Atorvastatin for High Cholesterol User Reviews (Page 5)

• Unknown
• August 2, 2015

"When taking Atorvastatin I have developed many side effects. I have had headaches, dizziness, lack of energy, weakness, like I'm always tired, chills, fever, cramps, sore eyes, and mood swings. Although this medication seems to work well."

• Sharky
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2018

"I had a TIA August 11th and the Dr. prescribed 40 mg of Atorvastin. I became so tired and had blood work done and my ALT level was 488! Thankfully my ALT is down to 192 since stopping it 15 days ago. I would never take another medication that you need to check liver levels. Who knows what lasting effects this could have in my future. Very Scary."

• Mr An...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 26, 2017

"My doctor prescribed me lipitor 10 mg. I have been taking it for 2 months. My cholesterol level was 210 total, now my total level is 167, LDL is lower and my HDL the same. I'm please to say that I don't or have had any side effects. I see many of you with side effects, I suggest exercise and drink lots of water. No side effects here, I'm happy."

• Beanee
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2019

"Have been taking lipitor for for 2 months. Went to Dr for yearly check up and blood work. My white blood count was low at 2.8 the only changes I have made since last check up is the addition of lipitor and Keto diet. The last 2 weeks I have been dizzy and have headaches and insomnia. Not sure if I should quit taking the drug or quit my diet."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 5, 2018

"Went on atorvastatin because I had a fully blocked vertebral artery in the back of my neck and a partially blocked vertebral artery that required a stent. Within three days, I started getting a flushing of the skin of face and neck. Then the muscle soreness kicked in along with stiffness in other muscles. This gradually increased into neck muscles and finger muscles. I also developed weakness in all extremities. I was also in a fog at times and it was difficult to concentrate at work. I also had trouble focusing my vision. All of this happened over the six weeks that I was taking the drug. Have to be on something to lower cholesterol until stent is placed so doctor put me on another statin. However, I believe in quality of life over quantity of life so if the new statin continues like the old one, I will stop taking them and switch to berberine, which the scientific studies I have seen show to be just as effective at reducing cholesterol. My doctor is okay with this plan."

• Geo
• October 11, 2019

"After using over 30 days my face skin got severe itching with dry skin. Without knowing this cause I continue to take for another 10 days and by then my face skin looks like burned and damaged altogether with severe dry skin and itching."

• DRW
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2022

Lipitor (atorvastatin) "I was prescribed Lipitor by a GP, due to my high LDL cholesterol level. I was in excellent condition, BMI under 25, surfing and bike riding daily. Within 24 hours of my first pill, I experienced joint pains. I have osteoarthritis so I assumed it was just a flareup. The next day I had muscle soreness and weakness. The third day all this was worse; realizing it had to be the Lipitor I stopped taking the pills and consulted a specialist. I had dark urine. It was determined that I had Rhabdomyolysis. I ended up losing 5 lbs of muscle mass and it took weeks for me to recover from the extreme weakness and fatigue. The specialist told me that if I had continued to take the Liptor for a few more days I probably would have been in a very serious condition."

• Happy...
• August 7, 2020

"Before starting taking atorvastatin 10mg: 230 total cholesterol, 160 LDL. After 9 weeks: total cholesterol 145, LDL 75. I'm 45 old male. All my life I've been vegetarian and because I ate a lot of cheese and eggs (to try to get my b-12 vitamin normal), I think thats why I had high cholesterol. I'm stopping the statin. I'll check my lipid panel in a couple of months to see if with the diet alone (no eggs and cheese) my levels stay ok"

• Dusty...
• June 11, 2009

Lipitor (atorvastatin) "Very healthy 50 year old white male. Developed severe rash on right inside thigh. Doctor immediately suggested to stop taking Lipitor, which I did. FUNNY, Crestor produced same rash in same place. Doctor was amazed."

• Grand...
• January 12, 2016

"First I was on Simvastatin, then I had a Dr. change and he put me on Atorvastatin, my blood sugar levels went up for no reason, then I started having cramps, told the Dr. and he said just watch my diet. So I did, the cramps were almost every day and getting me very upset. So called the Dr. again. He finally told me to stop the meds for 14 days and then start again. The cramps went away until I started taking them again. Don't know what the Dr. will do next."

• Brian
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 31, 2017

"At age 48 and good health, I took Atorvastatin/10mg for 1 year without symptoms. It lowered my bad cholesterol. Near the 1st year, I began experiencing significant/unusual leg weakness and knee pain when standing from a kneeling position. It got to the point that I always needed to brace myself on the sofa or coffee table when getting up after playing with my dog or toddler son. Rising from my desk required a push on the desk top. Then weakness and pain to my finger/shoulder joints and a "forgetfulness." Overall, I felt "Rickety." My MD said to stay on it. I decided otherwise and went off cold turkey one day. I've been off 2 years and I feel normal again, except for residual and reduced effect on my shoulder and hands."

• Big...
• October 9, 2017

"Dad died of heart attack three years ago. Then two years later my brother had heart attack from blockage and almost died. My cholesterol is 512. Been taking this statin about 3 weeks. I'm miserable. Leg pain/ cramps. Pain down both arms but mainly left one. Totally weak all over. Lower leg pain both sides. Tight chest every night. Heat pounds all the time now. Barely can sleep a couple hours a night if I'm lucky. Sour stomach every night have to take antacids at bedtime. Can't function during the day. I gotta go see my Doc now that I know this med is the cause. 43 year old fairly active, average weight male."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2023

"I've been taking atorvastatin for 6 months and I feel horrible. I have had muscle pain, and trouble with my asthma since I started taking it. The biggest side effect is just generally feeling like a zombie, having no energy, extreme fatigue, trouble sleeping and just feeling like total rubbish all the time. I'm over it."

• Zegota
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 4, 2018

"Being treated for high Cholesterol and high blood pressure, Atorvastatin is one of the drugs I have been on for over four years now. Results have been positive for me and my Doctor has lowered my prescription from forty to twenty mg per day. I take one Atorvastatin at night, since I was told that the body produce Cholesterol at night time. So to get the full benefit of the statin I take it now, once a night with my medication for high blood pressure, Amlodipine. Which is another story, but positive, anyway I am positive about Atorvastatin and would recommend it. While at the same time, I would suggest that you watch your own reaction to any medication. Mostly any medication that deals with your heart, be careful. God Bless."

• Ezell...
• June 12, 2017

"I've been taking Atorvastatin for a couple of weeks now,,,HATE IT AND WILL STOP TODAY!!.I have a cough and stuffy nose (side effect) tight chest, tired all the time, muscle cramps, off and on diarrhea, sore throat, no need to say anymore. I've been put on several different kinds of meds for high cholesterol and they all have side effects that I can't deal with. It's sad but every Dr I've had has wanted to put me on these meds that make me sick. I'm gonna find foods that may help"

• ELSAE...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2018

"Had by pass surgery, six of them, and was put on an 80MG dose of atorvastatin. Before surgery my LDL was 114, total was 214, HDL was 82 and triglyceride was 88. After one week on an 80 mg dose my values were 73, 166, 80 and 65. I was pleased and no side effects. Then after 5 months I began getting itching on my back and arms that drove me batty. My memory seemed to be suffering. The final straw was a complete loss of strength in my left leg, near the calf muscle. I could not even walk up my stairs. I immediately stopped taking atorvastatin and within two days the muscle returned to normal and the itching got way less severe. Memory also improved. I am 77 years old and have always been a runner so am in very good shape."

• Js1000
• October 30, 2016

"69 year old male. New to statins. Have started on Atorvastatin and in the first 80 days, with no side effects, cholesterol has dropped from 258 to 179, LDL to 100, and LDL/HDL ratio to 2.2. So... success! Very pleased."

• COOKIE
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 28, 2018

"Prescribed 10mg daily but experienced muscle pains. I talked to my doctor and we agreed to splitting the 10mg pill in half. I take 5mg per day with no side effects. Cholesterol levels have dropped to almost near normal range."

• No Ko...
• January 2, 2017

"I was prescribed statins. Side effects were many of those listed here by other users so I stopped taking them. I can, with 80 percent confidence say within 5 years statins will be banned or have the famous black label warning box."

• Jimmy...
• March 24, 2017

"No doubt Lipitor at any dose does lowers your numbers. But what does that really mean, has plaque in your arteries reduced by same percentage ? I think not. Still statins might have their place but who can tolerate them, very few if you research. I just wish the doctors would push and insist on diet/exercise plans before prescribing statins. Was on Liptor only 10 mg for 18 months, numbers down but felt like crap. The usual intense body muscle aches. Off for a week now and my body is telling me already it needs a break from statin drugs. I'm totally satisfied to move forward and roll dice with diet/exercise. Doctor is in full agreement to drop statin for now. 66 year old male and still very active despite some heart failure."

• Eeeffcc
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2022

"Awful drug. 20mg dose started 3 weeks ago. A full 4 days now of flu like symptoms and the necessity to sleep at random hours. My muscles and joints are so painful, especially my ankles and waves of nausea pass over me constantly. I’ve only kept taking it as the warnings say don’t stop abruptly….but I’m going to. I’ll report back in a few days as to how I am. These symptoms I have can’t be coincidental."

• Jeanne...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2023

"This pill has terrible side effects. Makes my heart beat very fast for 60 minutes after taking it, my excellent memory is now gone and it overworks my diabetic kidneys big time. Stopped it completely last night. Exercise and a good diet are happening today."

• Bobbie
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 2, 2019

"I was on this medication for close to ten years I've had problems with it -cramps and muscles weakness. Went to my doctor and told him about the problems I was having and they said it couldn't be the cholesterol medicine I've been on it too long."

• Louis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 7, 2023

"I'm a 46-year-old Black male with high cholesterol. I couldn't figure out for the life of me why I developed muscle pain and muscle cramps all of a sudden from my arms to my legs. Thank God my wife is a pharmacy technician that works in a clinic. She said they had a guy come to their clinic on the same medicine complaining about the same thing. She actually figured it out for me. Yes, it got my cholesterol under control, but the muscle aches and pains are worth it. It's 4 am in the morning, and my extremities are aching now. The doctor switched my statin; we'll see how it goes.."

• Aloy
• February 28, 2017

"I was put on 20mg atorvastatin for 2 months.From the first couple weeks I noticed a rise in my blood pressure every three days with severe cramping up my left arm to my head and down my left leg. Most times I get so fearful that I might be about to suffer a stroke. I noticed that my memory sometimes goes hay wire and now I am beginning to have difficulties in swallowing my own saliva during resting periods. I am also suffering from discharging of clear salty phlegm via spitting when I do not have a cold. I have to put up with constant dizzy spells,muscle pain and muscle twitching but I am still taking the drug due to the fact that I really wanna get my total cholesterol down from 329 and most importantly my bad cholesterol down from 265."