I have read alot about Lipitor causing muscle inflammation, but not joint pain. I have been taking Lipitor about 2 1/2 months and in the last month I have been having increasing pain in my hips. Worse at night. Also have cramplike pains in sides of legs. If I stop the Lipitor, how soon might I expect to notice a difference (if it is the cause)?

My husband was on 10mg of Lipitor for eight years and developed hip pain and pain down the outside of his thigh. He thinks the hip hurt because the leg muscle was inflamed and pulling on the hip. The first time he stopped Lipitor he noticed a difference in two or three days. But after his doctor upped the dosage to 20mg he had a horrible reaction, chills, greater pain and weakness. Unfortunately, we didn't make the connection until he had been on the higher dosage for another month. He has been off Lipitor for almost six months and still has pain. Some days it is worse, some days it seems to be gone. He assures me that it is NOTHING like he experienced on Lipitor. Exercise seems to cause a relapse. He takes 200mg of CoEnzyme 10 daily and his CPK level has finally dropped back down into the normal range.

Everyone seems to be different on how quickly they heal and some don't heal completely. I think it is related to the amount of the dose and possibly the length of time on Lipitor. Some people have had almost instant adverse reactions to Lipitor while others have nothing or have pains that develop slowly over time. My husband is a different person now that he has stopped Lipitor. Unfortunately, his cholesterol also is much higher.

Jane

I've been off the Lipitor 4 days and can already tell a difference. Still have a little hip pain, but the pain in my legs has gone. I might give it a week and try the lipitor again just to make sure that's the cause. Thanks for your input.

I don't know what dose you are taking, but do consider lowering it after consulting your doctor. I know a few people who only take 5 mg, but they don't seem to be taking it to lower their cholesterol. Also, consider taking CoEnzyme 10 because this is the enzyme being blocked to your muscles. If you continue on Lipitor it would be a good idea to check your CPK levels to determine if your muscles are inflamed and if your doctor wants to increased the dosage be extremely aware of any adverse symtoms--aching all over, flu-like illness, heart palpitations, and dark urine. This happened to my husband when the dosage was increased although he had been on the stuff for years.

Jane

Lipitor is the cause. You were starting to get a myopathy with proximal muscle weakness. Its too late for mother now...she is probably permanently in a wheelchair. Her pain was masked by the NSIDS (relafen) that she took. Your symptoms are exactly the way that she started out. CPK level might not always be increased with damage. In fact in many cases it is not. Janeslk is right about her husband. Exercise caused him to have more pain. This is because of the previous damage , still not repaired, and the new damage (the exercise). You know that when you work muscles out, they are damages so they can increase. All statins, and most likely all cholesterol medications will have the same effects on you. Take care of yourself, and be careful.