Pitavastatin and Weakness: What Users Say

• FEG...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 4, 2013

For High Cholesterol "I have been on many statins over the last 20 years. I am a 61-year-old woman. I have been taking Livalo for about a year, as I had horrible muscle aches and thought I had the flu on other statins. The muscle aches and weakness are back. My doctor insists that because of my high cholesterol and triglycerides, I must take SOMETHING, but I can't take the muscle pain. I am stopping and calling the doctor."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 26, 2012

For High Cholesterol "I'm sensitive to statin drugs. Have tolerated Livalo well for about 6 mos. then started having extreme weakness in my legs, confusion, forgetfulness, and my hair is falling out. Also dark urine but only in the morning (I take my Livalo at bedtime). Don't know if I can contribute all the side effects to the Livalo since I also take other medicines. I'm taking the maximum dose. At last check my HDL was 85 and my LDL was 115."

• ber...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 13, 2013

For High Cholesterol "I have been taking livalo for 4 weeks and started having mild aching in upper extremities, but then had severe pain in my left thumb and palm pad, and weakness in my arms and wrists. I also was chilly all the time, so I think I had a temp. I also began having frequent urination. I immediately stopped taking it. My symptoms are much less painful. I have not been able to take statins before."

• MBH...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2015

For High Cholesterol "After taking 2mg of Livalo for 3 weeks, I experienced several side effects, so much so, I am no longer taking any statin. Severe muscle pain and weakness and joint pain, flu-like symptoms but no fever, even though I felt like I had a fever. Slight cough, runny nose, and extreme lower abdominal pain. Then came the chills. That's it. I have experienced muscle weakness and pain on other statins, so my body knows better and I'm listening to it."

• Hye...
• February 7, 2014

For High Cholesterol "I've been on Livalo for 9 months, increasing the dose from 2 mg to 4 mg every other day with no side effects. Then, due to a poor LDL test result (140), my doctor switched me to 4 mg every day. After 45 days, I now have extreme diarrhea, stomach pain, overall weakness, and feel like I'm depressed and in a fog. My sexual desire has waned as well. I'm 55 years old, I work out 4 times a week, lift weights, etc. My triglycerides have always been low (55) and HDL is high (76) without meds, only LDL was 170."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 19, 2016

For High Cholesterol "Dr. put me on Livalo. I took it for a few months, 2 mg, then he increased it to 4 mg. I did start with very bad upper back pain, hot flashes, and weakness, but the worst side effect was horrible hives. The hives gradually got worse until I pinpointed Livalo as being the culprit. I took myself off, and gradually the hives diminished. I'm still having hives, just not as bad, but bad enough to bring me to tears. I was also diagnosed with eczema a few years back, which I don't think I have. It's a mystery to most. The hives have not completely gone away, now every night I get them. The first time I went to the doctor, she told me to take Benadryl at night and Losartan in the morning. It helped for a few weeks, but the hives started coming back. I'm miserable."

• Tel...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 22, 2018

For High Cholesterol "I've been on this about a year, and it's worked fine with no side effects at all that I can see. I had Lipitor prior to this for about 3 months, which had all the usual side effects, and before that, Zetia, which nearly killed me after about 4 years on that (muscle weakness and degeneration was the worst side effect of Zetia). Livalo works with few side effects if you can afford it or if your insurance will cover it."