Withdrawal Symptoms Lipitor (Page 5) (Top voted first)

How long before muscle aches and weakness subside after discontinuing Lipitor

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I have been taking atorvastatin (generic lipitor) for years. Started at 10mg, then 20mg, then 40mg. My new doctor reduced it to 20mg two weeks ago. I have had constant aching legs for the past 12 days from upper thigh down through my toes. I did a google search for side effects upon reducing the dosage. In that search I found that one of the reported side effects of taking atorvastatin is tendon rupture. The tendons behind my knees (BOTH legs) ruptured last year. One in August and the other in November. Agonizing recovery from surgeries. Now, after almost recovering from the last surgery, I have painful aching muscles in both legs. After reading the reports here of psychological effects of discontinuing lipitor, I'm afraid to stop. But I'm more afraid to continue. I do NOT want more ruptured tendons. I will be following my doctor's advice on how to ween off of this drug. I also have several other side effects of atorvastatin including constant fatigue, recurrent rhinitis/sinusitis, stuffy nose, insomnia, memory impairment ("losing words"), forgetfulness, anxiety. The side effects are not worth the risks.

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I stopped taking Lipitor after about 15 years on 20 mg dose. I have had stomach problems and diarrhea since. Anyone else have those symptoms?

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I have taken 5 mini strokes so the put me on lipator and all I read I have stopped. Pomagrante concentrate 2 Oz per day does the same naturally as lipator. Look up case study. It has to be concentrate. Also garlic has same properties. You can't take pomegrante with lipator because it does the same thing. Eating a fresh pom is the same as the concentrate. Juice is watered down and high in sugar dint use it. It has lots of benefits Look it up.

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Supplement ALA protects nerves it is also found in crushed flax seeds just add to salad etc. Lots of benefits ALA. Look it up and decide if it is for you.

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I took 10 mg of atorvastatin for at least 20 years. I'm 71 and stopped taking it a few weeks ago. In 2000, I had surgery for a benign tumor and removal of my gall bladder and right kidney. A month later, when I was still on sick leave from work, I found that I was unable to raise my left arm. What followed were months of physical therapy and pain, in addition to all the appointments before and after the surgery. I went to two physicians and a neurologist who could not explain this event to my satisfaction. I regained the use of my arm, but I still feel weakness in the muscles. I never did realize what caused it until recently. I've read many articles about statins and realized that the statin probably caused this. I took this drug for so long and also had severe muscle pains that also could not be explained. I stopped the drug two years ago, but two doctors urged me to remain on it. Now I regret this. In March of 2016, I cut the pills in half for a week (I realized later that I shouldn't have done this) then stopped the drug completely about three weeks ago. I have a bit more energy and focus at times but still have muscle and lower back pain. I'm nervous about stopping the statin but I know I will not take it again. My doctor does not know I've stopped it and I'll be seeing her in two weeks. I also take several medications for high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, though they are in control now. I've yet to fully realize what other damage has been done that could be attributed to the statin. I don't want to make assumptions about what the statin caused because there's also diabetes. Yesterday I felt fatigued and needed to rest more. At different times in the last month, I've felt slightly light-headed and nauseous, but those symptoms passed. Right now, I'd like to find out exactly when I started taking the statin because some problems I've had could possibly be attributed to that. I'm trying to be proactive with my health and have made many good changes to my diet (vegan, gluten-free) and life in general. But I feel at a standstill when my doctor doesn't help me or listen to my concerns. My current doctor is not the one who prescribed this drug, but she wants me to remain on it. In 1983, my cholesterol was 202. I lost weight after that and it was never that high again (159, 169) and I've never understood why I had to take it. This drug is too dangerous to be taken as a precaution.

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I stopped Lipitor (10mg for 20 plus years) in March 2016. The symptoms weren't overwhelming, but I, too, have had more palpitations. I had to give up everything with caffeine. I have wondered if it was from the cessation of Lipitor. I have had palpitations since my thirties - I am 71. But it's more so now. I miss my coffee but it's worth it if it benefits me physically.

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I was on the generic Lipitor-atorvastatin - 40mg - I so much leg pain and restless leg syndrome after several years of use. I stopped the medication and the pain stopped withing 2 days.

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Gradually stopped taking Lipitor over a month-long period. Had a severe bout of vertigo and almost constant light-headedness/dizziness. Mood changed and last night I thought I was going to "explode," from nervousness. My wife asked me to resume the pill. I took one and had a good night's sleep. My plan is to continue taking Lipitor at a low level of 5 grams a day. By the way, no dizziness this morning!

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I have been on lipitor for 10 months after being misdiagnosed with a heart attack. All tests have confirmed I am not at any risk at all of heart attack and I have no vasculsr disease. I stopped lipitor after increasingly severe leg pains and muscle weakness - I could barely walk! So far, 6 days later, the relief from pain is remarkable. I will check with my doctor but do not intend to take them again

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After I lost my husband my evening meal was usually a bottle of wine and a large bar of chocolate. I was diagnosed with GERD, and was prescribed Omezaprole. I researched this and found that I was actually eating too much chocolate which can coat the oesophagus preventing it from closing properly, so I was getting acid reflux. I also topped drinking orange juice and eating citrus fruit.
My symptoms disappeared quite quickly

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It was about 2 weeks after stopping that I noticed less pain and stiffness. In a month it was completely gone. I took this drug for 17 years but had no problem until I got to menopause. No idea if that's coincidence or not but I am fine now after stopping.

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After about 10 yeas on Lipitor 10 mg my neurologist took me off it due to muscle and joins pain. I am also taking Pramipexole and propanolol and dopamine for Parkinsons. I am 73, male. leg aches got worse, been off Lipitor 5 days now. No dementia yet (unless you believe my wife)

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Yes, I do. My cholestrol is 170. Other lipid metrics ok. My BP is controlled with 4mg-Candesarten and Amlodipine-2.5mg daily. I am in excellent shape/weight and have worked out all my life. But my doctors have been pressuring me to start Lipitor based on some formula that shows I have a 10% chance of a cardiac incident. They requested 10mg a day, but I take 10mg a week for the past 4 mons.

I have some of the symptoms mentioned (muscle aches/weakness, forgetfullness) but I am not sure if its due to lack of protein or Lipitor...I think it is protein scarcity because my symptoms preceded start of my Lipitor. But I read that Lipitor affects the liver adversely.

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I have found that muscle aches and pains goes on and on, but is also off and on.

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I am pretty young, 29. I’m in great shape but I had suprisingly high cholesterol. Doc put me on 10mg daily of Atorvastatin which is a generic for Lipitor. It worked and lowered my cholesterol. Then, I started to notice my hair thinning a little in two spots on my head. I saw this was a side effect so I stopped cold turkey. I’m on about day 4 or 5 of no Atorvastatin and I’ve been struggling with something others here have said and that is just not feeling myself. I don’t feel “of my body”, and just don’t feel “with it”. I know this withdrawal is what is causing this feeling, and it’s a hard one to describe but you know it if you’ve got it. Now, I’m wondering if I should go back on it and wean off or just push through with the cold turkey plan. Hoping this feeling isn’t permanent and I feel back to normal soon.

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My nan collapsed a few days ago and the medics have took Her off astorvarsttin. I dont know why though. She is 81 and smokes and not very healthy. I hope they haven't took her off it to help her on to the other side. She has vascular dementia and prone to mini strokes.Can someone please advise. I dont trust medics that much having worked in the profession.

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Please read the book "Grain Brain" you will stop taking statins.

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I've had similar experiences. On 80 mg Lipitor since thoracic aortic aneurysm/valve repair in "08 for preventive purposes. Slowly but surely aches and pains worsened to the point I required Physical Therapy for both back and shoulder, and many other troubling physical symptoms developed. My quality of life was decreasing rapidly. Four mos. ago I mentioned these symptoms to my cardiologist and asked if they could be related to the medicine. He immediately told me to hold off for 3 mos. I noticed some relief after a few days but attributed it to something else so started it up again, then noticed the pain increased. Long story short, I stopped Lipitor completely 3 mos. ago. Back and shoulders and all old symptoms are now greatly improved, but I find I'm quite intermittently depressed, crying uncontrollably, feels like my heart rate elevates often and I get those dreaded palpitations. Sometimes I feel angry for no apparent reason, that I'm not the nice person I normally am. I've only just realized these symptoms in the past three days and just made the withdrawal connection today. Thank God I found this website!!!!!

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I am glad I found this thread. I stopped taking Lipitor 2 days ago and am experiencing anxiety for the the first time in my life. I couldn't figure out what was going on and found these posts which give me comfort. I am edgy and nervous without any logical reason. I can't even imagine falling asleep. Hopefully it will pass quickly.

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I have been on 20mg Lipitor for 25 years. The last three years I started having stomach pain, shortness of breath, phlegm in my throat, upset stomach, constipation and general weakness. My doctors prescribed several remedies but none helped. I researched the side effects of all my medicines and realized that Lipitor could be the culprit, so I stopped it August. After two weeks all symptoms disappeared. When I checked my cholesterol/Ldl levels three months later they have increased substantially and this worried me so I started again on Lipitor 20mg since two months and now again the muscular pains, nausea and other symptoms returned. I stopped Lipitor again three days ago and already there is some improvement in the symptoms but still the pains are there, and these are incapacitating frequently. I will try reducing the dose as recommended by one of your contributors, as I discovered that other statins are no help and will cause the same symptoms. I also started on 500mg Niacin and will increase the dose to 1500 per day despite the flashes as these are less bothersome than the other symptoms. Hope this helps other readers. Will keep you posted.

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