LIPITOR Reviews (ATORVASTATIN CALCIUM)Average Rating: 1.9 (1279 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare LIPITOR with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 |
More on LIPITOR: Reviews Summary | FDA Adverse Event Summary
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR LIPITOR | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 3 | High Cholesterol | Constant aching/pain and weakness in arms, wrists, back of hands and shoulders. Pain in lower legs and lower back not quite as severe but still present. Gas and frequent diarrhea. Difficulty getting to sleep due to aching muscles. 'Severe aggitation' and quick to snap. For a while I was almost looking for someone to push a little too far so I could punch them. I usually avoid confrontations. The aggitation is one of my biggest concerns. Also growing more and more tired. I cut the dose from 10mg to 5mg and reduced above side effects by about 40%. Surprised when I found others had similar symptoms. | Took 10mg of Lipitor for 6 weeks and dropped my cholesterol from 310 down to 225. Mentioned how I felt and was directed to cut the dose in half. Have taken 5 mg for about 4 weeks and cholesterol is now around 210. | M | 51 | 10 weeks | 7/28/2004 | 4 | High Cholesterol and Tyiglycerides | Does not appear to be giving me negative side effects | My ordeal began with leg problems long before my bypass and any drugs were taken. After surgery I was given list of drugs of which Lipitor was one. I take 80mg./day at night along with asprin, 100mg of Atenolol and a host of others. Sorry to say my leg pains have not went away, and by reading many of these postings it appears to exaggerate this condition. Doctors looking elsewhere but have found nothing. I found information about leg pains being caused by restless leg syndrome. I sure hope I don't have that! Started at 262, after 8 months down to 108. Lipitor diet and excercise have lowered my cholestrol. | M | 51 | 8 months | 7/23/2004 | 1 | inherited cholesterol | This drug is NOT fit for human consumption in my opinion! I was taking it about 4 months ago and let me tell you, I suffered the worst side effects of the drug. I had severe muscle spasms and pain all over my body. My doctor sent me to the e.r. from his office and I got there I was in such excruciating pain they e.r. doc had me on morphine!!! I am still suffering from the use of the Lipitor. There is not a day that goes by where I am not in pain. My muscles in my arms and legs are very weak. I am 31 years old with 3 kids ages 5, 8 and 11. I will be disabled for the rest of my life. I will be taking pain meds the rest of my life. Please please think twice about using this and other statin drugs. | F | 31 | | 7/23/2004 | 3 | cholesterol | I had a chronic backache that kept getting worse. I complained about this for some time finally a doctor scheduled me for a MRI. The results indicated I have arthritis so I accepted that and attributed the aches to simply getting old, (69 yrs). Two weeks ago it got so bad that I stopped my regular exercise. About a week ago, in the middle of the night after taking my usual Lipitor dose, while making my nightly trip to the toilet, a severe muscle back cramp almost sent me to the floor. After finishing my business, I hardly could sleep that night. As I got out of bed that morning I started getting severe muscle spasms in the same old place. The spasms lasted most of the day and gradually the intensity, frequency and duration diminished. Since I had done nothing recently to cause a cramp or spasm, and realizing that in the past, the back aches usually were the worst in the morning but got better during the day and best at night just before my Lipitor dose, I suspected Lipitor. I quit them 7 days ago and my back has not been this good in months! | M | 69 | 2 years | 7/21/2004 | 1 | High Cholesteral | I had been taking Lipitor 10mg for 2 years. About 6 mons. ago, I decided to tell my Dr. I was having muscle pain and leg cramps. He switched to Pravachol 20mg. I lasted about 2 weeks. The pain was worse. Then I decided to look on the internet to find out what was causing the pain. It was Statin. I looked that up and found what it does to the body. So, I decided to stop taking any drug and take some Q10 to build my body back up. Two months later went back on Lipitor with the Q10. 2 months later, the pain was back. Twice as bad as before, plus a whole bunch of other side effects, you see I'm seriuosly allergic to the Statin. And I know now, why I should have known this, but no one told me about it. When you are taking Statin and drink alcohol the side effects increase dramatically. When ever I drank, sipped a little wine, by body hurt so bad, I thought I had the flu. And no Aleve, or pain killer would help. I thought I was allergic to the alcohol. But now I know it was the Statin. Here are a list of the side-effects I had, that started slowly and in two years, became unbearable: Insomina,abnoraml dreams, depression, memory loss, photosensitivity, muscle pain, leg cramps, rhinitis, bronchitis, asthma, dry skin, tinnitus (left ear) taste loss, dry eyes, weight gain and finally hypertension. | During the two years, I was on the Lipitor, all these syptoms started out slowly. First came the tinnitus. My DR. sent me to the ear Dr.. Found no problem, I would have to live with it. Second, came depression, Dr. put me on Zoloft. Then came the sinus problems, Dr. put me on Rhinocort. During all this I felt like I was 80 years old. My neck hurt, my hips hurt. We got a $3,000.00 sleep by number bed to relieve the pain. Didn't really help.Insomia was constant. I got hooked on Tylenol PM. I gained a lot of weight. Went to Lindora to loss weight, so I could get off the Lipitor. Lost 40 lbs. Dr. said to stay on Lipitor for prevention. This is when I decided to check it out on the internet. When I went back on the Lipitor, about 2 months ago, I had a small drink of wine at a wedding. That night my body aches were so bad, I could hardly stand it. Then two days later I came down with bronhitis, and asthma. I have asthma anyway, but it was the worse case I've had in 13 years. Then I had sinus problems again. My Dr. took x-rays for pneumonia and sinus infection, Came back clear. My Dr. wanted me to see an ear nose and throat Dr. Then my blood pressure went up to 198/90. I have never in my life had high blood pressure. Dr. put me on Norvasc. Then I had two horrible nightmares. I finally, went on the internet and looked at side effects for Lipitor. When I saw all the side-effects, I nearly died. I have all the syptoms. I stopped taking Lipitor that instant. That was one week ago. I'm starting feel a little better. I've gone to my Dr. and asked him if he new about the alcohol related problem. He said, no. There is no warning on the prescription bottle, to tell you to watch out for a reaction with alcohol. The Dr. is now doing tests, to see if there has been any damage to my heart and muscles. I also, asked for physical theraphy for my left shoulder and neck. My left shoulder is almost immobile. I think the tinnitus in my left ear has been caused by the Lipitor. I hope it goes away soon. I also, lost my sense of taste during this whole thing. I would recommend anyone who has experienced any side effects increased by alcohol, to consider an allergic reaction to the drug. Dr. was thinking about putting on another Statin drug. I said, don't you get it, I'm allergic to it. | F | 58 | 2 years | 7/21/2004 | 4 | high cholesterol | weakness, tired all the time, leg, arm and back pain, not concentrating well, flu symptons randomly every few weeks, bad dreams a lot, purple sploches around waist. | I know that it works but I would rather feel like my old self as I have always been active and love exercising but on this medication I have to make myself get out and walk and go to my gym classes. | F | 54 | 4 months | 7/20/2004 | 1 | high LDL/Triglycerides & low HDL | Zocor [1 yr], then Lopid [1 yr], then Lipitor [5 yrs]. muscle atrophy, legs & Arms; pain in shoulders. Discoloration of skin [blotchy] on the neck. Short term memory loss. Flatulance. Lowered LDL & trigylcerides, but also lowered HDL. | Started taking 10mg of Lipitor. LDL raised about 5 points and Cardioligist doubled the dosage. Several years at 20mg really took its' toll. Stopped Lipitor, tried taking red yeast rice [natural statin] [1-600mg capsule]. RYR controlled cholesterol, but is still a statin - similar side effects. | M | 60 | 5 years | 7/20/2004 | 2 | Hyperlipidemia | Not sure if related, but increase in burning sensations in legs and hands started around the time this drug was added to my list | F | 48 | 2 times | 7/19/2004 | 2 | high cholesterol | So sad to see so many with problems like mine! Progressively worsening problems with joint pain, muscle pain, depression and tiredness. Doctor has ran all sorts of tests and oculdn't find anything wrong, everyone was pointing to arthristis. I stopped taking Lipitor and many of the problems went away after 2 days. I'm not going back to it. | M | 41 | 3 years | 7/18/2004 | 1 | High Cholesterol | After about 4 months of taking Lipitor, one day while walking, my left leg, below the knee, experienced intense pain and stiffness. Symtoms have persisted for a week and after reading the comments on this board, I am stopping it. While it worked well by lowering my cholesterol, I had no idea this was a side affect. | M | 40 | 4 months | 7/17/2004 | 1 | Very high cholesterol | Weakness, cramping, muscle spasms. Slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. Have recently been diagnosed with ALS. I blame lipitor. | F | 63 | 3 years | 7/14/2004 | 1 | to lower cholesterol | After being on 10 mg of Lipitor for about 3 years, I started to experience speech and swallowing problems which got worse while I continued to take it as recommended by my physician. After 6 months, my speech and swallowing were so bad that I stopped the Lipitor. It is now one year after stopping and I was diagnosed with ALS (which tests later verified was incorrect) and I think that I am beginning to improve in speech and swallowing...but very slowly and I may never get back to where I was before Lipitor. It has also affected my memory. | Had Pfizer just mentioned in their precautions that Lipitor just might cause speech and swallowing problems, I would have stopped taking statin drugs 6 months earlier and I would have been OK again. | F | 72 | 3 years | 7/14/2004 | 2 | high cholesterol | after one week i started with chest tightness and numness aching feeling to my left arm also pain inbetween both shoulder blades .also would wake up feeling shakey headache and just more tiered. called my dr. he said to stop takeing it. so now i must lower my cholesterol with diet and exercise. | not for all . | F | 29 | 13 days | 7/13/2004 | 1 | high cholesterol/triglcerides | severe edema with swelling of limbs, vision problems, weakness, muscle pain, rhabdomyolysis/muscle loss, rapid pulse, cough, poor coordination while walking, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, increased sensitivity to other drugs, sweating, nausea, frequent headaches, numbness/tingling?aching/ heavy feeling in limps, difficulty walking due to swelling in legs and problems with coordination, fatigue, increased | I was told that what I went through was a rare experience for people on Lipitor and other statins; but I had two reactions this past year to Lipitor first and then later to the Pravachol my DR. switched me over to. I can't remember how long I was on Lipitor (maybe 8-10 months). I was on Pravachol for 2 months when I ended up with similar problems. Stopped statins 4 months ago... still having a lot of problems but there was a dramtic decrease in symptoms after stopping both the Lipitor and the Pravachol. | F | 41 | 9 months | 7/13/2004 | 4 | High cholestrol | slurring in speech, lower back pain, bloated, constipated and severe hip pain on both hips. Memory loss and fatigue and muscle weakness and depression, and sleepless nites. Sight loss and very off balance | This is so weird, I came on this site due to wanting to know why I was having the hip pain and feeling like ....! This is the 2nd time I got on Lipitor. Dummy me, got off cause I was not feeling good taking it and was going to have surgery so I got off a couple of months after taking it a couple of months and did feel better. Both times I have taken Lipitor, I have gotten some lower back pain (almost like a disc out of place)impossible to move. After reading this, I am sure that Lipitor is causing all this. I did feel better health and mood and no pain before I started taking this Lipitor both times. I am amazed that it didn't dawn on me. Have a 5 month supply but getting off quick! | F | 54 | 3 days | 7/12/2004 | 2 | High Cholesterol | serious hands & feet cramping, weakness, painful inflamation of joints/knuckles and significant strength reduction. persistent feeling of tiredness and overall muscle soreness/weakness/fatigue. All symptoms worse upon waking. | I significanlty lowered my chol by using 10mg lipitor and excercising. However, for months I attributed all my pains to my busy schedule and my exercise routine. I went from a 36 year-old who can do 60 min of cardio/45 min of free weights every other day, to someone who can barely pick up his 15 mo. son. My life right now is a disaster. I've been off it 2 weeks and the pain has only subsided 20%. I can barely walk when I wake in the morning. I cannot get anything done around the house. My life right now is depressing until I get back to normal. All exercise has ceased and my wife picks up the slack for chores around the house that I cannot do. I HAVE NEVER experienced symptoms like these in my life. I am hoping this goes away soon and doesn't cause any long term damage. I cannot say that I'd do it over again. In fact, at my risk, I doubt I'll take any meds willingly if I can. Drug companies really downplay the side effects...I know how this goes, I work with stats too! | M | 36 | 6 months | 7/12/2004 | 3 | high cholesterol | tendonitis | M | 3 years | 7/7/2004 | 3 | High Cholesterol | I have not been takeing Lipitor very long it has only been a few weeks and my Dr. has me taking it twice a week but since I have been taking it my right hand has been getting numb and hurting it feels like there is no circulation getting to it and after reading all of this it is probally the lipitor, I am very worried now after reading all of this and feel I should quit taking it. | F | 40 | 20 days | 7/7/2004 | 4 | inverted LDL/HDL ratio | on 10mg tightness and fatigue in forearms and legs. Pain in side muscles on one side of chest. Off balanced-ness. However, I started to have these symptoms to a lesser degree two weeks before I started the Lipitor due to a viral upper respiratory infection. These symptoms increased with Lipitor and lessened when I went off it. Wondering if metabolic changes battling high cholesterol is the cause rather than the drug formulation itself. | I will try taking Co-Enzyme Q to moderate side effects. I also take Zinc and Omega 3-6-9 capsules (which lowers cholesterol) | M | 41 | 30 days | 7/2/2004 | 2 | Lower Cholestoral | Stomach pain, Gas, Burping, Diarhea | I called the doctor today to report my issues. I am waiting on him to call back. Looks like I will need to get off of Lipitor. The stomach pain comes and goes and can become quite uncomfortable. | M | 29 | 30 days | 7/2/2004 |