Weakness and fatigue symptoms and conditions

Took Limbrel for 1 week and started experiencing fevers for 7+ days some of which were over 103+. Had significant body aches, diarrhea, weakness and fatigue. Stopped taking the Limbrel, but did not make the connection until the second time. Same thing happened. I stopped and got well, but I also used many other remedies such as homeopathy and vitamin IVs. Stayed off for 3 weeks. Then decided it couldn't be the Limbrel, so tried it the third time. The first one I took gave me a fever about 12 hours later. I am calling my doctor first thing in the morning to report this. Very dangerous.

Moderately high cholesterol and BP 150/90. Was put on Lipitor 20mg and after a week felt more fatigued than usual but nothing much more than this. Had stress test and angiogram which showed 60-70% block in one artery as well as arrhythmia. Cardiologist bumped Lipitor up to 80 mg which I took for 2 weeks. But by then I was suffering most of the effects described in these postings: aches and pains, giddiness, nausea, extreme weakness and fatigue. I took myself off Lipitor and even after one day my head started to clear aches started to diminish, though urine still a reddish color suggesting a lot more flushing out required. And, best of all, the arrhythmia reduced from moderate/severe to mild (which it always used to be before taking Lipitor). This drug is not for me. I'd rather take my chances without it and rely on strict diet, weight loss, etc. It is surprising that the possible side effects are so understated in the manufacturer's descriptions.

I would encourage every patient on statins to read the recent article (Feb. 2008) by Dr. Peter Langsjoen, MD/Cardiologist: http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2008/feb2008_Alleviating-Congestive-Heart-Failure-With-Coenzyme-Q10_01.htm

The following information from this article is pertinent to complaints of muscle pain/weakness and fatigue:

"All statin drugs block the biosynthesis of both cholesterol and CoQ10, which explains statins’ common side effects of fatigue, muscle pain and muscle weakness, and a worsening of heart failure. When CoQ10 levels are lowered by statin drug therapy, one of the first changes to occur is a weakening of heart muscle function, known as diastolic dysfunction. This has nothing to do with diastolic blood pressure, but rather represents impairment in the relaxing or filling phase of the cardiac cycle. After heart muscle contracts, it takes a great deal of cellular energy, or ATP, to re-establish the calcium gradients such that muscle fibers may relax. Thus, if diastolic dysfunction is severe, it can result in congestive heart failure. In 2004, a study published in the American Journal of Cardiology showed that diastolic dysfunction (heart muscle weakness) occurred in 70% of previously normal patients treated with 20 mg a day of Lipitor® for six months. This heart muscle dysfunction was reversible with supplemental CoQ10."

I hope this information will be of help to patients suffering adverse reactions from statins..

I am a male of 67 years old. I took Lipitor for a year, and after a few months of taking it, I felt muscle pains in my arms and shoulders, as well as my back. I felt weak and could hardly put my socks on by myself. I told my family doctor that I thought the problem was caused by LIpitor. He said it couldn't be possible, but he couldn't figure out what was wrong, so he sent me to a rheumatologist, who gave me an initial diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica. I went back for a checkup, and although the sed rate was normal, the C-reactive protein was elevated. He felt his diagnosis was an accurate one. He prescribed prednisone for me. I had some doubts about it, since I am diabetic, and was concerned about the elevated blood sugar it might cause. Well, it did elevate my blood sugar, and I weaned myself off it within three months. My blood sugar went back to normal, and while the prednisone helped the symptoms of muscle pain and aches, after I stopped it, the pain returned with a vengeance.

About a year passed after discontinuing the prednisone, and I felt worse and worse. Any time I engaged in physical activity, such as yard work, I was almost incapacitated for two or three days. I felt weaker and weaker, and by now, my activity is about ten per cent of what it was three or four years ago. I am unable to do anything physical without paying a heavy price.

I would tell the doctor that I felt the problem was caused by the Lipitor. He would dismiss my comments, saying that the pain should have gone away after discontinuing Lipitor. He sent me back to the rheumatologist with results of recent blood tests. Both the sed rate and C-reactive protein were normal. The rheumatologist touched my back and other areas, which caused me to jump. He said it might be fibromyalgia. I told him again that I thought it was caused by the Lipitor. He said the same thing my GP had said: if it had been the Lipitor, the pain would have gone away when I stopped taking it. I know the Lipitor caused the pain, because I tried red yeast rice for a couple months. The pain increased to almost unbearable, so I discontinued the red yeast rice. If I were not susceptible to the pain from the Lipitor, would the red yeast rice have increased the pain?

So here I am with a fuzzy diagnosis from the rheumatologist, and no clue from my family doctor (that he will verbalize, at any rate). My life has gone steadily downhill. I used to be a strong, active person, but now I can do very little, and my strength is a shadow of what it formerly was. What can I do?

Haven't seen anyone mention any sexual SE's but I know I'm not imagining this. It's not a lack of libido but, it's as if my wiring has been disconnected.
A lack of sensation. Major bummer. I can live without sodas but not this!
That was my major reason for getting off the Topamax. My doctor was very incredulous about this being a SE of the Topamax but he didn't argue with me. I came across this site just looking to see if anyone else had experienced this. After getting here I can not believe all the things I have been brushing aside as due to something else. Stomach pain and diarrhea, severe GERD, depression and morbid thinking, oh and my gosh the trouble searching for words and connecting thoughts--I thought I was loosing it, shortness of breath and weakness that I was attributing to weight gain! I have only been on 25 mg a day for 6 months. The migraines did improve and the paresthesia in my hands subsided over time. But all this other crap that has slipped in and I have been passing off as aging or just wondering what else was up with my body and mind. Sheese! Thank goodness for this site! I am tapering off this crap-- and I feel like crap. Weakness and fatigue and a weird pain in the side of my head that is not a headache exactly. I hope I'm back to normal soon, this is awful!

I see that of only 2 postings as of this one from me, one mentions feeling "generalized weakness and fatigue." BINGO! Me too. And...like the posting I'm referring to, the patient is taking it for Lyme Disease. I know that, itself, can also cause weakness and fatigue. But I too suspect the Doxycycline is contributing to this in my case.

I too was prescribed this horrible medication. I was to the point where I thought I had lung cancer or throat cancer. The coughing was horrible. I am a Supervisor and every time I talked to one of my workers I would break out in this horrible cough. I also had the night sweats, horrible dreams and weakness. Thank God for this website. I stopped taking this poison two weeks ago and the coughing is starting to subside, along with the weakness and fatigue. I will never take this medication again. Thanks for the website and the wonderful postings. I think if I had continued on this drug it would have killed me. Sherry in FL

Send Private mail | Add as friend | Flag as inappropriate
Make a reply to this posting:
Type your reply to this side effect post:

Lisinopril
Post a new Lisinopril Side Effect
Ask a Question about Lisinopril
All Lisinopril Questions
Lisinopril in the News
Add Lisinopril to my cabinet
Lisinopril Home Page
All Lisinopril Side Effects
Lisinopril RSS Feed

August 6th, 2007

Ok so I have been taking lisinopril since July 20th, against the advice of my husband who is an RN. He said the side effects were hell and had long term effects. I however was convinced that my physician new better. I have had the weird dreams, night sweats, nausea, horible abdominal cramps. This mornig I woke up with a swollen face, severely swollen tounge to the point I could not swollow and was drooling. My lymph nodes and neck swollen as well. Needless to say we went right to the hospital before I stopped breathing. When I told the doctor what I was taking he said to immediately stop it, as it was a rare side effect of the lisinopril. GREAT Something to cure me almost killed me. After a cortisone shot and a week of prednisone I should be back to normal. Im going to listen to my husband now, eat less salt and excercise more. Valerie from Roanoke VA

Have been taking 10 mg Lipitor for 2 years. Levels of cholestrrol have dropped to normal range, but i began experiencing muscle weakness and fatigue 6 months ago. I had a fall so thought my symptons were due to injury. I can't ride my horse or walk my dog, which is very frustrating. I saw my doctor last week, he took me off Lipitor and ordered blood tests so I'm waiting to find out if Lipitor is the cause of my problems.

I took Lipitor for 36 days. At first I noticed only some increased heartburn and constipation. Then came the insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and increasingly severe depression. One day I took my usual walk with my dog and felt as though I were walking through waist-deep mud. I went home and took a nap and when I awoke I felt as though I had been beaten with baseball bats. Every muscle in my body ached. By the next day, I was suffering with nausea, upper abdominal pain, and could barely stumble to the Dr.'s office. She drew blood to test for muscle damage and it was negative, but told me to stop the Lipitor. Many of the symptoms subsided almost immediately. Still, 3 weeks after stopping the Lipitor, I have constant muscle pain, especially in my legs, also weakness and fatigue that prevents me from living my normal life. I also have a constant tingling and burning sensation in my feet, and muscle twitching. I wish I had researched Lipitor on the Net before taking. I am very angry that this drug and others like it are being pushed on the general public by the medical community and the pharmaceutical companies. It is sad to read the experiences on this forum. I wish you all the strength to recover and regain your lives.

I have been taking Lipitor for 5 days and have already noticed some muscle pain, weakness, and fatigue, particularly in my legs. After reading many of the stories here, I'll be finding another way to lower my cholesterol. Thanks everyone.

I experienced a hike in b/p after taking benedryl. I was placed on Lisonpril. After two weeks, I experienced extreme difficulty walking, weakness and fatigue, vertigo, persistent cough, panic attacks and anxiety. My skin felt like I was bathed in menthol or vicks vapor rub. I am not sure if it is the same "tingling" or "burning" that has been reported by others. E/r visits, ekg, cat scans, blood tests came back normal. I received inconsistent medical advice from e/r docs, cardiologist and internist (i.e. stay on the med, but change it, take it only if your b/p is high, get off of it completely- you dont have high b/p and dont need it). I decided to get off of it. Its been three weeks off the Lisinopril. I have improved daily; however, I am not back to normal. Anxiety and "menthol-like" skin sensations still remain. This web site has helped tremendously with jsut knowing that I am not crazy or alone. Thanks.

two to three day migraine, followed by debilitating weakness and fatigue...been going on for almost two months; started glucovance three months ago. Was on glucophage over five years, had the same weakness after headaches, but was more intermittent and of shorter duration.