I've been hoping to get off Lipitor (been on for about 1 year) since reading all the bad things.

Anyone here have pain from it without the bloodtest showing a problem (liver enzyme)? What was it like?

Lately, I have aches and pains from head to toe, foggy feeling and I'm often feeling aggressive/anxiety. The pains sometimes only last a few seconds. I called the doc today - he said to stop it for 5 days and see if i get better. I'll let you know.

Thanks

Welcome to the wonderful world of statins . This is very common . This leads me to distrust the whole liver test . The test says it is normal but you wake up in the morning barely able to walk , something does not add up . I had the same trouble when I took lipitor , except it took me like 2 years before I figured out it was the medicine that was causing the problems . Had the same problem on Zocor also . My feet and knees would hurt so bad in the morning I could barely walk to say nothing about the peripheral neuropathy that I now have in my feet . You really got to wonder what it is doing to your body . Most of the aches are gone now that i am off statins . Once in awhile my feet still hurt but nowhere near as much as when I was on statins .

Going off for 5 days won't tell you anything , it takes up to 2 months to get this stuff out of your system . you will need to be off of it a lot longer than 5 days .

Lately, I have aches and pains from head to toe, foggy feeling and I'm often feeling aggressive/anxiety. The pains sometimes only last a few seconds. I called the doc today - he said to stop it for 5 days and see if i get better. I'll let you know.

Thanks[/B][/QUOTE]

Yup, you sure can have the aches, pains etc. etc. and still get a normal liver test. Hubby and I both have been through it. Tests showed everything was hunky dorey, but the bodies were falling aprt with aches and pains, not to mention stomach problems for me. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

Hubby has been off a little over a year and for the past 6 months has been feeling pretty darn good, not 100%, but enough he will never take them again. I also have been off for almost a year and starting to feel human, so trying to shove me on anymore statins is going to take an act of congress. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif It definitely will take you a couple of months before you will fully know if the pains and aches are from the meds. We wish you luck, so keep us posted. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif JJ

Thanks for the feedback - it gives me hope. Even my boss said he noticed a change in me and my attitude - that REALLY got me worrying! Take care.

My girlfriend made her hubby go off of Lipitor, as his attitude was getting so bad she was ready to smack him. She said he was snoty, always tired and didn't want to go anywhere, VERY unusual for him, and much too quiet and moody. Seems alot of men get the attitude change, as I know my hubby did. Now that he is off he is like his like his old self, and girlfriend said her hubby has been much more pleasant the last 3 weeks. Aren't these drugs great? NOT!! Good luck, keep us posted. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif JJ

I'm new to this and I need information from those of you who know about Lipitor and/or Tricor.

This is my dilemma. I have taken cholesterol drugs before, including niaspan, which was effective except that I finally reached a point where I couldn't take it.

Last year my new doctor prescribed a combination of tricor 200mg and lipitor 20mg. They appeared to be working in spite of my poor eating habits. Probably about 3 months ago I started having muscle pains in my right arm. I had read the information on the insert for the drugs and muscle pains was one of the side effects. I quit taking the Tricor. About a month and a half ago, the paint was getting worse, so I quite the Lipitor. I went for my checkup, told the doctor about the muscle pain and she said she would check my blood, but that she was sure that wasn't it. (I do have arthritis) Well, I started taking them again, before I got her call that I was FINE. A week or so later the pain and weakness got worse, so I quit again. I'm obviously not a doctor, but I couldn't imagine what else it would be. I called her and told her and in addition I started the Atkins diet. Have Type 2 dibetes, too, so decided I needed to get my act together. She said to come in in a couple of weeks and check my blood for Cholesterol and Triglicerides. That if my arm didn't stop hurting, it probably wasn't the medicine. The arm is better (I have a high threshhold for pain), but still is not real strong and pains me some. The joints in my arm feel almost like they need oiling. Has anyone had this problem? I noted on one of the message boards that it takes a while to get this medication out of your system. Any help anyone can give me I would appreciate.

This is absolutely classic symptoms of statin related myalgia. Most of the time this sort of thing doesn't show up in any blood work. At least your doctor was willing to test for it. Mine at the time wouldn't even talk about my lower back pain and urinary discomfort being caused by lipitor.

Incidently, the standard for liver function and creatine phospho-kinease to be of any concern to doctors for a patient taking cholesterol lowering meds of any kind is 3 times the normal upper limit. Anything lower than that and the docs are told that everything is ok. Two weeks after throwing the lipitor, a complete blood workup was done showing 2 times the upper limit on all liver and muscle related blood chemistry. Gee.

Good luck, and I would say that if things get better without the meds, it is more than likely that the meds are causing the problem, especially after two go rounds.

Dave is right, if you felt a little better off then it is probably the drugs, especially a combination of them. It takes a good 2 to 3 months to get that stuff out of your system, so if you choose to go off again, give it a little more time.

You said your eating habits weren't too good, so I would suggest you try to eat better and maybe get off those meds. Maybe your the type that can control it with diet and exercise? Hubby and I have been trying the diet exercise thing, not doing too great for the numbers, but we are still trying. We had way too much trouble with statins to ever go back to them, so we have to keep searching. Many folks can take them with no problem, as my girlfriend does, and has for 3 years, God bless them, but we can't handle them.

Chat with your dr. that you are uncomfortable taking them and see if she/he will steer you on a more natural approach. I truly wish you luck, hang in there, and please keep us posted. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif JJ

silas,
What dosage of Niaspan and what caused you to stop?

dave,
I can see the muscle weakness,the back pain,but not the urinary discomfort.That is not a listed side effect of a statin.The introduction of grapefruit juice may be a factor if you were taking it.
As for the liver function standards,that is not correct,at least with the doctors that I have.My liver function tests have always come back,so far,normal.When I say normal,I mean as if I am not taking anything.If any of them are elevated from this the doctor will do something about it.No 3 times the normal standard.

TB..I have to disagree with you on the urinary thing. After the 4th month of being on Baycol I started with very bad backaches, but ignored them due to the fact I injured my back several years ago, so have always had some back pain on and off. This pain was different though and it went down the front of my legs into my knees, not like before when it would go down my left side into the siactic (sp.?) I complained to the dr. but they said it was some kind of muscle thing that would go away. I insisted on a urine test being done, and they found microscopic blood in the urine, but no sign of any infection. That was a year ago, and to this day they keep finding the blood, no infection and can't figure out why, as I have had all kinds of test.

A month ago I met up with an ex co worker who was telling me she took herself off Lipitor due to the fact she was constantly getting urinary tract infections, and now, after the infection has been totally cleared, they keep finding blood in her urine also, no explanation, as she also has gone through all the tests. She knew nothing of my problem nor me of hers, so I find it very strange we both had the identical same problem, different drs., and still NO answers. She said since she has been off, about 4 weeks, the muscle pains have lessened, but she still, like me, has a backache most of the time, and blood in the urine. Like I said before, YES, there are those that can take these drugs no problem, but way too many seem to experience problems which the drs. have no answers for. JMHO JJ

I honestly don't remember my dosage on niaspan, it's been several years. I began with the starter pak and worked up. I do remember that it was very effective while I could take it, and I just can't remember what triggered my stopping it. I have stopped the lipitor and tricor and am watching my diet, hope it helps.

I started the Niaspan Friday - 500mg / twice a day initially. No flushing or anything yet.

JJ,I did not mean to say that you cannot get a urinary problem from a statin.Anything is possible.I was just pointing out that when you look at the possible side effects from the statins,that urinary is not one of those listed.It is possible that the urinary discomfort and blood is coincidental and may have another reason that they have not found yet.More so by the fact that after stopping the statin,you still have the same problem.Usually the side effect of the drug will diminish as time goes by.

LooneyJM,good to hear that you are not experiencing problems with the Niaspan.I take my 2 750mg pills in the evening before bed.Just be aware that there is a good possibility that from time to time you may experience the flushing for a short period.

TB...I understand what you are saying, and I find it very much a puzzle as to why both my friend and I have this same problem. Each time they test it, it is less and less, so I am hopeing when I go next month it might be gone seeing I have been off almost a year.

Like you said, usually when you stop something the side effects go away, but it seems with these statins they don't go very fast and sometimes never, as Dave can relate to. I have developed so many different problems since being on those things, I am totally scared out of my wits to ever try them again. JMHO

Hi all
Great statin life to you all!!!!
Here's the list of some side effects these great drugs cause! as you see JJ is right about the urinary infection. That girls knows her statins!
I had memory blackouts from lipitor and at that time know one ever heard of that! Off Lippy for over 2 years and I think some of the pains I have are still from this junk.

Side effects may include:
Abdominal pain, allergic reaction, back pain, changes in eyesight, cold, constipation, diarrhea, dry eyes, dry skin, flu symptoms, gas, hair loss, headache, heartburn, indigestion, inflammation of sinus and nasal passages, itching, joint pain, leg cramps, muscle aching or weakness, purple or red spots on the skin, rash, sore throat, urinary problems, vomiting, weakness

Thanx for the list, at least I know I'm not totally nuts yet!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif Wish to heaven's I knew some of this stuff before hubby and I ever consented to taking these darn things. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif Take care!! JJ

Relieved to hear about the urinary infections others have experienced. The doctor has treated me for 4 of them since I started on Lipitor. I had no idea why and the doctor did not say, but I feel she was a little perplexed, as well.

Relieved to hear about the urinary infections others have experienced. The doctor has treated me for 4 of them since I started on Lipitor. I had no idea why and the doctor did not say, but I feel she was a little perplexed, as well.

I was on the stuff for 3 days, that was enough. It changes your whole body chemistry, makes you feel like you are in the ozone.

The statin drugs seems much too lethal. For an alternative solution, please see my responses to Lynne wh in Very High Cholestrol, please help.

i have been on statins for 3 years. latest lab blood tests show "ideal" numbers. i am 52 years old , a police officer and sort of need to move around a little. my backaches are so great in the morning i can barely walk. as the day progesses, it gets better but stiffens quickly win sitting. i recently caught my latest arrest not by running him down but by theatening to shoot him if he jumped the fence . this isnt the perferred way to arrest people but the point is i am not able to run and jump as i could before. also , this is more alarming. i recently did a stress test on a tread mill hooked up to the monitors in front of a doctor . i was having heart pains and wanted to have it looked into. dr. stopped test saying bad ekg signals. a subsequent angiogram showed no problem. i still have heart /chest pain when walking or running. today im going to play doctor and stop taking my 20 mg of lipitor and see if pains stop... someday it could be me wanting to jump the fence and my back better be working. i take nothing more than lipitor. i can see nothing to atribute perpetual backaches to other that lipitor. as for the heart, i never had these pains before taking statins. in 1999, i began a heart study program at the u of mn. i was on 40 mg of zorcor. when i complained of my arm and shoulder always hurting the dr. said it couldnt be from zorcor cause the pain / discomfort has localized for me and not all over like he might expect. ANYWAY, all i have to say is i am thinking this statin stuff is a smoking gun. i am going to take this out of my life for a while before these doctors take me out of life. good luck to all of you. bill.

I think you are not alone in your dilema. I too suffer from the side effects of statin drugs. I went off these drugs about three to four months ago and have had to continually visit my doctor about the muscle pain and weakness. At times I feel and move like an 80 year old and I'm only 51. My doctor does not want to acknowledge that the Lipitor caused my symptoms but I know my body and I know when this began. Fibromyalgia was blamed for my problems due to "lack of sleep". When I searched the web for information on the side effects for Lipitor I discovered the need for a CPK test and I asked to have this done. The blood test showed inflammation and I am now on anti-inflammatories. (The first time I went to him a month after beginning Lipitor I told the doctor that every muscle in my body felt inflamed)I wasn't to much off the mark! Currently I am taking Coenzyme 10 which seems to become depleted by the statin drugs. Hopefully this will work. I am confident that I will get over this and I do try to keep a positive attitude.

Get your prostrate checked.Lower Back aches are a classic sign

Sorry...I don't think they check women for prostate. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif I am a 51 year old female who suffers most of the side effects of Lipitor. I was completely healthy except for high cholesteral when I went I was put on Lipitor. Within the month I was aching so bad I felt like an old old woman. It was a direct cause and effect. Although I've been off this drug for several months now I still have days where I can hardly function. I'll wake up hurting so bad I can hardly walk, usually with my head and sinus's hurting as well. I do get good days where I feel some hope that I am getting well and strong enough to begin exercising again. My muscles seem to have gone to mush. The anti-inflammatories may be working but the doctor said he couldn't tell me what was inflammed. It was a good thing that I discovered the need for a CPK blood test on the web or I wouldn't even know that. I am looking for a doctor who can and will openly acknowledge the cause of my symptoms and treat them accordingly. They are out there. In the meantime I am using all the resouces available to me on the net...including the support of all the others who suffer from Lipitor side effects as we do.
Linda

I have been there and done that! It was not fun!
Fortunately, I stopped taking and went on a non-
statin and still am not comfortable, so I have gone
off of independently and trying non-flush niacin,
policosanol, along with garlic and coQ10,. Will
try anything and everything to be off of the meds.
Know what you are going through, however, my aching
has subsided. Hope yours will, too. Don't know
what my Dr. will say when I return. Ha!

Hi everyone,
I am quite excited today. The last couple of days I have had a noticable decrease in muscle pain and I realized that this has slowly been creeping up. I got out of bed this morning and didn't have to roll out and stand still until the pain eases as I usually do. I had only a little ache and some stiffness. Today I have done more work than I have in months and I found myself humming. (and I'm not really sore tonight after the work). I am trying to stick to my diet and I am taking the anti-inflammatories and Coenzyme10 and non flush niacin. I really do think something good is happening. LM

Happy to hear that. As I told you before, I was
on Lipitor for 2 years; at the time couldn't figure
out where the aching was coming from. Just felt
like it was my middle name. Ha! Than I had a
problem with liver enzymes; had to go off and after
that cleared up they put me back on it. Later
switched me to provachol - bad news, too, and than
put me on tricor, which is a non-statin. I have
taking myself off of that now and working with
the policosanol, non-flush niacin, CoQ10 and garlic,
mainly and if my numbers are good when I go back to
Dr., than I will tell them. Who needs the discomfort
of aching, etc., if you don't have to? Hope you
continue to feel good; I feel great.

I would be interested to know what your counts are when you do get tested. I am increasing my niacin to 2400mg as someone said you have to take 3000mg a day for it to any good. I just wish I could get my diet under control a little more and stop the night snacking. A stressful day always leads to a craving for something sweet and naughty after everyone else goes to bed. I'm glad you are feeling great. I haven't had any backsliding today either so I think this healing is the real thing. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bouncing.gif

Liver enzymes were so elevated my whites of my eyes were yellow. My DR .said to stay on lipitor for 3 weeks and then have another bilirubin test. Well if they are elevated now from lipitor they will be elevated then too. I took myself off liptor 7 days ago and went on Carlson fishoil with DHA ..I will have another blood test done on 27th and will let you guys know what it was when I get results. Wife says the whites of eyes look whiter already.

Originally posted by maude&bandit:
...7 days ago and went on Carlson fishoil with DHA...
Keep in mind that most studies that link benefits of fish oil to heart health focus on the EPA componenet of fish oil. Most studies that link fish oil with brain and mental health benefits focus on DHA.

Not sure which Carlson product you are taking, but I am curious as to the EPA/DHA breakdown per gram.