Lipitor: Side Effects, Dosage, Uses, and More - Healthline

Like most drugs, Lipitor may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Lipitor may cause. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Lipitor. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here's a short list of some of the mild side effects that Lipitor can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Lipitor's prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Lipitor that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about this side effect, see the "Side effect focus" section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Lipitor can occur, but they aren't common. If you have serious side effects from Lipitor, call your doctor right away. But, if you think you're having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Lipitor that have been reported include:

* For more information about this side effect, see the "Side effect focus" section below.

Side effect focus

Learn more about some of the side effects Lipitor may cause.

Muscle pain and joint pain

Some people may experience pain in their muscles or joints while taking Lipitor. In studies, mild muscle and joint pain were common side effects.

Mild muscle pain or tenderness with Lipitor will likely go away on its own. But in rare cases, Lipitor may cause severe muscle pain and muscle weakness. These could be symptoms of more serious conditions, including:

  • rhabdomyolysis (for details, see "Rhabdomyolysis" below)
  • immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (a rare condition in which your immune system attacks your muscles and breaks them down)

What might help

Staying well hydrated and increasing exercise intensity and frequency at a slow and steady pace can help minimize joint and muscle pain.

If you have mild muscle or joint pain, your doctor may lower your dose of Lipitor. Or they may prescribe a different drug to treat your condition.

If you have extreme or unexplained muscle pain while taking Lipitor, call your doctor right away. They may have you stop taking the drug while they check for signs of more severe muscle damage. In most cases, muscle and joint pain will go away once you stop taking Lipitor.

Rhabdomyolysis

In some cases, Lipitor can cause rhabdomyolysis. This is a rare but serious side effect of statins, including Lipitor.

Rhabdomyolysis occurs when your body starts breaking down skeletal muscle tissues. As these tissues break down, they are released into your body, and your kidneys filter them. These tissues are often too much for the kidneys to filter and can lead to kidney damage.

In rare cases, rhabdomyolysis may cause permanent kidney damage (including kidney failure) and can even be fatal. If you have concerns about your risk of rhabdomyolysis during your Lipitor treatment, talk with your doctor.

Minor cases of rhabdomyolysis may not cause any noticeable symptoms. But symptoms to watch for include:

  • nausea
  • urine that is brown, red, or cola-colored
  • severe muscle pain and weakness, which may make it hard to move your muscles

What might help

A few steps you can take to help prevent rhabdomyolysis include:

  • staying well hydrated
  • if you exercise, don't increase how often you work out or the intensity of your exercise too quickly
  • talking with your doctor or pharmacist before starting any dietary supplements, including those with caffeine, creatine, and ephedra

If you experience any of the symptoms above, seek medical care right away. Treating this condition early may help limit damage to your kidneys.

Diarrhea

Some people taking Lipitor may experience diarrhea. This was one of Lipitor's most common side effects reported in studies. Diarrhea is typically worse when you first start taking Lipitor, and it usually gets better after taking the drug for a few days.

Symptoms of diarrhea include:

  • watery stools
  • belly pain and cramps
  • bloating
  • weight loss
  • fever
  • body aches or chills

What might help

If you have diarrhea during your Lipitor treatment, be sure to drink plenty of fluids to help you stay hydrated.

To learn more about managing diarrhea, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may suggest over-the-counter treatments, such as loperamide (Imodium) or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol).

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Lipitor. While allergic reaction wasn't reported in clinical studies of Lipitor, it can still happen.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Lipitor. But if you think you're having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

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