The People's Pharmacy® with Joe and Terry Graedon

While taking Crestor and then Zetia, I experienced muscle pain. I may have some Osteo-arthritis, but my muscle pain increased on these medications. Also, I felt more tired while taking the meds. I have discontinued use of Statin drugs.

My sister died of ALS a little over a year ago, and she was on Lipitor for a year prior to getting the disease. She always said the ALS was from the Lipitor.

I am on 20mg of Crestor each day to lower lipid A and cholesterol. I have always been strong, my muscles and tendons always reacted well to strength training and the variety of sports that I enjoy.

During the last couple of years, though, I feel that I have had a noticeable decrease in strength, and premature tiring of muscles when exercising for long periods of time. This year, I tore an Achilles tendon. Hiking with a 50 lb backpack, I managed to complete eight miles of a ten mile planned hike. My feet, ankles and calves became swollen, painful and deep red in color. I have climbed and hiked in the mountains over a period of many years in the past, and have never had any problems with tendons, shin splints, or muscles. I tore the Achilles tendon following three days of recovery when I attempted to make a small jump over a hose lying in the grass in the back yard. After the injury of the tendon, infection occurred in the right foot.

I am interested in any professional thoughts regarding my going off Statin drugs and trying to keep my lipids and cholesterol in check through diet.

In February my father was diagnosed with a variant of ALS. Prior to his diagnosis he was taking lipitor and was convinced that the drug was responsible for his symptoms. He stopped taking it after he noticed symptoms, but the disease has continued to progress.

My husband was put on Zetia four years ago, and immediately began experiencing muscle pain, so his doctor told him to stop taking it after just one month. Within two weeks after that, he became weaker and weaker, and was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis while in ICU on a respirator, in full myasthenic crisis. Shortly after his two month recuperation in rehab, he tore both Achilles tendons, and has never regained his ability to walk normally. He is very firmly convinced that the Zetia was responsible for all of this.

I got severe cramps in the front of my legs from Zocor and Felodipine I've been on Zetia for about three months; no problem so far.

I was put on Cholestrymine to lower my cholesterol. After taking it for about a month, I developed stiffness in my fingers, heel pain, and knee pain. When the knee pain kept me awake nights, I decided to go off Cholestrymine.

The stiffness & heel pain went away, but the knee pain persisted, so I sought treatment for it. After an MRI, the doctor said it showed nothing but moderate joint fluid. I then got a cortisone shot, which helped for a short time. At age 60, I thought I was doomed to walk with a cane for the rest of my life, or have a knee operation.

After much research about diet & specific exercises, I then went to a chiropractor.He gave me treatments of electro-stimulation and ultrasound for about a month. My knee gradually got better.

After having pain in my knee for about one and a half years, I am still pain free five years later. I take no statins, and lower my clolesterol with diet & vitamins.

My doctor insists that I must take statins even though I experience pain on all of them to the point that I am struggling against tears when I walk down the hall of my child's school. He says I should accept what he calls "a little discomfort" because of statistical studies. He is angry with me because I refuse to take them.

What kind of connection does this insistence by doctors have with the huge advertising push for these drugs? Who is ultimately responsible for my health? Myself or an arrogant doctor?

They say this pain is rare, but many people I know have had the same severe muscle pain.

I had been on Lipitor for 5 years, and I noticed muscle weakness, poor control of my legs and feet, and some difficulty walking. I mentioned this to my doctor, and he discounted it as aging and not eating enough protein. I've stopped the Lipitor, and I am controlling my blood profile with supplements.

I am ocncerned about this possible connection btween ALS & statins as my husband & I are both on VItorin and Welchol. How do people know that their ALS wasn't coming on anyway and is coincidental to their useage of statins? BOth our doctors claim there is no connection....I am nervous!!!

I have been on Lipitor for a year or two. It has seemed to affect me in several ways. I had polio as a child and have a week leg and shoulder. I have started to get some weakness prior but I think the Lipitor has speeded the weaknes up. I also had excessive irregular heart beat and when I stoped taking Lipitor that subsided some.

I have used Lipitor and every other statin. All gave me muscle pain. I was then given Zedia it was great for a short period of time. Then later, 6 momths or so, it caused the greatest of discomfort. Muscles, joints and areas of previous surgery. I reduced to every other day, same results. I will try twice per week. If the results remain I will stop using this drug as well.

My heart doctor put me on Crestor. For three months. I was waking in tears 2 or 3 times almost every night with severe leg cramps. During this time, my granddaughter invited me to an art show at her school, and when it was over, I had to walk a very long way from the art show to the parking lot where my car was. By the time I got to the car, I was in tears.

I stopped taking Crestor. The cramps continued for about two more weeks. I still experience weakness in my legs just from walking up stairs, but the pain is gone.

The doctor said he doubted Crestor had anything to do with the cramps and weakness, which I find insulting since the warnings tell you that they may cause pain and weakness! I will never take statins again.

I was placed on 40mg of Zocor daily to lower my cholesterol.Within 2 months, I suddenly experienced such severe leg weakness, that I couldn't continue my Bowling game. The doctor then took me completely off the Zocor pill and my muscle strength gradually improved over time, but now, three years later, I still don't have nearly the muscle strength I used to have. I now control my cholesterol by proper diet, (low saturated fat content), and plant sterols found in food supplements.

My Doctor said my cholestrol was high, and put me on Crestor. I had the same experience, weaked muscles. I could hardly walk for pain in my whole body. I felt 100 yrs. old and I am not there yet! I quit using them and feel much better.

I have been taking Zetia for over 3 years. During this time, I've endured months of physical therapy for my feet and back, but it hasn't helped.

I've had to leave a job due to foot and ankle pain and back pain. I've had surgery on both of my feet, but it didn't help. I've had injections in my back to ease pain with no result. I've spent thousands of dollars and become almost disabled.

I read these stories and wonder if stopping this medicine will give me back my life. I'm stopping today and will tell everyone if this agony stops.

Statins deplete CoQ10, and that is the purported cause of muscle weakness. If one must continue statins, supplementation with CoQ10 is apparently advised. To get an adequate dose, plan on spending some $ though, as this is an expensive supplement.
Hope this helps.

I have been taking Lipitor for years--probably more than 8--and I have no problems with my muscles or any pain at all. Reading everything on this website is really scary.

My father was perscribed lipitor in March of 2004, subsequently he developed muscle weakness and numbing and stopped taking it. The weakness did not go away, he got progressively weaker and was recommended to see a neurologist.

In September of 2004 the neurologist diagnosed him with ALS. When I told her Lipitor triggered the ALS back in October of 2004, the neurolist denied the connection. In January 2005 she said they're now investigating a possible link.

Prior to taking lipitor my dad was very fit and strong, I could'nt keep up with when we hiked. He died in March of 2005, one month after his birthday and less than one year after taking lipitor.

Thank-you for making this site, the comments I read gave me chills. My father would not have died within 1 year if he just had mildly elevated cholestrol, statin RX should be taken off the market!!!!!