Pros and Cons of Lipitor

[MoeAndMoot]

My doctor has prescribed 20mg of Lipitor (1 tab/day). I haven't started using it yet. I am at stage 3 a/b CKD, prediabetic, with high blood pressure meds (Maxide, Losartan, and Atenolol). My cholesterol is not high, but I believe Lipitor is being used as prevention since I am almost 73 years old. I plan to ask why 10mg isn't being recommended instead. In my research, I've read about the negative side effects of Lipitor and would like to hear from any of you about your experiences (pros and cons) using it. Also, if there are alternatives to this medication. This is a helpful and caring community. Thanks in advance for your help.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

I was put on a statin and felt awful. My GFR was lower than yours. I too did not have high cholesterol and it was being administered for prevention. I decided to take myself off of it and just see what would happen. My cholesterol went down without it. HA! That was the end of that drug.

[MoeAndMoot in reply to Bassetmommer]

Thanks for the information. I've set up a meeting with my doctor to ask more questions with the understanding that if it makes me have side effects, it's time to try something different. You were pretty brave to just take yourself off of the statin. Glad it worked for you.

[jodaer]

My cholesterol is high. I was put on a statin in late 90s. I had so much muscle pain so I stopped it. Since then, I haven't taken anything. Cholesterol is still high, but all cardio tests are great. Also, while cholesterol is high it's still the same as it was in the late 90s. One thing to think about is it can affect your muscles and your kidney is muscle tissue so that might be a problem.

[MoeAndMoot in reply to jodaer]

I'm worried about the muscle pain and kidneys being affected. I've done some research and some people say it caused them to lose their hearing and gain weight. Thanks for your input. Much appreciated.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador]

I too had high cholesterol and triglycerides. My PD prescribed ezetimibe (Zetia) and has worked for me. It is a non statin. I was diagnosed CKD at level 3b. I am a senior also.

[MoeAndMoot]

I'm making a note of Zetia in case the Lipitor doesn't work. Or maybe I'll suggest it instead of Lipitor. Thanks for the info.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador in reply to MoeAndMoot]

You are welcome.

[bumblebee_tuna in reply to MoeAndMoot]

It is actually quite common to prescribe Zetia to CKD patients. It doesn't work as well as a statin though. I was on it for quite a while and was taken off it when reached stage 5.

[userotc]

Im near-speechless that medics are prescribing drugs for "prevention"! I know its happening and Im gobsmacked. For disease prevention, you should see a qualified Nutrititional Therapist not someone prescribing drugs which are generally for acute conditions and always come with side effects (often severe or life-threatening), as youve indicated for this.

In your case, cholesterol isnt high. My dad's total cholesterol also wasnt high when he took statins for 1y approx 8y ago because he was concerned about cholesterol component ratios. He then started a Nutritional Therapy protocol, stopped the statins and his ratios are good. He now would prefer a higher total since there's much evidence that it improves mortality

nature.com/articles/s41598-...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/150...

drmalcolmkendrick.org/2012/...

[CuriousCKD]

I’m not thrilled with taking a statin, but if I don’t my cholesterol goes up. I take 40 mg of Atorvastatin, but I try to take it every other day, instead of every day. My genetic makeup likes creating cholesterol. I quit for a while, but after an aortic replacement and double bypass in 2019, I decided I had better follow through with it…. 🙄 I am stage 4 ckd. I wish you much success with it, if you decide to take the statin.

[drmind]

I had past problems with Lipitor many years ago and stopped taking it. Now, I have high cholesterol. My primary doctor urged me to get on Pravastan and im now taking 20 mg daily. After almost a year of Pravastatin, all cholesterol numbers have improved and gfr went up a few points. And, If I read the information correctly, Pravastatin is also said to be kidney friendly. Wish I knew about Pravastatin years ago. But, there was a craze about Lipitor years ago and that's all anyone talked about. Amazing how some pharmaceutical companies can corner the market and the doctors fall in line. Hope some of this information helps.

[drmind in reply to drmind]

I want to add that I haven't had any side effects including muscle problems with the pravastatin.

[horsie63 in reply to drmind]

I take that too and have had no issues. I also take Zetia. Latest bloodwork showed total cholesterol at 142. On Monday I'm doing a fasting cholesterol test to get my tri's and the other numbers.

[Hily]

Question: When you say doctor is this your Nephrologist or your primary care general physician? In the UK we call them General Practitioners (GP's).

Ask your Nephrologist what he thinks. He is the expert as to what helps or damages your kidneys.

[drmind in reply to Hily]

Not sure if you're asking me this question. Anyway, it was my GP who put me on the Pravastain and my nephologist approved when he was consulted about it. Hope this helps.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

I have been taking Lipitor since the early 1990's. At that time I was on 20 mg. For the last 18 months the doctor increased my dose to 40 mg daily. I have no side effects at all. I had a transplant in 1999 and has no problems with my eGFR or creatinine

[RhenDutchess123]

Once I reached GFR of 3b my Nephologist took me off of my Statins...he said my Cholesterol wasn't high enough to justify the side effects...and my Cholesterol is still in manageable range....I have also heard that Statins dont work well for Women and are more beneficial for Men

[pghgal]

I have been on 40 mgs for over 30 years no problem. My nephrologist strongly believes everyone should be on lipitor since ckd and heart problems are common. I'm also 9n 100 mgs losartan which nephrologist says protects your kidneys from further damage but can lower egfr but doesn't mean that actual number is the real number but doing its kob

[barbara55109]

On low dose. Pharmacist told me there is new ckd guidelines and I should consult Dr to increase dose.

[Darlenia]

I honestly can't advise you on the types of blood pressure meds that would work best for you. My hubby, a diabetic, has been on several different kinds and, I believe, took at least 3 or 4 of them for a time. He tolerated some better than others-switching occurred here and there. We are all so different. Hubby later went on dialysis (the only thing to bring it down) and now has a transplant. One thing that we were told by a nephrologist is that it's very important "to keep pressure inside the kidneys at a reasonable level. High pressure harms." And he noted the increasing signs of proteinuria in my hubby's lab reports as he prescribed another med. So, it's the pressure inside the kidneys, not so much the pills, that harms them. We also discovered that cardiologists know the latest and about blood pressure medications, so coordinating with them can pay dividends.

[Hily]

Question: When you say doctor is this your Nephrologist or your primary care general physician? In the UK we call them General Practitioners (GP's).

Ask your Nephrologist what he thinks. He is the expert as to what helps or damages your kidneys.

I had very bad side effects with my statins, Rhabdo? my egfr was low teens and GP ignoring all my symptoms, no blood tests at all, so I stopped taking them. Just be careful.

[Chucka]

Hi Moe. FYI. There are different types of statin drugs. They are not all the same, and are structured slightly differently. . They each can have different side effects. I was on Lipitor (atorvastatin) while I was in CKD stages 2 and 3. I experienced a lot of joint pain. (I have high cholesterol and family history of atherosclerosis). I switched to rosuvastatin (Crestor) when I was CKD stage 3b. The joint pain stopped. I am now CKD stage 4 and still taking rosuvastatin. It lowers my cholesterol and I have no side effects that I notice. I didn’t know this for several years, but rosuvastatin is safe to take while consuming grapefruit and grapefruit juice, unlike many other statins. An added bonus!

If you have side effects from Lipitor you might ask to try other statins before giving up on statins completely.

Best of luck

[CatOnACloud]

Ive ben on many statins, and now on those rx fish oil with omega 3,6,9, which are tolerable. Over the years ive takin statins and even the mildest ones I have a reaction to. Headaches mostly. Crestor, prevastatin, zocor all give me a thumpin headache. I dont suffer headaches and am a baby with them, not gonna do it. I only ever try new ones to make the drs stop pestering me. My numbers are barely out of range.