Lipitor

I am taking Lipitor 20Mg once a day. I have been off my diet and eating all the wrong foods. I am Constpated & Bloated and have heartburn. The Side effects of Lipitor are the same. Does Lipitor bother alot of people with IBS. Can this just be a coincidence or is it the Lipitor I stopped for a few days felt a little better but still had side effect. Went back on the lipitor and still have the IBS symptoms. Please Help me with an answer i really dont want to stop taking Lipitor Cause my Cholosterol went from 236 to 130. Thanks George MAlchow Email ***@**** I have had IBS for 11 years and do have flare ups.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Sorry for the delay in responding - I was on vacation over the weekend.

Lipitor can cause IBS-like symtpoms, including both consitpation and diarrhea (both in less than 3% of cases).  Here is a complete rundown of reported side-effects:

ADVERSE REACTIONS SIGNIFICANT
>10%: Central nervous system: Headache (3% to 17%)

2% to 10%:
  Cardiovascular: Chest pain, peripheral edema
  Central nervous system: Weakness (0% to 4%), insomnia, dizziness
  Dermatologic: Rash (1% to 4%)
  Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain (0% to 4%), constipation (0% to 3%), diarrhea (0% to 4%), dyspepsia (1% to 3%), flatulence (1% to 3%), nausea
  Genitourinary: Urinary tract infection
  Neuromuscular & skeletal: Arthralgia (0% to 5%), myalgia (0% to 6%), back pain (0% to 4%), arthritis
  Respiratory: Sinusitis (0% to 6%), pharyngitis (0% to 3%), bronchitis, rhinitis
  Miscellaneous: Infection (2% to 10%), flu-like syndrome (0% to 3%), allergic reaction (0% to 3%)

<2% (Limited to important or life-threatening): Alopecia, anaphylaxis, angina, angioneurotic edema, arrhythmia, bullous rashes, cholestatic jaundice, deafness, dyspnea, erythema multiforme, esophagitis, facial paralysis, glaucoma gout, hepatitis, hyperkinesias, impotence, migraine, myasthenia, myopathy, myositis, nephritis, pancreatitis, paresthesia, peripheral neuropathy, petechiae, photosensitivity, postural hypotension, pruritus, rectal hemorrhage, rhabdomyolysis, somnolence, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, syncope, tendinous contracture, thrombocytopenia, tinnitus, torticollis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, urticaria, vaginal hemorrhage, vomiting

I am not aware of a direct connection with irritable bowel syndrome.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
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