I am wondering how many of you out there have been affected by the use of statins in a negative way? I had no idea the side effects were going to turn out to be so bad, my doctor's response was that 'the positive benefits of using Lipitor outweighs the risk of not using the drug'. What? ! I should have been told staight up that it would cause me to have RLS. I should have been told that the backaches I suffer were because of the drug, the tingling in my hands and arms would not go away, the pin pricks to my legs all the time will now be a permanant sensation for me. Headaches, blurred vision, tooth problems, nervous ticks in my eyelids, skin conditions that no one has ever even heard of. I could have drank orange juice to help with the cholesterol, why didn't they tell me that? All the other meds I take now are to counteract the side effects, permanant and temporary, of the Lipitor. Anybody else?

OMG, you have my deepest empathy.

Mine tried to get me to go on it b/c my cholesterol was a bit elevated.

I said 'OK', but never took it.

Instead I did this:

1. Lost 60lbs over the last 15mo (I hit goal last Oct and have kept it off for 6mos);
2. Started eating a bowl (1/2 cup dry) of Scottish oatmeal with a tbsp of extra virgin olive oil mixed in each morning without fail (since Jan 08);
3. Started taking Cayenne (one capsule 40K HU, 1/day) (thanks for the tip, Retikx)
4. Cut back to almost no red meat (all fish, eggs, milk, cheese);
5. Added broccoli and more fruit to my diet (after discussions here; thx DeadFlagBlues);
6. Continued exercising (30-60min 1-2x per day 5-6 days a week for the past 2 years (2006-2008), prior to that 40min 1-2x/day 7 days a week for the previous 3 years (2003-2006); Only missed a workout about 21 days/year on average due to weather/illness in that time period. Did 2 workouts/day 2-3x/week. Consistency is more important than volume and intensity, mostly.
7. Continued to research and be alert for non-drug solutions to similar problems.


Is it helping? I don't know. I haven't had a follow up lipid panel, but even if it doesn't help, too bad, now I -know- I'm not taking that cr*p.

I'll keep my eye out for anything that might help reverse your situation.

Good luck; you'll be in our thoughts.



[edit on 18-3-2008 by Badge01]

I am sorry you are going through that. I am always skeptical of any prescription... I am honestly surprised though that your doctor hasn't given you a laundry list of other prescriptions to counteract the new side effects from your lipitor... each with their own side effects.

I hate the pharmaceutical industry.

Thanks to all of you for your concern. I am certified for a local program since my job does not provide insurance and purchasing a plan for myself is not within my means at this time. I am at their mercy when it comes to my health care. I am assigned to a doctor who is doing their residency, and when one finishes another picks up your case. I don't think any of them have any idea what they are doing, I have had to do my own research and diagnosis, which my doctor agrees are correct. Next step, find out what the extent of damage is, and I am on my own with this, they have pulled a record showing an upaid bill from 1998 and refuse to see me at this time. I don't know if it is because of the bill, or because I have accused the previous doctor of mishandling my case. My 'new' doctor agreed that the lipitor is possibly the exact cause of all my ills.

My father has been on Lipitor since his last angioplasty/stent. He's survived two heart attacks, and that treatment is the third he had (he didn't wait for an infarction this time! hooray!).

As a pre-med and wannabe doctor (maybe I'll fix that in time ), I warned him that statins are of questionable usefulness and that he should be wary of any symptoms. When he was complaining of recurring weakness and whatnot, I immediately pointed to the statins. He went back to his cardiologist, and bingo, it was. The cardiologist halved the dosage and he's been fine since.

Moral of the story: I don't know enough to say not to take a statin, but I'd definitely talk with a cardiologist about reducing the dose.

Additionally, since you sound like a heart patient (and even if you're not) I'd take 500mg of Vitamin C every 12 hours. It's great, you can't overdose on it (you could probably eat the whole bottle and be fine since it's water soluble and the kidneys remove it easily), and Vitamin C deficiencies are thought to be a possible cause of arteriosclerosis. 500mg every 12 hours is the blood saturation level achievable through oral supplements, so I recommend that, even though some more "radical" doctors suggest doses in the tens of thousands (just to give you perspective on the safety!).



But...if you're taking a statin, have you had any heart procedures to warrant it? Or is it just some kind of preventative thing your doctor did?


Edit: I'm getting people confused.

[edit on 8-8-2008 by Johnmike]

Originally posted by Johnmike
Additionally, since you sound like a heart patient (and even if you're not) I'd take 500mg of Vitamin C every 12 hours.

Heart patient? I'd say either your diagnostic skills need work, or you're reading things into my post that aren't there or replying to someone else. I simply had a cholesterol test. Please forgive any misinterpretation or confusion on my part.

It's great, you can't overdose on it (you could probably eat the whole bottle and be fine since it's water soluble and the kidneys remove it easily), and Vitamin C deficiencies are thought to be a possible cause of arteriosclerosis.

Care to give a cite on that? In the US I'd think Vit. C -deficiencies- are extremely uncommon. In fact I think some people are calling for limits on Vit C consumption.

But...if you're taking a statin, have you had any heart procedures to warrant it? Or is it just some kind of preventative thing your doctor did?

I don't know what message you're reading. If mine, I have not taken a statin, even once and have no intention of doing so. I simply replied to the message above mine.

Edit: I'm getting people confused.

It's OK, I appreciate your good intent. Thanks for your post and have a great day!

Well I would bet from now on you will look up drugs online. : )

I learned the hardway with Paxil years ago, now I tend to look up everything but the most basic whether its for me or my animals. 20 years ago we would not have the global mind at our fingertips, now we do.

Oh and why didn't your doctor suggest orange juice? Well I doubt if the orange juice manufacturers are visiting his office and offering perks.

The rate of congestive heart failure has tripled since statins were first put on the market. Merck holds a patent to supplement mevacor with coenzyme-Q, which the heart requires to pump properly, however no such product was ever brought to market.

Originally posted by Sonya610
Well I would bet from now on you will look up drugs online. : )

I learned the hardway with Paxil years ago, now I tend to look up everything but the most basic whether its for me or my animals. 20 years ago we would not have the global mind at our fingertips, now we do.

Oh and why didn't your doctor suggest orange juice? Well I doubt if the orange juice manufacturers are visiting his office and offering perks.

To whom is this comment directed? If to the OP it's particularly smarmy and uncalled for, considering she/he will be suffering because of a misplaced trust.

I'd have hoped that such an approach would be beneath ATS members.

I have started a vitamin C regimen, stopped taking Lipitor, and am slowly but surely feeling better every day. Thanks for all your responses, and just a reminder, never just take what the doctor gives you, check it out for yourself, see if the benefits truly do outweigh the risk, don't let the doctor decide that for you!

Lipitor was making me sick and made living each day miserable. When I first stopped using it, I thought I would just revert back to the high choles. counts and risk heart attack, but the Vitamin C is such a simple and safe answer, and makes you feel better, literally, every day.