With lipitor one possible side effect is muscle cramps that I am told can become quite serious.
Two weeks ago my Dr. upped my lipitor dose from 20mg to 40mg and now I have these cramps in my arms - just the last few days.
I wondered what I should be looking for if the cramps are to do with the lipitor dose being higher.
Otherwise I feel okay - and I am not taking any Niacin with the lipitor - maybe I should reduce the lipitor and take some niacin.
I might just be over-cautious on this but want to know what to look for so that I can reduce the lipitor immediately if it's the cause. :confused:
Beefy.

Your potassium level may be deficient.

Beefy,

I think rolling back to 20 mg. is a good precaution...the marginal benefit in going from 20 to 40 is slight.

Why did your doctor up your dosage? Poor response, heart disease?

My boyfriend and his brother were both on Lipitor for a few years and then they both started getting serious muscle cramps. They became very fatigued. Even passed out from the fatigue. Turned out to be from the Lipitor. We did some research and found that Lipitor can damage your muscles...and your heart is a muscle! It took over 6 months to get their strength back. Needless to say they don't take Lipitor anymore. They won't take any Statins, they all can cause serious muscle damage. I've talked to one man who is in a wheelchair because of it.
There is a lawsuit pending against the makers of Lipitor.

Hi, Thanks for that information - very interesting.
Sounds like you are saying they were on the Lipitor for one or two years before any problems developed - seems like a long time for a problem to develop - do you have any more details? What sort of doses were they on I wonder? But two people both developing the same problem might be significant - esp. if these are the only people you knew who were on Lipitor.
(I wonder if Lipitor is something that should be treated as a short term medication - ie only stay on it until you get your cholesterol down while you adjust your diet, exercise, BP, weight, etc. Then look for another medication like niacin to assist in keeping it low - without a statin if possible, or just 5 or 10mg.)
Re. the lawsuit that you say is pending - is there any reference to that, and is it because of the muscle cramp problem?
Many thanks, Beefy. :wave:

I took Lipitor for about 7 months and was told by my doctor to report to him any muscle cramps. It is a side affect of it and can damage your mucsles. It doesn't happen in every person that takes it but I would tell your doctor ASAP and stop using it. I am now on Tricor and have been fine so far.
Good luck!

AS I've posted on the High Cholestral board,I've had terrible muscle problems with burning pain etc. from Lipitor. My doctor told me to stop taking it for a month,whicj I was rather concerned about since I have a stent. My Total cholestral went from 180 to 294 and my LDL went from 103 to 187. That was really scary. He put me on Zetia,does anyone here know the difference (besides Zetia not being a statin) between the two. My cardiologist wants me to take Vytorin. At this point I'm taking the Zetia but I'm just totally confused and don't really know what to take. I have to get those numbers down!! Does Zetia work the same??
Thanks loads for any info! :confused: