Atorvastatin and Dizziness: What Users Say

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

Lipitor (atorvastatin) 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."

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

Lipitor (atorvastatin) 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."

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

Lipitor (atorvastatin) 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."

• riv...
• February 20, 2019

For High Cholesterol "Wish I could rate this a zero. After only 3 days on atorvastatin 20mg, I experienced constant headache, muscle pain and weakness, dizziness, couldn't sleep, tingling in the arms and legs, and ringing in the ears. Well, turns out after doing more research into these toxic drugs, I was indeed being slowly poisoned. Stopped after 9 days and things are improving slowly. These drugs stop the essential HMG-CoA pathway in the body which produces many molecules that are essential for cellular health. They also build up in muscle tissue in their toxic lactone form. This is especially serious if you have acidic blood pH. There are genetic variations in the body's ability to clear these through the liver that can lead to a dangerous build-up of these drugs in your body. This basic biology is all hard science and confirmed by peer-reviewed studies. Educate yourself and make your own decision before letting your doctor scare you into taking these dangerous drugs."

• her...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 11, 2022

Lipitor (atorvastatin) for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease "My experience with this drug was not very good. I was prescribed 10 mg, 1 tablet to be taken per day. I was healthy with normal blood pressure and walked and exercised probably 4 miles per day and was generally fit and healthy. I was unable to take the tablet every day and ended up having to skip days because of the side effects. On day 3, it gave me a dizzy feeling and a sense of anger, like wanting to snap at someone for no reason. Day 4 was a spacey feeling, like floating, and generally feeling like I had no desire to want to do anything. I went out for a walk and got the most terrible muscle cramps in the calves, which came and went. Also, a panic anxiety feeling that lasted about a minute, which felt like I was going to die, and a general feeling of not being well. Then the doctor said to take it every other day, and this was causing me insomnia where I would sleep for an hour then be awake for 4 hours trying to sleep. Also, very low sex drive and a feeling like I was being poisoned. Eventually, I came off it."

• Far...
• November 1, 2016

For High Cholesterol "I have been on this drug atorvastatin 10mg for about 2 years. After taking it for one year, I developed so many side effects which I didn't know were due to this drug. I experienced severe headache, dizziness, migraine, hot flushes, sweating, chills, shivering, pains on one side of the body, sinus pain, sore eyes. I felt like I ruined my life and wasted a lot of money hoping for a cure. I went to ENT doctors, cardiologists, physicians, neurologists, etc., but nobody listened to me. They only prescribed painkillers and nerve tablets. I used to cry all the time, wondering if I would die. Finally, I did some research and found patient reviews. I decided to quit this medicine, which was awful. After one month, I am slowly improving. Thank you to this site for helping patients as today's doctors have no time to listen."

• dor...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 19, 2016

For High Cholesterol "Started this drug a few months back and started having health problems; did not associate with the meds. The list is long on the adverse effects. Dizzy, loss of balance, pain in head, ringing in ears, pressure in ears (went to ear nose and throat, said it was not in my ears). I have heaviness and weakness in my legs, hard to walk far. Sleep problems, walking and talking while asleep, seizures lasting a few seconds. This week other joints started hurting as well. Hey, the good news is, my cholesterol went way down. I quit taking this med yesterday. Lowering my cholesterol is not worth all the side effects. I am glad it works for some, but have researched this drug and so many have had a bad reaction."

• dor...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 19, 2016

For High Cholesterol "Started this drug a few months back and started having health problems; did not associate with the meds. The list is long on the adverse effects. Dizzy, loss of balance, pain in head, ringing in ears, pressure in ears (went to ear nose and throat, said it was not in my ears). I have heaviness and weakness in my legs, hard to walk far. Sleep problems, walking and talking while asleep, seizures lasting a few seconds. This week other joints started hurting as well. Hey, the good news is, my cholesterol went way down. I quit taking this med yesterday. Lowering my cholesterol is not worth all the side effects. I am glad it works for some, but have researched this drug and so many have had a bad reaction."

• twi...
• November 26, 2019

For High Cholesterol "Female, mid-50s. Height to weight is decent. Winter 2019 blood work showed 235 cholesterol reading. Thyroid was good, good cholesterol NOT so good. Doc suggested atorvastatin. I agreed, sure why not if it helps my numbers. LET'S DO IT. 25mg atorvastatin. 1st week I noticed that I have zero desire to get out of bed. I am usually the first up. That was red flag 1. Getting out of bed brought aches and pains that I didn't feel before taking this med. I started feeling like I was 80 years old. Joint pain, muscle pain. THE pain would change locations daily, from arms, thighs, back, hands, knees, neck TO arms, back, etc.. I read to add CoQ10 which I did. No help. Next, my nose would start to run as if someone turned on a switch. My hair started to fall out. Experienced feeling dizzy sometimes. Could be BP meds. Now about my head, my thought process is fuzzy. Last is the itching...arms and legs. Doc took me off. Ya think???"

• san...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2023

For High Cholesterol "My doctor prescribed me this medicine, 10 mg once a day, for high cholesterol and triglycerides. A week into the treatment, I started feeling awful: dizziness, unbearable knee and joint pain, extreme fatigue, and constant dizziness that made it difficult for me to function. Additionally, it has disrupted my body's thermostat, causing me to experience intense hot flashes and excessive sweating even in an air-conditioned environment. I spoke to the doctor about these symptoms, but he dismissed my concerns, which is why I'm here looking for answers. I have decided to stop taking the medicine to evaluate myself and the risks, as the side effects are too awful to live with."

• Lip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2016

For High Cholesterol "In the first few days of taking Lipitor, I was unbelievably tired, weak, and dizzy. I had muscle aches, dry mouth, and a headache. I felt on the verge of having a heart attack. I felt nauseous, and these symptoms just got worse the longer I took it. It got to the point where I was so dizzy I couldn't drive my car. I had to get off it immediately."

• da1...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 12, 2024

For High Cholesterol "I started on 10 mg every day. By the 10th day, massive brain fog, dizzy, muscle pain. (I'm super sensitive to meds.) I now take it every 3rd day. Some weeks it ends up being 3 times a week and sometimes 2, but it works. Zero side effects and works like a charm. If you can't tolerate every day; talk to your doctor about every other day or every 3rd day."

• Bon...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 30, 2020

For Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease "I was on statins for about 3 years. My cholesterol was never that high, but my doctor was concerned about the buildup of bad cholesterol affecting my heart. Started Zocor at 20 mg and after 3 years, 40 mg. I had an experience of blurred vision and thought maybe I should go to the ER. They did an MRI of my brain and found I had a very small old stroke. Before I was discharged, the doctor changed me to Lipitor 40 mg. I saw a neurologist, and he did more brain scans with dye this time and also did an MRA of the veins from my neck. All looked good, with no blockage, and the veins to the brain looked good too, with no narrowing. After about 3 weeks on Lipitor, I got bad side effects with a headache, brain fog, muscle ache in my legs, back pain, and dizziness. I played golf that day and was barely able to finish. Came home, and after doing a lot of research, decided to stop taking statins. The long-term side effects are scary. I will watch my diet and control my cholesterol that way. Will never do statins again."

• Hey...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2023

Lipitor (atorvastatin) "I took Lipitor for nearly two weeks under the doctor’s recommendation. I had to stop taking the medication as I had adverse side effects of severe muscle pain in my shins and upper arms. I felt extremely tired and dizzy, and my memory slowed. I am no longer taking this medication."

• Ron...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 23, 2022

For High Cholesterol "I started taking atorvastatin 20 mg daily about 2-3 months ago and started having weird side effects. I noticed both legs, from the knee down, started having some pain and swelling. The swelling was the worse. The pain would have been bearable if that had been the only problem. Another side effect was some nausea, and the acid reflux was worse than I had ever had since my initial diagnosis 30 years ago. I also noticed memory loss and dizziness. I just felt horrible. I actually thought something terrible was happening. I work in healthcare, so my first thought was what has changed in my routine. So I stopped the atorvastatin for a couple of days, and I noticed improvement fairly quickly, so I had to be certain that it was the medication. I decided to give the atorvastatin another try, and the negative side effects started again. Needless to say, I will never take this medication again."

• Anonymous
• March 27, 2017

For High Cholesterol "I had a heart attack, and my doc gave me this to take. Within days, I was worse off than before my heart attack. Always dizzy, confused, diarrhea, muscle cramps, short of breath, insomnia. I quit taking them, and I feel so much better now, and it's only been 4 days since I quit taking them. This script is horrible and needs to be taken off the market! Oh, also headaches every damn day, which I never ever had before."

• tax...
• February 19, 2017

For High Cholesterol "I had very high cholesterol, 280. Prescribed atorvastatin 20 mg. Began to have erratic blood pressure within a week of taking it, going as high as 190 over 100, sending me rushing to the ER. Doctor put me on BP meds and upped my atorvastatin to 40 mg. Within a week, the erratic BP continued, and I developed a cough with phlegm, most noticeable at night before sleep and when I awoke. I then developed acute dizziness, severe soreness in my chest and lungs, significant pain in my surgically repaired tendon in my hand, numbness that ran up my arm to my head on one side of my body. My labs came back with my total cholesterol reduced to 125. But I became prediabetic, liver function abnormal, and creatinine rising from 1 to 6. I stopped taking it."

• Unk...
• August 2, 2015

For High Cholesterol "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."

• spd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2017

For High Cholesterol "Felt I was having a heart attack but without the chest pain. Every muscle in my body seemed to go into rigidity, and I could not move. Heavy sweating. Severe pain in muscles and joints. Difficulty breathing that turned into wheezing and gasping for breath. Panic. Dizziness. This was my third dose of medication."

• Bea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2019

For High Cholesterol "Have been taking Lipitor for 2 months. Went to the doctor for a yearly check-up and blood work. My white blood count was low at 2.8. The only changes I have made since the last check-up are the addition of Lipitor and a 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."

• Alo...
• February 28, 2017

For High Cholesterol "I was put on 20 mg atorvastatin for 2 months. From the first couple of 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 haywire 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 want to get my total cholesterol down from 329 and, most importantly, my bad cholesterol down from 265."

• fat...
• November 24, 2017

For High Cholesterol "So I've only been on this a few weeks, but it makes me feel awful. My cholesterol is very high, and I haven't been retested yet (a few more weeks), but I want to sleep all day. I feel off (kind of dizzy and nauseated). I get majorly constipated to the point that I can't go for a few days, which is very unusual for me. When I lay down or sit up (not even fast), the ceiling spins as if I were drunk. I took it upon myself to cut it in half and take it every other day instead. That is better, but I still feel off and worse on the mornings after I take it. My dose was 20 mg a day. As far as diet and exercise, that's out because I can barely wake up and have no energy. Once I do get up and do things, I want to pass out or vomit."

• Sen...
• May 3, 2017

For High Cholesterol "Well, got my lab results, and my cholesterol is 311. Not good. Dr. put me on 20 mg generic Lipitor daily. By the 9th day, oh man, I was a mess. Brain fog, stomach pain, dizzy, and kind of angry. So I decided to take the pill every other day. I read that it could be just as effective. It works wonders! No side effects taking 20 mg every other day. My Dr. doesn't know that I dropped down to every other day. She will know soon. I sent her an email, just waiting for her to read it. So if the daily dose is too much, try every other day or ask for a lower dose."

• Tho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 17, 2023

For High Cholesterol "I have been on this medication before with no side effects. I stopped for a while, then went back on it. Weeks after starting, I felt horrible. Headaches, muscle aches, ringing in the ears, nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness. I ended up in the ER and then later saw my doctor, who told me about the side effects and to stop taking it. Hoping to feel better soon. This medication is HORRIBLE, it shouldn’t be prescribed. The side effects are worse than the benefits. I rate it a zero."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 9, 2022

For High Cholesterol "This drug is like a slow poison. After a few days of taking it, I started to feel pain in my fingers. I talked to my doctor, and they said I can continue the 'medication.' Slowly, other side effects started to develop: low energy, tiredness, dizziness, confusion, panic attacks, anxiety, and a general feeling of awfulness. I messaged my doctor last night and stopped the medication without their approval. I will never take it again."