The following story is the true testimony of a woman who took Lipitor (a drug designed to lower “bad” cholesterol) for 25 years. At first the statin drug had no ill affect on her health and successfully kept her cholesterol in check. But something drastically changed, and her pain caused by statins became so severe, she could not lift her beloved Schipperke. After doing some research, she concluded that the years on Lipitor depleted her body of CoQ10, resulting in chronic pain.
A Woman’s Testimony of Pain Caused by Statins.
The author has asked to remain anonymous. This is her story of statin induced pain.
I’m not much of a writer but I’ll give you my experience with taking a statin. The exact year I started taking Lipitor eludes me, but I took it for about 25 years or so. I never noticed any side effects from it until I reached my late 50’s. I was around 35 years of age when I began taking it.
One morning when I was 59 I woke up with a stiff, aching neck and a painful left hip and left leg. I began having trouble walking without a limp, especially if I would sit down for a few minutes and then get up. I began having a having a hard time getting in and out of cars, and going up and down stairs. After sitting for even a few minutes, I could hardly walk because my left hip and leg hurt so much when I tried to get up and move.
I did better up to a point if I stayed mobile, but after walking for a while it became too much and I would begin to hurt more and limp more. I had no idea what was wrong with me, so I just assumed I had arthritis due to my age and the fact that I do have some osteoarthritis in my family history.
Doctor’s Visit
After suffering through it for about 3 months I decided to go to the doctor. She sent me to Physical Therapy for six weeks, two times a week with exercises to do on the days I did not go to therapy. I went to therapy and did my exercises at home faithfully, and I did have some improvement in my condition.
However, it did not go away totally. Fast forward another four months, when I went for my annual physical. Over the previous four months I had begun to do a lot of research on line to try and figure out what might be wrong with me. One of the possibilities I came up with was side effects from the Lipitor.
So, when I went for my physical I discussed my symptoms with my doctor. I told him about my research and that I knew that statins had side effects in some people very much like the problems I was having. He suggested two books that I could read on research done on cholesterol and statins, and since I was doing my own research anyway I decided to add those books to my search [Cholesterol Clarity and Keto Clarity].
By the time I finished reading both books and visiting web sites of other doctors and patients who were discussing their side effects from statins, I was convinced the Lipitor was my problem. I called my doctor and discussed it with him. I went off of the Lipitor gradually, over a period of 2 months. You are not supposed to stop “cold turkey” so I lowered the dose gradually until I took my last dose of 5 mg this past June 25.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Over the next month I went through some very serious neck pain, hip and leg pain, severe muscle weakness in both legs, and used a cane temporarily to get up out of chairs or to push myself up if I had to bend down. I once bent down to pick something up without having my cane nearby and had to call for my husband to come help me. I could not get up on my own. My leg muscles were so weak they were useless. I also had a headache every single day after coming off the Lipitor. These symptoms lasted a solid month.
In all the research I had been doing on statins, one thing I learned was that statins deplete the body of CoQ10, so I began taking it to replenish what my body had lost. I happened to find an excellent web site by Dr. Duane Graveline, a former NASA Astronaut and Doctor to the astronauts. He himself had been damaged by statins, and started the web site to help others with their side effects.
He recommended taking the reduced form of CoQ10, which is called ubiquinol. It is easier for the body to absorb in this form than in the CoQ10 state. I also began to take other supplements that had been recommended by other doctors and patients who had experienced muscle problems from taking statins. I was already taking Vitamins D and E before the side effects started, and after they began I increased the Vitamin D, added the ubiquinol, L-carnitine, vitamin C, magnesium, ALA, selenium, krill oil, and vitamin K2.
Fast Forward to the Present
It is now September and I am doing much better. I am still not back to 100%, but at least now the muscle issues are improved and tolerable. I have recently begun to incorporate some exercise into my life to try and build back up my leg muscles.
It was not until I did all my research that I realized that my side effects probably started due to the fact that I am much older than when I began taking the Lipitor, and as I have aged my body has not been able to handle the drug any more. I learned from my research that it is especially harmful for statins to be taken by menopausal women and the elderly – of which I am both. Apparently, when I was young my body could compensate but at 59 it said “no more.”
This is my experience in a nutshell.
This is only one among many stories of people who have had adverse effects from taking a statin drug. If you or someone you love suffers unexplained pain, the cause could be statin drugs — especially if you or they fit into one these categories.
Women at Risk of Pain Caused by Statins.
- All women taking a statin drug are at risk for pain caused by statins
- You are at risk if you have taken a statin drug for a prolonged period of time
- If you are near (or past) the age of menopause the risk is greater
- Senior women are also at a greater risk of pain caused by statins
Everyone at Risk.
Women are not the only people who have reported ill effects from taking statin drugs. Dr. Duane Graveline, mentioned above, experienced transient global amnesia (TGA) while under the care of the Johnson Space Center. Mayo clinic defines TGA as “a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss that can’t be attributed to a more common neurological condition, such as epilepsy or stroke.” [1] In Dr. Duane’s case, statin drugs caused an episode on two separate occasions. His second episode of TGA lasted 12 hours. He writes,
For twelve hours I was a thirteen-year-old high school student who knew my subjects, teachers and every kid in my class (according to my worried wife) but with no memory of my entire adult life. I laughed when they told me I was married with children and a doctor. I could not have doctored a mouse and certainly had no children. I was thirteen! Fifty-six years of rich and fulfilled adult life had vanished from my mind as if it had never occurred.
Read more of his story here: My Statin Story.
Adverse Side Effects.
Taking pharmaceutical drugs always comes with a risk. Sometimes the damage is immediate, other times it takes years to show up. God has designed our bodies to withstand and combat much, but at some point they just say, “no more.” Just as the above story demonstrated a woman’s pain caused by statins.
Statin drugs can cause following common adverse side effects. [2]
- Muscle damage (including degenerative)
- Nerve damage
- Acidosis
- Liver damage
- Memory loss
- Immune depression
- Anemia
- Impotence
- Cataracts
- Diabetes
- Disrupts sex hormones
- Affects cortisol levels
- and more
Precautions for Pain Caused by Statins.
If your doctor has prescribed statins to you or a loved one, ask him to reconsider. Ultimately the choice rests with the patient — as does the responsibility. We must do our due diligence to take control over our own health and make our own wise decisions based on knowledge. Doctors do not have all the answers. And thankfully, there are many ways to naturally control cholesterol levels by eating a healthy diet and living a life-style according to God’s design. If we lower our cholesterol naturally, we’ll never have to worry about pain caused by statins. Here are a few ways to consider managing cholesterol naturally: [3]
- Eat foods that lower cholesterol naturally, including foods high in omega-3s and soluble fiber.
- Limit foods that raise cholesterol such as sugar, alcohol, bad fats, and caffeine.
- Exercise regularly, especially including high intensity work outs and weight training.
- Learn more here: How to Lower Cholesterol Naturally and Fast.
If you are taking statin drugs, you may be at risk. Talk to your doctor to see if there is an alternative. Ask him to work with you as you “detox.” Prescription drugs should be an absolute last choice, not a way to maintain an unhealthy life-style. God has given so many life-giving foods to enjoy. Go to those first.
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[1] http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/transient-global-amnesia/basics/definition/con-20032746
[2] http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/07/20/the-truth-about-statin-drugs-revealed.aspx
[3] https://draxe.com/lower-cholesterol-naturally-fast/
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Reformed Health exists so you can take control of your own health and be all that God has designed you to be. The information shared on Reformed Health is the sole opinion of the author and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. None or our claims have been evaluated by the FDA or any other government organization. We are not medical doctors, nor do we have any medical doctors on staff. If you are having a health emergency, please call 911, contact your doctor, or visit a local emergency room. Always consult your doctor before engaging in any new exercise regime.
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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.
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© 2017 Mischelle Sandowich
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