Lipitor User Reviews & Ratings

• JTa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2020

For High Cholesterol "So I went to the doctor for peripheral neuropathy and back spasms. She did my blood work, and my cholesterol is extremely high. She put me on generic Lipitor, and it made my back spasms even worse. Now my upper back has a tremor that still hasn't gone away even after quitting the drug 2 months ago. I have lost strength in my legs and I have terrible short-term memory. It gave me dizzy spells, and I just felt sick all the time. I'm still recovering from it, and I told my doctor I quit taking it because it was making me shake. Now she wants me to start taking it again, but I'm not going to."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 5, 2020

For High Cholesterol "After taking Lipitor for a few weeks, I developed pain in both my legs, arms, and shoulders. After three months, all my muscles were heavy and underpowered. I could hardly exercise. I stopped taking Lipitor, and some three months later, I am nearly back to normal! Don’t take these drugs because it defeats the object. You need to exercise to reduce cholesterol, however, these drugs prevent you from doing so!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 30, 2019

For High Cholesterol "Delayed side effects. Took years to realize statins give memory loss BIG TIME and muscle pain and mood issues. And now discovering risk from high LDL is massively exaggerated. Having sufficient HDL is what matters. If you know someone losing memory, ask them to think back if it started getting worse within a year of starting statins. Someone once did that for me."

• Ros...
• April 1, 2019

For High Cholesterol "5 urgent care and 2 ER trips, and no one related the Lipitor to my pains. I had bad muscle cramps everywhere. Muscle cramps causing pain in glute muscles that had me in physical therapy. Itching and tingling on face and extremities. Also pain in various muscles that concludes with lasting aches and difficulty with motion. Fatigue too. Been on for over a year then looked up side effects and called my doctor. Took statin-specific blood test and have to have test to see if my muscle fibers have broken down. I'm a walking side effect commercial...and it's not fun."

• WJV...
• January 27, 2020

For High Cholesterol "I took Lipitor for three weeks. Three days into the treatment, I had left knee and hip pain. I continued to take it for another 2 and a half weeks in hopes the issues would resolve. My cholesterol was normal on a retest. However, the pain in my hip, below my abdomen, and knee caused a really bad limp. I stopped taking the drug, and it took me 3 months and daily CoQ10 supplements to return my leg to normal. Since then, I have gone on a diet, lost 10 pounds, eliminated white sugar, and red meat from my diet. Hope that's enough. I would not recommend statins for anyone!"

• Lar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I took Lipitor for three months, then went through an unbelievably bad time for 3 years due to side effects. I had myopathy, neuropathy, rashes, upset stomach, extreme muscle pain, ED, constipation, arthritis, short-term memory loss, could not lift my arms above my head, and horrible fatigue."

• Pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2020

For High Cholesterol "Terrible! After a few days on this drug, I started having moments of 'spacing out' - it was like my brain would go offline for a minute or two and suddenly reboot. Horrible feeling! Also, it is important to note that this drug is known to worsen symptoms of GERD (which I have). Lipitor made my GERD so bad that I was vomiting for hours after eating or drinking anything. I have tried it twice and had the same reaction both times. No thanks!"

• Kat...
• August 27, 2013

For High Cholesterol "Took Lipitor for about 5 years. It kept my lipids under control well, but developed really bad leg aching and muscle cramps, especially at night. Went off it and within a week, all these reactions disappeared."

• DUK...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2018

For High Cholesterol "Been taking 20mg for 3 months. Zero side effects. Triglycerides were 311. Most recent blood test showed 125, which is in normal range. Good cholesterol was 23. Now is 50. Very effective drug. Sorry to all those people who are having negative side effects. Try something else and good luck. All medications work for some and not others."

• cha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 27, 2019

For High Cholesterol "The Lipitor worked for years then suddenly I had upper arm pains and couldn't move my arms without crying. I couldn't get up from the toilet or bathtub, etc. I was unable to look after myself. My cardiologist took me off the drug immediately and said not to ever go back to it. After months, the pain subsided a little but never came back to my original health. Can't walk much and have to stop every minute or so to rest my aching legs, etc. Can't take care of my apartment anymore."

• Cit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2019

For High Cholesterol "Been on this horrible tablet for two weeks and never felt as ill in my life. I am constantly feeling sick and dizzy and can’t lift my arms up. I stop taking them for one day and the next day I feel on top of the world, then take them again and on the day after back to normal feeling sick, dizzy, sinus problems will never take them again. I will get my cholesterol down myself."

• 56...
• May 30, 2017

For High Cholesterol "My doctor prescribed Lipitor (40mg) four months ago for high cholesterol of 342. I started feeling like my lower legs weighed a ton. Then it also went into my knees and behind the knees. The pain was unbearable, especially in the muscles circling the knee with bad pain above and towards the outer side of both knees. My doctor thinks it's from an injury I suffered 11 years ago and sent me for X-rays. I tried telling him it felt more like muscle than joint pain, but at this point, the pain was so bad that I wasn't even sure anymore. Confusion started a few weeks ago, where I was struggling to think of words. Three days ago, I quit taking it, and I slowly am feeling better. Thankfully I found these reviews today. Things are making more sense."

• Pro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 16, 2019

For Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease "I was put on Lipitor after a mild heart attack and stent placement. A short time after starting the script, my hands started hurting daily. They woke me up at night. Then the pain spread throughout my body. It got so bad I could not push up off a chair or bed. Nothing helped. It was nerve and muscle pain. Took it for a year before the doctor finally heard me and took me off Lipitor to see if that was the cause. Within days, the pain started letting up. Now 4 months later I'm back to normal. The pain was so bad I thought I was terminal and felt that way to the point of writing out a will. Not everyone has this reaction. But pay attention if you start taking it and then have body pain. It can be dangerous. I don't know what long-term effects may show up later from it. Now my hands still hurt daily from it. But less than when I was on the pill."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2020

For High Cholesterol "Horrible drug! Was taking 40 mg once a day. Side effects were just terrible. Headaches, nauseous, dizzy, spacey, and just felt terrible overall. After a few months, I decided to cut my dose in half. The next morning still had some side effects but not nearly as bad as the prescribed dose I was on."

• Anonymous
• September 21, 2009

For High Cholesterol "I was taking the combination drug Caduet, of which Lipitor was one of the two drugs. Steadily over a year, my doctor increased the medication from 20mg to 40mg, and then about three months ago, he increased it to 80mg. Within a month, I was experiencing tiredness, and eventually muscle weakness, coupled with elevated CK readings. On doing some research on the drug, I found that the symptoms I had were indeed a major drug reaction. Although Lipitor helped in the reduction of my cholesterol levels, the side effects were debilitating. Within a week of having the medication changed to a non-statin, I was beginning to feel better. A month later, I am close to being back to my old self. There are other better alternatives."

• Edd...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 10, 2023

For Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease "Don’t use this drug if your doctor prescribes it. Took this for 3 years after an acute myocardial infarction (MI), and now I have a condition called statin-induced myopathy, which is a wasting muscle disorder that is non-reversible and will eventually completely disable me."

• Tal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2020

For High Cholesterol "Taken before two other times for high cholesterol, I quit because of stomach pains and bloating. This time I took 40 mg for a week, it didn't seem to bother my stomach. I did notice wind, so I decided to quit again, it's just not worth the side effects. I'm not overweight, I don't eat greasy foods, I do eat and drink sugar every day. My cholesterol is very high. I'll ask my doctor if there is another medicine to try, does anyone have a suggestion? Thanks."

• mom...
• August 14, 2013

For High Cholesterol "I have taken this for 8 years but it makes me feel like a zombie. And it affects my memory and motor skills. I recently went back to work and had to quit Lipitor because it affected my ability to work. Don't know what I will try next. Started on Crestor 9 years ago and couldn't stand the pain in my legs."

• Lol...
• September 14, 2016

For Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease "This drug is the absolute worst in the world for me. I have been on it for five years or more and being in bad pain for three of those years. I have been on Tylenol three, Codeine Contin, and hydromorphone, and the doctor argued every time when I went in to get more pain meds. My legs have been in unbelievable pain for so long I can't honestly think of the time when I was not in pain. I just started reading about this and stopped taking Lipitor and told the doctor that I would never go back on it again. In about a month, I have started to feel better, but I am left with weak legs and a huge bill from the chiropractor, massage therapist, acupuncturist, exercise therapist, and naturopathic doctor. I have had three trips to the hospital emergency department with no help in the long run. I am very, very angry. I hope my lingering pain goes away soon."

• car...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 5, 2015

For High Cholesterol "I've been on Lipitor (Atorvastatin) 40mg for about 6 years and complained about leg cramps for 5 of those years. All I kept hearing was the 'low on potassium' with never a solution. The cramps have been unrelenting and at times, all day long. Legs, feet, toes, fingers. Talking to a friend about this the other day, she said she had to stop taking Lipitor due to leg cramps. Well, knock me down. I never associated this cramping with my cholesterol medication. I stopped taking it a week ago and haven't had one single cramp! Now I have to find another cholesterol medication but it sounds like all of them can have this side effect."

• nan...
• October 3, 2013

For High Cholesterol "My cardiologist took me off Lipitor 2 weeks ago. My cholesterol is great after being on a low-carb diet. Previously, my body was covered in bruises at all times, which I had attributed to other medicines (Plavix and aspirin). I just realized I am bruise-free for the first time in over a year. Conclusion: it was the Lipitor causing the problem."

• Tja...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2019

For Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease "Worst side effects I could imagine. The pelvic and leg pain was so bad I couldn't sleep for six days until my doctor told me to stop! The pain was worse than anything I have experienced, including childbirth! Doctors should not be so quick to jump to this drug! It also messed with my kidneys, I have been on antibiotics for 2 weeks trying to get them back to a normal level. In my opinion, don't take it!"

• jcv...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 2, 2013

For High Cholesterol "Have been on this for so long but recently I feel it creates nausea and stomach/abdominal pain. No matter when I take it, with or without food, I seem to get this reaction. My doctor is stumped, but I cannot get past this awful 'sick' feeling all the time. When I stop taking it, I do much better. When I start again, the same thing happens. My only other prescription is for high blood pressure and is the same as I have always taken, so we figure it is not that."

• ego...
• February 22, 2020

For High Cholesterol "After the first week of taking 80mg Lipitor a day, I experienced bad arm pain from my armpit to elbow. I also had tendon pain on top of a hot sensation of the skin on my arm and shoulder blade pain. Two doctors refused to consider that it could be the drug, but I never had a problem before. They are saying it is a deteriorated spine."

• miz...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 14, 2012

For High Cholesterol "Lipitor plus Zetia lowered cholesterol from 300 to 200, lots of aches, pains, and Charlie horses in the legs, especially going up and down stairs. High cholesterol is prominent in the family genes. Now have nasty skin rashes, red welts with itch that are awful. Dermatology, allergist, and GP have no answers. I am guessing it is the statins as it's the only other thing I take besides a low-dose aspirin."