To use or not to use Lipitor (Statin Drugs)?

Question

I was diagnosed with higher than normal levels two years ago so the Doctor put me on 20mg Lipitor and "Yes" it worked within three weeks I dropped down to a perfect level. The thing is I have had a bad back for 10 years with prolapsed discs, so when the doctor asked me if I had noticed any muscle pains etc I said no because I always feel back pain. I did however say to my wife that usually my back pain got a bit better and I always have it now, I put it down to my back getting worse and old age. Now, the other day I read up on Lipitor sideffects and decided to go off them , I thought to myself "Stuff it" I'm sick of taking these radical drugs and what they could be doing to me, now after three days I have noticed my shoulder, and knee pain gone, my back pain is better, my urine output is stronger, my sexual drive is stronger, even my neck pain that I had continuously for two years is gone, is this all in my head or what? I am telling the truth.

Answer 1

Statins are very safe drugs and overall, have been shown through numerous studies to actually benefit the user.

That being said, all drugs have side effects. As the commercials say, "if you have unexplained weakness in you muscles, contact your doctor, since this may be a serious but rare side effect", is in fact true.

The problem you describe is probably just a combination of old age, coupled with an existing problem. Heck, I take Crestor and have 2-discs in my back missing, and I hurt every day, but I don't have the muscle weakness that can be a sign of a serious side effect.

Changing to another drug may help. Make sure that you DO have a blood test after about 3-months to verify that your liver enzymes are within reasonable limits. Also, if you DO get overall weakness in your muscles DO contact your physician IMMEDIATELY!

As for another post suggesting niacin, the only REAL niacin is nicotinic acid, and not the stuff you get in health food stores. It does not sit well with some people, since it is quite a large dosage and can cause you to flush. Normally however, they tell you to take it at bedtime, but I have heard of people having difficulty in sleeping because of the niacin side effects.

In short, statins are safe, proven drugs and your physician can better help you in deciding your best course of therapy.

Answer 2

Over a period of a couple years my Doctor continuously switched me from one statin drug to another (Lipitor, Zocor, Mevacor, Pravachol) etc, etc and I had terrible side effects from every different one of them. My experience was joint pains, mostly in the hips and knees but the worst pain was in my leg muscles, especially the large muscles. the pain was not the worst of the side effects, I lost all muscle strength especially in my legs. It was so bad It was a struggle for me to climb stairs even using handrails to pull myself up the stairs. I was living in a townhouse with the bedrooms on the upper level and I was eventually forced to move due to the fact that I could not climb the stairs. Each time my Dr put me on a new statin drug I would go back for a follow up visit and when I told him my symptoms he would immediately say 'those are side effects, stop taking it immediately' however he would just write a Rx for a different statin drug and the side effects would continue and so on and so on. I finally did some research on statins because I was ignorant as to the dangers they presented. What I found caused me to go directly to my Dr and say 'no more'. I told him that I had researched statin drug side effects and what I found was what seemed like a case history of my experience with statins. He was outraged that I would 'go behind his back' and get information from another source other than him. He told me I should put my faith and trust in him as my caregiver and since he was a trained professional he was best qualified as my medical advisor. He told me the internet was not a reliable source for obtaining medical information and I should stay away from the internet. The problems with my legs have never went away even though I have refused statins for a few years now. When I mention the fact that my leg problems started when he was trying me on the different statins and he had told me himself that my problems were side efffects from taking the statins he simply says 'just a coincidence, if you lost weight your leg problems would go away'. I'm not nearly as overweight as he is however I do have several years on hime in the age category. In summation let me say this,

I think the side effects vary from one individual to another. My Mom has been on a stain for years and she swears they don't affect her whatsoever. On the other hand I have talked to other people who had a similar experience to mine. I was shocked by what I read online when I did my research. There were numerous people who were reporting my EXACT story. I would say if you are one of the people who experienced adverse reactions to statins I would strongly advise you to get off them. You may want to consult with your Dr about an alternative to statins such as niacin or zetia. I myself don't take anything but I know people who do take niacin or zetia and get good results with no side effects. Good luck

Answer 3

I take Zocor (similar). You've got to accept that some very helpful drugs have some side effects. Research the side effects thoroughly for your own info.

Answer 4

I would suggest you seek another cholesterol reducing remedies either something  natural or another medication. My husband is also Lipitor but he has had aches and pains for years before starting. He has arthritis in joints. But he said he sometimes has problems with urine flow. I don't know  what to think.

Answer 5

As a rule, the statins are very safe drugs. While I've never heard of  sexual side effects, the increased drive may be a result of lessened muscle pain, which is a notable side effect of the statins. The decrease in those minor pains may alter your perception of pain from major joints, which are also not a side of statins. The pain may return, or it may stay absent. Pain is fickle that way.

Stopping a statin is not a life threatening decision. These drugs are used to manage long term risks: heart disease, stroke etc. It is worth noting that if you stop taking a statin, your cholesterol levels will return to where they were before you were medicated over the course of about four weeks. You may want to speak to your doctor, there are other cholesterol controlling drugs. Niacin is one of them, though it can be uncomfortable for some people, but combining it  with the 81mg aspirin tablet tends to eliminate the uncomfortable 'flush' that comes along with taking it.

Statins are by no means the only way to control high cholesterol, they simply have the most success.