T Nation

Lipitor and Performance

Powerlifting
#1

Hi,

Do any of you older strength athletes take Lipitor? DO you still perform pretty well while taking it ( or some other statin )?

I’ve been on it for a few years now and it seems in last 6 months or so I’ve been overall oddly achy pretty often and I am beginning to wonder if it’s related as I’ve heard its a common side effect and sometimes doesn’t onset for years.

It’s not severe by any means, but it’s enough to be a hindrance to lifting. Also, I have no symptomatic weakness per se, but I feel I am perhaps not quite a strong as I “should be” anymore. Granted I am 45 and I know some of this is aging but wondering if it’s more than that.

Anyway, I am trying to find out if other folks my age here take Lipitor ( or other statin ) and actually perform well physically while taking it? Also, any advice/comments regarding your experience with it? For instance, has coq10 supplemtation helped you with muscular issues such as ache and/or possible strength deficit?

Thanks!
-Pete

#2

[quote]pmvfunds wrote:
Hi,

Do any of you older strength athletes take Lipitor? DO you still perform pretty well while taking it ( or some other statin )?

I’ve been on it for a few years now and it seems in last 6 months or so I’ve been overall oddly achy pretty often and I am beginning to wonder if it’s related as I’ve heard its a common side effect and sometimes doesn’t onset for years.

It’s not severe by any means, but it’s enough to be a hindrance to lifting. Also, I have no symptomatic weakness per se, but I feel I am perhaps not quite a strong as I “should be” anymore. Granted I am 45 and I know some of this is aging but wondering if it’s more than that.

Anyway, I am trying to find out if other folks my age here take Lipitor ( or other statin ) and actually perform well physically while taking it? Also, any advice/comments regarding your experience with it? For instance, has coq10 supplemtation helped you with muscular issues such as ache and/or possible strength deficit?

Thanks!
-Pete[/quote]

"overall oddly achy pretty often "

Statins deplete Co Q10.

Are you taking any Co Q-10? I’d suggest 100 mg/day. FOr best absorption get any kind that comes in a gel cap with oil (like most vit E does).

#3

[quote]pmvfunds wrote:
Hi,

Do any of you older strength athletes take Lipitor? DO you still perform pretty well while taking it ( or some other statin )?

I’ve been on it for a few years now and it seems in last 6 months or so I’ve been overall oddly achy pretty often and I am beginning to wonder if it’s related as I’ve heard its a common side effect and sometimes doesn’t onset for years.

It’s not severe by any means, but it’s enough to be a hindrance to lifting. Also, I have no symptomatic weakness per se, but I feel I am perhaps not quite a strong as I “should be” anymore. Granted I am 45 and I know some of this is aging but wondering if it’s more than that.

Anyway, I am trying to find out if other folks my age here take Lipitor ( or other statin ) and actually perform well physically while taking it? Also, any advice/comments regarding your experience with it? For instance, has coq10 supplemtation helped you with muscular issues such as ache and/or possible strength deficit?

Thanks!
-Pete[/quote]

I would not be on that poison for any reason!

May I ask what your cholesterol reading was prior to going on lipitor?

I know there are many schools of thought on statin drugs. However, high cholesterol is only one (and not a major one) negative indicator of heart disease.

There are natural ways to lower your total cholesterol number.

Also, I agree with the previous poster. If you are going to stay on that poison you should be taking CoQ10.

#4

May I ask what your cholesterol reading was prior to going on lipitor?

certainly. It varied some but I recall being usually around 250 with occasionally up in the 270’s. A couple times I tried pretty hard with diet and of course exercise but best I could ever get it down to was about 225. Also as I recall my HDL was ok but not great, so LDL was also proportionately high against the total but I can’t recall the numbers.

As I recall the “heart diet” of choice back then for this sort of thing amounted to being pretty high carb and very low-fat. Ultimately, the history of heart disease in my family ( father dead from heat attack at 41 ) was the kicker so i decided to just go ahead and take it. Of course it does work great for LDL ( now at 165 total, LDL 105 ) but per my original post wondering lately about the rest of it and reconsidering whole thing now 4-5 yrs later. ( I found out about the co10q depletion issue only yesterday and I started it immediately. )

Thanks,
-Pete

#5

I felt tired and achy the whole time I was on it and had to drop it. Strangely, my workout intensity didn’t really suffer, I was just unable to recover from them and ended up sleeping 10-12 hours a night. I think the jury is still out on the whole High LDL is THE cause of heart problems. It may be that it is another symptom with a common base cause like stress.

I’m also leary of anything that almost all doctors can’t wait to cram down your throat. Especially when most of the testing was done by the big drug companies that stand to make profits on their sale. Seems fishy… So I’ll just take fish oil (where’s the FLAMEOUT!) and lots of fresh fruits and veggies. Then I’ll get tested again and decide whether I want to add statins. If anyone has any new info on the subject please share.

#6

[quote]Kruiser wrote:
I felt tired and achy the whole time I was on it and had to drop it. Strangely, my workout intensity didn’t really suffer, I was just unable to recover from them and ended up sleeping 10-12 hours a night. [/quote]

That pretty much sums up my last 6 months, especially the not being able to recover part. How long were you on it ? How long after you dropped it did you notice some improvement?

-pete

#7

[quote]pmvfunds wrote:

May I ask what your cholesterol reading was prior to going on lipitor?

certainly. It varied some but I recall being usually around 250 with occasionally up in the 270’s. A couple times I tried pretty hard with diet and of course exercise but best I could ever get it down to was about 225. Also as I recall my HDL was ok but not great, so LDL was also proportionately high against the total but I can’t recall the numbers.

As I recall the “heart diet” of choice back then for this sort of thing amounted to being pretty high carb and very low-fat. Ultimately, the history of heart disease in my family ( father dead from heat attack at 41 ) was the kicker so i decided to just go ahead and take it. Of course it does work great for LDL ( now at 165 total, LDL 105 ) but per my original post wondering lately about the rest of it and reconsidering whole thing now 4-5 yrs later. ( I found out about the co10q depletion issue only yesterday and I started it immediately. )

Thanks,
-Pete [/quote]

I don’t think a total cholesterol of 225 is a problem. Especially if your HDL is at least 50. And if your other numbers are in line and you don’t have high blood pressure I don’t see a problem.

The high carb diet added to the problem as you know by now. You could try to do it again and do the following:

  1. Oatbran

  2. Apple Pectin

  3. Walnuts and Almonds

  4. Fish Oil

  5. High Veggy and fruits.

  6. Cardio 4 times per week plus whatever weight training you do.

  7. Low carb high protein.

Stay on your meds until you see a significant improvement. Then gradually, under your docotors supervision, stop taking the lipitor.

Just a suggestion, I hate to see anyone take statins unless they really need it.

Whatever you do best of luck,

Zeb

#8

I am on 20mg. The initial 10mg dose brought me down to only marginal numbers approx 202 total.

#9

Actually Zeb is correct.

There are a few supps worth looking into if what he suggests doesn’t work.

–polycosinal (sp?)
–niacin…there are like 3 forms and you need to be careful which one you choose and probably monitor your liver function studies…

there are others…syntrinol…pantothene but I’d start with what’s above and Zeb’s suggestion.

#10

[quote]ZEB wrote:

I don’t think a total cholesterol of 225 is a problem. Especially if your HDL is at least 50. And if your other numbers are in line and you don’t have high blood pressure I don’t see a problem.

The high carb diet added to the problem as you know by now. You could try to do it again and do the following:

  1. Oatbran

  2. Apple Pectin

  3. Walnuts and Almonds

  4. Fish Oil

  5. High Veggy and fruits.

  6. Cardio 4 times per week plus whatever weight training you do.

  7. Low carb high protein.

Stay on your meds until you see a significant improvement. Then gradually, under your docotors supervision, stop taking the lipitor.

Just a suggestion, I hate to see anyone take statins unless they really need it.

Whatever you do best of luck,

Zeb

[/quote]

Thanks, Zeb. This is really useful info and a very reasonable suggestion. I think I am going to revisit this with my doctor. I have one question though… you said “Stay on your meds until you see a significant improvement.
Then…” etc. What improvement were you referring to here?

-pete

#11

[quote]pmvfunds wrote:
Hi,

Do any of you older strength athletes take Lipitor? DO you still perform pretty well while taking it ( or some other statin )?

I’ve been on it for a few years now and it seems in last 6 months or so I’ve been overall oddly achy pretty often and I am beginning to wonder if it’s related as I’ve heard its a common side effect and sometimes doesn’t onset for years.

It’s not severe by any means, but it’s enough to be a hindrance to lifting. Also, I have no symptomatic weakness per se, but I feel I am perhaps not quite a strong as I “should be” anymore. Granted I am 45 and I know some of this is aging but wondering if it’s more than that.

Anyway, I am trying to find out if other folks my age here take Lipitor ( or other statin ) and actually perform well physically while taking it? Also, any advice/comments regarding your experience with it? For instance, has coq10 supplemtation helped you with muscular issues such as ache and/or possible strength deficit?

Thanks!
-Pete[/quote]

While I do not condone seeking or trying to give medical advice over the internet or making diagnosis.

Based off of my personal experiance with the drug and my medical background I do urge you to get some blood work done and discuss these concerns with a physician.

I suffered profound weakness on this medication and over all lethargy and muscle degeneration, despite docyors routinely prescribing this medication widely I do not feel they follow their patients close enough nor do they adequately discuss the potential for serious side effects.

I do not whish to alram you and if I have I apologize but even the minor symptoms you described can be an indicator that something is wrong and especially need to be checked if you are on medication.

For me this medication was serious bad news Everything is reversed and I am more than fine now. Just as the side effects progressed as long as I was on the medication they improved day to day as time past once I cleaned up my diet and stopped the meds.

I wish you the best of luck.

#12

[quote]pmvfunds wrote:
ZEB wrote:

I don’t think a total cholesterol of 225 is a problem. Especially if your HDL is at least 50. And if your other numbers are in line and you don’t have high blood pressure I don’t see a problem.

The high carb diet added to the problem as you know by now. You could try to do it again and do the following:

  1. Oatbran

  2. Apple Pectin

  3. Walnuts and Almonds

  4. Fish Oil

  5. High Veggy and fruits.

  6. Cardio 4 times per week plus whatever weight training you do.

  7. Low carb high protein.

Stay on your meds until you see a significant improvement. Then gradually, under your docotors supervision, stop taking the lipitor.

Just a suggestion, I hate to see anyone take statins unless they really need it.

Whatever you do best of luck,

Zeb

Thanks, Zeb. This is really useful info and a very reasonable suggestion. I think I am going to revisit this with my doctor. I have one question though… you said “Stay on your meds until you see a significant improvement.
Then…” etc. What improvement were you referring to here?

-pete
[/quote]

Don’t immediately stop taking your meds. I think that the natural diet above is enough to at least keep your Cholesterol near the 200 mark. But during the transition period don’t stop taking your meds completely. Communicate with your doctor and gradually cut back on the meds. Monitor your cholesterol closely.

It always takes longer for natural products (food etc.) to work as opposed to medicine. That’s one reason why most people don’t think they work, they don’t give it enough time. This is a 90 to 120 day process. During that time gradually cut back on your medicine while keeping a close tab on your numbers.

Once you really understand what works for you, it will become second nature. But during the intitial process make sure you are very cognizant of what you are doing.

With some discipline I think you can beat this without meds! And that will mean far greater health and energy for you in the long run.