Question about Lipitor

[Qrtrmoon]

My husband has been on Lipitor for about a year now. He takes it at night before bed and for about the past 2 months been waking up with nausea that lasts about 30 min.  Occasionally he even has some vomiting.  I was wondering if anyone would know if this could be connected with the Lipitor or if anyone else has had a similar experience with this drug?

[ed34]

Well, it COULD be but it usually occurs after every meal, not just some. How is he with regards to walking and general activities? Usually there is some other symptom when people get pains after eating if it's heart related. This can be shortness of breath, throat/jaw discomfort, chest pains. If he is walking around with no discomfort, then there's a lower risk it's cardiac related. In my case I was suffering severe throat discomfort and mild chest pains even walking 20 paces. However, if I ate something, even a slice of bread, the chest pains became very severe. It also occurred if I drank a warm drink, but strangely enough never with cold water. Cold weather also really affected me, if I went outside on a cold day I had to quickly get back indoors because I could hardly breathe and my throat discomfort became too unbearable.

[Qrtrmoon]

hmm he does have CAD that could very well be the problem then??

[PikaPika88]

I was on low dose as well.  It gave me migraine headache.  I also have the symptoms like Qrtrmoon's husband.  I wasn't on Aspirin.  I have done the "Empty Gastric Studies" twice.  The tech said it was abnormal but the doc said it is normal.  So the doc didn't give me any treatment.

Now I took off all the medications, including Lipitor.  I feel better but I think my tummy has been damaged.  It didn't heal and function as before anymore.  

[itdood]

Some folks with CAD will report the post meal issue, but also with shortness of breath.  If someone has CAD, the diversion of blood to the intestines after a meal can worsen angina-type symptoms.  If he did a simple stress test they might be able to figure it out.

I've been on the lowest dose of lipitor for about 6 months, no side effects at all.    But that could be because I'm on a low dose (10 mg)

[Qrtrmoon]

Thank you so much for your advice, he has an appt with the GP in 2 weeks and has promised he will discuss it with him.  He has a lot more faith in his GP than I do, I am the researcher he tends to just blindly take the docs word for everything, I have MS and learned many years ago to accept responsibility for my own health care and question everything.  Other people with similar experiences and google have been my life line.  

[ed34]

Probably a mixture of all those things, after all, military or not, we are all human.
Looks like a trip to the GP and either stop statins for a while to prove the point or change to a different brand, just to eliminate this as the problem, or not.

[Qrtrmoon]

yes he has been on aspirin for about a year now.  There is no stomach pain involved just the feeling of dizziness and nausea.  He is retired military and getting him to his GP and heart docs is almost as difficult as getting him to actually tell them his symptoms lol.  I am not sure if he is afraid of appearing weak if he admits to being ill, or if he just lives in denial...

[ed34]

I assume he doesn't have discomforts when walking around the shops etc? ONLY sometimes after eating?
If this is the case, and the reason I initially asked, is it could be stomach related. I am wondering if he is on blood thinners such as Aspirin?
All these symptoms remind me of an Ulcer, fats in particular aggrivate ulcers as well as dairy products. I would get to a GP and discuss the matter urgently. It may not be an ulcer but it's best to make sure, the quicker he gets on medication the better if it is.

[Qrtrmoon]

by the way we have been able to connect this problem to any certain type of meal ie: one that is higher in cholesterol or higher in sugar, etc, however we have noticed it seems to happen more frequently if we are dining out than if we dine at home.  We have learned to avoid eating out then going shopping or any where else, we usually plan to do any errands then go to a restaurant just before heading home.  It has become that frightening to him.  

[Qrtrmoon]

on occasion he has a terrible problem after eating, he says it feels as if he has a sudden drop in blood pressure and becomes very dizzy.  He becomes faint feeling.  It generally passes after about 30 to 45 minutes.  

[ed34]

There have been quite a number of people with nausea problems on this medication and switching to a different statin has resolved the problem. The only way to be absolutely sure if it is this medication is to stop taking it for a while. The usual recommendation is to stop the medication for 3-4 weeks which wont affect cholesterol much but will be a good test for the nausea. Please ask your Doctor before stopping any medication.
Are there any other symptoms involved? such as pains after eating?