Withdrawal Symptoms Lipitor (Page 4)

How long before muscle aches and weakness subside after discontinuing Lipitor

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I also read the "grain brain" and want "off" of lipitor. Additionally, I have memory loss. I have been taking it about 10 years. So this week I went off cold turkey and I have some side effects. I have whole body muscle aches, nausea and anxiety. I hope it does not last long. I stopped eating basically all carbs and drastically limited sugars,so I do not anticipate too much change in blood tests. I am a little afraid about these side effects.

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Stopped Lipitor May 1st. Still have pain in lower back and hips and occasional leg/foot cramps. Feels like strength has returned.

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I agree with you 100% I did my own research and took myself off of these horrible statin drugs. They were slowly sucking the life right out of me. Big money maker for the pharmaceutical companies. Bad news for anyone who is prescribed them.

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Still suffering from lower back pain! 6 weeks off Lipitor!

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Make sure you go get CoQ10 to replenish the muscle-cell wasting that this toxic drug does to the human body. It is an antioxidant. Statin medicines can reduce the levels of of this in your body. I get mine @ King Soopers or Kroeger or Health Food stores also have them.

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Thanks for the advise, I'll do that as soon as possible.

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How many mg's of COQ10 do I need to take?

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I take one soft gel, 400mg Coenzyme Q10 every day.

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Hello everyone, I know how difficult it is to be in pain everyday; that's my life since the 7th August 2002. This would be a bit lengthy but I'm willing to let everyone know what Lipitor was doing to me. It would take hours before I can complete and submit this article because I can't sit for lengthy periods so I'd have to do it little at a time. I'd like you all to know the reason I didn't think it could've been the Lipitor that was making my hip and legs hurt.

I'm 59 years old and I was born with a curved spine (Scoliosis) which never really bothered me. But in 2002 when I was 47 my husband physically abused me and that really damaged my back. My doctor prescribed pain medications and I also took physiotherapy. My shoulder pains disappeared completely after couple months of therapy but my back still hurts to this very day.
The next year 2003, I did my medical and my LDL Cholesterol was high; my doctor prescribed 10mg Lipitor. By this time my pain was getting worse and progressing each year. I thought that it was my back pain worsening, I didn't realised the Lipitor was the culprit. I went to a spine specialist who said that I had Sciatica and he'd have to give me couple inj's. on my spine. I'd have to get it few times per month, for couple of months or maybe years; it may or may not help. I didn't do as he suggested because after what he said and few of his patients said at his clinic I wasn't comfortable to take that step. According to a lady who was in pain, she said that she had been taking the inj's. for 5 months and her pain hadn't eased at all.

Every time I would visit my family doctor I'd tell him that my pain is getting worse and now it wasn't just my back but also my hip and straight down to my ankles. He said that I had arthritis and it was a sign of old age combined; I was 50 at the time. After 8 years my pain was driving me crazy and in 2013, I was very scared as now I couldn't raise both my arms. I could not have dressed myself, shaved under my arms or even combed my hair and I live alone. I used to pray like I've never prayed before also I'd cried myself to sleep.

Then one night I had a dream; my deceased dad asking me why I was taking that tablet. I asked him which tablet he was talking about and he specifically said THAT LIPITOR! I woke from my sleep, jumped out bed and immediately googled Lipitor. I was scared and shocked but relieved to know what was causing most of my pains when I read the reviews on Lipitor. I searched many sites to find out about Lipitor and its side effects. Then I began researching all my prescribed medications and vitamins from that day. Thank God for the computerized world we are in today and you wonderful people; God bless you all!

I didn't go back to sleep because the morning caught me at my computer. I had breakfast and went to my family doctor. I told him that I didn't want Lipitor anymore and he said that I'd have to take it or else I may suffer a heart attack or stroke. I said "nope I'm not taking Lipitor and I don't care if I get a stroke or heart attack. Of course it wouldn't be nice but it's way better than having both hands and they're useless". He then asked how I knew it was the Lipitor and I told him my dream. He said ok don't take it for three months and we'll see what happens. I stopped the Lipitor cold turkey and never had any problems.

Within 8 months of stopping Lipitor my hip pain is almost gone, I don't have the ankle pain anymore and I could use both my arms again; thank God! When I went to my doctor I raised my both arms and asked him where's the arthritis and the old age and then said, I'm sure that people gets older not younger; he only smiled. I was already taking 120mg CO Q10 for couple years since my first family doctor told me that it would help me as I'm taking a Statin. So when I stopped the Lipitor I thought to myself that I should double the dose of CO Q10. Instead I more than doubled; I took 400mg and I continued to this day.

After three months of stopping Lipitor I had my blood test done and my doctor prescribed Ezetrol because my LDL Cholesterol was high. I "think" that the Ezetrol is working without any problems but I'm keeping a watchful eye for any signs of problems. It's over a year since I'm on Ezetrol and I do pray that I get no problems with it. Lipitor did not agree with me but I know few people who takes it and says that they've no problems whatsoever.

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Thanks Kevin...I too am thinking I'll wean myself off the Lipitor but slowly like you said.....pray for the best. Thanks!

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Still lower back and hip pain. Stopped Lipitor May 1st.

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In 2007 was put on Vytorin - had muscle weakness (legs and arms feeling numb, falling easily, loss of balance, extreme tiredness, foggy thinking, rashes, depression. At start of January 2008, went off Vytorin and by 1st of February 2008, no longer had symptons. January 2014, an ENT insisted I go on 10mg of Lipitor or risk a STROKE or HEART ATTACK soon. I had sworn I WOULD NOT EVER take a statin again, but relented. On 6/30/14, told my Primary Doc that I was going off because having same symptons as in 2007. I had to agree to a waiver that he did not agree with me, so I did. In less than a week, pain in legs, arms, rashes and r.foot/ankle swelling GONE! So, in my body, the statins cause the problems - take away and problems stop. I'm going back to Gemfibrosil that I used between 2008 and 2014. It lowers my tri-glycerides even below 50. Good Cholesterol is OK, but LDL is a little high, but it's always been since I was 50 (now 82) - The triglycerides are most important in my body - if they're low, I have energy and good outlook on life.

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Good on you. I also feel so much better. Wasn't the pain so much as the depression. Would rather have quality of life than quantity although if I can get to 82 yrs of age as you have done, I would call that a win win situation.

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Good for you for not letting the doctor talk you into taking more statins. No one knows our bodies better than we do. I too have experienced the loss of "quality of life" while taking Pravastatin. I will never, ever let a doctor tell me again that they are safe.

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My hubby has just come off atorvastatin 40mg after being on it for 18months,hes tired all the time and is now getting blurry vision, he came off because of his lack of interest in the bedroom department which improved within four days of stopping, now im worried it was the wrong thing to do, was done with drs consent for a trial period of upto 12 weeks, help dont want him to have another heart attack, he is very active as he runs his own roofing buisness, oh ues he gets nights sweats as well, any info would be greatly appreciated

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Hi everyone I was very relieved to know other people are affected by coming off Lipitor. I was on 20mg and started them about a month ago . I stopped because I had severe muscle pain and aches all day even though I wasn't doing anything. I tried to walk a short walk and it hurt so bad in my ankle I then looked up side effects and decided to come off them as living like this was not going to be very beneficial since the whole idea is to exercise and get healthy. I hate the way doctors do not really worry about the side effects. I have tendonitis and its got worse. I too felt bad after three days off them. I am researching other ways to get my cholesterol down and heard that lethicin helps but needs to be looked up. Also my stress levels went up and I felt very hyper. hope this helps. I went and bought a cookery book to help with diet.

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I'm finally symptom free! It took 3 months after stopping Lipitor. I'm due for more blood work for cholesterol levels. My doctor told me if my levels are still high he wants to try me on another statin. He said he has patients who can't tolerate one kind of statin but can tolerate a different one. His wife is one of them. I'm very reluctant to try another one but heart problems are an issue in my family and I have to find a way to address cholesterol issues.

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I am so glad I found this thread! My doctor put me on 10mg generic Atorvastatin several days ago. Today I started feeling flushed as if I had the flu but don't. My legs feel weak and I feel like I haven't eaten all day yet my diet was fine today. I do not have high cholesterol. All my numbers are great (TC=116). I sent my doctor a note but I won't be my nightly dose. He put me on it for the "protective" reasons. I had a cardiac calcium test at my yearly physical and it was a 20. I am 50 years old, am not overweight and exercise regularly. I don't smoke.

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I have agreed to try another statin. I'm taking 40mg. Pravastatin with 200mg of CoQ-10. Unlike with the Lipitor, I'm now aware of what to look for in side effects. I really hope this will work.

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I was also taking 40mg. of Pravastatin for approximately 2 and a half years. I have been off of them for almost 4 months now and feel like I am finally getting my life back. I experienced muscle aches, "heavy legs" and ankle swelling, complete exhaustion, vision problems etc. I seriously thought that I had fibromyalgia because every part of my body started to hurt. Then I did research on statins ( a ton of research) and decided they were the culprit. I took myself off of them and never looked back. I told my doctor that I will never put another statin in my body. They are pure poison and literally are making healthy people sick. Do yourself a favor, lori, and read "The Statin Damage Crisis" and then make the decision whether you want to continue to take Statins. I did not make my decision lightly, but only after reading all the facts. They are simply a $$$$ maker for big Pharma and 99% of the people who are prescribed them, do not need them and get no benefit from them.

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