Are there side effects with long-term use of statin drugs, such as Lipitor?

There are no permanent long term side effects to the "statins."  Individuals can have symptoms to the medicines such as mild muscle aches, fatigue, stomach complaints, or flu like symptoms.  Often these symptoms are drug specific and go away with stopping the medicine.  So if you have aches on one medicine, you might tolerate the next just fine.

A very rare side effect, which is true muscle weakness, is more important and can be dangerous if the statin is not stopped.  Always communicate with your doctor especially if you have true weakness, not just aches or fatigue.