I researched Lipitor on the internet. I am very very angry to think that the medical profession can proscribe a drug with these side effects. Of course I stopped taking Lipitor immediately. That was 41 days ago. My heart rhythym is now normal, the palpitations stopped and libido back to normal, the soreness and stiffness in my neck almost gone. When riding my bike the foot on the pedal is now OK. My bike training is still suffering as my recovery is

not very good though so it is unlikely that I will race agin this year. I am taking CoQ10 120mg L-Carnitine 500mg Lysine 1000mg Vitamin C 2000Mg plus Vitamin B supplements daily. Please please do not take Lipitor as it is poison. It will proabaly take me anything up to six months to fully recover. Posted by: Mike Willcox on July 17, 2005 09:11 AM my husband has been on zecor for about 2 years and then GP put him on 40 mg of atorvastatin it was very earliy on he noticed that his legs were bad but put it down to an old complaint from years ago so never give the drug a thought but at the precent time he can bearly walk through servere calf and thigh and lower back pain his ckp levels are raised and also his liver counts are raised how can a drug be allowed to be given that is nearly cripple him he his proberly going to lose his job through this drug to every

body out there dont take statins they make you ill which before hee took them he was a well man from a very worried wife Posted by: Michael Higgins on July 18, 2005 10:04 PM I did not think my post would come up but now it has I wonder is there anybody out there who feels that we are meant to accept any thing that is thrown at us I want answers is any body thinking about doing anything about statin drugs that are causeing such devastating side affects a previous person said about a few people suffering slight muscle weakness well I am sorry but he is not wakeing every morning to a body that is just not working like it used to before statins were introduced to his life can any one tell me are the symtoms there for ever or do they go away is any body going to try and fight this cause that a drug you take to help your self ends up leaving you not being able to

walk I cant beleive the company can get away whith this just so they can make huge profits and they are massive at our exspense seeing our loved ones go through this on the say so of our gp's were do we start Iam raring to go do you need a muscle bioispy to confirm that the proberlems our drug related how do we prove what is being done to our bodies I for one would go to the end of the earth to stop this happening to any one else any one out there who feels the same please email me but only genuine please as I am very serious about this wish every one well out there who is going through this statin side affects cheers from pauline Posted by: Pauline Higgins on July 19, 2005 12:03 AM I don't know whether to be angrier at my doctor that I trusted or the drug company that my doctor trusted! My doctor recently gave me a six week trial of Vytorin 10-20mg. My blood

tests have resulted with great numbers and with the orders to continue taking it. My tests were previously borderline, not dangerous. I now have disorientation, neck, shoulder and arm pain since taking the Vytorin. My doctor gave me muscle relaxants but all they do is put me in a fog. I get some relief from ibuprofen but the pain is constant. I've seen the posting of others that have their pain continuing even after stopping the meds. I am (or was) an active & fit woman in my early 60's. I just want the pain to go away! Posted by: Barbara B on July 21, 2005 11:40 PM I have been on Lipitor for a year and my cholesterol is down half of what it was (264). Zocor did not help. My doctor says I am genetically prone to high cholesterol and risk of stroke and heart disease. My father is a stroke victim. I see what clogged arteries has done to him and do not

want that for myself. I am 47 year of female. I have some dizzines and chest pain occassionally. Is it worth the risk to stop taking the tricor and have my cholesterol rise? Or go off the medicine and risk a stroke? I am concerned. Posted by: Tina G. on July 22, 2005 03:42 PM I was wondering if anyone had trouble with vision after taking lipitor. my mom has been on it for about 2 months and she now says she can't drive because her vison is distorted. Has this happened to anyone else. Linda Posted by: linda on July 26, 2005 03:28 AM I have been taking lipitor 20 mg daily for the last 6 months aprox, before lipitor I took Lovastatin 40 mg for about 6 months and never thought about side effects and a possible relation to heart attacks until I listened a brief info about Lipitor and side effects in Univision, Spanish Tv Network. I began to remind

myself of my health situation in the last year, yes i feel dizzy some times, I experimented a very strange lower back pain some months ago and very clearly I have a recent tendency to forget important duties or I really have to remind me through my daily calendar in order to keep fresh information of appointments and things I have to do. I really can not say for sure that all these happenings are related to Lipitor or Lovastatin. I Have stopped Lipitor and I want to follow a natural way to control my high cholesterol, any advise will be welcome, I have diabetes type 2 and I am 53 year old. Posted by: Bernardo Mendez on July 26, 2005 07:14 AM I was on Lipitor for 4 years and started to experience foot pains first. Then severe leg and calf spasms and peripheral neuropathy. Had tests...so manY MRI, CT scan, 5 visists to neirologists, rheumatologist, tried

every vitamin, saw a complimentary physician, had acupuncture. I went off Lipitor 2 years ago and still experience leg spasms and ankle and foot pain daily It is definitely bettehr than when on the statin but has been a very long time. Has anyone else experienced such a long recovery time?Could it be permanet damage? No doctors believed it was Lipitor...aafter my reserach I am convinced...I continue to dotro myself...still have waekness and pain and spasm. Posted by: BARBARA on July 30, 2005 01:19 AM I had a heart attack Mar 16/04. I now take 8 pills daily,one of which is 80 mg of lipitor. My mother was on 40 mg of lipitor to control cholesterol. She no longer takes this and claims to feel better and tells me I should consider same. This of course led me to seach out the side effects of lipitor and of course this site came up. All of your testimonials have led me to

write this and to question the neccessity of all the pills I am presently taking. Prior to my heart attack I did not hold much stock in doctors or phama drugs, always believing in natural sources. When I suffered the heart attack I was unconcious for a week and still have vivid memories of things not here. The shock of all this made me follow a route with doctors etc. which I had never taken or believed in before. Thankyou all for truely bringing me back from the dead and now that I know that there are so many others who belive as I do I feel fortified in my resolve to pursue the truth of these damn pharma drugs I presently am on. I will update from time to time as I glean more info. God Bless all Posted by: Roger Kulhawy on July 30, 2005 08:28 PM I threw away my Lipitor two months ago.I was taking 40mgs a day and it was killing me.I have never been so ill, and

now I feel great. I was having what I called wide awake seizures with body jerks that lasted for 1-2hrs.The Er docs had no idea I was having a reaction to Lipitor.I had been on Crestor and it was destroying my kidneys so my doc put me on Lipitor and it was destroying my liver. My legs have never hurt so bad,chest pain,dizzy spells,daily nausea and indigestion,I was living on tagamets and rolaids,the feeling in my gut was something I couldn't explain,it felt like another seizure type spell was coming on,I was so very deathly cold,I could not get warm with heating pads and blankets.I wanted to die I was so sick every day.I went in for a liver biopsy and the surgeon stood by my side and told me it was the Lipitor.I went back to the "specialist" and he refused to believe that was the problem.I walked out of his office and I may never ever go back to a doctor. All of the problems have ceased.I

feel great.I will take my chances with high cholesterol. Posted by: Phyllis on August 1, 2005 02:54 PM my dad has been diagnosed with ALS and i was wondering if the Lipitor has anything to do with it? I've read the comments and believe it may.. If anyone has any suggestions please email me at sharon.t-. Thanks Sharon Posted by: sharon thompson on August 10, 2005 07:59 PM I have been on Lipitor for approximately two months. For the first time in my life, my urine is showing traces of ketone. The last few weeks, I have been experiencing dizziness and quick flashes of slight nausea. Don't know for sure, but my guess is I have Lipitor to thank for this. Posted by:

Charlie Bacinelli on August 19, 2005 02:57 AM I have been on Lipitor for about 8 months. I am now experiencing "tinnitus" ringing in the ears. The sound in my ear or head is like a buzzing noise. The doctor said that I may have to live with it the rest of my life. My chlor. went from 245 to 175. But the buzzing in my ears may, the doctor said lead to loosing the hearing in my ears. "Has anyone experienced this" Posted by: Doug Cooke on August 20, 2005 03:03 PM My doctor has just prescribed Lipitor 10 mg. My cholesterol is very high and he wants me to get it lowered. I have read that grapefruit/grapefruit juice reacts badly with Lipitor. Would taking high doses of vitamin C while taking the Lipitor react as badly as the grapefruit? Also, if I get my cholesterol down with the Lipitor and then stop taking it and start taking 3k to 6k mg of

vitamin C instead of Lipitor, would that be okay? I would appreciate an answer. My doctor also wants me to lose weight, which he said would also help to lower my cholesterol. Thank you, David (almost 50) Posted by: David on September 2, 2005 07:00 AM I to have begun to suffer with Tinnitus after taking Zocor for only a matter of weeks. My Doctor informed me that "No you don't get Tinnitus from Zocor or Lipitor". So I kept up the tablets and in fact changed to Lipitor, after about three months now the Tinnitus has gotten worse and so I will cease the tablets but will most likely suffer Tinnitus permenantly now. Nico. Posted by: Nico on September 14, 2005 01:30 PM I took lipitor for sixteen days. Stopped on May six this year. Its now oct 3. The back pain and leg pain has still not cleared up. Nor has the neck pain. The

vision problem (similar to problem that creatsdark spot in center only its gray and fuzzy)Memory malfunction also,is nearly gone. Only comes back with strong exercise, which , due to the other pains that persistI don't do very often. That is a problem.Even walking a mile on level ground is difficult. Before taking lipitor I had no difficlty walking up to ten miles on tough trails; an exercise I was accustomed to as I like to backpack and camp. I can't do these anymore. Lipitor has caused a very radical lifestyle change and all unwanted. Posted by: Phil Walsh on October 3, 2005 08:41 PM My husband has been taking Lipitor for approx. 5 months. He has developed a distinct musty smell, even though he showers regularly. Any comments? Posted by: Ann Baker on October 5, 2005 03:45 PM Dear Ann, since body smell is usually connected with a

deficiency of magnesium, I looked for statins + magnesium deficiency and find the following statement here: "Drs. Seelig and Rosanoff suggest that the statins are depleting magnesium..." Including Seelig and Rosanoff in the search, the following page of the Life Extension Foundation comes up with some more information. "November 26, 2004 Review finds magnesium may provide better benefits than statins A review published in the October 2004 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition has found that the beneficial effects of magnesium could outweigh those of statin drugs. Statins are a class of drugs commonly prescribed for individuals with elevated cholesterol levels, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Because the drugs have side effects, some people are seeking alternative ways to improve their cardiovascular disease risk. Andrea Rosanoff, PhD,

and Mildred S Seelig, MD of State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn discuss the fact that statin drugs as well as magnesium inactivate the enzyme 5-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase). HMG CoA reductase converts HMG-CoA into a substance called mevalonate, which is the first step in cholesterol formation. Reducing mevalonate improves endothelial function, reduces inflammation, and provides other cardiovascular benefits. Magnesium, however, is also involved in the activity of another enzyme known as lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT), which helps elevate high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and reduces low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides. In addition, another enzyme known as desaturase, which helps convert linoleic acid and linolenic acid into prostaglandins, is dependent upon magnesium.

Furthermore, optimal levels of magnesium within the cell are a natural calcium channel blocker, which helps dilate the blood vessels. Drs Rosanoff and Seelig note that while statin drugs help to prevent blood clots, lower inflammation and protect against atherosclerosis, they can elevate liver enzymes and cause myopathy as well as other side effects, whereas diarrhea or mild gastrointestinal distress are the only side effects that have been caused by magnesium supplements. Statins cost at least $100.00 per month compared to no more than $20.00 for a month's supply of magnesium. These factors combined suggest that increasing magnesium could be a viable alternative to taking statin drugs." So yes, the smell you noted could well be connected to statin drug use, which was found to be depleting magnesium. Apart from taking magnesium into consideration, you might also find

some other natural alternatives to statin drugs on Jonathan Campbell's site. Posted by: Sepp on October 5, 2005 04:22 PM I was advised to take Lipitor 10mg for the leaky aortic heart valve. I have a cholestrol count of 5.2. After 4 weeks of being on the drug, I have developed serious 'ringing in the ear' (like thousands of birds chirping in a forest)in my left ear. Is this by any chance due to the dug or is it a coincidence? Nash Posted by: Nash on October 16, 2005 05:42 AM I have tininitus in both my ears that started after taking Zocor for only a month. I quit the Zocor and the tininitus remains. I told my doctor who said he's never heard of that happenning and maybe it was just a coincidence. I don't think so especially now that others have the same story. Can we all get together somehow and organize? This ain't right. edd- Posted by: Ed Falzon on October 19, 2005 03:07 AM Tonight I have sworn off of Lipitor... I am 50 years old and for all practical purposes have been pretty healthy all my life. In May of 2005 I was taken from my place of employment for stroke type systems to the hospital by EMS. My first experience of this type. After undergoing a battery of test, I was told I suffered a TIA, and my Doctor later told me a blood clot had broken loose in my brain, thus the stroke like systems. I was released from the hospital and prescribed Lipitor. Thru all the test, scans,exrays,blood work, etc..., the only thing they came of with was acceptable blood level counts, and thus the Lipitor. These posting have pointed out so

many of the things I am experiencing today, by so many people, I am convinced Lipitor is something I need to run from! Having said all of that, I am the type of person who doesn't even like to take an aspirin. I believe that Lipitor has robbed me from a quality of life that I have enjoyed in the past and I am more then willing to be a part of a class action law suit against the maker. I only hope that my systems described by so many reverse, as it has greatly impacted my quality of life. My email address is Barry-. I will be advising my Doctor of this at my next visit. Posted by: Barry Fox on October 22, 2005 03:33 AM I have been on Lipitor for about 4yrs now and experiencing all the muscle symptoms. Can you quit Lipitor cold

turkey? Thanks Posted by: Roz on October 22, 2005 12:50 PM My doctor prescribed LIPITOR 5 mg because i have borderline diabetes. After reading about all of the side effects i am wondering if i should take it. Any comments. THANK YOU Posted by: R. RICKON on November 1, 2005 01:59 PM My mother is 80 years old and has been taking Lipitor for some time now.....Recently she has has severe weakness and pain in her hip which the doc's say is arthritis.....she suffers from alot of other ailments but her most severe are a hiatal hernia and her weakness.......I see by the message board that ALOT of people have the sever weakness. I am hoping that her condition will improve once she goes off the Lipitor......there is nothing wrong with her mid most of the time.....just her aches.....good luck to all and let mek know if anyone has any

comments........ Posted by: vicki on November 3, 2005 09:33 PM Like Roz (October 22), I too would like to know if you can quit Lipitor cold turkey. Any side effects to that. I was told a possible side effect was you could loose patches of hair...anyone heard of that?? Posted by: Marilynne on November 5, 2005 09:18 AM My mom passed away today from ALS. She was diagnosed in the spring of 2004. However, she started experiencing symptoms the summer of 2003. She was taking lipitor for a few years prior to her diagnosis of ALS. I believe lipitor triggered her ALS. Posted by: Lisa on November 6, 2005 12:01 PM Roz and Marilynne, I quit Lipitor early this year and have not had any side effects. In fact, my quality of life has improved so greatly that mere words cannot describe how wonderful it is to be

without the most excrutiating pain in my entire life!! This all began 7 years ago when the Dr. prescribed Lipitor for a slighltly elevated Cholesterol reading. At that time I had no physical problems or symptoms of any other medical condition. Within a year I was also taking medication for High Blood Pressure, Arthritis, Allergies, Anxiety and Insomnia. Over the years since, I had suffered such excrutiating pain in my knees, legs and hips that walking was almost impossible. But then, so was sitting, standing and sleeping. My Physician sent me to a Rheumatologist, who said I had a torn Miniscus and would require surgery. (I could't remember injuring the knee, but then my memory was becoming so bad that I really couldn't depend on it anymore.) I had started taking Glucosamine and Chondroitin after reading an article on its benefits. When I asked my doctors about it, they said

they didn't believe in it because there had been no research that proved it was beneficial. Fortunately, the surgeon I chose was a Sports Medicine practitioner and gave me the good advice that I should wait awhile to see if the Glucosamine and Chondroitin helped, that they had proven to be successful in treating sports injuries. That was the right knee, first. I kept taking the Glucosamine and Chondroitin. Over time, the condition improved, but then the left knee started bothering me with the same symptoms. This time I knew I had not injured it because my mobility was too limited for that to be a possibility! During this time I also developed such difficulty remembering words that I found it very embarassing to carry on a conversation with anyone. I had developed a noticable tremor of my head and it was drawn to the left so that people began to stare at me when I was out in public. Two

different Neurologists could find nothing wrong. After a complete series of Nerve Induction tests They labeled the condition as Torticolis. I became desperate! I had tried everything! I had been concientious about my diet. Being a vegetarian, I hadn't consumed a high cholesterol diet in many years. I had read everything I could find on vitamins, minerals and herbs and was on an excellent supplement program. All I could think of to do that I hadn't already tried was to go off all the meds a couple weeks and add them back one at a time to see if one of them was causing side effects. Well, I did that process several different times and also went on an elimination diet to detox my body several times. Finally, after about a year (with absolutely no support or encouragement from my Physician in the process!) I proved to myself beyond a doubt that it was the Lipitor!! After being off the

Lipitor for several months, I went to get bloodwork done to check my cholesterol. It was back to normal. Then I went off all the other meds about two months before my annual physical. My tests all came back normal. I am convinced the Lipitor caused the other medical conditions that required medication. It was like a vicious circle! I now go to an alternative medicine practioner and am improving more all the time. Its so great not only to be free of pain but to have the so-called "Torticolis" pracically gone and be able to think clearly again, to be able to carry on a conversation without feeling like a cyborg! I am convinced that I would have been much better off if I had never gone through the traditional medical approach in the first place. But, all that is water under the bridge and I must work with where I am right now....which is improving more and more each day!!! And if I

could do it so can you!! Posted by: Betty on November 10, 2005 09:03 AM I suffered a heart attack in March 2002. Since then I am on Lipicor 20. Since last two months the pain in calf muscles has increased to such an extent that I feel terribly tired by evening and have severe restlessness. Also headache and nausea feeling have increased a lot. Does the side effect of Lipitor worsen with time. Any substitute ? Posted by: sanjeev on November 10, 2005 06:41 PM I am a 66 yr old male with a total cholesterol of about 240 before taking Lipitor and 180 while taking the pill. I have been on Lipitor for about 4 years. The first 2 yrs, I took 5 mg and the last 2, 10 mg. If my memory is correct, I started having unusual muscles aches about 2 yrs. ago. First a sprain in my right Achilles heel area which took about 3 months to heal! Then

about 8 months ago, my right wrist started to hurt when I did things like pushups and dumbell curls. Next I had lower back pains (which on average I have about once a yr. but with a heating pad and linament goes away in about a week). The back pain stayed for 4 months, the wrist hurt for about 6 months until I stopped taking Lipitor and then both problems went away in 2 weeks! Also, while I was having the two aforementioned problems my left shoulder/arm started hurting and it peaked after about 2 months (which I think is very unusual because normally when I sprain a muscle, the pain normally peaks within a day or two). Along with the sprains, I have dry eyes and tinnitus and after reading the postings on this website, quit on 9/28/05. I still have the shoulder/arm problem but it is getting better. The improvement in the tinnitus and dry eyes problems may be subjective but I feel

pretty sure that my muscle problems are connected with taking Lipitor. My conclusion is that Lipitor is making me prone to muscle sprain and then preventing the healing in a normal time frame. I probably would not have quit taking Lipitor had I not seen the postings at this site, so thanks to you all and this is my 2 cents worth! Posted by: Hardy on November 17, 2005 07:02 PM is there any connection between lipitor and CJD? Posted by: erin on November 19, 2005 12:28 AM Started taking Lipitor last June; within a month my fingernails started breaking off - almost down to the quick. They refused to grow back - instead they started to "delaminate" and flaked off in layers. I stopped taking Lipitor in September (after the Doctor had checked and found that my cholesterol had dropped from 284 to 154). My nails are starting to grow

back normally. I have not not seen this connection in any articles I've read - could it simply be coincidence? I don't think so ... Posted by: Bev on December 4, 2005 08:47 AM I am 58 and went on Lipitor about two years ago. I didn't always take the medication as prescribed, but one year ago, I took it in ernest as I was preparing to hike in Nepal, started an aggressive training program, so faithfully took 10mg. Within a month, I started feeling the effects of muscle soreness, aching joints, particularly the hips, and began having swallowing problems, to the point where I couldn't swallow any food without large amounts of water. After 4 months of this, I stopped Lipitor, continued to train, and most of the symptoms went away. The muscle and joint pain was the best recovery, but even today, I can't swallow well. The hike went well, I lost a lot of weight, and my

cholestoral stayed within acceptable levels. In the past few months, the weight and cholestoral have come back, so I will return to a training and diet regime that will hopefully work. I see the comments on vitimin C, and will try that as well. Posted by: Bob S. on December 13, 2005 11:09 PM I am taking 10mg of lipitor in last 4 years.In last few months I feel pain in neck and shoulder,I also get so warm in night after taking lipitor in about 2 hours that I can not sleep.The heat in my body is so intense that I can not sleep.Does any body had this symtom?Please help.My Dr. could not help me when I brought the symptom to him. Posted by: hadi norouzi on December 28, 2005 09:59 AM i was on lipitor for about five years,from 95 to 2000 memory problems were one thing finally in fall of 2001 when i changed from a desk job to a physcial one i

lost all muscle control i had 4 knee operation torn menesces.My arms ach so bad i have been on predisone since 2003.The specialist say a have polymyositos/dermomyositos did anyone end up with this or have they found andthing that helps Posted by: michael a rose on January 5, 2006 02:34 AM 48 yrs. old,have been on lipitor for 5 yrs. I have all the symptoms of everyone on this site and then some. Quit 1 month ago, little better. Good luck, spread the word Posted by: Brian Bredekamp on January 6, 2006 01:11 AM I was put on Lipitor eight months ago. My good and bad cholesterols were spot on, below the average. I am male 75, but fitter and faster than most forty year old's. I became stressed when my wife died and my doctor put me on the drug because of a slight elevation. I started with neck and shoulder pain six months ago, she sent me for

physio at great cost which has done nothing. Since then I have developed severe elbow pain, wrist pain finger pain and calf pain. My sleeping is dreadful. Last visit to my doctor she informed me I have the best profile she has ever seen, all readings are very low. I sensed my problem is due to the drug. I started to think I had contracted Ross River Virus or Murray River enchepalitis. I am going off the drug after deciding to do a net search and found out I am not alone. All heil the drug company! James Posted by: James Taylor on January 15, 2006 09:32 AM Erin, Please contact me. My brother-in-law is ill after an aggressive course of lipitor for a mildly raised cholesterol. He is now on a ventilator. He tested "small positive" for CJD. Would like to here about your experience and compare notes...thanks, Candace (eval-) Posted by: Candace on January 15, 2006 10:06 AM has there been any corelation between lipitor and male e.d. ? Posted by: RICK K. on January 16, 2006 03:11 PM VERY INTERESTING. I HAVE TAKEN LIPITOR IN THE PAST FOR ALMOST A YEAR, NEVER HAD ANY OF THE LEG PROBLEMS, BUT IN DOING SOME RESEARCH I JUST QUIT. NO SIDE EFFECTS. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR OTHER HEALTHFUL WAYS TO ADDRESS MY HEALTH ISSUES. LIKE THIS SITE. THANKS FOR BEING THERE, Posted by: JOHNNY on January 17, 2006 04:54 AM I took lipitor for over 5 years. I started feeling very tired and didn't want to get up to go to work. My doctors thought I was depressed. They gave me antidepressants which made me

even sicker. I then got so sick that I went to the emergency room. They found that my muscle enzymes was in the 500's . The normal is between 60 and 175 . They told me to stop taking lipitor. That has been 2 months ago. I have had a number of tests and am not feeling a whole lot better. I have tingling in the legs, feet and now arms and hands, also aches and pains. I used to run 2 to 3 times a week. Now I can no longer do that. I wish I would have known this 5 years ago because I would never had taken this drug. Posted by: Gregg on January 19, 2006 05:29 AM Took Lipitor for 2 weeks. Two weeks later I still feel like I have the worst flu I've ever had. This stuff is junk! Posted by: craig merrill on January 20, 2006 05:39 PM I have been on lipitor for 11 months now. About two weeks ago I started to feel some leg cramping in my

calves mainly and did not think anything about it. I went in for my 6 month blood work and now I just found out today that my liver enzimes are double the normal high.there are at 140 and normal is 11-66. i have been at the 20mg range the last 6 months. before that it was 10mg. Some of you folks feel warm at night when trying to sleep I to feel a little warmer at night than usual when I am trying to sleep. I am going to go off lipitor after reading all these testamonies I am 39 years old and i had a three byepass surgery in feb of 2005. I was never on any meds. before then. I found out I had enlarged ateries that led into small blockages. It is called Kawasaki disese. I have always felt good but have this cramping that has just started like I said 2 -3 weeks ago. I hope I have not damaged my liver. There should be an investigation into this the way it looks. Posted by: John T

on January 26, 2006 05:07 AM My mother just strated LIPITOR she has a Pacemaker in and she has been having trouble with her blood pressure going up high.States her heart is jumping..are theses signs of Lipitor? Posted by: kathy on January 29, 2006 02:27 AM I was on Lipitor 10 mg x less than three months and developed terrible joint pain (especially elbows and knees), hot flashes, sweating, memory problems, and exhaustion. The hot flashes and sweating in turn also flared up my rosacea. After having a blood test to check my liver functions, I received a letter from my doctor recommending I continue on Lipitor even though my liver functions were elevated. I quit the Lipitor on my own, and the symptoms of joint pain, sweating, and hot flashes went away within about three weeks. The exhaustion and memory problems have taken longer. Because of

the exhaustion and joint pain, I was exercising less, so I gained more weight. My daughter, who is a chiropractor, started me on high-quality fish oil (EPA-DHA, extra-strength). I will be having my cholesterol checked in a few months. I will not go back on any statins!!! Posted by: Peggy on February 5, 2006 10:24 PM High cholesteral. My Dr. put me on 20mg lipitor. I was only on it for two weeks and began to experience involuntary twitches. These occurr mostly in my lower body but periodically in my torso. I revisited the Dr. took myself off the med. I feel like a bundle of explosive nerves. I hope this helps someone. I am certain that what I am experiencing is not normal. I am 48 yrs old and other than this am in what I feel is good condition. Posted by: chris Jackson on February 8, 2006 01:35 AM My husband is 42 years old and his

cholesterol is 449. About 1 year ago he was going through some stress at his job and it started to go up. He has been on 4 different types of medication and they haven't lowered it at all. If anything it has been going up when he started it was only 230. I don't know what to do because I don't fry foods anymore. He eates more fruits and vegetables now than he ever did. Are there any natural remedies out there that can help. Please if anyone knows of any please let me know. Posted by: Lori Hopkins on February 8, 2006 02:03 AM Lori, thank you for your comment and the question you posted. The view that high cholesterol is bad for our health is not shared universally. There are scientists and doctors who say that we NEED cholesterol to detoxify, especially when we are exposed to a high load of toxins from work or environment, or in case we are predisposed to

higher cholesterol by hereditary factors. see http://www.thincs.org/ In fact, lowering cholesterol has not been shown to decrease mortality from heart attacks, and indeed if cholesterol is lowered too much, this is a risk factor in its own right - the body functions that depend on cholesterol no longer are performed properly and in extreme cases, the person can die from a lack of cholesterol. There are also natural ways to lower cholesterol, if that is desired, here an address: http://cholesterol.about.com/cs/herbalmedicine/a/naturalprod.htm http://www.loweringcholesterol.net/ This second link, especially, also addresses the fact that total cholesterol is by far not as important for good health as having a

high percentage of a certain fraction of cholesterol, called HDL (high density lipids). This should give you a good start to the information that is there, but of course don't take my word, study the available data for yourself and decide what to do. Posted by: Sepp on February 8, 2006 02:41 PM Went on Lipitor 2 yrs ago and within 30 days I had so much lower back pain, I could hardly walk. Stopped taking immediately, and got a little better but not normal. Went back to Dr. a couple months later and told him what happened, so he put me on another statin, and in 30 days I was having severe muscle spasms in my back. Went to a back specialist, and they did everything they could think of, but the lower back pain is still there. Did an MRI, and nothing is wrong with my spine. Still have severe pain 2 yrs later. Anyone found something to help rebuild the

muscle damage? Posted by: Sally on February 10, 2006 04:27 AM I was on 10 mg of Lipitor for 3 or 4 years and quit in March of '05 when the doctor suggested I try diet again. I am 36. Shortly after quitting, I began to experience tingling in my fingers similar to the feeling of vibration you get right after mowing the lawn. The vibration feeling spread to my feet and that morphed into occasional numbness in my right foot and a buzzing sensation in my right foot and leg. Then in August of '05, I lay in bed watching TV one evening and the subtle muscle twitching started en masse all over my body. Scared me to death. I went to a neurologist and had an MRI, EMG, and nerve conduction studies. All came back negative. My official diagnosis is peripheral neuropathy. Fast forward to today, and the symptoms have ebbed and are random. The twitching, however, still occurs

throughout the day but to a lesser extent than that first night. I have also experienced the heart palpatations at night, general fatigue, and muscle tiredness (though I have lost no muscle strength). I did not suspect Lipitor until January of '06. Now, my main physician wants to put me back on Lipitor. Fat chance. I think he's an idiot anyway. Posted by: F. Hickson on February 12, 2006 01:58 AM I have been taking Liptor 10mg for 18 months. My problems started with sore hips, then added numb feet, felt like canvass was glued to them. Now a round of golf is impossible, feet get too painful. I gym regularly and that eases things - I am SO glad I found this site. No more Lipitor for me! Posted by: John Ford on February 12, 2006 07:28 AM I am 68 and been on Lipex for 4 years. First I lost libido, then had to start to wear glasses for

reading, got severe lower back problems worse than usual, put on weight, was having memory loss and became argumentative with my wife, BP went up, got heart ache until I went on Co Q10 I had aches and wekness which were nopt normal and now I have stopped taking Lipex after reading your web page and am on Vit B & C, lecithin to boost the liver and magnesium, so looking forward to feeling better Posted by: Dennis O'Hagan on February 24, 2006 07:22 AM It is now two weeks since I stopped the Lipitor, and I'm already feeling like a new man! Really I'm feeling like my old self. My chest, joints everything feels like I'm 10 years younger! Even my main problem - sore feet, canvas feet is 50% better....not 100% cured yet, but I can feel a big improvement. I have put myself on 10mg Cholesterex, which is Policosanol, a cholesterol lowering natural treatment.

Fingers crossed! Posted by: John Ford on February 24, 2006 10:19 AM at first it was hard to sort out what was going on given my documented spinal problems. The Dr. put me on Lipitordue to my cholesterol level. Within 1 1/2 days things were starting. # 1 was the complete "stoned"/massive fatigue that knocked me out until after lunch. I knew the burning pain was different than the "regular" pain. Pain in the groin/stomach/back - it felt as if everything was inflamed and on fire. Then twitches/spams started. I could not remember things, could not concentrate, extremly vivid nightmares. I was always clearing my throat as if I was congested/dry throat. I had other joint pain (fingers,elbows, wrists) By afternoon/evening I have trouble standing up straight and walking. I have been investigated in the past for fibromyalgia with the results being negative. I took Lipitor

for 10 days before calling the pharmacist who said get off it right away. It's been 9 days since I quit the drug. The pain has reduced very mildly, in intesity, but am still having trouble walking in the late afternoon/evening. At least the "stoned" effect has gone, but the pain and fatigue hasn't. Posted by: trevor ellsmore on March 2, 2006 08:25 PM I have been taking lipitor for a few months and after reading your letters it has made me realise that my aches and pains might be due to the drug I have had neck spasms and leg ache for a month now and I feel my eye sight had deteriated but what do you do I am only46 and there are so many strokes and heart attacks in my family. Posted by: sandra on March 3, 2006 10:38 PM I've been on Lipitor for a couple of years. I read here about "muscle pain" but I've been diagnosed by my GP and my

chiropractor with tendonitis. It's in both shoulders and upper arms. I've not talked to either professional about the possibility that the cause might be the statin. Has tendonitis been a side effect? To read this site, it seems that statins cause every ill. I've really suffered with this for several months now and would gladly get off my 5 mg/day if I thought the Lipitor was the cause of my condition. Has anyone heard of this - I did notice a couple of people mention their achilles tendons... Thanks if you know something. Linda Posted by: Linda on March 4, 2006 10:13 AM I am 44 and for a peiod of time had high cholestrol so my GP recommended that I take this LIPITOR. I took it for 2 weeks and then stopped. Since that time I have problems lifting my right arm over my head or holding the arm up for more than a minute or 2. I also have a constant

sprain on my left foot and a stiff neck. I am rarelyt sick and fairly active but this has really knocked me back. After 5 week of not taking the drug I still have the same problems. What can I take to ease or eliminate it? I am amazed at all of your comments. These drug companies are using us as guinea pigs. I would not recommend this type of dangerous drug to anyone. Posted by: Tom G on March 4, 2006 10:51 PM It is nearly 2 weeks since I stopped taking lipex and my health and well-being have improved remarkably. I am fitter stronger with less lower back pain, more libido, even my eyesight appears to be improving and my wife says it is good tohave me back again. I do believe that lipex was destroying me and whereas my archilles was not improving it is now definitely getting less painful as though it is rfepairing itself. Posted by: Dennis O'Hagan on March

7, 2006 03:59 AM I started taking lipitor 20 months ago, 30mg, Dec 05 I started to get a slight throbbing pain in my right calf muscle. By end Jan the pain had increased to a severe thobbing pain, at first a few hours apart then over the next week to about 1/2 hour apart. Now it is at about 5 min intervals. I have been to the doctor on several occasions and after reading all the info on the internet asked her if it cold be the Lipitor. She said it was not, but does not have any other explanation. I decided at the beginning of Feb to stop taking Lipitor but still have the severe pain at 5min intervals. My doctor has now referred me to the hospital. Has anyone else had the same problem and if so how long did it take for the pain to subside. Posted by: Iris on March 11, 2006 09:03 PM I am 47 years old and I have been on

Lipitor for the past 5 years (10 mg). My doctor decided to put me on this medicine as a preventative measure because of family history. At first it seemed as a miracle drug as my doctor called me a poster child for the drug. I have been having normal blood screening which showed that I had no significant liver issues so the treatment continued. As time has progressed I have developed medical issues that I have been blaming a high stress job and what I thought was the normal aging process. Lately I feel as I have become really old, my joints and leg muscles hurt, I feel week, I walk down the hallways as if I was drunk. My vision has gotten really bad. I feel brittle. When I started Lipitor I had just gotten a Black Belt in Karate. A year ago I played an indoor soccer game and I lasted 3 minutes before an ACL snapped. Anyway, this morning I was back to feeling weak, so I asked my wife to

look up the symptoms on the internet. She came across several sites that listed Lipitor side effects and was I shocked. I say that I have most of the listed symptoms for several years now. The more I read the more similarities I see with my condition. I am writing this so it can be on record that another person has had these types of problems and that people using this type of drug need to be informed. I don't know exactly where I am going with this but for sure that I will stop using Lipitor and look for alternative treatment. Posted by: Manny on March 14, 2006 03:25 PM I am a 39 year old woman and was put on lipitor just over 30 days ago(cholesterol was 352)and about two weeks later I started thinking my contacts were in the wrong eye because I couldn't focus. But they weren't. Then my thought process and ability to concentrate started to get real bad. Then I

woke up one day and had such pain in the soles of my feet and the pads of my of my fingers and my eyelids felt heavy. My head feels heavy and full and my thought process is shot and I am usually the witty, quick to shoot back my sarcastic humor kind of girl. Now I feel like to form a sentece that people can actually understand. I told my Dr. just today about these symptoms and he told me stop taking lipitor for 10 days and let him know if thes symptoms stop to try and determine if lipitor is the cause. If they go away he will try me on another statin. Then I came home trying to research and found this site and was amazed at all of the similar stories and after reading the really horrific ones, I'm not sure I want to take another wack at statins! Posted by: Reese Hendrick on March 15, 2006 04:25 AM I am so depressed as I read these comments on Lipitor because I

too have just realized in the last week that my severe pain and weakness in my calfs, thighs, feet are being caused by the drug. I've felt like I've been beat up every morning for the last couple years and now I know why. I have stopped taking Lipitor after talking to my doctor, but my concern is, is it possible to reverse this pain and weakness? Does anyone know another website with more info on this problem we are facing? Please contact me if anyone has any info please, I'm at my wits end! Posted by: Cynthia Rakiec on March 23, 2006 06:36 AM has anyone ever had a situation with the gallbladder will taking lipitor. my husband at times has severe leg cramps they have put him on dont know if im spelling it correct (quinine) pills for that his gallbladder is infected blood counts show eleve. in kidney functions bun and creatine are these signs from lipitor?

Posted by: karen murphy on March 30, 2006 05:35 PM I would like to know if taking celebrex helps with all the muscle pain after quitting lipitor. I was only on lipitor exactly 28 days 10 MG.Ran out and 6 days later all the pain started.Last week I had to go to the ER from all the pain,especially in both jaws. Was put through every test and everything was normal so the Dr.suggested quitting the lipitor and taking celebrex.Went to my own Dr. a few days later and he said to increase the celebrex to two a day which are 200MG each.The pain has lessened but I would also like to know how long it takes to get this out of your system and should I stay on the celebrex?Thank you so much and I am very happy that I found your site. Am going to get on the vitamin C. Posted by: J Warren on April 3, 2006 04:28 PM I started taking lipitor 10 mg in Oct.

2004 due to high cholesterol (300+). By Feb. 2005, my total cholesterol was down to 160 (HDL 48). My doctor was amazed at how well it was working and stated that if things continued to go well he would consider having me take it every other day. In March I began to experience muscle and joint weakness. Almost flu like symptoms only I wasn't sick. I mentioned this to my doctor and he immediately ordered blood tests to be certain that it wasn't the lipitor. The blood work did not show any issues with the liver or muscles and within a few weeks the symptoms were gone - I suspected the lipitor but since the symptoms disappeared I never investigated further. In July 2005 my blood tests were still normal and my cholesterol was still low (though my triglycerides were too high 270+). I mentioned to my doctor that I was experiencing mild muscle aches and stiffness in my joints.

Since the blood work was normal he suspected that this was a mild side-effect of the lipitor. To his credit he asked me to see him in 3 mos. and to contact him immediately if the stiffness or pain increased. More blood work in Oct. indicated no problems. And I can't remember if I was still experiencing mild joint stiffness or muscle ache - I was probably use to it by this point...it's amazing how our brain works. However, this past January everything changed. I began to experience digestion issues and abdominal pain (two attacks were pretty intense and kept me up all night). Both of the extreme stomach pain episodes occured after a meal high in fat. I immediately notified my GP and upon esamination he ordered more blood work and a sonogram of my gallbladder. The blood work came back normal (though triclycerides were still too high 300+). Due to this, my doc decided to increase

my lipitor dosage to 20mg. More importantly, the sonogram test showed that my gallbladder was not holding bile and remained constricted (empty) even after fasting. I should note that I'm not jaundice and my urin has been "normal". I have not experienced the typical signs of a blockage. Also of note, my joint stiffness has gotton worse and i'm experiencing mild swelling of my hands and feet. My GP has put me on prilosec while I await a HIDA w/cck test. After coming across this Web page I've decided to take myself off of lipitor - I have not mentioned this to my GP yet. I've been off lipitor for 3 days (swelling in hands and feet getting a little better but still evident). I'm also hoping that by getting off lipitor it will help my digestive/gallbladder issue. Although I don't have proof that the gallbladder issue is directly related to the lipitor, after reading

some of the bizarre side effects mentioned by so many, I am a little suspicious. Posted by: Kambiz on April 13, 2006 04:22 AM Like some of writers mentioned earlier about their experience with statins, I too was taking a statin (pravachol) to reduce cholesterol. Mine went from 245 to 165, but after a month, my ears had a persistent ringing in them also. My doctors also claims it's not the drug and that I am just getting old and suffering normal hearing loss. I am 48. Posted by: ET on April 15, 2006 02:44 PM My boyfriends mom was feeling numbness in her hands, joint pain in her shoulder, and looses alot of sleep because she is in alot of pain. She has taking lipitor for 3 years. Do you know how to get off the medication (Lipitor)? Please email me with your opinion. Posted by: GENEVIEVE on April 21, 2006 08:11 PM

Wow!! Just discovered this site. I refused Crestor because I read nothing good about it. My Dr. prescribed 10 mg. Lipitor. Reluctantly, I agreed. But now I have decided to stop. I just can't do this to my body. Thanks for all the candid comments. It really helps. Posted by: carole on April 29, 2006 10:59 PM I am a 59 year old female. Last summer I was walking 3-5 miles a day and feeling good. I started on 10 mg lipitor last fall for elevated chlorestral levels. A couple months ago my doctor increased my dose to 20mg. The last couple weeks my left arm and leg are getting numb to the point where my fingers are tingling all the time. I looked up the side effects of lipitor and found this web site. My major concern was my tiredness. Today, I did not even get dressed as I was so tired. A far cry from last summer. I have decided to stop the lipitor and see if my

energy increases and my numbness decreases. I was amazed to read all the comments and the problems that this medicine has caused for others like myself. Hope others, like myself, find this website and start to make their health better by stopping the poison of this and other medicine our doctors give us with the hope of getting better by taking it. Thanks for your information and hope more people find this valued advise as I did today. Posted by: Rudy on May 3, 2006 04:36 AM i was taking lipitor 10 mg for about six months in dec. 05 i felt like i had the flu . called my dr.and he told me to take some flu medicine and i did ,but the next day i felt worst and called my dr. again and he said i should see him that day. when i did he sent me to the hospital and there i stayed for almost two months with kidney failure infection in my knees and sholder. my

rotator cup is gone and my knees are very painful sitting or standing,my kidneys are ok now and ihave to use a cane to get around now. Posted by: jessie brooks on May 8, 2006 04:55 PM I have been taking lipitor for around 2 years and just recently I can hardly walk and I shake, I hurt all over, legs, arms, neck, back, eye's, I have stoped taking it and hoping there's no permanent damage. I have no strenghth. What are you to do? Posted by: Gary on May 11, 2006 03:28 PM This site is very interesting. I was 56 years old when started taking Lipitor in June 2005. I had high cholesterol and my doctor prescribed Lipitor (10mg). I noticed being tired all the time and having no energy and weakness in my joints along with cramps and spasms in my legs, but did not attribute to Lipitor. But, in March 2006 I began to have trouble

breathing and became very distraught. I called my MD and he has put me through a number of tests checking my heart and lungs (which tested strong and clear). So I just got a new prescription of Lipitor and decided to read side effects of this medication which one was trouble breathing. I called doctor who prescribed Lipitor asking about this side effect, he stated probably not related to the Lipitor but I could stop taking and see if made a difference. Stopped taking medicine today, 05/11/06, so I quess time will tell if Lipitor was the culprit of my breathing problems. Has anyone had this type problem while taking Lipitor? Posted by: Fran on May 11, 2006 06:04 PM I have been having dull pain in my right side under the rib, pain in my right leg socket, excessive burping, pain in my armpits, dizziness, stiff neck, and when I wake up in the morning my hands are normally

asleep. Is this in my head? I have been taking 20mg Lipitor for abount 4 years. Posted by: STEVE on May 12, 2006 12:34 AM After reading some of the potential side effects of Lipitor I was wondering if there is any connection between Lipitor and Erectile Dysfunction?I am 55 years old and have had a problem with achieving a full erection for some time now but the Doctors blame a combination of"old age" and high colesterol(which is now under control with Lipitor)I can still achieve a partial erection, enough to enjoy sex,but not a full erection. Taking drugs such as Viagra dont seem to have a great benefit and I just assumed it was my lot in life.However I now wonder if the cause might not be Lipitor related as looking back the problem started about the same time as I started the Drug and from memory it was not a gradual loss,but rather it seemed to happen very quickly.

Posted by: Tim on May 16, 2006 12:10 AM I have been on Lipitor for four weeks now, Cholesterol went from 278 to 160 in three weeks!!! After only one week of being on Lipitor I noticed my heart beating so loudly in my left ear when I lay down to sleep. Can't sleep because of this. Now I hear it always and it's destroying my quality of life. Has anyone else experienced this? Posted by: Julia on May 16, 2006 07:40 AM I have been on Lipitor for 5 years and for the past year have been experiencing leg pain, swelling, tingling in my toes and numbness. Didn't connect it to Lipitor until this site was mentioned. Took myself off Lipitor and hope to see some improvement. Posted by: Marian on May 23, 2006 06:51 AM I recently had a stent proceedure done in a partially clogged artery. The

"Doctor" placed me on Vytorin 10/20 even though my cholesterol level was in the 80's. This was three weeks ago and my feet started to feel numb then my calves and forearms.I was disorientated and had trouble with sleeping and short term memory.I could not stand on my feet for any length of time and spent most of my time lying down for lack of energy.I spoke to my family Doctor and told him of my symptoms. He told me to stop the Vytorin. I did, and in just three days my energy is on the upside and the pain in my arms and calves is gone.I still have numbness in my feet but nothing like before. I am in hope that this will vanish also as my body purges the rest of this garbage out of my system. I hope this comment helps anyone with the same symptoms. Get a second or third opinion on these wonder drugs that fill the airways with commercials on their benefits but little on side effects.

Posted by: Peter on May 23, 2006 05:02 PM In the article it says that using vitamin C may naturally reduce cholesterol. My father is currently taking LIPITOR and having these side effects, he is also alergic to Vitamic C, is there anything else he can use to lower his cholesterol without the interference of drugs? Posted by: Irene on May 28, 2006 02:57 AM Irene, yes, there are several other things that can be done. First of all, cholesterol is not the bugbear it is made out to be. Secondly, there are natural cholesterol lowering substances. Thirdly, it is highly unlikely that anyone is allergic to vitamin C. Perhaps the vitamin C causes a reaction meaning it is working. That is different from an allergy. I recommend that you go to Jonathan Campbell's site http://www.cqs.com/ and follow

the link to "Cardiovascular disease". Also, try to find a medical doctor who uses nutrition with his/her clients. Posted by: Sepp on May 28, 2006 02:58 PM i want more information about Lipitor side efects, cause i`m too fat, and in Ecuador, my country we have some vegetal that currently use, but are very bad tastly. thanks, i receive the notice of lipitor from tv advertasing of cable. thanks againg at advance gastòn Posted by: gastòn h. alarcòn obando on May 29, 2006 12:51 AM JoAnn Guest mrsjo- www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets