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Overview
Lipitor is the latest of a group of drugs that have become very popular for treating high cholesterol. All of these medications lower cholesterol levels by keeping the liver from manufacturing it.
Coronary artery disease is associated with certain risk factors, including high serum cholesterol, bad LDL cholesterol, elevated triglycerides and reduced levels of protective HDL cholesterol.
When diet, exercise and weight control are insufficient to control cholesterol, drugs like Lipitor may be important in reducing the risk of heart disease.
This medication dramatically lowers LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
Side Effects and Interactions
Lipitor has relatively few side effects and most people tolerate it well.
Some adverse reactions that may occur include headache, stomach ache, flatulence, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, skin rash, and muscle or joint aches.
Muscle aches, tenderness or weakness could be a sign of a serious reaction called rhabdomyolysis or myopathy, and call for a test of kidney function.
Kidney failure might be the outcome of untreated myopathy. Report any symptoms to your physician promptly.
The danger of rhabdomyolysis or myopathy is increased when Lipitor is combined with certain other drugs such as the transplant drug cyclosporine, antibiotics like erythromycin or Biaxin, cholesterol-lowering medicines such as Lopid or niacin, and antifungal drugs like Nizoral or Sporanox.
Lipitor may increase blood levels of the heart drug Lanoxin , so close monitoring is advised.
Blood levels of oral contraceptives may also be increased in patients on Lipitor.
Antacids such as Maalox and the cholesterol drug Colestid can reduce absorption of Lipitor if they are taken at the same time. There is no indication this reduces the effectiveness of Lipitor.
The herb St. John's wort might speed elimination of Lipitor from the body, which could reduce its effectiveness.
There is a remote but untested possibility that peppermint could increase the effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs such as Lipitor. These agents work by inhibiting the enzyme HMG CoA reductase, and menthol has a similar action.
The herb gotu kola may raise cholesterol levels and should not be combined with cholesterol-lowering medications such as Lipitor.
Check with your physician and pharmacist to make sure Lipitor is safe in combination with any other drugs and herbs you take.
Special Precautions
Anyone with liver disease should not take Lipitor. Liver enzyme changes have been reported in a small proportion of patients using this medicine, and may indicate serious problems.
Liver function should be tested before anyone starts taking Lipitor and again 6 and 12 weeks after starting. Periodic tests are needed thereafter.
Because cholesterol is essential for the developing fetus and infant, pregnant or nursing women should not take Lipitor.
Research on animals has linked Lipitor to liver and muscle tumors at relatively high doses. Whether there is a risk for humans is still to be determined.
Taking the Medicine
Lipitor is taken once a day, with or without meals, at any convenient time.
I have been taking Lipitor off and on since Oct. 2001, but have been taking it daily since May, 2005.
In July 2006, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, based on a series of MRIs. I have not had a lumbar puncture yet. I only have symptoms (weakness on right side) when I overexert myself physically, for instance when I overexert myself physically for more than 15 minutes. The length of time I can exercise or do yardwork has decreased gradually from longer periods in 2003, when the symptoms first started to appear, to no more than 15 minutes now (11/07).
I have been consistently monitored for liver problems with routine blood test. The doctor tells me the results are within normal range.
After reading your Nov. 6, 2007 newspaper article on the possible link between ALS and cholesterol drugs, I wonder if my scleroses might be caused by Lipitor, rather than MS. Any ideas?
My dad's wife has become seriously since she's taking Lipitor. She has serious edema -her ankles are swollen to the size of her thighs - and she has excruciating pains in her arms and legs. The docs aren't sure that it's the Lipitor but they've ruled out just about everything else. They think it's possible that her system is not processing the Lipitor and that it's building up in her system and is becoming toxic. She may be transferred to Stanford Medical Center for further testing.
Has anyone out there taking statins experienced a contracture in the penis which causes pain on ejaculation and has been described as a Dupuytren's constacture type fibrosis?
I had a tumor removed from my left breast last year. The doctor stated it was caused by the Lipitor that I was taking. Anybody else hear of such?
My dad had a stroke 2 years ago. He's on Lipitor and his right leg and foot are very numb and tender. A friend of his told him that he was on Lipitor, but Dr. put him on fish oil pills. Would you recommend this??? My dad did speak to his Dr. about this and he told him the weakness and numbness was from his stroke...
Please Help!!!
Sandi
My mom had 3 major blockages in 1997 and underwent angioplasty. She was on statin medications and developed burning, tingling sensations and pain in her legs. Two of her fingers became arthritic. We persuaded her doctor to lower the dosage since her cholesterol was well below normal. She was switched to Lipitor 10mg. The tingling and loss of sensation on her fingers have come back and taking Lipitor on alternate days has helped. She is also taking Co Q10. She is 83 yrs. old, pretty active.
I just want to add that my mom is taking 2000 mg. of fish oil, 1500 mg. of Vitamin C, and a lot of other vitamins.
Should mention that Statin Drugs rob the body of CoQ10 and anyone who is on a statin should take CoQ10......IT IS A MUST
I had been on Lipitor for seven years, when the doctor decided to double the dosage to 20 mg. a day. For the next seven months, I became more and more tired and lack any energy. Taking a bath and eating breakfast, meant an hour to lay down on rest.
Finally I was laying down 16 hours out of a 24 hour day.
My medical doctor, asked me to stop taking Lipitor for two weeks and see if anything changed. After about 5 days, my energy level began to return. At the end of two weeks, I was full of energy...not resting in the day time and actually feeling so good I was overdoing.
It was wonderful to feel like my old self again. He wants me to return to 10 mg. of Lipitor. I haven't done so yet; although my cholesterol level has creeped up, to a total of 199. I don't think I will go back on it, or any other statin drug. I am 73 years old. I would rather enjoy each and every day, even if my life is shortened than to lay flat on my back day after day and be miserable and unhappy.
Thank you for listening to my experience.
Nancy W.
After a short time on Lipitor I had weakness in my legs and then developed horrible cramps from my femurs to my feet. My hands were also cramping. My Dr. ran a CPK blood test and it was in the high 700 range indicating muscle damage/loss. When Zedia came on the market I tried that with the same results.
My great Dr. listened to my complaints and got right to the bottom of the problem. I am one of the people with the rare but serious side effects and it is not fun.
Drs. should pay attention to patients who complain of pain or weakness on these drugs.
I have difficult time with statins, am on Zetia and Lescol vs Lipitor. For some reason docs want you on this stuff. My new doc said to do lots of little things to help lower like: plant sterols, the special margarines, walking, good fats, less junk, add more fiber, alternate days on meds; and it will all add up.