AM I having side effects from Lipitor?? - High Cholesterol Message Board

pduncan · 07-22-2006, 07:43 AM

Hi all, new to this site.

I've been on Lipitor for about 18 months now. Didn't have much trouble with it up to now. Doctor started me on 40mg, but had to lower to 20 since my liver levels were elevated. For the last two months, I have started having very heavy fatigue, my arms and legs (all four) are tingling (almost constantly) am increasingly light headed, the muscles in my legs constantly ache, and it seems to be getting worse pretty quick.

Does anyone know if this sounds like signs of side effects of lipitor? SHOULD I STOP TAKING IT?? It did help my cholesterol (bad from 215 to 143, good from 15 to 30, tri from +/- 375 to 145).

If satins are not an option for me, what else is out there? I'm taking cinnamon to help with the triglycerides, which is working. I've heard that Niacin is good for cholesterol.

I'm a 43 yr old male.

ARIZONA73 · 07-22-2006, 09:06 AM

pduncan,

The side-effects you are experiencing are most likely from the Lipitor, since these are the classic symptoms that people on these drugs complain about the most. You should not have to tolerate these adverse effects, since they can potentially lead to further problems down the road. You should immediately bring this to your doctor's attention, and discuss possible alternatives to Lipitor. Niacin can certainly be a good alternative; in fact, it may be the best one. I noticed that your HDL is quite low. When it comes to raising HDL levels, niacin is the champion. Also, niacin has been shown to not only lower LDL, but also to increase LDL particle size, rendering it less harmful. In addition to the niacin, you should also try to cut down on carbohydrates. A low carb diet can result in dramatically lower triglycerides, while contributing to a simultaneous increase in HDL.

pduncan · 07-22-2006, 09:38 AM

Thanks Arizona...... I'll do that.

uneamie · 07-22-2006, 11:56 AM

Since I refused to take any "Statin" drugs I lowered my numbers greatly by taking, Fish Oil, drinking one 6 oz glass of "red wine" every night, and 600mg of "Red Yeast Rice" tablets ( one must also take c0Q10 enzyme suppliment) if taking the "red yeast rice". Red Yeast Rice is a natural statin that you can get in a health food store. It has less side effects but it can still have some of the same ones that statins have.

Statins can cause muscle damage on some people due to the depletion of the C0Q10 enzyme....that is why one needs to take a suppliment of it.

My numbers came down dramaticly. Now I am going to try and wean myself off of the Red Yeast Rice and just keeping doing the fish oil, and red wine.
I also take 1200 mgs of cinnamin. You can substitute "flax seed" oil tablets for the fish oil as well.

pduncan · 07-25-2006, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARIZONA73

pduncan,

The side-effects you are experiencing are most likely from the Lipitor, since these are the classic symptoms that people on these drugs complain about the most. You should not have to tolerate these adverse effects, since they can potentially lead to further problems down the road. You should immediately bring this to your doctor's attention, and discuss possible alternatives to Lipitor. Niacin can certainly be a good alternative; in fact, it may be the best one. I noticed that your HDL is quite low. When it comes to raising HDL levels, niacin is the champion. Also, niacin has been shown to not only lower LDL, but also to increase LDL particle size, rendering it less harmful. In addition to the niacin, you should also try to cut down on carbohydrates. A low carb diet can result in dramatically lower triglycerides, while contributing to a simultaneous increase in HDL.

What dose of Niacin would you consider safe, and is the type you can get at "Wal-Mart" the right type or is there some more effective?