Simvastatin and headaches

Amazing. like you I've fallen into this trap. So healthy and in shape at 59, (more like in my 40's), working out every day, happy. Now, after 2 months on Simvastatin, 20mg every other day, my shoulders and neck muscles are so inflamed, swollen and there's more hurt in my upper body than ever in my life. For the past week, I've been having trouble even getting my clothes over my head! Also headaches have started which I've never had before. I thought it was the relatively wet summer we've had this year in Denver, and was believing the weather had brought me into full-blown arthritis. I am so disappointed in myself to have poisoned my body this way, especially after telling my trusted MD for the previous 3 years "no thanks" to a satin drug. Thank God for my chiropractor sat me down yesterday for a consultation for why I was so much in pain. When she found I'd gone on a satin, the light bulb was lit. I will never taking any satin again and will work to always be as drug free as I can be after this lesson. Thanks to those of you who give me hope that I may feel better soon and I pray for no permanent damage from this "Simvastatin".

Amazing! Like you, I've fallen into this trap. So healthy and in shape at 59, (more like in my 40's), working out every day, happy. Now, after 2 months on Simvastatin, 20mg every other day, my shoulders and neck muscles are so inflamed, swollen and there's more hurt in my upper body than ever in my life. For the past week, I've been having trouble even getting my clothes over my head! Also headaches have started which I've never had before. I thought it was the relatively wet summer we've had this year in Denver, and was believing the weather had brought me into full-blown arthritis. I am so disappointed in myself to have poisoned my body this way, especially after telling my trusted MD for the previous 3 years "no thanks" to a satin drug. Thank God for my chiropractor sat me down yesterday for a consultation for why I was so much in pain. When she found I'd gone on a satin, the light bulb was lit. I will never taking any satin again and will work to always be as drug free as I can be after this lesson. Thanks to those of you who give me hope that I may feel better very soon (yes, it's no way to live) and I pray for no permanent damage from this "Simvastatin".

Just started taking 10MG about 2 to 3 weeks ago, and now I get DAILY excruciating headache pain on the right side of my brain. It primarily occurs when I exert energy (I am an open water swim competitor, so I exert a lot of energy). When I train in the pool or ocean, I get the worst headaches imaginable, which has never happened to me EVER (I am 47, and have been competing in the water for over 30 years). I water skied last weekend with my kids, and once I got up on the ski I felt the worst headache in my life; I had to stop (which was a real bummer), and almost requested to go to the hospital because I felt I was having some kind of brain aneurysm (sp?). No way am I taking any more of this "medicine"; I have been healthy (and drug free) my entire life, and not a chance will I throw it all away as a guinea pig for big pharmacy. I don't think the link between cholesterol and heart disease is as iron clad as the Drs. and pharmacy companies insist, and even if they are right, I'd rather deal with the problems later than live with the symptoms now. If you doubt if this is real, you may e-mail me at ******

I am in shock and so glad that I came to this website. I have been taking simvastatin for about 5 months now and this morning I decided to do a web search with the words simvastatin and headaches. Everyday I for the last two months I have been asking myself why am I having these terrible headache. My Doctor did a CT scan, I had my eyes tested, I had my hearing tested, my blood tested and everything comes back good. I realized that I have to do something about this problem myself because my doctor prescribed another pill for the headache and that's that. Today I did not take the medication and I will not be taking it again. The symptoms that everyone described are so real to me but the headaches were the worst. I have to thank you all for posting this information. I now feel that I will get my life back.
Thanks verdul1

I started simvastatin 20mg mid-October 2008. The middle of November I started getting stomach cramps, then in January I had a sinus infection that wouldn't leave and dizziness to the point of passing out. Also having all over body pains. Now I have diarrhea and foul smelling stool and stomach pains and gurgling,also headaches. I have been taking bonine pills which gets rid of the vertigo temporarily. I just found this site today and will not be taking those pills again EVER. I thought I was going crazy.
I am starting to take prevacid morning and night and zantac150 morning and night to solve my indigestion issues. I hope all the problems will go away soon. We should be suing the drug companies for giving us these drugs. I will just live with my high cholesterol, at least I'll be living normally!

I have been on Simvastatin for 2 weeks and i have notice have head headaches daily thought it was the new job and being on the computer a day and then thought perhaps its the new drug I am taking so I typed this drug in and headaches on Google and found this website .Going to go off it tomorrow and see if the headaches go away. headaches seem to start in neck and shoulders massaging seems to relive the headaches some what and I take tramadol when it is so bad it makes me feel nauseated.

I started taking simvastin (the lowest dose) about 6 months ago with amazing results when it came to my cholesterol. After about 2 months I started getting headaches. I went off the drug for about a week and the headaches went away. I went back on the drug and 3 weeks later the headaches came back. This went on for a few cycles. This last time I went off the drug was February 7. I have not taken it since and I have had a headache since then. This time it has not gone away. I HAVE NEVER had headaches before taking this drug. And all I know now is that for the last month my life as I knew it completely changed. Of course the Dr. put me on some pain meds for the headaches that made me sick, sick, sick after 3 days. I just can't take the pain meds as they are worse than the headaches themselves. HAS ANYONE HAD THIS and if so how long did these headaches take to go away.

I'm so glad I found this web site! I started taking simvastatin (40mg) about a month ago, and I've gained over 15 pounds in the last two weeks. I'm very bloated, very tired, my fingers are going numb, I'm getting BAD headaches, and the hot spells and night sweats are out of control. As others have mentioned, I just assumed it was all due to menopause. But I was so upset at having gained the weight so quickly because I recently lost 35 pounds, and I started getting depressed because the weight was coming back. I feel so much better knowing that I'm not alone, and that there is a real explanation for all the rotten things that are happening. I guess statins do work well for some people, but they're definitely not for everyone!

Hi to all,
I have read all comments in complete shock. I am a 53 year old female.
I was prescribed Simvastatin just over 6 months ago (40mg). I am hypothyrod and also have very high blood pressure. About 6 weeks ago I started to have severe (and I mean severe), night sweats. The sheets are absolutely wringing wet as if someone has thrown a bowl of water over me,
The headaches that start within about 30 minutes of getting up every morning radiate from the middle of my forehead right across my right eye and it throbs all day. My throat is sore, my skin very dry, my vision seems very blurred (especially first thing in the morning), and I don't seem to be able to focus very well. My appetite is almost non existent and my shoulder, legs & feet hurt dreadfully and although I hate to admit this I am quite depressed at how I feel.
Three nights ago I decided to stop taking Simvastin and guess what...hay-ho, no night sweats, no cramp and the headache today was much less severe.
I am glad I found this site and for sure I will be visiting my doctor next week to advise my findings.
I think I would rather live on a diet of bread & water rather than go through this again.
Good Luck to all fellow sufferers.

#Was prescribed Simvastatin 40mg and Bendrofluizide for high cholesterol and blood pressure, have been taking statin for 4 months no headaches but limb problems, tingling in fingers on right hand, weight gain and severe stomach bloating look about 5 months pregnant most of time, which is no joke when your 61. The doctor said it was the statin causing bloating have stopped taking both medications for about 2 1/2 weeks now. Joints better, tingling nearly gone but bloating still there. Has anyone else had problem with bloating if so do you know how long it will take to go away
or what I can use to get rid of it, have tried indigestion remedies.

lood

Male 58 years old.

In September 2000 I had a heart attack and consequently underwent an angioplasty/stent procedure. Since then I have been taking 10mg of simvastatin daily.

During the last 12 months I noticed the following symptoms developing...Occasional dizziness... pain in thumb joints to the extent that I had trouble using cutlery...some pain in my right elbow joint...dry skin on my legs...tingling in fingertips and toes...headaches...tiredness...occasional general muscle fatigue for no apparent reason.

I am generally speaking quite active and have kept my weight to a reasonable level. I put some of these symptoms down to my age...... but then read peoples posts on this site.

Approx 2 months ago I stopped taking the statin tablets, ZOCOR, and have only been taking .75mg of dispersive aspirin daily along with a 1000mg vitamin C tablet dispersed in water.

Since doing this I have noticed that ALL symptoms have been gradually fading...I still have some slight discomfort in my thumb joints but hasten to add that its nothing compared to what it was only two months ago.

Have read elsewhere that a daily dose of vitamin C can help keep cholesterol levels down so am going to stick to this regime and have a blood test in about six months time to see how things are going.

I have been taking simvastatin for about 2 years with good results, but then I started having severe, hang over type headaches plus I started having irregular heart beat (skipping a beat). I just started stopping the med and hoping the symptoms disappear. Also, feel low energy and tired, but anti-anxiety meds that I have taking for years can have this affect as well. The first generic statin drug I took caused almost immediate muscle and joint aches. I need to schedule a doctor visit to discuss this issue because no blood tests have been run in nearly a year...did have 3 at 6 month intervals..no problems. New doctor, new city..not a good situation or comfort zone.

I am so glad I found this site. I have been having hideous headaches and just today thought perhaps it's the Simvastatin that I started this summer. I had an occasion this summer where I lost the vision in one eye (half way up). The doctor said that is called "window blind" vision loss. So after doppler and MRI he said I had to absolutely take 81 mg of aspirin a day (baby aspirin) and started me on cholesterol lowering meds. I didn't want to take the cholesterol lowering meds so at first I resisted completely. However, in the past month I have started to take them. Every night I would wake up with a headache and my neck and shoulders were hurting also. I kept thinking that I was going to have a stroke. The pain was so bad I would vomit but the area of the headache was not where I would get migraines. The pain was more in the back of my head and my neck and shoulders. I decided to do some reading on the internet and found that headaches is a major symptom of simvastatin. I will do my own experiment now and stay off of it for 10 days. I will then start it again and see if the symptoms return. My doppler said I had mild build up of plaque...at 57 I would imagine most people of mild build up of plaque. I don't want a stroke or heart attack but I can't live with these headaches and the lack of sleep.

Have been on Simvastatin since May 2007. Have experienced debilitating headaches every day for the first three months, neck and shoulder pain, lower back pain, tiredness to the point of having to stop what I am doing and go to bed and am wondering now whether any other female taking Simvastatin has experienced a burning sensation when passing very hot water and extremely uncomfortable and painful sex.

I'm a 54 year old female prescribed 10 mg zocor(simvastatin) for slightly elevated cholesterol. Took it for 7 months before I clued in to the cause of my many symptoms. Muscle and joint pain, head fog, blurry vision, weight gain, stomach upset, fatigue, etc... The muscle and joint pain were excruciating at times --especially in my left hip...which had gotten so bad I needed a walking stick for support. I felt so darn old wondering if I would even feel normal again.
After reading many postings I decided to stop my zocor(simvastatin) 6 weeks ago and am very happy to report an improvement in many of my complaints...although far from where I want to be.
I am curious as to the withdrawal effects others may have experienced. The first week coming off I had stomach aches and I had awful headaches which thankfully did stop. The stomach aches and touchy digestive system still plague me though. Am I the only one experiencing this?....

I've been on simvastatins for about 2 years after TIAs. I'm 56. I had two small Strokes about year ago despite being on simvastatins. Had brain scan which showed two small areas of scarring and carotid artery scan- arteries fine. Started experiencing dizziness last year and GP diagnosed vertigo and gave me seasickness pills which didn't do much good. Since then I've experienced headaches which last for weeks, increasing fatigue (now struggle to get out of bed in morning) muscle pain which is getting really bad and sore feet (?). Increasing memory loss, confusion, lack of concentration, eye problems (when I first wake in morning my vision is blurred for ab out 30 minutes or so. I've been worried i mmay be developing Alzheimers. I've also piled on weight and the texture of my hair has changed - it has become very soft and silky and become thinner - normally my hair is very thick. Also I've had two perms in last 6 months which won't hold curl - been having perms for years and never had this problem. I've had several blood tests including for under-active thyroid and they have all been clear. I've been really worried about all these problems and did some research and came up with this site. I am beginning to think my problems stemm from taking 40mg Simvastatins so am going to stop them and book appointment with GP. Any comments/advice would be appreciated.

43 year old lady taking this drug about 2 months first a low dose but without doctor seeing me he put me on 40mg a day getting bad headaches and hair loss anyone else suffing hair loss

My husband was prescribed 40mg of this drug 2 years back,for his high cholesterol reading. He is an ex-services and has always been extremely fit, he was tired for almost a year, then he began having headaches to the point he had a brain scan, because he thought he had a tumor. He also has had knee and neck joint problems and now the joints of his fingers are giving him pain He now wakes up each morning feels really ill and feels as though hes being strangled, the sensation lasts sometime for hours and he has to lie down. His doctor said it was blood pressure but he keeps a monitor and his pressure has been normal. His doctor said he should continue to take it, but when you read all the symptoms that people are getting while taking this drug it makes you realize they are all just guinea pigs for a large scale trial of the drug

I have been taking simvastatin since June 28, 2008. I am 44 years old and have always been majorly active with my 17 year old daughter. Recently I have become chronically fatigued so much as to want to go back to bed within 2-3 hours after I get up in the morning, (definitely not me). I have felt spaced out,depressed to the point of wanting to cry all the time, have severe back, hip, knee, leg, and hand pain. I go to pain management for my back and hip problems (past surgery), but the usual pain has been intensified over the last 2 months and I wasn't sure why, until i decided to check out the Simvastatin to see if it has made me put on a few pounds, and boy have my eyes been opened!!!!!!!!! I AM STOPPING THE MEDICATION IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to all who have spoken up, I wish I would of checked on this sooner!!!!! I'm calling my Dr. first thing in the morning!!!!!!!!!!!

By exhausted in Canton

I have been on Simvastatin for about 5 weeks now... I have never been a person who had headaches... but I have a headache almost every day. yesterday, my stomach was upset all day as well.

I started on 40mg of simvistatin 3 and a half months ago,after being on them for a week i started to get bad headaches and felt really fatigued,so when i told my gp she said its just a matter of your body getting used to them,so i continued taking the pills i seemed ok for a while but 5 weeks ago i started with palpitations,then i got indigestion, and general discomfort in my chest,weakness in my arms and legs, headaches and the fatigue came back worse than ever,i haven't been back to see the doctor,i stopped the pills yesterday,the indigestion has gone already,i want to lose about a stone and try to lower my cholesterol myself ,but how can you exercise when you feel so weak and tired,my cholesterol level is 5 but because i suffer high blood pressure the doc said it needs to be 4.3,does anyone else suffer from the same and is on this medication?

Has anyone had hair loss? I have been on Simvastatin for 30 days adn I noticed hair loss.

March 2nd 2008

4.45pm indigestion and feeling of fullness as if I can't breath too easily. Also have atrial fibrillation and palpitations appear worse since taking Simvastatin 40mg tablets for 2weeks was previously on 10g Rosuvastatin. Has anyone else experienced similar symptoms.

i started taking Simvastatin a month ago an suffered with extremely bad pain in my stomach,nausea,and my cholesterol when up even higher,Bad chest pain and my fingernails became brittle also headaches