tatum46
09-16-2004, 11:53 AM
Hi,
I have been taking LIpitor for a short while now.. I did take it for 4 months in the past and stopped, now I started again. I have ALL kinds of side effects..
But I don't want to dismiss everything that wrong thinking it's a side effect of the "toxic drug" (Lipitor)
I would love it if all you Lipitor users here joined me in making a list of things they feel is a result of Lipitor.
I will begin, I am 41 yrs old and this is my list
1- memory loss, I have a hard time remembering things.. I can't remember words.. names...
2- every bone in my body aches.. I can't get comfortable in bed, it feels like I am sleeping on concrete or something and when I get up instead of feeling rested I feel like I've been dragged behind a car all night
3- I get sharp pains all over my body, especiall around the chest, my upper back.. if I sit for 25 minutes when I stand up my legs are very stiff and painful
4- GAS - it's horrible
5- nasua, burning stomach
6- General malaise
I should point out that I used to get on my stairmaster for 45 minutes everyday with no problems..so the aches and pains are not related to being out of shape.
So please help me out with this.. write if you feel anything is caused by Lipitor.. or maybe any other statin.. so I know I am not the only freak or I am not dismissing anything else because of this.
I have been taking LIpitor for a short while now.. I did take it for 4 months in the past and stopped, now I started again. I have ALL kinds of side effects..
But I don't want to dismiss everything that wrong thinking it's a side effect of the "toxic drug" (Lipitor)
I would love it if all you Lipitor users here joined me in making a list of things they feel is a result of Lipitor.
I will begin, I am 41 yrs old and this is my list
1- memory loss, I have a hard time remembering things.. I can't remember words.. names...
2- every bone in my body aches.. I can't get comfortable in bed, it feels like I am sleeping on concrete or something and when I get up instead of feeling rested I feel like I've been dragged behind a car all night
3- I get sharp pains all over my body, especiall around the chest, my upper back.. if I sit for 25 minutes when I stand up my legs are very stiff and painful
4- GAS - it's horrible
5- nasua, burning stomach
6- General malaise
I should point out that I used to get on my stairmaster for 45 minutes everyday with no problems..so the aches and pains are not related to being out of shape.
So please help me out with this.. write if you feel anything is caused by Lipitor.. or maybe any other statin.. so I know I am not the only freak or I am not dismissing anything else because of this.
Sponsor
larryrs
09-16-2004, 12:21 PM
ZOEB,
I've been on 20mg Lipitor for well over a year now, and have noticed no side effects at all. I do have occaisonal pain, but I attribute that to my age (44).
My liver functions are all normal and the Lipitor had brought my TC from 325 to a low of 175 without a change of diet.
Good Luck
Larry
I've been on 20mg Lipitor for well over a year now, and have noticed no side effects at all. I do have occaisonal pain, but I attribute that to my age (44).
My liver functions are all normal and the Lipitor had brought my TC from 325 to a low of 175 without a change of diet.
Good Luck
Larry
tatum46
09-16-2004, 12:59 PM
Hi Larryrs,
Thank you for your reply.. I guess you are one of the lucky ones. I know Lipitor does work (brought down my tc from 290 to 175 in 4 mos - it's up to 360 now that I stopped taking it) But at what expense
Thank you for your reply.. I guess you are one of the lucky ones. I know Lipitor does work (brought down my tc from 290 to 175 in 4 mos - it's up to 360 now that I stopped taking it) But at what expense
jtu91952
09-16-2004, 09:45 PM
I was on lipitor and had all the same side effects as you. It did help my cholesterol but i knew it would. However, the pain was so intense and it landed me in the ER, and they took me off of it. After toprol xl, lipitor is the worst drug i've ever taken and i've taken alot of them. I was a 'test subject' for a few yrs until i said enough.
Subs30
09-16-2004, 09:48 PM
I was on lipitor and had all the same side effects as you. It did help my cholesterol but i knew it would. However, the pain was so intense and it landed me in the ER, and they took me off of it. After toprol xl, lipitor is the worst drug i've ever taken and i've taken alot of them. I was a 'test subject' for a few yrs until i said enough.
Hi
Yep me to---it was bad news---all around!
:cool:
Hi
Yep me to---it was bad news---all around!
:cool:
Karenholden
09-17-2004, 07:07 AM
Hey How are you,
I have been on Lipitor for high cholestoral for about 4 months now and although I have had a couple of you symptoms, they are not related to the Lipitor because I had the symptoms before starting it.
No problems here - maybe it just does not agree with you and you need to change your meds.
cheers
Karen :)
I have been on Lipitor for high cholestoral for about 4 months now and although I have had a couple of you symptoms, they are not related to the Lipitor because I had the symptoms before starting it.
No problems here - maybe it just does not agree with you and you need to change your meds.
cheers
Karen :)
Alistair
09-17-2004, 08:02 AM
I have been on lipitor for 4 months and I have started having lower back pain, I have started a thread asking if I stop taking Lipitor how long before I will see some improvement.
I am trying to determine if my lower back pain is being caused by Lipitor or not.
Alistair
I am trying to determine if my lower back pain is being caused by Lipitor or not.
Alistair
zip2play
09-17-2004, 09:54 AM
Five Years of Lipitor use (last one with CoQ10-100mg.)
Other than knee and shoulder pain which could be attributable to old torn cartileges in the knees and a shoulder that was ripped from it's socket in a skiing accident 30 years ago, I've had no adverse symptoms. (And I tend to suffer mightily from MANY MANY other drugs.)
So except for the gouging price tag, I have nothing but praise for Lipitor (but I'll switch to the first generic or OTC statin when it comes out to save money!)
Other than knee and shoulder pain which could be attributable to old torn cartileges in the knees and a shoulder that was ripped from it's socket in a skiing accident 30 years ago, I've had no adverse symptoms. (And I tend to suffer mightily from MANY MANY other drugs.)
So except for the gouging price tag, I have nothing but praise for Lipitor (but I'll switch to the first generic or OTC statin when it comes out to save money!)
pcovers
09-17-2004, 11:40 AM
I've been on a statin for several years. Been on 20 mg Lipitor for the last 5 months. I suffer the same shoulder, muscle, neck, and back pains that my wife suffers that is not on any medications but shares with me my age of just a few shy of 50.
The very few unlucky souls that suffer from statins find each other in their search for relief. And in finding each other, presume they constitute a significant problems within the population taking statins.
However, the enormously vast majority of those taking statins will never be heard from beacuse those with no problems do not seek others with no problems.
I do have empathy for anyone feeling the negative side effects of a drug. The aches and pains associated with statins are so generally prevalent in people from 40 on, such as my wife, that it makes it very difficult to determine the root cause, especially as it relates to a statin. I do not associate wy of my own aches and and pains with statins. Tehy seem to mirror pretty closely those around me of similar age that re not on medications. Liver numbers have always been fine.
The very few unlucky souls that suffer from statins find each other in their search for relief. And in finding each other, presume they constitute a significant problems within the population taking statins.
However, the enormously vast majority of those taking statins will never be heard from beacuse those with no problems do not seek others with no problems.
I do have empathy for anyone feeling the negative side effects of a drug. The aches and pains associated with statins are so generally prevalent in people from 40 on, such as my wife, that it makes it very difficult to determine the root cause, especially as it relates to a statin. I do not associate wy of my own aches and and pains with statins. Tehy seem to mirror pretty closely those around me of similar age that re not on medications. Liver numbers have always been fine.
tatum46
09-17-2004, 02:41 PM
Pcovers, I know what you are saying... thing is 40 is not as old as it used to be.. we are not as old as our parents when they were 40 -if that makes any sense- and I have never had aches and pains until I started taking Lipitor.. like I said 45 minute workout on a stairmaster wouldn't phase me in the least. An ocasional headache was the extend of my problems..
Now, I don't think my body aged that much in 4 months.. and what about memory loss? And a whole list of side effects they list on Lipitor's web site...
Now, I don't think my body aged that much in 4 months.. and what about memory loss? And a whole list of side effects they list on Lipitor's web site...
zip2play
09-17-2004, 03:54 PM
ZOEB,
Pick your FAVORITE drug and then look up it's side effects...you will be apalled.
I echo pcovers post completely and I can add a bit over a decade to his age...
And I can work out harder than a lot of people half my age... and have a more sculpted body.
Joints wear out...sad, but true.
Pick your FAVORITE drug and then look up it's side effects...you will be apalled.
I echo pcovers post completely and I can add a bit over a decade to his age...
And I can work out harder than a lot of people half my age... and have a more sculpted body.
Joints wear out...sad, but true.
tatum46
09-17-2004, 05:27 PM
So you are telling me I am just getting old.. and none of my symptoms have anything to do with LIPITOR??????
jtu91952
09-17-2004, 09:24 PM
When i first started lipitor three yrs ago, i thought it was just old age also. But then i had to look at the facts. B4 starting the lipitor and many other meds, i could run a 5 mile race, plant and work my garden, and alot of other things. Then slowly pains started creeping up on me. Bcuz i was on so many meds (24 pills), it took me sometime to distinguish which med was the problem. Finally, lipitor sent me to the ER and the drs there immediately took me off of liptior.
Since that time, i have dramatically stopped all meds except for 3 pills.
Since that time, i have dramatically stopped all meds except for 3 pills.
ty123
09-18-2004, 11:32 AM
I've only been on Lipitor 40mg for a few weeks, but have no side affects. I have F.C.H., and had previously been on Pravachol 80mg...in fact, I'm pretty sure after a trial period I'll be going to Lipitor 80mg along with the Zetia I take.
So far, nothing bad at all to report on Lipitor, but I do have a similar experience to report:
Several years ago I was put on Pravachol 40mg, and had some of the symptoms you had. Weakness, low energy. I complained to the doc, and he backed me off to 20mg.
On 20mg I had no such symptoms at all, however over time it was clear that 20 wasn't cutting it. I asked the doctor to up me back to 40mg, and lo and behold...no side affects! It seems that I had adapted to the medicine and could tolerate larger doses. Later I went to 80mg also without any noticeable affects.
You may want to consider backing off your dose to something small that you can tolerate, with the idea of building it to what you actually need.
As a side note, this is my first post since joining this board, and I'm going to start a separate thread for FH...Familial Hypercholesterolemia, an inherited disorder where your cholesterol levels won't adjust to any diet, and even resists drugs to some extent.
good luck,
mark
So far, nothing bad at all to report on Lipitor, but I do have a similar experience to report:
Several years ago I was put on Pravachol 40mg, and had some of the symptoms you had. Weakness, low energy. I complained to the doc, and he backed me off to 20mg.
On 20mg I had no such symptoms at all, however over time it was clear that 20 wasn't cutting it. I asked the doctor to up me back to 40mg, and lo and behold...no side affects! It seems that I had adapted to the medicine and could tolerate larger doses. Later I went to 80mg also without any noticeable affects.
You may want to consider backing off your dose to something small that you can tolerate, with the idea of building it to what you actually need.
As a side note, this is my first post since joining this board, and I'm going to start a separate thread for FH...Familial Hypercholesterolemia, an inherited disorder where your cholesterol levels won't adjust to any diet, and even resists drugs to some extent.
good luck,
mark
ARIZONA73
09-18-2004, 11:55 AM
Mark,
Just keep in mind the fact that Lipitor is 4 times as powerful as Pravachol. So, 80mg Pravachol is equivalent to 20mg Lipitor. I certainly hope you never need to take an 80mg dose of Lipitor.
Just keep in mind the fact that Lipitor is 4 times as powerful as Pravachol. So, 80mg Pravachol is equivalent to 20mg Lipitor. I certainly hope you never need to take an 80mg dose of Lipitor.
zip2play
09-18-2004, 02:42 PM
Mark,
I'm amazed that 20 mg Lipitor doesn't do the job for you...gee, my lipid panel was horrid but changed to superb with only 10 mg Lipitor.
I'm amazed that 20 mg Lipitor doesn't do the job for you...gee, my lipid panel was horrid but changed to superb with only 10 mg Lipitor.
ty123
09-18-2004, 04:57 PM
Mark,
Just keep in mind the fact that Lipitor is 4 times as powerful as Pravachol. So, 80mg Pravachol is equivalent to 20mg Lipitor. I certainly hope you never need to take an 80mg dose of Lipitor.
What I recall of Lipitor literature is that 40mg produced an average 57% reduction in LDL vs 39% for 40mg Pravachol. That would make it slightly more than 2x of Pravachol.
Furthermore, if each doubling of a statin dose tends to produce an additional 10% reduction in LDL levels, then I am hoping that 40mg of Lipitor will produce a slightly better result than 80mg of Pravachol, and that it will have a marginally positive effect on HDL as well.
If those numbers are anywhere near accurate, then there is NO WAY that anything but a max dose of Lipitor will get me down into the 70's of LDL that I'm looking for. FH can be extremely resistant to both diet changes and drugs.
My last reading on 80mg of Pravachol and zetia was:
178 total, 113 LDL, 34 HDL, 157 Trigs
I got put onto only 40 of Lipitor because I'd moved to a different state and made the mistake of going to a nurse practitioner instead of a doctor. Her approach was that of a clerk's not a medical practitioner, and I've dropped her in favor of a doctor.
Crestor has possibilities, but given its record I won't press for that until I see what Lipitor can do.
mark
Just keep in mind the fact that Lipitor is 4 times as powerful as Pravachol. So, 80mg Pravachol is equivalent to 20mg Lipitor. I certainly hope you never need to take an 80mg dose of Lipitor.
What I recall of Lipitor literature is that 40mg produced an average 57% reduction in LDL vs 39% for 40mg Pravachol. That would make it slightly more than 2x of Pravachol.
Furthermore, if each doubling of a statin dose tends to produce an additional 10% reduction in LDL levels, then I am hoping that 40mg of Lipitor will produce a slightly better result than 80mg of Pravachol, and that it will have a marginally positive effect on HDL as well.
If those numbers are anywhere near accurate, then there is NO WAY that anything but a max dose of Lipitor will get me down into the 70's of LDL that I'm looking for. FH can be extremely resistant to both diet changes and drugs.
My last reading on 80mg of Pravachol and zetia was:
178 total, 113 LDL, 34 HDL, 157 Trigs
I got put onto only 40 of Lipitor because I'd moved to a different state and made the mistake of going to a nurse practitioner instead of a doctor. Her approach was that of a clerk's not a medical practitioner, and I've dropped her in favor of a doctor.
Crestor has possibilities, but given its record I won't press for that until I see what Lipitor can do.
mark
rahod
09-18-2004, 05:29 PM
...then I am hoping that 40mg of Lipitor will produce a slightly better result than 80mg of Pravachol, and that it will have a marginally positive effect on HDL as well.
If those numbers are anywhere near accurate, then there is NO WAY that anything but a max dose of Lipitor will get me down into the 70's of LDL that I'm looking for. FH can be extremely resistant to both diet changes and drugs.
Crestor has possibilities, but given its record I won't press for that until I see what Lipitor can do.
mark
I would take 10 mg Lipitor and 10 mg Zetia..PROVEN to have the LDL lowering of 80 mg Lipitior alone. Certainly better than 40 mg Lipitor alone and easier on your liver! Don't rule out Crestor..I take it with no problems (just added 1/2 dose of Zetia as well and will soon post my results). Crestor 10 mg and Zetia should get you to well below 70mg LDL level. That's what I'm shooting for now.
If those numbers are anywhere near accurate, then there is NO WAY that anything but a max dose of Lipitor will get me down into the 70's of LDL that I'm looking for. FH can be extremely resistant to both diet changes and drugs.
Crestor has possibilities, but given its record I won't press for that until I see what Lipitor can do.
mark
I would take 10 mg Lipitor and 10 mg Zetia..PROVEN to have the LDL lowering of 80 mg Lipitior alone. Certainly better than 40 mg Lipitor alone and easier on your liver! Don't rule out Crestor..I take it with no problems (just added 1/2 dose of Zetia as well and will soon post my results). Crestor 10 mg and Zetia should get you to well below 70mg LDL level. That's what I'm shooting for now.
ARIZONA73
09-18-2004, 07:12 PM
Mark,
I hope that your doctor at least advised you to take Coenzyme Q10, especially since you are on such a high dose of Lipitor. These drugs have a tendency to deplete CoQ10 levels, and when that happens you are much more likely to run into problems. But I'll bet he didn't. Am I right?
I hope that your doctor at least advised you to take Coenzyme Q10, especially since you are on such a high dose of Lipitor. These drugs have a tendency to deplete CoQ10 levels, and when that happens you are much more likely to run into problems. But I'll bet he didn't. Am I right?
ty123
09-18-2004, 09:10 PM
Mark,
I hope that your doctor at least advised you to take Coenzyme Q10, especially since you are on such a high dose of Lipitor. These drugs have a tendency to deplete CoQ10 levels, and when that happens you are much more likely to run into problems. But I'll bet he didn't. Am I right?
No he didn't, and I remember reading something about that, but can't recall. I'll look into it. I didn't mention I guess, but I do take Zetia already as well, and did so when I was taking 80mg of Pravachol.
My last reading at that dosage was:
182total 93ldl 39hdl 252trig
Nothing to write home about.
I don't know if any of you folks here have FCH as I do, but so far the drugs I've been on have not produced miracles. I have on a low fat diet for sometime, although I've been known to get off of it after seeing the awful results of my cholesterol tests. I've been under treatment for three years and I've never been able to get my LDL below 93, and the lowest my Total to HDL ratio has ever been is 4.7. I hope you guys are right and Lipitor behaves in some magic way that Pravachol didn't.
Recently though I've significantly lowered my intake of sugar as I finally figured out that I have metabolic syndrome as well. That may have been impeding my HDL levels. We'll see.
mark
I hope that your doctor at least advised you to take Coenzyme Q10, especially since you are on such a high dose of Lipitor. These drugs have a tendency to deplete CoQ10 levels, and when that happens you are much more likely to run into problems. But I'll bet he didn't. Am I right?
No he didn't, and I remember reading something about that, but can't recall. I'll look into it. I didn't mention I guess, but I do take Zetia already as well, and did so when I was taking 80mg of Pravachol.
My last reading at that dosage was:
182total 93ldl 39hdl 252trig
Nothing to write home about.
I don't know if any of you folks here have FCH as I do, but so far the drugs I've been on have not produced miracles. I have on a low fat diet for sometime, although I've been known to get off of it after seeing the awful results of my cholesterol tests. I've been under treatment for three years and I've never been able to get my LDL below 93, and the lowest my Total to HDL ratio has ever been is 4.7. I hope you guys are right and Lipitor behaves in some magic way that Pravachol didn't.
Recently though I've significantly lowered my intake of sugar as I finally figured out that I have metabolic syndrome as well. That may have been impeding my HDL levels. We'll see.
mark
jtu91952
09-18-2004, 09:43 PM
My dr wants me to start pravachol. I am afraid bcuz of the side effects i had with the lipitor. First dosage was 40mgs, then a yr later 20 mgs and finally, my endo put me on 10mgs. I didn't have too many side effects, but i just stopped taking it when i ended up in the ER. I've tried zetia.
Is pravachol a statin?(i think i've asked this b4) Will it have the same side effects as lipitor or zetia. MY cholesterol problem is from my bp meds, but im diseparate to lower my cholesterol by Oct. 15th when i have to go for blood work.
Is pravachol a statin?(i think i've asked this b4) Will it have the same side effects as lipitor or zetia. MY cholesterol problem is from my bp meds, but im diseparate to lower my cholesterol by Oct. 15th when i have to go for blood work.
ty123
09-18-2004, 11:24 PM
Pravachol is a statin, and they all do the same thing, they inhibit the production of vldl in the liver so that it impedes the production of LDL. Some are stronger than others. Pravachol is a bit weaker, and Lipitor is one of the stronger ones. Crestor is considered a superstatin...more powerful than Lipitor, but at 80mg doses people had problems.
I initially had side effects on pravachol at 40, then backed off to 20 and adjusted, and finally was on 80mg without apparent side effects.
I'm far from sure of my facts, but it does seem that it is possible to adapt and adjust to a statin over time.
mark
I initially had side effects on pravachol at 40, then backed off to 20 and adjusted, and finally was on 80mg without apparent side effects.
I'm far from sure of my facts, but it does seem that it is possible to adapt and adjust to a statin over time.
mark
ty123
09-19-2004, 09:59 AM
Here is what you're up against if you have FH:
Recommendations for Heterozygous FH:
"A diet that severely limits saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol is appropriate.
Weight loss and aerobic and toning exercise improve blood lipid levels.
Unfortunately, these efforts often have only a modest impact on LDLc levels. Nevertheless, rigorous dietary intervention works synergistically with lipid-lowering medications.
Because 50% of the LDL receptors are normal, these patients have an excellent response to the usual cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, LDLc elevations are so severe that treatment still remains difficult.
Maximum doses of one of the stronger HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (ie, statins) such as atorvastatin or rosuvastatin and one or more other medications, including bile acid sequestrants or niacin, are required to approach the recommended LDLc goals."
The doctor goes on to say... "Even the strongest statins at their maximum doses are almost always inadequate for patients with FH, and one or more additional (ie, nonstatin) cholesterol-lowering medication is necessary. "
Author: Elena Citkowitz, MD, PhD, FACP, Director of Cholesterol Management Center, St Raphael Physicians, Inc, Associate Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of St Raphael, Yale University School of Medicine
This is why some of you are amazed at my statement that I fully expect to get the max dose of Lipitor soon. FH doesn't seem to be discussed here at all, but some of you may have it and not know. No doctor ever told me. I finally mentioned it to my doctor several years ago, and he agreed that I had it, but never bothered to offer up the info...nor has any other medical practitioner. I guess they figure its too much information. Anyone here think they're getting too much information?
mark
Recommendations for Heterozygous FH:
"A diet that severely limits saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol is appropriate.
Weight loss and aerobic and toning exercise improve blood lipid levels.
Unfortunately, these efforts often have only a modest impact on LDLc levels. Nevertheless, rigorous dietary intervention works synergistically with lipid-lowering medications.
Because 50% of the LDL receptors are normal, these patients have an excellent response to the usual cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, LDLc elevations are so severe that treatment still remains difficult.
Maximum doses of one of the stronger HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (ie, statins) such as atorvastatin or rosuvastatin and one or more other medications, including bile acid sequestrants or niacin, are required to approach the recommended LDLc goals."
The doctor goes on to say... "Even the strongest statins at their maximum doses are almost always inadequate for patients with FH, and one or more additional (ie, nonstatin) cholesterol-lowering medication is necessary. "
Author: Elena Citkowitz, MD, PhD, FACP, Director of Cholesterol Management Center, St Raphael Physicians, Inc, Associate Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of St Raphael, Yale University School of Medicine
This is why some of you are amazed at my statement that I fully expect to get the max dose of Lipitor soon. FH doesn't seem to be discussed here at all, but some of you may have it and not know. No doctor ever told me. I finally mentioned it to my doctor several years ago, and he agreed that I had it, but never bothered to offer up the info...nor has any other medical practitioner. I guess they figure its too much information. Anyone here think they're getting too much information?
mark
graycee
09-20-2004, 12:45 PM
I was on lipitor 80mgs four 4 years. It almost killed me. numbers were great tho.... It just kept building in my body until I was almost an invalid. All my tests came back normal. Maybe I'm just a weird person, tho I never have had a problem with meds. To anyone who is taking stains, just really watch for anything not usual, just don't blame it on age. Quit the statin for 2 weeks and see if you feel better, you can always go back on..........
jojo64
09-20-2004, 02:45 PM
I take 60 mg of Lipitor and so far so good.
heart44
11-03-2004, 12:58 AM
So you are telling me I am just getting old.. and none of my symptoms have anything to do with LIPITOR?????? Hi ZOEB, I was browsing through old posts. Your side effects from Lipitor are very typical. And don't let anyone tell you that most people can tolerate statins. Side effects are seriously under reported. Most people get fed up with all the things you describe and just quit taking them. They don't tell their doctor and they don't go back to that doctor.
You can report your adverse reaction to Lipitor directly to the FDA. Just search on "MedWatch" [the Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program].
If you stop Lipitor and the symptoms go away, you will know that it was the cause of your sumptoms.
Read: "Lipitor - Thief of Memory and the misguided war on cholesterol" by Dr Duane Graveline [former NASA astronaut & Medical Doctor]. He suffered transient global amnesia from Lipitor and has done extensive research on the subject.
I noticed that one of your responders stated his liver tests came back OK, so everything is hunky dorey..... well that's OK for the liver, but the CPK test can reveal elevated levels of the enzyme "Creatine Phosphokinase"..... this is the culpret for aching muscles [muscle disintegration is the most severe case, AKA Rhabdomyolysis]. The CPK test is not an exact science though, as it can come back NORMAL, but there is still muscle damage.
You can report your adverse reaction to Lipitor directly to the FDA. Just search on "MedWatch" [the Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program].
If you stop Lipitor and the symptoms go away, you will know that it was the cause of your sumptoms.
Read: "Lipitor - Thief of Memory and the misguided war on cholesterol" by Dr Duane Graveline [former NASA astronaut & Medical Doctor]. He suffered transient global amnesia from Lipitor and has done extensive research on the subject.
I noticed that one of your responders stated his liver tests came back OK, so everything is hunky dorey..... well that's OK for the liver, but the CPK test can reveal elevated levels of the enzyme "Creatine Phosphokinase"..... this is the culpret for aching muscles [muscle disintegration is the most severe case, AKA Rhabdomyolysis]. The CPK test is not an exact science though, as it can come back NORMAL, but there is still muscle damage.