Vytorin and ldl

I was on Vytorin for about 3 years. Originally I was prescribed 40 mg and when my ldl didnt go down enough for the doctor. I was prescribed 80 mg a day about a year and a half ago. A bit of history....I had a heart attack at 33 years of age and at that time was given angioplasty. I am now 44 years old and have not had another attack. I have been having muscle pain for over year, although it feels more like my syatic sp? nerves in my lower back. My knees are so bad that I have been having to wear knee braces periodically and can no longer kneel without falling over in extreme pain. My muscles in my thighs have been deteriorating even though I have been working out with a personal trainer for over a year and my calves were getting huge to compensate. I also went to an eye dr. as I was having trouble reading and driving at night due to blurry vision. They said that I still had 20/20 vision and to start using very light reading glasses when reading and that should help. The last straw was when I was on vacation and had a terrible bout of paranoia. It was so bad that I can't even tell anyone what it was about. Another major effect that I have had over the years from any statin is the fact that my sexual urges are basically non existent.

Now for the good news!!!! In late April, after returning from my vacation, I decided that I wanted to see if the Vytorin/Simvastatin was giving me a majority of these symptoms and decided to quit cold turkey. Well 2 months later I can say that I feel about 90% better. I haven't had to use the reading glasses within 48 hours of stopping (I'm not even sure where they're at now). Within a week I noticed my libido returning and the paranoia completely gone. Within the last 2 weeks I have noticed my thigh muscles coming back and the muscles around my knees getting stronger. I am so thankful that I am returning back to normal!!

I will never, ever take another Statin again!!!!

Shortly before Christmas 2007 my doctor decided my LDL was too high (104) so changed me to Vytorin from just Simvastatin. Shortly after the new year I became so weak that I would look at my stairway and wonder how I was going to manage going up for the night. I was extremely tired and terribly weak, hurting all over. I didn't even want a back rub from my husband because I hurt so bad. I arbitrarily stopped taking the Vytorin and resumed my Simvastatin (40mg/day) When I called my doctor he poo-pooed my symptoms and said if I had those symptoms with Vytorin I would have them with the Simvastatin. 2 weeks later my cardiologist assured me that I was not imagining the symptoms and increased my Simvastatin dose to 60mg/day which seems to be fine. Three of my co-workers experienced the same problems and took themselves off medication. Doctors...listen up!!!

I have been on Lexapro for several years to help with migraine auras brought on by anxiety.
6 months ago my doctor put me on Vitorin for my high cholesterol (280 total) which was not being controlled with Lipitor. Lately I have been having the auras again and thought maybe the Lexapro had stopped working.
I also have a problem sleeping straight through the night, have recently started having strong frequent urges to urinate, and some strange mental/visual experiences. e.g. I was recently in route to JFK terminal and I swore that a sign said "Jet Blue-terminal 4". My daughter said that it was 6 but my brain literally SAW 4. She was right.
The other day I was taking a frozen dinner out of the freezer for lunch. The package said "Stouffers" and I was surprised because I didn't think I had bought Stouffers. When I went to open it it was a "Smart One" frozen meal, but I SWEAR I saw "Stouffers." I'm 54 but thought maybe I had a brain tumor or early Altsheimers or something.
I came upon this forum by mistake looking for answers. Maybe Vytorin is my problem, even though I do not experience any of the joint or muscle pain.
I need to go back to my primary physician to have the cholesterol rechecked. This better all end soon because its scaring the daylights out of me!

My Doctor prescribed Vytorin becase my LDL was high (160), about 1 month ago. At the beginning, I didn't feel anything, but gradually I have been feeling stiffness and pain in all my joints and an incredible pain on my left shoulder, extending to the arm giving it a burning sensation. My mood has changed. I'm more irritable, depressed and my memory is worse than ever. I can't enjoy reading anymore because is very difficult to focus. My appetite increased enourmously and I gained 5 pounds since I'm taking Vytorin 10/40 every other day. I just read in this site that many people is experiencing the same side effects, so tomorrow (Monday), I'll notify my doctor I'm going to stop this poison. Iread in other websites that it causes muscle destruction and inhibits the synthesis of cholesterol in the brain, needed for well functioning. Who approved this crazy drug?