When all this started for me back in 2006, my family doctor had doubled my Lipitor prescription from 20mg to 40mg. About 4 weeks after that, I started noticing aches in my muscles and joints. I was preparing for our New Year's Eve party, and everything I picked up that day, I dropped. About half way through the preparations, my arms started feeling like I had lead weights attached to them. On the 2nd of January 2007 I called my doctor and told him about this. The ONLY thing that had changed in my life was the dosage of Lipitor. I happened to remember, from a TV commercial that Lipitor has a "rare but serious side-effect" that involved unexplained soreness or weakness in the muscles and joints ... "Contact your doctor at once as this can be life threatening." So, I now have a couple of questions for the AS family in general: 1. Had anyone been on Lipitor at 40mg or higher before they were diagnosed with AS (and all of its side names)? 2. Has anyone been diagnosed with sleep apnea by their lung specialists? This is something else that I've had happen since my AS diagnosis. (Of course my pulmanary doctor is also the head of the Sleep Clinic here, so that could have something to do with it, too.) 3. How many of you have oseoarthritis that this disease isn't helping with at all? 4. Has anyone had any issues with their teeth, in reaction to the meds? I know that's a lot to ask in one message, but I've been thinking about this lately. Thanks for your future input on these questions. Terry

I've never taken Lipitor but have also read that it can cause rare myositis like illnesses. I do think there can be a link and your doctor should have reported your reaction so they can properly track it. I did have a sleep study at one point as I was transitioning off supplemental oxygen at night and I did not have sleep apnea at that time. Given the increasing restrictions of my lungs, they said I should be periodically screened. No osteoarthritis but I do have achy joints in my hands if I've carried heavy things. My teeth have become very sensitive to temperatures. Also my sense of taste has dramatically decreased which I think is from the oxygen drying out my sinuses and the metallic taste from the prednisone.

Kelly, Thanks for the response. When I asked my doctor about the link with Lipitor, he said, "No, that can't cause anything like this." I've been trying to get to my pharmacy when there isn't a huge line of people. I've been told that pharmacists have a better idea of what the side effects are and how they manifest. I think I'm going to have to take up their time, even if they place is busy, in the very near future.

tbear, i've never been on anything like lipitor but I have very mild sleep apnea due to the weak lung muscles and they just monitor it. The sensitive teeth however I have that one quite bad. They were sensitive before the pills and are crazy sensitive now, I get horrible deep pain from my teeth into my face at times but I have no cavities or anything like that. The meds made it much worse. Since I went off steroids its much better but I still get tons of tooth pain. I don't have oseoarthritis but I do get a lot of joint, muscle, and ligament pain from the disease, especially in my hands, elbow, shoulders, and hips. Good luck to you. I hope things improve.

Hi Terry I have to answer 'no' to all your questions, although I have heard lots of people talk of the link with taking lipitor as the start of their problems. I do have joint pain, and was worried about osteoarthritis, but after being prodded by a physiotherapist and having x-rays, they tell me its all muscle related pain, and my bones are fine :o) Alison

Thanks to everyone for their answers. I know the arthritis is a hereditary thing for me, and I've put up with it for years longer than all this other stuff. It just doesn't help to have other things piled on what we are all going through now that we've been diagnosed. I'm looking at a total knee replacement on my right knee in about 6-8 years. Hopefully my lungs will hold up for that and they will be able to knock me out completely. I'm still going to check with the pharmacist when I get a chance. Keep fighting. Keep praying. And above all, keep asking questions; to us, to your doctors, and to anybody else who might be able to help.