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Lipitor 80

Katherine58
2 Recommendations

Hi
I am about to be switched from Vytoron 40 to Lipitor 80 and I was wondering if anyone has been on this high of a dose and how well you tolerted it.

Thank you, Katherine

Explore topics in this discussion:

Exercise High cholesterol Arthritis Lipitor Zetia Pain Crestor Stent Zocor Vytorin Folic acid Lescol

20 replies

mmjc37

Hi
I have been on Lipitor 80 for over a year now and I have not had any effects from the Lipitor .My doctors do keep a close I me to make make sure andtold me that they would change my meds if my liver enzmyes went up but nothing so far it does do a great job keeping my bad down low so I hoped this helped you.
Marcie

mtimney

I have been taking Lipitor 80 and Zetia for about six months. I haven't suffered any ill effects so far. My LDL is 66, HDL is 61. I take 1000 mg of Folic Acid every day which protects the liver (I also take arthritis drugs that go to the liver so my Rhuematologist put me on the folic acid). Ask your cardio about it; it can't harm you as far as I know.

Good luck
Mary

grannyheart

I think everyone reacts differently to statin drugs particularly lipitor. Being on 40mg for about 3 years I was one who suffered all sorts of side effects and was taken off of it. At the time I didn't realize my constant pain in my legs (muscles)...brain fog (couldn't remember anything) a feeling like I had the flu .....my body felt like I had aged 20 years and my liver enzymes were running higher than normal. I kept asking my cardio if my feeling so bad was from any of the drugs I was on and he said no he didn't think so. So I started researching on the net and found various sites that showed me it was the lipitor.....I finally convinced my dr to take me off of it as a trial and when I felt better (after months) he then was convinced. I also started taking Co-enzyme Q-10....he now recommends that to all his patients on a statin drug. He wrote in my file that I had developed muscle myopathy along with other problems.
I only mention my problems with lipitor so that others will learn to read their bodies and watch for differences in how they feel and not just chalk it up to normal aging. I thought I was feeling horrible because of going through heart by-pass surgery..........most people can tolerate a statin drug but there are also many who work using other methods to reduce cholestrol because of the side effects.
Good luck with your liptor....may you be one with no side effects!!
Carol

Katherine58

Thank you so much for your replies. I really appreciate knowing how others fare with Lipitor 80. It concerns me to say the least since it is such a high dose. Again, thank you. Katherine

GraNita

Hi... I was in a blind study for 5 years ... taking either 10mg or 80 mg of Lipitor. When the study was over I found out my dosage had been 80 mg. I had no side effects and my cholesterol numbers were great. As someone else mentioned... my liver enzymes were monitored also. I am now taking a lower dosage and continue to have good reports. Good luck....

Terric

Hi - I have been on many statins and Lipitor 80mg was the most recent for three years. Like one of the other ladies I began to think I had a form of arthritis or something more serious as I ached and my muscles were so sore. I lost my ability to do most any kind of exercise. I stopped the Lipitor on Dec. 28 and changed to Crestor 40mg. So have my cardiac enzymes. (I also take Zetia) My HDL and LDL have continued to be good on Crestor and actually have improved. I wouldn't go back to Lipitor for any reason. About Zetia, it is my understanding from my primary and Cardio that the study about Zetia was done in conjunction with Vytorin. The form of Zetia used was a generic. They have not proven Zetia in itself does not work. In fact, it significantly improved my cholesterol. Both my doctors were firm in their belief of Zetia. I am also taking 1000mg of Folic Acid per the Cardio and Co-Q-10.

I am such a fan of Dr. Oz on the Oprah show, I always record when he is on. I have his "You" books written with Dr. Rosen and he is very specific about certain vitamins like Co-Q-10, etc. Of course, talk to your Dr. I take Omega 3 and the Dr. had me stop that a week before my cath as it is a blood thinner.

As I have a family history of high Cholesterol, I have talked to family members and I am not the only one to have trouble with Lipitor. I guess that's why they make so many choices in statins.

Watch for symptoms to build with Lipitor, especially such a high dose. You will know the difference if your sensitive to the drug. You just start feeling ancient and wondering what on earth can be wrong. I was just dragging myself around!

Don't you wish they had spell check on this site? It's a terrible crutch to get used to!

Blessings and good night to all,
Prayers to those of you with procedures tomorrow!
Terric

Desertwoman

Hi,
I was on Crestor, and developed perpheral neuropathy , went off of it, and the Dr put me on Pravachal , another statin -the PN returned, and never left, so I am in pain 24/7 with an incurable progressive disease .
Les

rosa57

Be very carefull with CRESTOR. This is very potent medication. 40 mg of Crestor equal 120 mg of LIPITOR or more.
Unless it is absolutely nessessary talk to "LIPID SPECIALIST " about taking SO MUCH.
I was taking 20 mg of Crestor after 80 mg of Lipitor and it made me very sick( not right away and usually you attribute symptoms to other problems) .
What helped me to understand more about cholesterol lowering drugs was a book recomended to me by a nurse in the cardiac rehab:
What You Must Know About Statin Drugs & Their Natural Alternatives (Paperback)
by Jay S. Cohen (Author)

myra

I have not been on Lipitor myself, but my husband, as well as his best friend were on Lipitor 40mg. Both of them developed severe muscle pains. Both quit taking Lipitor and thank goodness they got better, but it was a long procedure. As for me, I was on Lescol and now am on Pravacol. I have not had any problem with either one. The only reason I was switched from Lescol to Pravacol is that my insurance company quit paying for Lescol. If you do start on Lipitor, be sure to notify your doctor at once, if you develop muscle pain.

Dee81

It makes you ACHE and hurt. For myself it tends to be in my legs. They ache and cramp. It is difficult getting up the stairs in the evening. But it seems to vary from person to person.

WarmNBrace

I ditto everything Grannyheart posted. I felt the same effects.

I felt so horrible that i was forced to change. I walked around like I was 100 yrs old. My legs felt like bricks and hurt. I was also so physically exhausted all the time

Kennarina

No side effects from Lipitor 40 mg but my LDL levels were down at the expense of my HDL, also down. Switched over to Crestor 20mg - no side effects at all, and my HDL is up AND my LDL is less than half of what it was on the day of my hospitalization! A miracle drug, really!

XOXOXO

ellen128

the leg pain from these drugs is just TOO MUCH! I am just taking policosanol and then going to try red yeast rice by sylvan. can't stand the pain from the statins!

ellen128

I realize that now after 20 some years, the docs are realizing that the statins can cause the major side effects. I have taken the statins for most of the last 20 years, and I have had a LOT of leg pain. At this time, I am only taking policosanol as well as fish oil, lecithin and flaxseed.

hope my numbers will be down the next time i get bloodwork done.

ellen128

Keep me in prayers also as I am not taking my statins at this point OR zetia as I had severe leg pains.

Thanks, and praying for all of us who need to lower our numbers.

ellen128

Thank you for this - i will try to buy this book.

ellen128

this report as well as others i have heard make me very much against taking a statin. thanks, and i so hope and pray you will feel better!

ellen128

same thing has happened to me!

artiste

I have been taking Lipitor 80 mg for about 2 years now, with no muscle pain to speak of and great results in terms of LDL. Before that I was on a lower dose of Lipitor and Zocor before that. My doc is careful to monitor for liver and muscle problems when I have my regular blood work done. I've asked him about reducing the dosage but he is reluctant to do that yet. My LDL is at 70, the upper end of the target range he wants. The alternative would be Crestor, which is a much stronger drug, which is hard to believe. He said the comparable dose on Crestor would be 20 mg but I'd need more frequent lab work to check for problems. As much as I don't like taking such a high dose of Lipitor, it's working for me right now. I'm hoping that switching to the Ornish-Mediterranean diet will help even more and that I can reduce dosage in the future. An important beneficial side effect of the statins, which doesn't get much discussion here, is the anti-inflammatory effect. I'll stay with the 80 mg of Lipitor until there are compelling reasons to change.

Jimmy42942

Hi Katherine58

I’ve been on “high statin therapy” for over three years with no ill side effects (as far as I know). I guess I tolerate drugs pretty good considering I have 20 prescription (I use 15 daily).

After my 18th stent we had to do something radical and a ton of statin has done the trick, although I just received #19 and I’m blocked at 50% in one artery still. Before HST I was in the hospital every 3 months for another stent.

Why didn’t they stent that one your going to ask. They can stent that blockage but its looking a bit grim for any more (unless smaller tools are developed). One stent took 6 hours in the cath lab before they got it to the right spot. So they gave me a bit of time before #20.

So you all worried your going to check out soon let me till you my Doctors have been guided by God. In 20 years I’ve had 3 heart attacks, two bypass surgeries with 11 bypasses, AV Node Ablation and every other thing they could think of that might prolong my life including my By-V passer with defib (just got #2).

I was on the transplant list but every time the phone rang I freaked out so I took myself off. I doubt I would have gone for it anyway.

At 67 I’m feeling blessed I’ve made it this long. Who knows how long I have left. I get depressed but they have drugs that help so I’m doing fine, no GREAT.

Love and God keep me going, try it if you aren’t already, I know FOR SURE it’ll work for you too!!!

…Jimmy

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