Atorvastatin and Muscle Pain: What Users Say

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

Atorvastatin 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."

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

Atorvastatin 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."

• 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."

• sad...
• March 21, 2019

For High Cholesterol "My doctor prescribed me atorvastatin 10mg, 8 weeks ago. My numbers are in the 200s. I was very hesitant because of the bad side effects I have heard other people tell me about, but everyone is different, so I decided to give it a try. As of today, I took myself off of it. I have gained 12 lbs, experienced muscle weakness, muscle aches, back pain, brain fog, memory issues, confusion, headaches, and fatigue. I explained to my doctor that I was having bad side effects, and she told me to stay on it and just 'wait it out' and the good will outweigh the bad. I have become very inactive and sleep all the time. I haven't exercised at all, and with the weight gain, that has made my health deteriorate...not improve. I am going to try Niacin instead. In the long run, I realize that eating healthy and exercise is the best way to keep my body in the best shape possible. My health is important to me, but so is my quality of life. Try this drug at your own risk."

• PAS...
• October 5, 2009

Atorvastatin for High Cholesterol "I was prescribed 40 mg of Lipitor for heart disease. I was on it for 9 months. It did lower my cholesterol, but had a lot of undesired bad side effects! Right away, I noticed memory problems, forgetfulness, confusion, and was just fog-headed. Then, of course, I experienced the usual muscle pain. I also noticed being moody for no apparent reason. I talked to my cardiologist, and he took me off of it."

• Eri...
• March 17, 2017

Atorvastatin for High Cholesterol "When I was originally put on this statin, it was on a low dose of 10 mg a day to reduce cholesterol. I had, or recall, very few side effects. I combined the drug with exercise and diet. My cholesterol was lowered and remained low. Doctors have kept me on the drug, and now at the age of 71, I experience headaches, a bloated rumbling and very uncomfortable digestive system, hives, muscle aches, and other adverse effects that interfere with my diet and exercise. Doctors seem to be reluctant to lower doses, but these adverse effects are now materially affecting my quality of life."

• add...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 17, 2014

For High Cholesterol "Never had such side effects as I did when taking atorvastatin. Quality of life went out the window, unable to dress myself below the waist because of very bad muscle pain and weakness in the legs, unable to walk more than 100 yards. Unable to bend down. Have now stopped taking it and quality of life is now back to normal after one week."

• Der...
• November 14, 2015

Atorvastatin for High Cholesterol "I have been using Lipitor for only one week but am feeling fatigue and muscle pains. My cholesterol dropped from 130 to 100, but there were too many side effects. I decided to stop and now I am feeling okay."

• 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???"

• Sen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 1, 2016

Atorvastatin for High Cholesterol "Atorvastatin did lower my cholesterol quite a bit, but within the first couple of weeks I developed muscle pain in the back of one knee. After another week, I developed muscle pain in the calf of the other leg. My doctor doesn't think this was caused by Atorvastatin. He believes it is arthritis. He ordered an x-ray of the knee and blood test for liver function. Waiting for results. If the pain is from arthritis, I will continue taking the medicine. If Atorvastatin is affecting muscles or liver, I may discontinue or ask to switch to another statin."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2012

For High Cholesterol "I have only been taking this medicine for 1 month, 10 mg every other day. Already I am experiencing severe joint and muscle pain. This has happened to me every time I have taken statin drugs. I will be going back to my doctor to discuss further and look for an alternative."

• Box...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 30, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I have been on this for several years. I have felt nothing but miserable while taking it. I have had cramping, muscle pain in my legs, stomach issues, headaches, and pain in my arms. I kept asking my primary doctor if this could be the cause of all this, and he kept saying no. Well, I have changed my primary doctor and done away with this terrible medication!"

• 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."

• pj1...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 6, 2015

Atorvastatin for High Cholesterol "In the past year, I have experienced four occasions of hyperlipidemia, rhabdomyolysis, and acute renal failure. All four times, I woke up in ICU and had a lengthy stay in the hospital. I am still taking atorvastatin, have muscle aches and pains, weakness, joint pain, stiffness, and restless legs, with no control of movement. I am miserable most of the time. Recently, my doctor stopped the Lipitor for the next six weeks to see what changes may happen."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I have been on atorvastatin for about three months. I kept telling my doctor that my legs hurt, so she ordered an EMG [electromyography measures muscle response], which I refused. She’s trying to make it sound like I’m crazy and it’s all in my head that my legs hurt or that there is something else wrong when in fact it’s from the atorvastatin. I’m sorry to say this, but I think doctors are all about the money because if she would have told me the side effects of this drug, I wouldn’t have taken it in the first place. I feel horrible all the time, I feel like I have to throw up all the time. My legs hurt, my foot is numb. I called her up today and said I’m not taking that medicine ever again, I’ll be taking niacin instead. That also helps to lower your cholesterol."

• Joh...
• September 22, 2020

Atorvastatin for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease "My cholesterol has always been in the normal range, about 145, although my LDL/HDL ratio, 90/55, is not optimal. I eat healthy, 10% body fat, work out over 300 days a year. But a heart scan at 60 gave me a shock, showed a lot of plaque in my LAD, not good. Started Lipitor 10 mg daily, cholesterol dropped into the 90s, with LDL of 50. Went to 10 mg/5 mg alternating days, last lipid panel showed cholesterol at 114, LDL 72. I have never had any negative side effects. Two very athletic friends with high cholesterol used statins but quit because of muscle pain. My third athletic friend, with cholesterol of 300, uses a statin, cholesterol into normal range with no side effects. So if you have high cholesterol, don't be afraid to give a statin a try, start low and titrate up, if the side effects are too bad, quit, but you may be one of the lucky ones like me and my third friend, for whom a statin is very effective and does not have side effects."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• September 11, 2009

Atorvastatin for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease "I used Zocor for the first statin following angioplasty in December 2009. I must state that I have a high degree of sensitivity to medications and a high degree of allergies. With Zocor, I experienced abdominal cramps increasing daily, muscle pain, and off and on nausea. The cramps were a concern because I have experienced anemia in the past. My doctor, whom I trust with my life, suggested that I not take Zocor. After several months, I had blood work, my LDH still higher than the doctor wanted, so he prescribed Lipitor. I had the same bad effects but on a higher level. Fortunately, my doctor trusts my reports. There is one 'weird' change that I have not shared with my doctor, but I am sharing with all of you. In several days, and increasingly, I am losing hair. Help me!"

• 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."

• Ala...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 23, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I have tried on several occasions to stick with a daily dose. But each time, I had to back off due to muscle pain and severe diarrhea. The diarrhea got so bad (needed to go urgently) that I found myself not wanting to socialize as much or leave the house for long periods. Several close calls made me apprehensive. When I did take this, starting my lipid panel was back to normal. But the side effects were too much to stand. So I will not be going back to daily statin doses. And yes, I have tried other statins down through the years. Same negative results."

• Sus...
• January 23, 2017

For High Cholesterol "My doctor put me on 10 mg of Atorvastatin, and after checking my cholesterol after 3 months, increased my Atorvastatin to 20 mg. I didn't feel the side effects right away, perhaps 3 months after taking them, my feet felt like bricks, and it was harder to walk because I had neuropathy. I just thought it was just getting worse, we have stairs, and I felt like my femur muscle was rubbing against my bone, just a slight sensation there. I knew this was different, but what can I do? Was I just getting older? I had within the next few days, both my knees would give out with pain behind them, hard to get off the toilet without pain. Got off Atorvastatin on my own, noticed I was getting better. Off for 2 weeks now, 99.9% better! It was Atorvastatin!"

• hen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 2, 2018

For High Cholesterol "I have been taking Atorvastatin 10 mg along with Olmesartan 40 mg for 3.5 months. About one month ago, I started waking up with my right hand almost locked in a semi-closed fist. In particular, the middle finger could not be straightened for at least 30 mins and was very painful. In the past two weeks, I have experienced serious muscle and joint pains all over my body. I thought it was caused by the Olmesartan, and with the doctor's approval, I started taking 20 mg rather than 40 mg. This did not help, so I was told to stop taking Atorvastatin for the next couple of days. Well, one day off the Atorvastatin has given me real relief from the serious pain that was making life miserable and keeping me from sleeping. The pain in the right hand is still there, but it is less painful. I am due to see the doctor on 11/5/2018 to discuss the issues and find a drug without the serious side effects. I hope this helps everyone on these drugs."

• USC...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 31, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I have had high cholesterol for years, so was put on atorvastatin, and it was a nightmare. Besides muscle pain and aches, the worst side effect is muscle weakness. I'm talking flat-out atrophy of my leg muscles. I'm in my 50s, and the effect has been horrible on quality of life. I fall easily. I finally got off of this drug and switched to another statin."

• USC...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 31, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I have had high cholesterol for years, so was put on atorvastatin, and it was a nightmare. Besides muscle pain and aches, the worst side effect is muscle weakness. I'm talking flat-out atrophy of my leg muscles. I'm in my 50s, and the effect has been horrible on quality of life. I fall easily. I finally got off of this drug and switched to another statin."

• Tah...
• October 3, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I have been on atorvastatin for a few months. Started out at 40 mg per day. I had something going on with my legs to the point where I thought I had blood clots. I told my cardiologist that I had leg pain this past June (2019). I said it may be the medication, but he said I should not be having any muscle pains in my legs. He upped my dosage to 80 mg per day. Well, I can barely walk, and I mean barely. The leg cramps at night and the pain in my legs are terrible. I saw this website yesterday (10/2/19) and read some of the comments. I contacted my doctor immediately and told him what was going on. I feel like I'm an 80-year-old woman and how painful it is in my legs. He took me off immediately and told me to never go back on atorvastatin again."