I am rather concerned about something I am reading in the posts. I have noticed several times the remark "Once you are on Lipitor or any other statin you can't quit" Is there any actual research on this? What happens if you have been on it and do quit? I took Lipitor for 2 years and then about 6 months on Lovastatin and I quit cold turkey. I have not had any tests since but wonder about my liver returning to normal. I don't have the yellow skin or yellow eyes or any other liver problem signs. Why are people saying you can't stop statins, what is the basis for this? :confused:

gardeninggal...Both my husband and I went off Lipitor cold turkey, and he was on it for over 7 yrs. Basically your numbers may very well go back up to where they were or higher, mine did, then after a few months they leveled off. If there is any other problem, sorry, I am not aware of them, but sure someone will tell U.

Take care... :wave:

Gardeninggal,

Don't worry. If you go on statins, you CAN certainly quit taking them.

The point is that when a doctor prescribes them for you, they fully expect you to take the drug for the remainder of your life. Statins cure nothing - they inhibit the production of cholesterol by the liver, but have to be taken continuously for your lifetime to continue keeping serum cholesterol low. Once you stop them, your liver continues to produce cholesterol at it's normal level (assuming you did not suffer liver-damage from the statin).

I myself quit Lipitor cold-turkey 15 months ago after suffering severe muscle pain, weakness and exercise intolerance - and I feel a hundred times better than I did a year ago...

The only risk I've read of stopping cold-turkey is for heart-attack patients. THey sometimes are put on statins as part of their treatment, and if they discontinue the meds within a certain time after the heart attack (weeks or months I believe), they can suffer a 'rebound' effect, which in their weakened condition poses a significant health risk...

HubbleRules
:cool:

gardeningal,

When you stop taking statins, your Lipid levels return to their former levels!

Thanks guys I feel a lot better :)