I've tried exercise and pain medication, to no avail, and I'm wondering if it could be the lipitor. A pharmacist told me "highly doubtful", but I stopped the lipitor 3 days ago, and have had an immediate reduction in pain. I also slept better last night than I have in several years. Has anyone had any similar experience? Or could it be a coincidence?
Taking lipitor for several years, 3 mths ago started getting bad hip leg pain, could it be lipitor?
Question posted by sandyken2000 on 18 March 2013
Last updated on 23 November 2018
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5 Answers
Kimvog
24 Nov 2018
I know exactly what you are going through. Been taking Lipitor for same amount of time. I have had right hip pain for 20 years mostly in the buttocks but last few years the pain is so severe in both hips. I can handle it during the day and meds help my left hip and buttock but at night I’m awakened every hour in excruciating pain. The throbbing is so bad I have to get up and walk around the house for a minute. It throbs all the way down to the knee and if you have ever had a bad Charlie horse, the muscles in my buttock react so bad it feels like that’s what is happening but I can’t shake it out. I cry wanting to just cut my from my hip down completely off. Nothing helps it. I’ve tried stretching, pain meds, muscle relaxers, heat, and ice.NOTHING WORKS! My doctor just ordered me a tins unit which is like chiropractor use will let you know if it helps me.
So I am going to stop my Lipitor for a few days as well to see if that’s why the pain is so severe. I am diagnosed with bursitis in my hips but they say it shouldn’t be this painful. If you find any relief please keep me posted. Thanks and I hope you get to feeling better
Kimvog
24 Nov 2018
Does anyone suffer with the throbbing pain that goes from the hip all through the buttocks?
GaryLB
12 Dec 2017
I’m also sleeping much better & longer intervals since stopping my 40mg Statin October 1st, after many years. Also my pain (Myalgia) overall is aprox.1/2 what it’s been for years of complaining to Drs about it, taking pain meds Including opioids without much relief Until Now! I swear these doctors are making a Fortune off prescribing meds unnecessarily, in many cases, in my opinion. Bottom Line: No More Statins & I’m weaning off the opioids as I speak! Good luck folks & Merry Christmas!
jimkaim
12 April 2017
I quit my Lipitor and in a couple of days I felt like a new person. My right hip pain is gone. It got so bad that I was going to sell my Harley because of the hip pain. I know it was the Lipitor because I quit taking it and then started it again to make sure. I was doing my own study. I'm glad I did.
AquariusAnneCA
18 March 2013
Good Morning Sandyken2000... through my own very very bad experience with Lipitor, my personal feelings are, if I were you, is to get off that statin drug immediately! I made a grave mistake in 2005 of trying a statin drug since my cholestrol was 325 at the time and I am no longer able to walk but short distances and I mean very short, less than 10 minutes or so without experiencing terrible pain in my upper and lower legs. I was only on 10mg every other day and the blood tests were not showing that my CPK levels (which means the muscle is leaking enzymes) were very high... a year later after I walked for a few hours, the tests came back with high CPK levels and my endocronoligist was so so upset and told me to get to my primary doctor for tests... I did and of course, nothing showed up! It is now 2013 and I am in touch with people in San Diego who are doing research on statins drugs.
They suggested I take COQ10, wheat germ and cod liver oil capsules each day which I am now trying but so far has not relieved the pain... this drug damaged my kidneys as the urine turned brown. My eyelid drooped but that went back in place... have a hearing loss, had to have cataract surgery, all when I tried the statins at different time. My friend has myopathy in his feet, he is only 50 years old, developed diabetes but none of the doctors have said it is from the statin drug... he is now off the Lipitor because his doctor said she was not aware of the statins affecting some people in that way... please start taking the COQ10 which helps the heart muscles and other muscles... read up on the statin drugs, do research on it. It is important that you get involved in your own health and not leave everything to the doctor... he is only human and thinks the drugs will help but you have to help him by telling him what you read on it and what you feel when on this drug. Lipitor is a new drug and only the people taking it can tell the world what it does to one's health. So please do not take the doctor's word when they tell you "no, it is not the drug"... show him/her what you have researched.
Good luck to you and keep us posted, please... thank you,
AquariusAnneCA
amyc1234
31 May 2013
AquariusAnne~I am very curious what you're doing for your cholestrol now? My husband had a massive heart attack at 38, and has been on Lipator(80mg) for 8 years then devolped the muscle pains... Dr. changed him to crestor(on less then 1 year) & pain is back... now wants him back to the Lipator(80mg) I'm very scared.He has an appointment end of June but said he MUST take this now because his heart disease is so serious. I had him taking COQ10 at one point, but hubby stopped it(hates taking so many pills) will def start that again with it.Thanks for sharing your thoughts/experiences with me!
Flo2
31 Oct 2013
Listen up people: I too had a bad experience with Lipitor - I accidently talked to someone who uses Red Yeast Rice 1200mg instead for chlorestoral treatment. My tests are perfect and I have no side effects. When I mentioned to my doctor that I had changed, she said "Oh, that's fine!" And she is Chinese - wonder why she didn't tell me that in the first place? Your guess if good as mine! Oh yeah, too many chemicals put in our bodies, right?
Kk37
4 March 2017
My husband has been on generic Lipitor since aug 2016. There have been changes in his behavior over the time he has been on it and I feel our marriage has suffered. I notice slot of anxiousness, disconnection, apathy, can't understand difft perspectives, understand when it's time to make logical decisions, doesn't prioritize the same way, can't make decisions, highly stressed, headaches, back pain, fatigue like doesn't want to do anything, aggressive, inattention, doesn't sleep but does, passive aggressive stuff, forgets what he heard or says. Is it a bad marriage or the generic Lipitor?
Kimvog
24 Nov 2018
Every year that I’m on this medication it’s getting harder for me to walk. My right hip is in constant pain. I started tonight with taking Lipitor out of my regimen for a few days. Was yours worse while sleeping at night? I’m awakened every hour crying wanting to cut the entire hip to foot, off my body. The worst area goes from my hips all around to the buttocks which literally feels like they have Charlie horses in them. I have to jump out of bed and walk a bit to stretch them out. Helps for a short while, right as I fall back to sleep, I’m screaming again and it starts all over. Have you experienced the buttocks muscle cramps.? Now it’s going down front of legs and in my knees. I’m getting one of the tens units like chiropractor uses, so I will be sure to keep everyone posted. Not one medication has helped me on the right side they help a little on lower back and left hip.
Last week he extended my medication to something you normally get in the hospital! I said to myself oh great, I’m gonna get a full night sleep! NOPE! Not only was the pain still with me but I vomited all night long into the morning. No thank you will be my answer to the doctor. Thanks for your post. Really helps just knowing I’m not
kaismama
18 March 2013
The way to find out if its coincidence is to start back on the med and see what happens. If you have the same experience again, then its time to talk to the doc.
AquariusAnneCA
18 March 2013
Hi Kaismama... On Sandyken2000 regarding the Lipitor, I have experienced that when a person goes back to their doctor to ask if it is the drug Lipitor causing me to have pain in their legs, the doctor I have experienced and others I spoke with such as Sandyken2000 usually will just blow them off with an answer "no, it is not the Lipitor" which irates me!!! Why don't they answer as you said, go off of it for a few days to see if the pain subsides"... I have a very good friend who is a doctor here in town and he has, through my experience with Lipitor, helped so many patients by taking them off the statin drug to see the results... he was amazed that it was the statin drug indeed causing the problems. As a nurse, perhaps you can talk to your doctor friends and tell them to pass on this important information...
I have a friend through email, don't even know him personally, who is 50 years old with neuropathy and the poor fellow is desperate since he is unable to function anymore and also developed diabetes, which is now, as I understand it, perhaps tied to the statin drug... I have seen my brother who passed away last year who would not listen to me and go off the lipitor and he died of amyloidosis!!! I say it was the statin drug he took for 8 years cause he always complained about how bad his legs hurt. So I have seen what this medicaion does to some people, not all people, but some.
Thanks so much for your input on our support site here... I enjoy your comments.
AquariusAnneCA
GaryLB
12 Dec 2017
Absolutely! Exactly how my Dr responded, “No it couldn’t be the ‘Statin’ it’s just your age.” I’m 68 & have been taking 40mgs Statins for 30 years... BS I told him Soo, I simply stopped on my own October 1st ‘17, without telling him. 3 weeks later at my annual physical, I’m feeling great!, less pain now than I can even remember! Drs not happy at all & I'm guessing cuz he’s making $$$ On my Rx’s ... He’s had me taking Oxcodon for several years too & just started me on Fentanyl patches! So, since I’m refusing the Statins he knows I’ll be weaning off the opioids So, He’ll be LOSING $MONEY$. There Must be other than Statin drugs to control cholesterol?
Related topics
lipitor, pain, exercise, medication, pain medication, pharmacist
Further information
- Lipitor uses and safety info
- Lipitor prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Lipitor (detailed)
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