Simvastatin and statin

I have been taking 20mg of Simvastatin every night for about 4 years now and after coming across this site I have decided to stop taking it. I have been feeling particularly unwell for a couple of days, decided to do some research and can't believe what I am reading on this site! For the last year I have suffered terrible pain and loss of movement in my neck shoulders and arms and shooting pains in my legs along with muscle tics. More recently dizzy spells and quite severe tinnitus and headpain and fatigue. I have also found that my muscles tire very quickly when doing the smallest of tasks i.e: changing a duvet cover! The night sweats are particularly bad which I have been putting down to my age but may be to do with the statins. I am praying that these symptoms will reverse once I stop taking them but remain skeptical after reading other peoples comments on here!

4 years ago i was given simvastatin 20mg for high cholesterol when i was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes....last year (November) i stopped taking it after someone commented after hearing me complain about aches and pains and asked if i was taking statins....i checked and found i could relate to several reported side effects...over the last 10 months my aches and pains had slowly disappeared and my cholesterol was recorded at 4.9 in July ....however 4 weeks ago i suffered an optic nerve stroke and my doctor immediately put me back on simvastatin at 40mg despite my complaints is there an alternative i can take as i don't want to risk loosing any more off my vision and as the aches and pains are returning ...i will reluctantly take it but carefully monitor myself....

I am not sure of the origin, but I have my issues outlined below since I switched to the mail order Simvastatin. I was getting it from Rite Aid for over 2 years without issues. I found out mail order Simvastatin was made by same company as Rite Aid, TEVA.

My issue is throbbing in neck, high blood pressure (HBP), twitching in eyes (prob due to HBP), uncomfortable in general. I also know that I took pill in morning and by 9am issue would start and get worse into lunchtime, where is was the worst, then subside by 2 or 3 pm. Doc said it was nerves and stress and gave a script for that. Also said get off of simvstatiin for 2 weeks. Well without much or any change to the stressors in my life work, stock market, etc, I am not experiencing the throbbing or HBP. I have not taken the script for stress or the Simvastatin either. Didn't like the idea doc said you can get addicted to stress pill. I will get back in Simvastatin shortly, but do expect to be back where I was within a week or so. Anyone else experience this throbbing and HBP.

Dizzy, like getting sucker punched in the head; dizzy while LYING DOWN? This also happened with other statin. While bending over to pick something up or tie a shoe, almost fell on my head. Yet, cardiologist thinks it's "all in my head." It sure IS!

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".

I have been reading all of your Simvastatin experiences with high interest and would like to share my adventures with all of you as well. My story began seven years ago when I was relatively healthy and enjoying life. My doctor prescribed Lipitor for my elevated cholesterol and two months later I found myself in the emergency room after having a severe bout with vertigo for the first time in my life. I have since spent the last seven years fighting this debilitating illness which continues to haunt me after having seen every top neurologist in my area and having taken every neurological test available. It would be as difficult to convince me that I was not somehow "poisoned" by Lipitor as it was for me to convince my doctor.

I was eventually prescribed Simvastatin 40MG and seemed to stabilize for a few years even though my dizziness problems persisted. Suddenly I began experiencing bouts of upset stomach and severe lower abdominal pain. I allowed my doctor to order basically every nasty test known to man in an effort to discover the cause of this new problem, but all have come up negative so far. Eventually I began to experience total exhaustion in the middle of my work day, not to mention the back, neck, and muscle pain that has been described so vividly in this forum. Basically, I have become a 53 year old man who feels much older, has absolutely no energy, and rarely has a day when I can honestly say I feel alive and well.

I am not a doctor and I can't honestly prove that Simvastatin is the cause of all of my problems. However, I do have common sense and after reading all of your thoughtful comments on the subject I would be foolish to at least not suspect that the drug may possibly be making me less healthy and not more healthy. Thank you all for opening my mind to this possibility and I certainly plan on discussing this with my doctor very soon, who may no longer by my doctor should he continue to insist that I take this nasty drug.

August 12, 2009. I have been on Zocor/Simvastatin (40mgs) off and on over 5 years. I do not have any muscle mass left. I am an avid walker and exercise as much as possible in addition to still working in a high pressure position at the age of 72 (thankful for the job). My entire body hurts constantly, hands, fingers, legs, knees, neck, back, head and other parts to numerous to mention. My sex life is the pits. My doctor tells me I have high cholesterol that must be controlled by medication. I had a quad bypass in 1999, a cardiac defibrillator installed in 2003 (Actually 3 of them, first one was defective and went off, got a severe infection on reinstall #2, and 3rd one still is in and working hopefully). I never had a heart attack, no high blood pressure, just clogged up. I take enough medication to kill an elephant. At 72 I am going to trash the Simvastatin because I know it is the basis for my muscle loss and severe pain constantly. Doctor also had me on Lipitor for a long time (5 years). Statins really suck!

I am a 46 y.o male who started taking Simvastatin almost 8 months. At first I had no problems. I am an avid swimmer who swims laps at least 3x a week and had a weight lifting program (light wghts./ numerous repetitions. About 2 months ago I got severe pains in my neck and shoulder. I thought maybe I was overdoing it so I ceased workouts and went to the chiropractor. After two months of misery and missing swimming I decided to look into the statins. I am going off it tomorrow and will see if that does the trick. If I cannot exercise and be fit the Statin is not going to be useful anyway. I have a feeling stopping will help because rest and treatment sure didn't. I will try and report back

I have been on Simvastatin for 11 months and have gained 46 pounds. I also am having problems with my knees joints and wake up 2 to 3 times a night. My Cardiologist told me weight gain is not a side effect of this drug but I'm not so sure. He also said my knee problem is a result of the weight gain. I quit smoking last September and I know that's responsible for some weight gain but not 46 pounds. I walk for half an hour every day, watch what I eat and do cardio arm and leg exercises. I also have a rash on my arm, which is says in from Plavix, and he took me off it. I had a heart attack last September. Anyone else experiencing these problems?

I have been on simvastatin for 2 yrs . The past six months have had foot pain my doctor described as neuroma.By the time I started physical therapy the pain was in my arch + tendons. I went to physical therapy for two months, the therapist became concerned when improvement peaked. Still have burning nerve pain. I think its time for natural supplements . I hear "red Rice Yeast" is effective.
S. M.

My husband has been on Simvastatin for a few years, six months ago his dose was increased to 40mg, since then he has become someone I don't recognize, we have been married over twenty years and he used to be a very placid and wonderful man. He is now both verbally and physically abusive, he threatens me with divorce on a regular basis. He lies about me to others telling them he does all the housework (never) there is never any food in the house ( Totally untrue) He disappears for hours on end, and sleeps much of the time. He can be quite plausible with other people but turns into a monster when he returns home. Doctor told me I don't think it can be the statin, don't believe everything you read on the internet! She said to be sure for him to come off it for a few weeks - he refused! His aggression is escalating and I now dread him coming home. he has odd moments of being nice but within hours he is back to being nasty. He had been impotent for 7 years but now during his "nice moments" becomes amorous! I am at my wits end, has anyone else experienced this!

I've been on 80mg of Simvastatin for probably about a year. I'm a 59 yo male 188 lbs in good health but with high cholesterol. Lately I've experienced severe head and neck pain, shoulder pain, hand and joint pain, and foot pain. I'm normally very active, hike and walk a lot but lately, and it's getting worse, so I don't feel like doing anything. I'm thinking it's the Simvastatin causing all these problems. I don't feel like paying $1000s to have med professionals hit or miss with ideas and more tests so I'm going to quit the statin on my own and see if I feel better. I've also noticed memory loss, tiredness, dizziness, temporary vision issues at times. These are not good as I like to rock climb and participate in stressful and demanding activities.

Great Drug! Not...
Two months on the drug. Light Headedness, Dizziness, Lethargy, and a General Fog. Slight loss of balance sometimes.
Doc, said go off for 2 weeks and see how you feel. If better, we will try another statin.
Went off 2 days now. Feeling much more myself!!

This drug is scary. Who would want to go thru life taking this drug with it's side effects. Not me!

33 year old, 125lb female with cholesterol of 234. I was put on Simvastatin 40mg, which I took fot 3 night only. All hell broke loose, insomnia, hands are numb, severe joint/back pain, extreme weakness... The thing is, I took it for 3 nights & realized it wasn't for me. I've been off of it for 3 weeks, but the symptoms still persist, rendering me pretty much dead.... I was told by a few that putting me on 40 mg to start off probably did the job... Three week of living hell & my primary physician don't have answers for me!

Hi and please feel free to email me. I was on Lipitor for quite a while (20mg)without any issues. Due to insurance etc I was switched to 40mg of simvastatin---with in a short time i noticed i was waking nearly every morning with a mouth full of junk requiring a deep throat clearing. Then a low level sore throat that persisted for more than two weeks. I went to my doc who agreed that it may be related (though I think she doubted it) and had me stop. Now i have been off for 5 days and still my throat is sore (though not sore to swallow) and mouth generally feels "messed up".

If any of you have had any sore throat experiences etc please let me know. Also how long did your side effects last once you came off the drug?

I've been on Simvastatin 40 mg for about eight months now. Cholesterol levels dropped significantly. But man have I been hating life! Joint pain mainly in the legs. Beginning to walk like an old man and I'm only 62. Also more pain in my back than ever before! I talked to my doctor, who suggested I get off them for 6 weeks. I did, and I feel like a million bucks. I've got to get back hold of him to find out what he recommends? Probably some other pill!!! Just today I was talking with my pharmacist, and I told him my symptoms. He said the muscle deterioration could actually lead to death. I don't think I'll ever go back on them. I'm going to try and watch the old diet and get more exercise. Hope this helped someone? Good Luck!!

Have been on simvastatin on and off for 15 months now. First of all 10mg came off for a while - cholesterol level up to 7.6 again so was put on 40mg. Very nauseous and came off the 40mg. Went back on to 10mg in Nov. and since then no nausea at all. At present I am getting terrible pain when laying down in my right leg from my hip into my buttock right down to my foot. It is similar to cramp in leg but it lasts sometimes for a couple of hours. Cramp usually disappears in a few minutes but it is the same sort of sensation. Also needle-like pains in my hand and foot. Above symptoms only since going onto Simvastatin. Would be interested in any others have these symptoms too. Trouble is damned if you take them and damned if you dont. Current research does show however that there is no benefit to women over 60 taking these wretched pills - everybody reading this should try and get or borrow the book by Dr Malcolm Kendrick entitled The Great Cholesterol Con (Dundee UK GP) written in 2008 who also is of this opinion. I am not advising not to take Simvastatin but please do research and read this book and reach your own decisions.

#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

omg, im 32 years old been on zocor for 3 months now and am experiencing dizziness and disassociation with myself. I know now that it is from the drug. It seems like i want to sleep all the time. I was pretty convinced it was from stress but i have been in war in Iraq and under stress-post war depression and its nothing like statin side effects!! I went on statins because of a genetic disorder that runs in my family, the cause, well high cholesterol. Now my levels are fine but i feel like im a zombie most days? i know in the long run its healthier for my heart and veins to have low levels but at what extent? i think im going to go off for a few weeks and then back on it.

I am 38 years old and had my second child 7 months ago. My family history for heart disease is very poor and my cholesterol was 6.2 so my doctor prescribed 10 mgs of simvastatins in November. Before taking them I felt fine in myself, since taking them I have felt exhausted, not just tired, I have insomnia, very bad nightmares when I do manage to sleep. On top of this I have started to feel depressed and anxious, short of breath and my hair is falling out! I had myself convinced that i had post natal depression but decided to stop taking statins a few days ago, feeling slightly better. My doctor prescribed me an anti depressant today, should I take them? Does anyone know how long statins stay in our system?

51 year female, History of Hyperthyroid disease (Graves disease) treated with radiation in 1984, now have Hypothyroid taking 100MCG Synthroid. Began 20mg of Simvastatin 4 weeks ago. Developed mild rash, hives off and on but that was normal anyway so I didn't think anything of it. In the 3rd week a Co-worker noticed that I was walking a little stiff and thought my foot problem was back but I mentioned my knees felt strange. Again this is normal with the cold weather here. This week my knees and calves were swollen and I could hardly walk down the stairs. I called Urgent care and they told me to stop taking the Simvastatin. It's been two days and I feel better but I wonder if my joints will ever be the same? Will I walk normal again? What's next if I can't take statin's? Red Rice Yeast has been banned.

Some good news re: my concerns in my Drs. note (posted the other day) "some buildup" and why such a high dose 40mg. of this poison?. I actually received something from the cardiologist on Fri. which made me feel much happier. 'NO SIGNIFICANT ABNORMALITIES - MILD CHOL. PLACQUE BUT NO SIGNIFICANT BLOCKAGE SEEN' so you can imagine how much better I felt - I had already made the decision to not take the Statins, but that report absolutely convinced me. If you haven't already had a doppler on your carotids, do so, it can ease your mind, since we're always being told we're clogging up our arteries with just about anything and everything, we're gonna have a stroke, etc. all these scare tactics. It's not an expensive test (about $80, not sure what will be added to that, as to cardio. reading the results), but worth it. Read up on the Red Yeast Rice - I've read several articles from several well known medical websites - it seems it actually can work better than Statins! Get off this stuff people, more risk than having a stroke!

I'm 55 year old female and was put on Simvastatin 3 months ago with a cholesterol reading of 6.8. I've been experiencing severe lower back pain, a burning pain in the right side of the groin and severe pain in my right hip and leg. It has become so bad that I'm finding walking difficult. I also have severe itching all over, especially on one part of my arm. I can't take anti-histimes because I am alreading taking beta-histine for vertigo. After reading the postings here I am seeing my doctor this week to have my medication changed. Since I live in the Uk cost is not a problem

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 have muscle pain, weakness, and chronic lower back pain. Started statin drug, Simvastatin, on 11/21/07. I take no other drugs. Within two weeks, I could not sit without severe lower back pain. Reported problem to family medical doctor on 1/11/08. M.D. sent me to physical therapy for 8 sessions. No relief from physical therapy so I requested an X-ray on 3/20/08. X-ray shows very mild degeneration at one lower vertebrae. M.D. sent me to an orthopaedics doctor who recommended continued physical therapy. Went to a Chiropractor instead. After six chiropractic sessions with little relief, I made an appointment with an Osteopathic doctor. My M.D. sent me to a rheumatologist who prescribed high dose naproxen for two weeks. The rheumatologist ordered and X-ray of my lower back area. The lower back X-ray produced no negatives. The rheumatologist's next step will be to order and MRI of my lower back area. The D.O. suspects statin induced myopathy and because of hyper reflexes he ordered an MRI of my brain and cervical spine. I am now recommended to a neurologist who specializes in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Am I getting the run around? Only one doctor said I might have statin induced myopathy. The rest will not even mention the statin drug theory. I just pray for ache and pain relief. I have some improvement after four months off of the statin which I believe is quite a strong point that it was the statin drug and not some unknown condition. I don't think arthritis or MS conditions improve. All I know is that I had no health issues before taking the simvastatin. Good luck to everyone who has or is taking a statin drug. BEWARE!!!

I'm 58 years old and I've been on 10 mg Simvastatin for 14 months since I was diagnosed with Diabetes 2. Also Metformin and Glipiside as my bs got up to 499 at diagnosis with high cholesterol.

I had NO IDEA that my suffering the past year could possibly be tied to one of the drugs I've been prescribed. In the first three months after diagnosis, my Diabetes was controlled and I've even backed off some of the meds. My cholesterol also came down beautifully. However, the debilitating weakness and muscle aches (which has increased over the 14 mos.) has become so bad (especially this last week) that I came to the Internet looking for possible reasons for 'body ache'.

And get this: I take a packet of vitamins every day which includes a daily dose of Q10... BUT I haven't been able to take them for about a week and this last week I felt like I was ready for a wheel chair~!!! Worse than it's ever been, knees and feet in horrible condition, hands and wrists unable to open a water bottle. Total body aches so severe it made me want to research something, anything to see what might be the problem.... before seeing the doctor about it!

My shock at seeing my medication here listed with the horrible side effects I'm experiencing has been a revelation~!! I am going to stop the Simvastatinn and see what happens. BTW, I've been an active person all my life, was a 2nd Degree Black Belt and taught Tang Soo Do and know what muscle aches and pains are, know my body (at least I did) and pretty much thought my active life was over.....

Not now~!!! I'm FURIOUS!!

I have been taking Simvastatin 20 mg. for about two and 1/2 months now. It really lowered my Cholesterol but I have been extremely fatigued and now I am getting really dizzy when standing up and having some nausea.

I took a statin for 18 months, terrible aches and pains. I couldn't turn my head side to side and when a awoke in the morning my legs aches so bad I felt I'd never get out of bed.

Three weeks ago I stopped taking them cold turkey. The aches & pains are long gone and I can now turn my head to see where I'm going when backing up the car.... So far so good. I'm also started taking Serrapeptase to clean up my arteries

Lee...
Long Beach CA

I went on Simvastatin 40mgs last Christmas 2007 because of the family history of strokes, I was generally feeling very well .
Since being on statins I have felt awful , with lots of side effects " muscle cramps, upset stomach, really really tired, strange feelings in my chest and bad palpations "... I thought I was really ill.which made me very depressed.and even had test's done at the hospital to try and find what is wrong with me thankfully nothing appears to be seriously wrong" so why feel so dreadful i thought it had to be the statins!!"
I came off them my self four weeks ago ,since then I have been to see my doctor who has agreed for the time being I should be off simvastatin but consider taking a milder statin.
I do feel slightly better after four weeks ,but still get some of the side effects can any one suggest roughly how long it takes to feel like one's old self again.....Please!!!

Started Simvastatin 20mg Jan. 08, just quit June 16th. I 've had all the problems the rest of you have had, arm, chest pain, thought I was having a heart attack for about a month, eye problems,no sex drive, memory loss, weird thoughts, stomach problems, so tired I could barely move, just could'nt wake up. Since I've been off this stuff I'm up one day and down another. I can see some progress, but it seems slow. Does anyone know how long it takes to get this stuff out of your system? Talked to a friend of mine who was on a statin, he quit , and told me it took him 6 months before he felt right. It does'nt seem to go away over night. Anyone else feel this way?

I am a 58 year old who was on 10mg for about 10 years with no apparent side effects.My GP retired and the new Doctor said my dosage was low and quadrupled it to 40mg. Since I had been on the drug for so long on the low dose, with no problems I did not relate subsequent problems to this med. Initially I had digestive problems, bordering on diarrhea, which I took as age related. I had occasional but severe lower leg pains. I had periodic night sweats and I gained 25 pounds - going to 165 from the 140 I'd been since high school. I had some vision problems as well and began to develop severe memory and reasoning issues to the point where I believed the I was developing Alzheimers. From net reading, I saw that this statin could cause the digestive problems I'd mentioned - so I stopped it. In the interim my GP gave me every test in the book to find out the weight gain and the night sweats. He found nothing and was about to send me to specialists - which I declined. When I finally read that simvastatin could cause the mental issues, the weight gain, the leg pains etc,, I took myself off the med. My weight problem has now resolved no more leg pains, or intestinal issues. From my reading I understand ths some of the memory and mental issues may be permanent - though they no longer progress. When I met with my GP and told hom that I had stopped the med and about these side effects, that I had discovered on the web - he looked at me like I had two heads and gave them no credence.It amazes me that he had no comment. I had brought it up to him in case any of his other patients has similar problems - as information that could help in his practice which has many elderly clients. As an aside, I had mentioned these effects to a trusted friend - who in tern had mentioned them to his practitioner, who is one of the most highly respected doctors in Canada. This doctor's comment was that' you must have read this somewhere as the manufacturer takes pains to conceal these effects". Wonderful, eh?

Hello: Posting about simvastatin. I have been off of the medication for about six weeks. Initially the symptoms led me to hop on an ambulance gurney and visit my local ER due to dizziness, lots of palpitations, and the feeling that I was going to drop on the sidewalk. I followed the ER with two days on the heart unit, and have pretty much have had just about every test but a brain scan (or at least it has seemed that way).

My symptoms progressed to intense burning in my torso, pronounced in the shoulder blade areas, upper chest, and into my forearms. A week after stopping the statin much of the intense burning was gone.

I still have pain and discomfort, but I have not been "white knuckling" to get through the nights like I had been, which is a relief. I read somewhere that someone described the muscle pain as feeling like he had been repeatedly punched with a bag of oranges. I can relate to that feeling, and recently I have felt the symptoms in my thighs as well.

Pain management takes up my days (although I have continued to work). I have begun massage therapy, and I am going to attempt acupuncture next week. I am trying to sort out what supplements may be the best and which ones won't interact with each other or other medications that I take. I am taking CoQ10, Omega 3 capsules, a multivitamin, and a B complex.

Anyone with similar symptoms or comments, please jump in. We are in similar boats, as they say. I have gotten the impression that some people out there (not on this site) don't see this as real. For those people, unless someone is bleeding profusely from an artery, they remain non-supportive or non-believers....

I've been on Simvastatin for about 4 years but have been suffering pains in my arms as well as very tender soles of my feet.

My husband started taking Simvastatin about 6 weeks ago. Since taking it he has been experiencing sexual problems. Is this related to the drug? It has never been an issue before.