I have extreme thumb spasms, often both thumbs at the same time. ...

This dangerous drug can cause many side effects. I stopped taking it on 2-08 and still have numerous side effects. Please stop taking it . . . . .there are many natural products to control your cholesterol or any health issues.

I have heard of your symptoms many times from lipitor. More common than you may realize. You are certainly not alone. There are an estimated 250,000 people worldwide who suffer debilitating side effects from statin drugs. To date, these drugs have harmed more people than terrorism.

Please Google "Stopped our statins". There, under "print articles" you will find an interesting article from the Weston Price Foundation. It`s about side effects and also about the different statin studies.

At "Stopped our Statins" you will also find a suggestion as how to stop statins.

Don`t stop any medication at once - and without knowing why you are doing it. Taper it out. It would also be good to have a doctor`s support but I think that will be hard to find!

Of course, if your life is at risk and you have medical contact that`s another thing.

All of the symptoms that you write about could be from your statin medication. All statins have similar side effects so read patient stories for Zocor, Simvastatin, Pravachol etc

Simvastatin is the active ingridient in Zocor by the way.

Side effects can come rather quick or it it can take years and by then both patient and doctor have a hard time to see the connection.

I hope you have not taken it for many years. It also matters if you have taken it with other medications.

I think it`s important to "educate" yourself on the whole cholesterol issue. I don´t think you have to worry unless you have a very high level which very, very few people have (genetic).

Therefore read many books: The Great Cholesterol Con (Anthony Colpo), Overdosed America (John Abramson), Malignant Medical Myths (Joel F. Kauffman), The truth about the Drug Companies (Marcia Angell), The Cholesterol Myths (Uffe Ravnskov).

Google the names of the writers and the titles of the books and you will probably find their webb-sites and more information.

I saw people close to me suffer from side effects and that`s why I started my "education". I have nothing to do with the health- or pharmaceutical industry.

I was suprised and angry at what I found.

I think it`s crucial to know what medications you are taking and why and now and then do your own "research" on the Internet and in books. Medications are released too quickly and only a fraction of the side effects are known.

By the way. When I read your text, I suddenly remember that my mother suffered something like you with your thumb.