Thu, Feb-21-02, 11:29
|
|
Forum Founder
Posts: 37,222
|
|
Plan: LC paleo
Stats: 241/188/140
BF:
Progress: 52%
Location: Eastern ON, Canada
|
|
hi Donna,
Muscle aching and cramping can be a serious side effect of the Lipitor-class of drugs (Zocor, Pravachol and others too). It's more than just aches and pains .. it's possible the muscles are being damaged, and although muslces can repair themselves and become healthy again, the rapid release of muscle-breakdown by-products into the bloodstream can harm the kidneys. The condition is called Rhabdomyelosis. I found an article for you at Medicinenet.com, explaining this serious side effect of cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Please make an appointment to see your doctor within the next day or two (no, you don't need to dash off to Emerg.). She (he) should do a blood test to check the levels of muscle-breakdown products. *Note - muscle cells breakdown, die and are replaced all the time; it's a normal body process of maintenance and repair. It's just that these drugs can speed up the process, and the kidneys become stressed from coping with the sudden increase in waste and by-products.
The drug will likely be discontinued, but don't just stop it yourself ... it's important that you see the doctor soon, not next week or 2 weeks from now.
Keep us posted, hope all goes well
Doreen
|