knees have swollen pockets and are excruciating as are ankles. Up...

I've been taking Lovastatin for about 2 months and now have developed a severe rash, I have difficulty breathing, tightness in my chest (I went to the hospital thinking I was having a heart attack), my hair is falling out, I have tongue & mouth sores, muscle pain and spasms in my hands, feet, legs, chest, back and stomach, blurred vision, and fatigue. I went to a dermatologist who diagnosed me with Lupus. Now I've been told by my cardiologist to get off the Lovastatin. I pray this stops soon.

Yes, I have had the same thing, for almost 10 years on an off with the last three yrs.being downright near life threatening. I haven't been sure it was the lovastatin, but so many times I would see the "precaution indicated where there is pain in the muscles" and so to tell your doctor because this could indicate a more serious health problem. So that's what I did from week one and each time I was told it was nothing and just to keep taking it because I needed it. Years ago, I got good results with Lipitor, but it made my liver enzymes go up so that was out of the question. For over three years now, I have been landing in the Hopsital emergency room perhaps 3 o4 or even more times because of these "life threatening" spasms. I get spasms starting in my ankles, especially after waking up in the A.M. It is an immediate reaction upon "opening my eyes, taking a breath and trying to turn over to get out of bed. The spasms start immediately, 1st in one ankle, then the other, then my toes curl up and I find myself on the floor unable to do anything but cry out to the walls and ceiling. I am plunged into excruciating pain. Early this morning, it went from ankles to toes, to my shins, around the back to the calf muscles (where it used to start) and then "attacked" my inner thigh on my left leg, then the outer thigh portion and then I felt it start on the inner thigh of my right leg. I was on the floor of my apartment screeming. (as best I could,) I crawled to reach for some Prescription Robaxin pills which I routinely keep somewhere near my bed and which will eventually help the spasms to receed. It takes roughly 20 agonizing and tortuous minutes for that to happen. This morning, however, was the worst i have ever had and I am on this website because i am terrified. (I've been on and off cholesterol lowering products for years. I had to take two muscle spasm relaxers (Robaxin) this morning NOTHING was happening that seemed it was going to work even after 10 minutes when i would usually feel some hope, so I took another. I added a Tylenol with codeine for the pain, which the doctor prescribes for me in case the spasms should get severe enough. I'm so thankful that he does that. Well it does get that severe. Actually I am even permitted to take a second Robaxin, but it's usually not necessary.. It's just that I have rarely done so in a 10 year period. Today was one of those times. Eventually, after about 30 minutes of torture and trying to keep my bladder under control I got relief. My leg muscles started to loosen their grip. That amount of the medication made me very drowsy, though, so I had to lay down again. This day, however, ranks as the first time, therefore, that I have ever had to take as many as 4 pills in one day, because lo and behold, it started in ALL OVER AGAIN when I woke up the second time. Yes, it all hit me again and again I was on the floor. I had to go through the whole thing again. I have hesitated to call my doctor (of 25 years), who has been first rate in so many other ways and even in this matter I believe he has done the best according to his own training, and the logevity of his practic. I believe that. I think perhaps the drug companies themselves may discourage the view that their own pre-cautions can be THAT serious. I don't know what the root of the problem really is. People may well have attributed it to other medications or "life Style" what have you. All the doctors I have seen over time have the same reaction. It's never the Lovastatin. They all have the very same reaction as my own doctor does. They figure it is something temporary (or maybe not temporary ) reaction to something else or a combination of medications or lack of calcium and excerise. (Not true). The label on the lovastatin describes this reaction and it's potential seriousness. I don't understand this. " I am even right this minute feeling like yet another cramp is threatening to start again on the inside thigh of my left leg. God Bless you and anyone else who may be encountering anything like this. I want to add that I am in my mid-sixties, reasonably good health and fairly fit for my age. I weigh 128 lbs and am 5'2" tall. My cholesterol, though is quite a bit over 300, perhaps 340... and my triglycerides are up there too. I am not a meat eater, etc. etc. Ocassionally I do go a a chocolate candy binge. That's about it. No Coke, no coffee.... you get the picture. I am on a lot of medication, but cholesterol lowering drugs were among the very first over 25 years ago.

By the way of the few times, I have had to call an ambulance, I discovered that the minute they put an OXYGEN mask on me I recovered and the spasms went away almost immediately. I also believe my heart muscle may have been involved when they couldn't get a pulse in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. By the time i got to the hospital (each TIME) they said they couldn't find anything wrong. I keep telling them that OXYGEN must play some roll in all of this condition! My comment goes totally unnoticed. Recently My arm muscles, the biceps, show serious signs of wasting.. no pain though. Exercise won't help. I'm signing off right now. Finished anyway, but my legs are beginning to hurt seriously again. Unfortunely, this is the absolute truth. I admit, i am angry and frustrated. At least someone should take our complaints seriously.

harry777 . . . .Statins are dangerous drugs and can cause MANY side effects. Drs. and the drug co's are doing a SCAM on the anti-cholesterol drugs . . . .it is about big $$$. In reality, your mind/body needs cholesterol to function. I suggest that you stop taking it . . .as I did. Don't let your dr. to con you.