Schedule an appointment to review the lifestyle and/or drug steps you intend to take before stopping the statin. The withdrawal symptoms are painful but not excruciating pain like cramping. While Lipitor works like most other statins, it does have a couple of advantages: It can be taken with food and has lower dosage requirements than some other statins. Learn More. Cholesterol-controller may be bad for your heart, expert claims ; … Stop taking them now: Cholesterol-busting medicines may be causing more harm that good. If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately. Lipitor's Differences. While statin can be an extremely effective medication for reducing blood cholesterol levels, a number of adverse side effects are associated with it that could be detrimental to your health. Individuals react differently to the withdrawal and experience a variety of symptoms that range from mild to serious. The drug manufacturing company, Pfizer, markets Lipitor as a cholesterol lowering drug. I have had to stop statins which I have taken for about 10 years now because of severe leg cramping during the night. Patients report Lipitor withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing the use of the medications. Start lifestyle changes. There are various types of statin medications, including fluvastatin, atorvastatin, pitavastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin, and rosuvastatin. New study: Those who stop taking statins due to side effects have higher rates of heart attacks, strokes and death from any cause Most people have no … In a recent 8-year study, more than half of patients stopped their statin believing they were experiencing a side effect. Stopping your statin has been linked to increased risk for cardiovascular events (like heart attack) and death in patients with coronary artery disease. Alternatives to Statins for Cholesterol . I have added Collagen supplements very recently and have ordered some CoQ10 for help. During the advanced stage of … Review the plan together and agree on a timeline. Symptoms of statin-induced myopathy. As with most cases of myopathy, symptoms originate in the muscles of the upper arms, shoulders, pelvis, and thighs.