does Lipitor cause sore arm and leg muscles

[mo12345]

Has anyone experienced muscle pain from taking lipitor 20mg?

[wgwright84]

Yes lipitor was the worst statin I ever took. Even at 10mg my whole body felt ceased up and cramped. The only statin I can seem to take is rosuvastatin (crestor) at 5mg. Any higher and I am in pain. Waiting for my consultant to start me on PCSK9 injections.

[Brendamary in reply to wgwright84]

I came off Lipitor in May 2015 as in agony with pain in arms and legs. My GP told me to stop for 8 weeks and I did get rid of the worst of the pain, she then told me to have a cholesterol blood test and another at Christmas and told me that I did not need to be on statins anyway!

I still have some pain in arms but nothing like the suffering I had but GP's say nothing to do with statins? My chiropractor told me he has patients that he cannot help who have been on statins and cannot help with their pain.

I now have on my medical notes - statins intolerable by GP.

[DakCB-UK in reply to wgwright84]

Whereas Crestor was the worst I took! I did react to Lipitor but it took years for the symptoms to build to crisis point. Why are you keen to start another undertested treatment?

[sandybrown]

There are many factors to consider, please give more details, when did you start the medication and the reason for the medication!

[kasibarndoor]

I experienced leg pains when I exercised taking 20mg Lipitor, these would go if I did a warm up before exercise. I have come off them for about 3 months now and have no pain, I am going to try 10mg again in the future, as I did not get any pain on this dose for many years. I have been told that statins have a positive effect in addition to the lowering of cholesterol, and therefore a low dosage is better than none at all, one of these effects is the stabilisation of plaques and preventing rupture causing a stroke or HA. Diet and exercise may retard or stop the formation of plaques but does not get rid of them.

[marcus911]

I stopped taking statins after two weeks aches and pains galore. I managed to control my cholesterol through diet. I just stopped taking clopidogrel for thining blood and a few days after felt amazing. I think all the tablets we take for heart and circulatory problems cause multiple problems in most people. I'm so glad to be off everything apart from a small does aspirin which I am now looking to get rid of too. The pharmaceutical industry is definitely not good for your health.

[Anotherview]

Yes. Many experience this upto 10% users do. I did my own thing. I am trying 10 mg per day and if that works, why take 20? More importantly Scandinavian and some in the USA are not convinced of the link between heart disease and cholestrol levels! Apparently what you have to control - not eliminate is saturated fat. Track your Triglycerides? Also I use oats porridge and flax seed daily. I know that helps. Anotherview, London.

[suki65 in reply to Anotherview]

Excellent reply agree fully 

[Hidden]

I took Lipitor for about 6 months. I developed the most intense deep muscle pain ever. One night it awoke me & I couldn't even stand. I went off the medication that day.

That was 8 years ago and I still have the pain. It's not as bad as that particular night, but it never completely went away. My doc checked my cardiac enzymes and because they came back normal, he doesn't believe Lipitor caused the pain. I know it did. It came with the Lipitor..that was the only drug I was taking.

Now I live with it. I have almost constant pain and weakness in my legs. From what I've read, statins break down the enzymes in muscle tissue. So if it's breaking down in your arms and legs, it will eventually affect the heart muscle. That's why they check cardiac enzymes. But because mine were ok, they dismissed Lipitor being the cause.

[suki65 in reply to Hidden]

This is exactly how I'm suffering now how to prove what damage statins have done . But one specialist has confirmed statins can do this so it's on my record I CAN'T TAKE STATINS . How hard is it to get through to them that some people can't take them 

[Sam08163]

I have had severe muscle pain for years I go to see a lipid consultant every 3 mths I have tried all statins I am on my last statin and can only take one a week my test result as gone from 9.8 to at best 6.4 had to change my diet and still get very bad pain I am a lot of pain relief so be very careful and if your body telling you it can't take the medicine ask to see a specialist to get sorted.

[suki65]

Yes I have after taking 10mg I tried 4 different ones and now suffering badly . Taking 3 plant sterols daily with other herbal opti - omega 3 1000tg 

[Anotherview in reply to suki65]

Do let us know how this goes. May follow your footsteps. Plant Sterols plus the Omega 3. Sounds good. 

[suki65 in reply to Anotherview]

Will do getting my cholesterol checked in may so will let you know