Livalo Problems

I have been taking Livalo since March 2013. It is now September 2013, and I am having the following problems from it:
1. General muscle weakness
2. pain in hips, knees, ankles and feet
3. Memory loss/mood changes
4. stomach problems (tightness, gas) for which the doctors can find no other
physical cause.
These symptoms took a while, after I started taking Livalo, to manifest. But in the last four weeks have showed up like gangbusters. I had told my cardiologist when he prescribed them that statins have always caused me problems and that I had not taken any for 2-3 year because of that. He was insistent that I take it, saying the Livalo didn't cause as many problems as other statins. Well, after being through most of the statins over the last 10 year (and finding problems with all of them) I'm quitting them altogether. At 79, the quality of the life I have is more important to me than further longevity.

REPLY

REPORT

Hi, Herb! Sorry about the problems that you've run into with it and I completely understand. It is common for such issues to happen with all the medications someone tries in a certain class and many have had to stop taking statins due to them.

And I respect your being 79 and feeling the way you do. At this point, you've definitely earned the right to make such decisions and no one should argue with you. My dad is 84 and I said the same thing when other relatives complained that he had refused some medical tests his doctor ordered. Please remember, that no matter how insisted your doctor may be about something, you are not under any obligation to follow their advice or take a prescribed medication, just like they aren't obligated to treat you. It is your life and your body.

Proper diet and exercise can help lower your cholesterol, without causing the nasty side effects.

There are also some over the counter supplements that may help, as long as your doctor says they are safe for you to take, they include artichoke extract, fish oil, ground flaxseed, garlic extract, oat bran and green tea. Many vitamin shops will likely even have a combination product that contains several just for this purpose, so you don't have to buy them all separately.

And an alternative medication you could ask your doctor about is Fenofibrate, it's not a statin, but is also used to help lower cholesterol and therefore, it doesn't cause all the same side effects that a statin medication does.

Learn more Fenofibrate details here.

Is there anything else I can help with?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Verwon, Thank for the info on the supplements and tricor. I'll check them out.
Blessings

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I have been taking Lyrica for prophylactic migraine managment as well as neuropathic pain following discectomy of T8-9 a...

28 REPLIES

I have been taking kadian for several years. My current dosage is a10 and a 30 1 X per day at bedtime. It has worked per...

7 REPLIES

I have been taking levothyroxine for approx 18 months whilst awaiting a total thyoidectomy t remove 2 large goitres. Any...

6 REPLIES

I started taking chantix about 2 weeks ago. The first week was good, no major side effects. The second week , taking the...

5 REPLIES

hi my name is Michael an i took ACCUTANE about 8 years ago n never realized that it could have possibly effected my life...

5 REPLIES

I have been getting roxicodone 30mg for the last 5 yrs. and the price has pretty much stayed the same except for the las...

4 REPLIES

Hi I have been smoke free for 4 months. I quit taking chantix 2 weeks ago but started having problems before that when I...

4 REPLIES

My insurance company is giving me grief about paying for my savella prescription for my fibrolmayalgia. I finally find a...

4 REPLIES

On Sutent been on it for 2ytd the 2 breaks I have head pain when I cough or bend over !! Don't have it while taking ...

2 REPLIES

I am new to the patch i have been on the 25 mcg for a month and two weeks now the first brqnd i used was mallickrodt and...

2 REPLIES