I have been on Lipitor for almost a year now and I think I am having side effects from it. They are muscle pain in my shoulders, arms, & hands and even some numbness in my hands and arms. Has anyone else experienced this trouble? I asked the doctor and he said to just keep taking it but that was back in Sept. and it seems to be getting worse. I have read else where that some people have stopped for two weeks or so and all this could go away. I am considering doing this myself. Would like any suggestions or comments on what others are doing.
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
17 Answers
QS
qsuzi8
8 Sep 2018
I had a heart attack at age 49..4 stents... I have always had some muscle pain and leg pain since being put on different statins over the last 6 years... my lipitor was increased to 40 mg after I had 2 more stents placed this past Feb... Anyhoo... I am having such bad muscle and tendon pains in my heels..legs..hips .ribs..arms that I can't stand it... I am almost home bound... my cardiologist took me off for 2 weeks and I just restarted 20 mg lipitor and I can't take it anymore... Seriously... none of my Drs are hearing me and I just look like a somatic crazy woman... I am only 55... I haven't been right since my heart attack and it's just getting worse it seems... I know I haven't given an answer... just know you aren't alone..somebody in the med profession really needs to hear all of us..I am not living a quality life and I am tired of not being heard..hugs from Ohio ❤
Votes: +0
HO
hockeyp21
17 Feb 2017
Does anyone read these? My doctor put me on Atorvastatin. I've been taking it for about two months now. First month was no problem, now, at the end of the second month, I'm starting to get terrible muscle pain in my shoulders and arms. First time I was just sitting at my desk and suddenly, I could not move my right arm without terrible pain -- from my shoulder down my arm -- similar to what they call a frozen shoulder. Took motrin and that did nothing, but it seemed to have cleared up in three days with significant muscle weakness in the arm where I could barely pick up a coffee cup. I thought it was just a one off after the pain went away in three days, but then two days later, the same pain started in my left arm. It's as if the muscles are tightening to the point where they feel as if they could snap if you move your arm -- the pain was awful, as if I had a broken arm. I saw this thread, and made the connection...
but, only after two months of taking the stuff? Has anyone had or heard of anything similar? I've decided to stop taking it on my own... yes, it did lower my levels, and the doctor had me take it because I'm a type 2 diabetic and had a hdl of 190 -- but I can probably do it myself with diet and exercise -- better than being crippled.
Votes: +0
LJ
ljd837
18 Feb 2017
I am the same and others have that live near me , also my Sister, we didn t know which statin each other was on, she asked what my pain was like as she had the same, the pain is awful and wakes me up almost every hour, i can t reach for anything, it brings tears to my eyes. I questioned this with my GP straightaway as i had heard about statins being muscle wasting , he dismissed this immediately and sent me for physio, frozen shoulder he said. For some reason i was changed from one i had been on when i moved and was basically told this was a better one, maybe it is down to cost I am now wondering if the operation in my right arm for carpul tunnel was necessary , or could it have been the same thing. I have had this questionable frozen shoulder from before Christmas and suffer pain constantly through arthritis and degenerative bone disorder and have had spinal operation affecting my nerves and knew that this pain was different , more muscular.
I am going to go back to my Doctors and question this again. Could be costing the NHS more money in the long run if this is just ignored, surely cheaper to get on correct statin for a bit extra.
MA
Mallory51
9 Aug 2017
July 2017 Only 51 but very active. I have a family history of high cholesterol. I was 277 in 1998. I began lipitor 80mg in 2003. It wasn't until last yr,2016,I was reaching for something & thought I was hit with a fastball. Painful. Remember I've already been on it 20-80 mg over 15 yrs. My assumption was a muscle pull. MD said artists. I was dumbfounded by that. Pain came & wet. Last month,first time ever,I woke up with pain in both triceps, biceps.This was strange. I never thought of lipitor. My blood work is great. Last week it was daily for the first time. 6 days ago i completely stopped. I already feel a difference. I'm hoping it is lipitor, not arthritis. I should have some understanding by 10 days. Trial and error
LJ
ljd837
16 Feb 2017
I know this is a long time after your post but feel i need to ask what you have done about this, i am on atorvastatin and although i have pain from arthritis and nerve pain new this pain in my shoulder was more muscular. I did ask my doctor could this be the statins as i have been told most statins are muscle wasting. But my doctor said no and dismissed it straight away. Then sent me for physio for frozen shoulder, which is not actually doing anything but causing me more pain. I assumed the doctor knows what he is talking about and never thought anymore of it, just suffering the pain, until my sister asked me what the pain was like a couple of weeks later saying it seems the same for her , i asked her which statin she was on as she was wondering if the pain was anything to do with her being changed onto a different one, yes the same Atorvastatin and since then a neighbour exactly the same, too much of a coincidence i fear., please advice.
Votes: +0
KE
Kenzibo
19 June 2018
I am on Lipitor as well, and I am extreme against medication. I have no choice being I had tia stroke. I disputed with my doc to lower from 80mg to 20 being I have experiencing muscle aches to the point I would feel so stiff. I decided to stop for a few days and felt great but I do panic because I don’t want to experience another stroke, yet the worst is accumulating this drug in my system to cause liver damage and kidney failure in the long run. I’m petrified of this med- along taking aspirin 81mg every night which also can cause stomach cancer - but in the end I started the CBD OIL. And that is working and I will now take the meds on and off - becuz I think it’s false of these docs keeping us on meds knowing we have better solutions. CBD OIL is the way to go. I guess I’ll die another day. I’m not going to let these meds over power my body! LK
VO
von40me
24 Oct 2016
I`m having the same problem taking lipitor aching knee joints arms, and I notice a difference when I stop taking it in just a few days.
Votes: +0
LO
Logical man
15 Oct 2016
After a year on 40mg of statins without any side effects, I suddenly got horrible pains in my calf muscles and groin. The pain was very local and sharp, as if my calf muscles had been hit with a baseball bat. It got worse by the week and couldn’t walk without limping. After a while, I dreaded walking across the parking lot each day at work. After two months of pain, I had enough and stopped taking the statins (without asking my Dr.) The scary part was the pain didn’t stop, but slowly morphed in location and intensity each day. I've been off it a solid month and the pain is just now starting to decrease. I work out 3 times a week which seems to help the healing process, after each run I'm pain free for a longer time. Sorry, side effects of any drug that bad can’t be good, and long-term effects of statins doesn’t exist. I wouldn’t be surprised if it causes other problems later in life like dementia.
If I get a stroke or another heart attack, I’ll accept it. I have an end of life will to not be resuscitate if living on a machine. Big pharma wants to make money on statins, but it's your call. For better or worse, I made a decision to live a shorter life pain-free, than long one pain filled.
Votes: +0
KI
Kirk D
9 Oct 2016
My doctor told me to take CoQ10 from the start even on 10mg. That is an over the counter item. Helps eliminate toxin buildup. Said it would help with any muscle pain. You might try that.
Votes: +0
CA
caringsonbj
8 March 2011
My neighbor had a heart attack in my living room once it was all over and she had her major surgery in Indianapolis, her cardiologist here in Anderson put her on Lipitor put her on it and the muscle pain started, she went through several and even stopped them, he is chief of cardiology he told her not to go off the medicine instead to report any effects that have to do with legs, muscles he finally has her on one that does not bother her, he said that is the secret to finding the one that will work and not cause these effects, so I suggest that you talk to either your medical doctor or the cardiologist and see what they say about finding something that you can take, I hope in some small way I have been able to offer advice that is helpful, please let us know if we can further assist you.
Votes: +2
MA
madhattersbash
8 March 2011
I was on Lipitor 40 mg. for several years (upped from 20 mg.) and I got terrible cramps in my calves during the night--it would wake me up and I would have to try to jump out of bed and walk it off! Since the drug wasn't really controlling my lipid levels anyway, I just decided to quit taking it. My current doctor was not happy about that, but he didn't suggest any replacement for it. He keeps trying to 'scare' me with stories of strokes--- but, I have had elevated lipids since my early 20s, when I was very thin. The levels have increased with each new med the docs tack on--so I don't really think that it makes any difference (for me), if I take them or not.
Votes: +1
IN
Inactive
8 March 2011
I haven't looked it up yet, but my husband takes it, & I know it is a side effect. Print out the info about it & take it to your doctor. I have had the experience doctors are not always aware of all side effects, and that's is a big one! Have you tried changing your diet to lower your cholesterol? Good luck to you...
Votes: +1
DE
Deadman1st
7 March 2011
To msbandit, I understand your dilemma. I can only hope you do get well. I have learned the hard way that doctors sometimes push prescriptions for reasons other than our well being. The listed side effects some times must be questioned. Such as how long the side effect will persist? The side effects I suffer, now appear to be permanent (from a single injection in the hospital e.d.). Some side effects may be damaging and that only leads to another prescription, then another and so on. Some drugs cause strokes or heart attacks and death, but drug makers still need to get a return on their investment. We are only considered the cost of doing business. And doctors are not going to take on a drug manufacturer on our behalf by getting these drugs off the market. Listen to the side effects listed during the commercials on t-v and wonder why the FDA is allowing these drugs on the market when the side effects include stroke, heart attack and death! ! !
I think someone in the FDA is on the take... So I say exercise and eat a balanced diet while young enough too, and avoid doctors when possible.
PS Our state has a Medical Board we can send complaints to (they will do an investigation), maybe they all do.
Votes: +0
BI
Bill v
21 Aug 2018
Does anyone have fevers? I do along with body ache
PS
psmason
22 Feb 2011
My pain was in my hips and my doctor said it was something else. By the time I finally took myself off, my hips were permanently damaged. I would suggest you quick taking Lipitor and see if pain abates.
Votes: +1
SA
sammye2
9 Nov 2010
I have started Lipitor recently (one month) this last week or so I have had such pain in my ribs and down left arm (Underside) of arm, that it aches and takes away my concentration from other activities... Is this the kind of muscle pain others are experiencing??? yesterday and today my back and shoulders are painful. This pain is radiating in the same underarm rib area. I took 2 extra strength tylenol one night bearly touched the discomfort last night I took 4 advil.. not much better relief with that??? Could this be from Lipitor???
Votes: +1
SH
shirl621
7 March 2010
I was put on trycor for mild high trigs. and my muscles began to get sore in my legs and shoulders and the doc said it was fibro. so she took me off my prozac and put me on cymbalta, ok for about 2 weeks then the 3 week i started feeling bad, sleepy,weak, real sore so I thought try it one more week,well it got worse so I quit the cymbalta and boy do I regret that move, the withdrawels was bad, ill, sick, electric shocks in my brain, dizzy my husband was going to leave, well I thought maybe I need to get back on prozac and thank God after a day or two I started to feel better, and I quit the trycor and started taking fish oil every day, lets hope it helps with my trigs, hope this might help someone
Votes: +0
ME
METCALS
18 Nov 2009
I was on 10 mg of Lipitor and had bad leg cramps every now and then. I didn't connect it to the Lipitor until my doctor put me on 20mg and I was in such bad pain and had to walk with a crutch or I would fall down. My legs were in such pain standing or laying down I couldn't stand it. I had to stop my early morning walks - I thought I was becoming a cripple. My doctor said it was arthritis. I knew it was not in my joints and I went to 3 different doctors about it. One said it was just old age (I was 55). I finally read about the side effects others were having and suggested to my doctor that it was the Lipitor and she said I read too much on the internet. Anyway, I stopped taking it and after one week the pain had subsided quite a bit. In two weeks I was able to get up out of a chair normally and walk without a limp. My husband was on Zocor and it effected his shoulder muscle and he could not fish anymore, put on a belt or anything that required lifting up or back motion.
He got off Zocor and is perfectly fine without any pain. We both take Niacin and Red Yeast Rice and that combination has lowered our cholestrol levels significantly.
Votes: +0
ME
METCALS
18 Nov 2009
I do want to make one comment on the fact that there are tens of thousands of elderly people on statin drugs who don't use the internet and rely on answers from their doctors. They are probably limping, using canes, or other walking aids and thinking they are just getting old and feeble and life is passing them by. How sad. I may start wearing a T-shirt that states, " If you take a Statin drug & can't walk - Stop the Statin!"
NW
nwaters13
22 May 2013
for the past year I have had terrible pain in my legs and hips. i can't walk even an isle length in Walmart without terrible pain i have bee on Lipitor 20 for 15 years. I have kidney problems and urine is dark. I am having incomplete bowel movements and blood is present. I have been to my doctor at Mayo clinic and was put on pain meds and physical therapy. Today I have stopped taking my Lipitor for 10 days I will let you know if the conditions change!
BL
Blue4life
26 Aug 2016
Our Doctors should stop blaming side effects on our old age, or researching the Internet to become more informed or an imaginary ailment we've dreamed up and start holding BigPharma accountable to poisoning us with drugs whose benefits are overstated and risks understated. I am a 55 year old with slightly elevated total cholesterol and triglycerides who exercised strenuously 6 days a week. My Doctor put me on generic Lipitor and in two weeks I suffered debilitating fatigue and weakness, nausea, headache, loss of appetite and leg and flank pain. I stopped taking it yesterday and am less fatigued. I'm hoping the other symptoms reverse themselves. I would much rather reduce my numbers naturally then feel like I have the worse flu I've ever experienced in my life everyday. These drugs are poison.
SP
Spenceraa
8 July 2017
I just have a hard time understanding why and how these Doctors have such a difficult time understanding that a drug as Lipitor may be doing more harm to a patient than good... I had a stroke in Feb of 2017, which at that time my Heart doctor put me on Lipitor 3 times a week... after taking the Lipitor for 2 weeks I stopped taking it because of the back pains, leg pains, abdominal pains, and it gos on... In May of 2017 I had a mild heart atack, because of blochages... 1 stint put in and 3 arteries unblocked... again Doctor puts me back on Lipitor, this time 1 pill each day... I've taken the Lipitor for 21/2 months and as of yesterday ( I have stop taking the Lipitop) and do feel better already... while taking the Lipitor the pains throughout the body seems to gradually get worse over time, and get to a point where the pain is so bad, I would take Pain Meds to be able to deal with the pain caused by the Lipitor... something is wrong here...
why is it that Doctors cannot see a problem with a med like Lipitor, yes there are people that are able and have taken Lipitor for years with no problems, and there are people like myself that feel like Im dieing a slow death... and where is the Quality of life here... Please reply me and let me know of others with this problem...
CA
Caramia61
11 June 2018
Does lipitor cause swollen ankles and aches in one of them ?
I have been taking 20 mgs of lipitor for about 2 years. However my doctor also prescribed SOMA to help with the mucsle discomfort. It works very well. Also helps you sleep in you have trouble sleeping. Good Luck. Kevin.
