Lipitor and Pain: What Users Say

• 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!"

• 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!"

• 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!"

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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!"

• 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!"

• 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."

• 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."

• Be ...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 6, 2018

For High Cholesterol "My cholesterol level was 322, and my doctor prescribed Lipitor. I started to feel very weak. I was in pain constantly, and I felt very tired and sore. I could not even do my daily chores. I thought I had some kind of flu. I continued to take Lipitor for about a year, and the symptoms just got worse. After the second year of taking Lipitor, my constant pain, soreness, and tiredness worsened, and I lost my appetite. The doctor ordered a liver enzyme test. Lipitor was damaging my liver, and I was also experiencing trouble with my kidneys. Though I didn't realize it then, Lipitor was the culprit of my aches and weakness and was not effective in lowering my cholesterol much (only to 308 after taking Lipitor for more than two years.) I am not taking Lipitor anymore, and I don't feel tired and exhausted. My doctor continues to order a liver enzyme test every year. It has never come back normal anymore. Please be careful!"

• DHZ...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 11, 2023

For Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease "I have been taking Lipitor for several years and developed severe leg and back pain. It was hard just to walk. I stopped taking it for one month, and my leg and back pain went away. Does anyone have an alternative to this destructive drug? I have changed to a low-cholesterol diet, but I know I need to have a less harmful drug to keep my cholesterol down. All comments are appreciated."

• Sen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2017

For High Cholesterol "I started taking generic Lipitor in February/March 2017. My lab work came back and total cholesterol was 311. At first, I started taking 20mg a day. By the 9th day, I was an emotional mess. Anxiety, anger, confusion, leg pain, stomach pain, and heartburn. I decided to take the 20mg every other day. All the side effects disappeared. Works great. I heard back from my doctor who says to continue the every other day dosage because it's working and it's tolerable for me."

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

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."

• Bea...
• September 8, 2017

For High Cholesterol "I have been on Lipitor for two weeks and will stop tomorrow. My legs are hurting and I cannot sleep. For the first few days, I was fine, but now I ache from my hips down to my calves. I also have stomach cramps. This is not for me, I will tell my doctor this week and hopefully can try something else."

• ano...
• March 26, 2009

For High Cholesterol "Reduced my overall cholesterol from 288 to 126 in one month. However, I now seem to have a lot of various pains throughout my body. Feet, back, etc."

• Cha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 21, 2021

For High Cholesterol "Horrible, I never experienced such cramping and pain. It was a nightmare."