topic Re: Lipitor Question in Wellness

Lipitor Question

patticakes — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 14:22:30 GMT

I am currently on 10mg of Lipitor which has worked very well for me and has gotten me very close to the goal numbers recommended by my doctor. Currently, she is recommending me take a little higher dosage to get my numbers all the way down below the advised numbers. My problem is that I've had no side effects from the current dosage, knowing that taking statin drugs can be harmful and cause other problems, I don't know that I want to take the risk. My doctor is saying 10mg is a very low dose anyway. I'm interested to know what others have experience taking Lipitor or similar medications.

Re: Lipitor Question

itsmagic — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 14:37:19 GMT

I used to take Lipitor until it got too expensive (my deductible is too high to cover it) so had to switch to another. When I took Lipitor I actually took 5 mg/day and it got me down below 200. My Doctor is happy with that - I don't have a specific number goal to meet. So I've stuck with very low doses too because I don't want side effects.

Re: Lipitor Question

bonnielu — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 14:46:32 GMT

This has been MY experience. I am not telling you what to do.

I dumped mine. Lost weight, ate better and got my numbers down on my own.

I tried a low dose of Lipitor and started getting leg cramps, and what was worse my fingers were locking and I was in pain. I tossed the stuff in the trash, told my doctor and I never had to bother with the drug again. And what was interesting to me... was I thought it was JUST ME with the problem. I was in a group of people (a large group) and they were all in the same boat.

I am told there is a new treatment out. It has not been approved but it will be a innoculation of some sorts that might make taking the pills orally. It is still in trials... or it might be farther along than that.

Re: Lipitor Question

Effie54 — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 14:52:52 GMT

Same here. The doctors won't tell you the side-effects...they seem to be too pro drug. Lipator side effects can also include Type-2 Diabetes, extreme hair loss and joint and muscle pain...to name a few. For myself, I exercised every day, and cut out flour and sugar.....on my next exam, I did not need anything. Fish Oil also helps.

Re: Lipitor Question

proudlyfromNJ — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 15:03:48 GMT

@patticakes I take 40 of the generic of Lipitor. All 3 of my siblings have very high cholesterol. My Dr. checks my bloodwork and discusses it with me every three months. I was afraid to take it, but I haven't had any problems. My cholesterol was out of control in the 1980s when I weighed 110 lbs. I am sure mine is genetic.

Re: Lipitor Question

twinkies — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 16:02:19 GMT

Please remember to take the supplement CoQ10 if you are on lipitor or a statin . This will prevent that muscle weakness and fatique caused by statins Statins also deplete our system of CoQ10 as we age Our bodies make less CoQ10 and we need this to make our muscles to work properly and for the "energy

cycle" in our bodies. Co Q10 is also imporant for the most important muscle in our body our hear!

cathy from ma.

Re: Lipitor Question

hckynutjohn — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 17:35:36 GMT

@patticakes wrote:
I am currently on 10mg of Lipitor which has worked very well for me and has gotten me very close to the goal numbers recommended by my doctor. Currently, she is recommending me take a little higher dosage to get my numbers all the way down below the advised numbers. My problem is that I've had no side effects from the current dosage, knowing that taking statin drugs can be harmful and cause other problems, I don't know that I want to take the risk. My doctor is saying 10mg is a very low dose anyway. I'm interested to know what others have experience taking Lipitor or similar medications.

I've been on Lipitor (atorvastatin) since 2003. Always been 20mg. and no side effects for me. I suggest you listen to your doctor, whom i assume you trust Statins are a very controversial medication with even experts not in agreement.

I have done my own in depth research and have the utmost trust in my Cardiologist and will continue my Statin prescription amount, if and/or until he tells me otherwise.

hckynut(john)

Re: Lipitor Question

patbz — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 19:14:10 GMT

I am on 40mg of generic Lipitor and have been for 5 plus years. No problems; I have a complete physical annually. My high cholesterol is genetic.

Re: Lipitor Question

lucymo — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 19:32:46 GMT

@patticakes Hi, I've been on Lipitor since 2002. I started out with 10 mg then increased to 20mg and now I'm on 40mg in order to keep my LDL down at or in 70s. When I started with the 10 and 20 mg I didn't experience any of the side effects commonly associated with the drug but as I started taking the increased mg dosage I started with the joint and body aches and pain. However, I should point out that I am a stroke survivor and some of the pain can be attributed to that. If your BP and Cholesterol are high you are in danger of having a stroke and believe me, you don't want that. But, if you can diet and keep your numbers down that would be better than increased doses of statin drug. I tried to diet but I couldn't keep numbers down. Since I've had one stroke I'm more susceptible to another than a person who hasn't suffered one so all numbers have to stay low. I wish you luck and hope all goes well for you.

Re: Lipitor Question

globegrl — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 19:34:21 GMT

I have been taking 80mg Lipitor for 15 years and have fortunately suffered no side effects. I have genetic very high cholesterol and had a heart attack at age 41 - have had no further events since. On the day of my heart attack my cholesterol was measured at 489. Today it is in the 180's with Lipitor.

Re: Lipitor Question

feline groovy — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 02:03:07 GMT

Been on 10 mg. of Zocor (simvastatin) for years.

No problems that I know of, thankfully.

Re: Lipitor Question

patticakes — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 13:30:25 GMT

Twinkies-Please tell me more about CoQ10. This is new to me. What does it do and how does it help? Also, what is the amount to take daily?

Re: Lipitor Question

Kachina624 — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 05:39:30 GMT

I just ran across this article on a possible benefit of Statins. Hate to tack it onto this thread as I'm afraid nobody will see it. Having had two parents with macular degeneration, this is important information.

Re: Lipitor Question

Q4u — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 00:05:11 GMT

Just be careful.... I was on two different kind of statins, one for over a year and became so debilitated from the harm it was doing to my muscles (legs) that I could not climb a flight of stairs. Had I stayed on them I would be permanently crippled.

I had a bad reaction to them. Yes, the cholestoral was like 130 but egads.... my life was rapidly becoming ruined. I did my research late (and learned from it) and realized that these drugs affect muscles very badly (for some) and one of those muscles is the heart.

Yes, I did take CoQ-10 as recommended by my doctor. I still have stability issues with my leg muscles which I'm told is permanent now but believe it or not my old doctor where I used to live was really skeptical about what I was telling him my reaction was.... and my new doctor here had me try one and I had the same, very bad reaction to it in a matter of days. Now she wants me to try yet another one.... which I'm not going to do....

After major heart testing in 2013 after a pinched nerve in my neck (didn't know i had it at the time) had me thinking I was having a heart attack..... all my tests turned out great. No blockages, nothing but good news....

I'm not convinced all of us have to have our cholesterol down to practically nothing....

Re: Lipitor Question

twinkies — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 15:43:26 GMT

co q 10 occurs naturally in the body but as we get older. our body manufactures less of it , We can get it in certain foods like organ meats and fish , however if you are on Lipitor the medication ursurps most of your co q10 and leaves your system with even less , The muscles in your body need co q 10 to make the "energy cycle" of your body to keep going and manufacturing and supplying your cells with the added nutrients for your muscles which is where the energy cycle occurs. [Krebs cycle.It] is complicated' Your heart is a muscle and if you do not get enough co q 10 it weakens your hearts ability to function at its optimum level . And although we need statins to keep our cholesterol low it is a double edged sword- so to speak. That is why people who are on long term statins who do not supplement themselves with coq10 suffer from muscle weakness and can deteriorate quickly .It can caause fatique and muscle weakness. All our cells suffer without it . You need to discuss the amount you should take with your doctor but its probably about 200 mg a day , Do not take at night because it can cause insommnia or in some people nervousness , Doctors do not take nutrition courses but most do know about coq10 . it can also prevent macular degeneration . I am not an expert on this and this is just a general scope of it , You can just look up COq10 and statins to learn about it , You should be careful if you are on blood thinners or medications for arrythmias , So its good to talk to your doctor , If you have a cardiologist -ask him .

cathy from ma

Re: Lipitor Question

twinkies — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 15:49:28 GMT

you might want to try taking pumpkin seed oil capsules, 1000 mg 2 times a day with meals to lower your cholesterol along with reservatrol . capsules 2 times a day , This is what I take and my cholesterol and triglycerides are very low. make sure you take pumpkin seed oil with food. Pumpkin seed oil capsules are cheap .

cathy from ma