My doctor started me on Mevacor a few months ago at 40 mg - I cou...

Hello: I am sorry to read about your bad experience with Zocor. It is frightening. I had a high cholesterol reading discovered a couple of months ago, and since have tried to change my eating habits,and prefer to fight it without drugs. My next lab test is scheduled in a couple of months, yet on a visit with the doctor this week, 23rd, October, he said in view of the last high reading he was prescribing Zocor (generic: simvastatin 40mg). I have taken it a few days now, and have read tons of terrible things about its side effects online. One friend is begging me not to take it. Worrying about it is keeping me awake nights, but I have no apparent side effects, yet. If I eat sensibly, reading labels before buying food, and exercise, yet still take this drug - how will I know in December when the next test is scheduled, which is responsible for any improvement: the natural way or the creepy drug?. I was going to call the doctor today and tell him I didn't like taking it, but it's too late now, and the weekend is coming up. I don't know whether to quit right now or wait until office hours on Monday to express my concern. Another thing that is bothering me is that we have always enjoyed an evening cocktail or two before dinner, and I read that no alcohol should be consumed at all for fear of liver damage. I have managed to live without any strong medications, and just feel that at this point in my life I don't want the risk of muscle or liver damage unnecessarily. You apparently reacted quicky with the side effects, and I know it must be scary and painful for you, as well as frustrating. I'm also surprised that your painful side effects would come about with 5 mg whereas I was prescribed 40! I have enough stress already in my life: an invalid spouse with an incurrable condition, and in the process of selling our home and moving out of state. We live in an area that was hit by Katrina and I'm not waiting around for the next one. It's bad enough being on guard six months out of the year - watching the weather channel. And now I just don't need to worry about a drug making me sick at this point.

It's like I'm damned if I do, and damned if I don't. And won't know if it did the job in December or if I worked it out naturally. I learned from my pharmacist that I can purchase a cholesterol measuring kit, and I'm going to do it. There is a more expensive machine or a 2x-test kit for about $20. The machine is probably a better investment.

I hope you have found a solution to your problems, and that your cholesterol has come down. Please write and let me know how you have done. Thanks for listening to my story, too. I look forward to hearing from you. Good luck. A.J.

Hello! Nice to hear from another "stain" patient who has concerns. I wonder if my doctor(s) are in cahoots with the pharm companies to push these drugs on us - with all the lovely side effects.

I just started 5 mg daily of Pravachol - she tells me another patient who couldn't tolerate Zocor or Mevacor is doing okay on Pravachol. So far so good but I am sort of paranoid about stain drugs side effects and liver damage. I'm taking other Rx's for blood pressure, glucose control and my heart and tolerating them all just fine. If I start having any problems with Pravachol I am not going to take it and she knows it. She was going to try Zetia (non statin) but decided to try this first. I have HBP, Type II diabetes and congestive heart failure - at 57. The CHF diagnoise was the wake up call to get serious on diet and exercise - so far I have lost 26 pounds, goal is to lose another 60. I was 250 and the goal is around 160.
Don't be afraid to speak up and get in your doctor's face, they will try to steer you the way they think is best but sometimes I think we need to be more assertive about our medical care.

Let me know how the doctor's visit went for you!