Atorvastatin and Weakness: What Users Say

• 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."

• Anonymous
• September 21, 2009

Atorvastatin for High Cholesterol "I was taking the combination drug Caduet, of which Lipitor was one of the two drugs. Steadily over a year, my doctor increased the medication from 20mg to 40mg, and then about three months ago, he increased it to 80mg. Within a month, I was experiencing tiredness, and eventually muscle weakness, coupled with elevated CK readings. On doing some research on the drug, I found that the symptoms I had were indeed a major drug reaction. Although Lipitor helped in the reduction of my cholesterol levels, the side effects were debilitating. Within a week of having the medication changed to a non-statin, I was beginning to feel better. A month later, I am close to being back to my old self. There are other better alternatives."

• 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."

• Lol...
• September 14, 2016

Atorvastatin 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."

• for...
• April 17, 2016

Atorvastatin for High Cholesterol "This medicine did a number on my legs. Had numbness, the legs felt like lead, wobbly. I had been a mail carrier and walked 10-11 miles a day, retired but continued to walk 4-5 miles a day besides being very active with DIY projects and part-time job. Took Lipitor earlier this year. It got the numbers down, but I had 3 ER visits in one week and spent the night in the hospital because my legs were acting up and it scared me and my heart did weird things. Lot of stress for me and my family. We have good insurance, but this will still probably be around $2000. I would not recommend Lipitor to anyone-there are other cholesterol meds out there."

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

Atorvastatin 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!"

• 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."

• Tot...
• October 7, 2018

For High Cholesterol "I took 10mg atorvastatin for 8 months. During that time, I slowly had the following side effects: extreme tiredness, memory loss, confusion, muscle weakness, trouble walking, my arm muscles became useless, joint pain in my middle finger where I had trouble bending my finger, facial twitching, pressure in my chest, thyroid nodule swelling, blurred vision off and on, extreme sensitivity to light, and uncontrollable eye jumping. I have been diagnosed with Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which I fully believe is due to the sensitivity of light. The LED lighting in a grocery store damaged my retinas. But what I can't understand is out of all the doctors throughout all my symptoms, not one connected it to atorvastatin! I was drinking gallons of water, I began to have trouble urinating. That is when I started researching the detailed side effects of atorvastatin! I was completely horrified at the dangers, and I stopped taking it."

• Tot...
• October 7, 2018

For High Cholesterol "I took 10mg atorvastatin for 8 months. During that time, I slowly had the following side effects: extreme tiredness, memory loss, confusion, muscle weakness, trouble walking, my arm muscles became useless, joint pain in my middle finger where I had trouble bending my finger, facial twitching, pressure in my chest, thyroid nodule swelling, blurred vision off and on, extreme sensitivity to light, and uncontrollable eye jumping. I have been diagnosed with Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which I fully believe is due to the sensitivity of light. The LED lighting in a grocery store damaged my retinas. But what I can't understand is out of all the doctors throughout all my symptoms, not one connected it to atorvastatin! I was drinking gallons of water, I began to have trouble urinating. That is when I started researching the detailed side effects of atorvastatin! I was completely horrified at the dangers, and I stopped taking it."

• Gou...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 1, 2018

For High Cholesterol "Get off this medication as quickly as you can, and do NOT take another statin ever. I was on a dose of 40mg daily for 2.5 years. I experienced muscle weakness, although I exercised daily, sexual dysfunction, memory lapses, joint pains, and many other symptoms associated with statin use. The topper: three months ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Only after doing a little research on statins did I understand that cholesterol is essential for health and actually protects against cancer, among other things. It's necessary for the formation of brain cells, muscle tissue, and sex hormones. I stopped taking my statins about 6 weeks ago and already feel better, though it will take some time to fully recover. So do your research, people. I believe this is a truly dangerous drug, as are all statins. And it does nothing to increase length of life."

• 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."

• 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."

• GJL...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2013

For High Cholesterol "I took it one day and had to stop. Didn't read the pamphlet, and I took it before I went to bed. Not for me since I have osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease with back muscle spasms. I also have thyroid, vertigo, sinus problems, stomach, and bowel issues. I have been on painkillers for my pain for over 10 years, so I was afraid that this medication was not going to mix well with my medicines. But, the next day, my right ear was completely blocked, I had a headache with fuzziness. So weak, I had to take the day off of work and go back to bed, slept all day. My face was a gray color, and my eyes looked like I was in pain. I drank a lot of water to flush this one pill out of me and felt much better."

• cho...
• January 19, 2017

For High Cholesterol "Prescribed 10 mg. Side effects started with an upset stomach (improved by always taking with food). Within a couple of weeks, the side effects exploded. No idea of whether or not it improved my labs (they were not supposed to be drawn for two more weeks). I am a vegetarian (no meat of any kind, no dairy milk, but I do eat some dairy cheese and eggs) and also a licensed massage therapist (so I know 'normal' muscle tension or joint pain and how to improve it). My side effects (in no particular order): muscle cramps/pain/weakness/swelling/tightness, tiredness, diarrhea/intestinal cramping, increased ringing in the ears, and depression/angry mood swings. Three days without medication, and pain, etc., continues to improve."

• DRW...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2022

Atorvastatin for High Cholesterol "I was prescribed Lipitor by a GP, due to my high LDL cholesterol level. I was in excellent condition, BMI under 25, surfing and bike riding daily. Within 24 hours of my first pill, I experienced joint pains. I have osteoarthritis, so I assumed it was just a flare-up. The next day, I had muscle soreness and weakness. The third day, all this was worse; realizing it had to be the Lipitor, I stopped taking the pills and consulted a specialist. I had dark urine. It was determined that I had rhabdomyolysis. I ended up losing 5 lbs of muscle mass, and it took weeks for me to recover from the extreme weakness and fatigue. The specialist told me that if I had continued to take the Lipitor for a few more days, I probably would have been in a very serious condition."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 5, 2018

For High Cholesterol "Went on atorvastatin because I had a fully blocked vertebral artery in the back of my neck and a partially blocked vertebral artery that required a stent. Within three days, I started getting a flushing of the skin of my face and neck. Then the muscle soreness kicked in along with stiffness in other muscles. This gradually increased into neck muscles and finger muscles. I also developed weakness in all extremities. I was also in a fog at times, and it was difficult to concentrate at work. I also had trouble focusing my vision. All of this happened over the six weeks that I was taking the drug. Have to be on something to lower cholesterol until the stent is placed, so the doctor put me on another statin. However, I believe in quality of life over quantity of life, so if the new statin continues like the old one, I will stop taking them and switch to berberine, which the scientific studies I have seen show to be just as effective at reducing cholesterol. My doctor is okay with this plan."

• Big...
• October 9, 2017

For High Cholesterol "Dad died of a heart attack three years ago. Then, two years later, my brother had a heart attack from blockage and almost died. My cholesterol is 512. Been taking this statin for about 3 weeks. I'm miserable. Leg pain/cramps. Pain down both arms, but mainly the left one. Totally weak all over. Lower leg pain on both sides. Tight chest every night. Heat pounds all the time now. Barely able to sleep a couple of hours a night if I'm lucky. Sour stomach every night, I have to take antacids at bedtime. Can't function during the day. I gotta go see my Doc now that I know this med is the cause. 43-year-old, fairly active, average weight male."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 31, 2017

For High Cholesterol "At age 48 and in good health, I took atorvastatin 10 mg for 1 year without symptoms. It lowered my bad cholesterol. Near the 1st year, I began experiencing significant, unusual leg weakness and knee pain when standing from a kneeling position. It got to the point that I always needed to brace myself on the sofa or coffee table when getting up after playing with my dog or toddler son. Rising from my desk required a push on the desktop. Then weakness and pain to my finger and shoulder joints and forgetfulness. Overall, I felt 'rickety.' My MD said to stay on it. I decided otherwise and went off cold turkey one day. I've been off for 2 years and I feel normal again, except for residual and reduced effects on my shoulder and hands."

• Bob...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 2, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I was on this medication for close to ten years. I've had problems with it-cramps and muscle weakness. Went to my doctor and told him about the problems I was having, and they said it couldn't be the cholesterol medicine. I've been on it too long."

• Rob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 12, 2020

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "Side effects from atorvastatin meant that I stopped taking it: tendinitis in hands and ankles, muscle weakness that was debilitating. It gets better later in the day, but early morning is difficult. I have high familial cholesterol, about 8 (reduced via statins from 10), but the 40 mg dose hasn't reduced it further, and the side effects are dire for me: doc says other treatments are available, but it will take 3 months to clear."

• Dav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2018

For High Cholesterol "I am 50 years old, as soon as I started to take these tablets, I have felt weak and have not been able to ejaculate when having sex with my partner. My cholesterol isn't that high either. So if you are still sexually active, keep away from this!"

• Har...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 23, 2022

For High Cholesterol "Filled prescription on 6/3/22. Today is 6/23/22. Pain in my hamstrings and glutes. Scratchy throat. Pain in my hands and numbness/weakness in legs. I stopped taking it after a few weeks. My doctor first prescribed atorvastatin, which I believe made me worse. They told me Crestor (Rosuvastatin) is another option. Same poison, different name. I'd rather have borderline high cholesterol than take this stuff and feel horrible and basically injured. Depression, panicky, and uncertain of why you feel so bad until you realize it's statins. Also, my memory and ability to think are impaired. It takes some time to rid your body of these symptoms. Maybe some people love it, but I do not recommend it. I am done with statins."

• Geo...
• June 17, 2022

Atorvastatin for High Cholesterol "Just 10 days of Lipitor at 40 mg per day, and I have side effects of being nauseous, pain in right arm and back, muscle weakness. I feel really feel lousy all the time. Dropping my dose to 20 mg today...hope it works. My cholesterol is at 250."