Over 6 years ago, the following Petition was submitted to the FDA...
| Posted at 10:49 AM on Jul 21, 2008 by drmike4777, #32585 |
I took Zocor for 3 years. Prior to taking it, I was a completely healthy male 56 year old, with slightly high "bad" cholesterol level. I rode a bike a 100 miles a week and swam 3 miles a week. I had ruptured a disk (L1/S5) in my 30's (from running), but had had no problems after surgery (for 20 years).
After taking Zocor, I continued my workouts, but noticed more sluggishness and difficulty with endurance, but I chalked this up to age and slight arthritis. Nearly three years into Zocor, I found myself with terrific back pain, non-rheumatoid reactive arthritis and low-back pain. Again, I attributed this to age. I continued to bike and swim, but with more difficulty.
Approximately two months ago, I found myself getting numb in my legs and feet, with great difficulty moving. I felt that something was terribly wrong. I went to my doctor, who advised that I probably had developed spinal stenosis as a result of the progression of arthritis, especially from the old back operation. I suggested that maybe it was a reaction to the Zocor. My doctor doubted it, but suggested that I get off the Zocor to see. He indicated that I would notice a difference in 3 days if it was the Zocor. I stopped immediatly and noticed an improvement immediately. I began to read internet postings and examined drug reactions and learned about coq10 depletion and started taking supplements.
It has been less than 3 weeks, and my numbness has nearly gone, I feel looser with much more energy. I've noticed a return of libido and I've notices an ability to go much greater distances swimming and biking.
I still have some numbness in my feet and I still feel some compression pain when walking, but the distance walking has gone from 100 yards at its worse, to almost a mile when I start out. I'm using NSAIDs still (which help greatly) and have started using a cold pack (which also helps). I'm taking vitamin C.
While statins may help some, I feel Zocor nearly crippled me. I have no ideal how long the remaining numbness will continue, but I feel better every day and I no longer have the severe morning stiffness. My advice as a layman: Severely restrict the use of statins. Mark M
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