Zocor side effects

I started taking Zocor in 2001 or 2002 after fighting with my doctor on the issue because “I didn’t want to take another pill!” I had been trying to lower my cholesterol naturally! Come 2007 I had 2 total hip replacements because of total deterioration of the cartilage & shortly after; this particular doctor up & decides to retire. Now she only had me on 10 mg of Zocor a day, but the new doctor ups my dosage to 40 mg a day. Which a person wouldn‘t think it would do harm but it did! First I didn’t know why I’d be awake at 12:00 am or 1:00 am in the morning & I would wake up in the middle of the night in excruciating pain in my right hip & didn’t now why that happened…there is nothing wrong with my hips anymore but I knew it was in the muscle. Plus, over the years my balance has gone from good & standing on my own two feet to nil & having to walk with a cane because my balance is sooo poor I can not stand for long periods of time before my knees want to give & recently I read of the side effects of Zocor which has me wondering if Zocor was responsible for the deterioration of the cartilage as well as everything else & I started to realize “that’s me!!” Now, I am not only trying to find a natural way to control my cholesterol but also my high blood pressure! & If I can find a way to control both I will be very happy! =D

i am a 53 year old female,started zocor in late 2007.doctor started me at 10mg.then 20 then 40.I have always had muscle aches but blamed it on my age.One month on the 40mg.I felt like i was 80 years old.I had severe upper thigh pain,arm pain,you name it I have had every symptom there is!When I developed the thigh pain, I called the Dr.he said to go off mads for 2 days,then go back to 20mg.I felt so good after2 days. I refuse to take this medicine again!

Zocor has ruined my leg muscles.
I can barely walk now. My legs have very little strength.
My Doctor took me off Zocor and I am now on Niaspan, not a Statin.

ZOCOR CAUSES NERVE DAMAGE IN HANDS AND FEET. THE PAIN IS AS THOUGH ELECTRICAL SHOCKS WERE ZAPPING YOU, THERE IS TINGLING AND IT FEELS LIKE YOUR FEET ARE ON FIRE.ALSO SHARP PAINES THAT TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY, AND A FEELING OF WORMS CRAWLING UNDER THE SKIN. FINGERS ARE NUMB ON THE ENDS AND ACHE. HAIR LOSS THAT DOES NOT COME BACK AND JOINT PAIN. I HAVE BEEN OFF THE DRUG FOR 15 YEARS AND THE EFFECTS STILL RUIN MY LIFE.

I uses to be on lipitor and after 2 years had terrible pains- stopped it and they went away- then I went on Zocor and was fine for a while-I had to be puton protonix for ? Gerd. Then the aches and pains- I felt like I was 90. Had stopped Zocor a few times and the pains went awyy. I am now off of both and informed my doctor and will be seeing her soon-she wants to try pravachol. I am hesitant because all of the statins seem to have cululative effects after a while. All my blood tests were always normal. I am off the drugs- no aches, no dizziness, my vision is better. My focus and memory are better. My Vitamin D level was also low- I am getting my labs retested since I read that low cholesterol drops your vitamin D level also. (They told me to start taking Calcium...one pill's side effects lead to another pill. Zocor is noted to also cause GERD. I need something for my family history of heart disease but at this point I feel so much better I am not sure if I will be willing to try another. Everyone should read the side effects- pay attention to your body. I have a back problem and neck problem and they were hurting me terribly- I was also on pain meds for those. Since stopping zocor I do not need any of those either...it is amazing. It will be interesting to see the long term reults of the statins in regards to side effects.

I developed 104 degree fever with Zocor and had to stop using it. I used red rice yeast extract now instead and have no problems with that.

My name is Linda and I am a 55 yr old female who started the generic form of zocor about 5 mos ago, since then Ive gone steadily downhill. I started out with "attacks" I called them. All the symptoms of flu, body aches head to toe, fever, no energy at all or muscle strength. Slept straight for days before feeling better but never back to normal.Went to docs and he said no flu. That was it. Each time I had these attacks I was left weaker and weaker. I had one attack about every month and all but the last lasted about a week. I could barely work. This last bout I'm still dealing with has been going on for over 2 weeks, I am stopping the meds , and I pray things get better. I haven't eaten in 4 days no, living on ginger ale, I have no appetite at all, and if forced i get sick. I haven't felt this bad since I had the Asian flu in the 70s. I pray I get better. I cant focus, cant type, as I am having to constantly redo this . I feel so bad for all of you, I too feel like this drug is killing me...the least little effort is draining to me. I pray for you all.

I am a 50 year old male. 6 ft. tall and now 217 (the most I have ever) that has been experiencing cholesterol numbers increasing over the past 3 years. I was at 170, then 225, then 260 now 287. I tried the holistic approach with eating all the right food and supplements. At the end of the day I am at 287. I started taking Zocor about 2 weeks ago and have been so sleepy and have a difficult time getting up in the morning. I used to spring out of bed and get going. Now.... I drag through the day. I will be seeing my doctor this month to ask him about all of this. Because I need to be up and going as I am and Active person. Also a 5 lb weight gain and bloating in the mid-section.

RJ

I have been taking zocor since 2004, I have had pain on my hip, lower back, for so long. I have been wondering if this muscle or joint pain has been caused by taking Zocor because I am taking Boniva too for osteoporosis. I need to determine what is causing me that pain, sometimes I feel it in my leg and toe. I have stopped taking those drugs for a few months, but didn't seem to get better. I am looking if there is a better way to cure that problem.
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I am 42 and switched to Zocor from Lipitor. Two hours ago I took my first pill. My GOD! I had the worst, scariest, and weirdest dream I have every had. Enough to make me get up and search for side effects to see if I was just going crazy.

Perhaps there is a link between Zocor and people who are sensitive to MSG, which can keep me up for hours in a nervous state?

I've been on the simvastatim drug for about 3 months now and have had pain in both legs, headaches and I fall asleep at the drop of a hat, I hit the pillow and pass out with no memory of having slept I wake up tired, I have this rash on my arm that doesn't go away. I mean really if this is helping I'm in trouble. All my joints hurt. Did I mention I've gained weight I have no energy and i've become a couch potato I think this stuff s killing me.

i was on simivastin for 2 months until the pain in my legs got so bad i had to stop. i am a 25 yr old female fairly healthy...cholesterol sux because i eat wrong...i know this...but ever since i started this medication i hurt my legs my back and neck...after i stopped taking it the doctor said we will wait and see if this stops...however i have been off the medication for 2 weeks now and everything just seems to be getting worse...my legs have been stiffening up to the point i can barely walk, also ive been having trouble concentrating and have points of memory lapse where for a few min i will forget where i am what im doing takes me a sec to figure it out...im not usually like this im quick minded work in a fast pace job which i have been having trouble with lately can anyone tell me if this should go away or get worse first?

Been on 80 mg of zocor for about two months now. I'm a 53 year old active woman and now I feel like I've aged in the last month. My hip hurts at night. I cant sleep but yet I'm exhausted. But the newest pain is in the FRONT OF MY NECK. It is on the right side in the middle above where the collar bone begins. Right next to the hole for the throat. I know there is a lymph node in that area but I don't feel swelling. I thought I twisted my neck but I don't think that is it. Has anyone else experienced this. I am going off the drug immediately and calling my dr.

Ive been taking zocor 20mg for almost a year, and I noticed that dizziness has becoming worse, when I forgot to take it I was feeling better, I just felt like my eyes cant focus. I noticed sharp pains on my legs and fatigue all day. I also been taking omega 3, I want to taper off for a week and see if its the zocor which I could tell its the medication.

i had taken zocor about a month thru october, started breaking out in blisters on my legs, and i mean blisters, still got scabs, they were horrible. i went to an allergist, she even took pictures, i don't think they had seen anything like it. they named it vasculitis, reaction from medication. that was the only new meds i was taken, my diabetes got out of control from taking so much steroids and antibiotics, i'll probably be scared for life from knees down to my toes. i quit taking zocor and will not take anymore. it was pure hell, the pain and itching. csloneky

I have recently been put on Zocor due to a cholesterol level of 244. My cholesterol level went up due to Hypothyroidism I developed while taking Lupron injections for Endometriosis. It is amazing that one med can cause you to have to take several others! I have been on Zocor for several weeks and have experienced cold hand and feet. I have loose stools and abdominal pain. The abdominal pain can be intense. Those of you experiencing fatigue might want to have the doctor test you for Hypothyroidism. Fatigue and elevated cholesterol levels are also symptoms of a hypothyroid.

I took Zocor for a few years, then had six weeks of unexplained fatigue. My doctor asked me to stop Zocor for two weeks, although after a battery of tests he presumed "viral syndrome." My energy level improved noticeably and he recommended I restart Zocor. Within a few weeks my energy level dropped again, and I stopped the Zocor and consulted my psychiatrist. I also talked with a nurse and she sent my primary care MD a message about stopping and asked him to assess my fatigue again. I still feel fatigued after about 3 weeks without Zocor. So far no medical professional has said the Zocor could NOT be the cause of my fatigue, even though it is not listed as a "side effect" by the manufacturer.

Hi! I'm 30 years old and I just wanted to report that I have had the same symptoms of vertigo and dizziness that many much older people have described after taking 20 mg of Zocor (Simvastatin) every night for two weeks. The dizziness became worse with each dose, and the room would spin. I also felt weak and shaky, would often become flushed, and would sometimes experience headache and nausea during these periods of vertigo. These symptoms were very frightening to me, as I have never experienced anything like it before in my life. I stopped taking it and the symptoms vanished - I felt MUCH better the next day, and was completely back to normal by the following day. I read that dizziness is a less common side effect, but after reading all of these posts I can't help but wonder if the manufacturer didn't downplay this side effect. It was serious dizziness, nothing I could dismiss, "shake off", or function during episodes of. All I could do is lay down and wait for it to pass. For now I am hoping I can control my elevated cholesterol levels with diet and regular exercise...but if it turns out I need a prescription medication after all, I will NEVER take another statin drug -- not after that ordeal!

I just got home from the hospital with my Mom age 82 we thought she was having a heart attack, a cardiologist has been running tests for a week because she had a heart rate that would go down into the 40s at night and she would awaken feeling like someone was sitting one her chest. Her normal heart rate is 80-90. Then she also had mild chest pains. They gave her Nitro to use till the results came in. Today she almost passed out twice and the Nitro wasn't working on the chest pain so we rushed her to the hospital. All tests at the hospital came back normal except that her heart rate was getting low toward evening. Tomorrow she sees the cardiologist for the results of the tests they did including a holter monitor.
Then I asked her if she had started any new medications that could have started these symptoms and it was Zocor, she started it on the 6th of January, just 2 weeks before her symptoms started, they started her on 40mg right of the bat. I told her not to take it tonight and tomorrow we will add that to what we talk to the doctor about, if they don't find any other cause, we will see how she feels in a few days and if she improves off the Med, then we'll know, and I will post again

Hi, I am writing b/c of some of the symptoms my husband is having since he began taking zocar. Some of the symptoms he has have been outlined here, but there is one in particular I am concerned about that my husband just thinks it is b/c he is getting older. He is 58 and ever since switching from Prevastatin (where he had chest pains, black stools at times), and beginning Zocar, he has been cold--and this is a man that never ever got cold. But he is freezing most all the time-to the degree that he must take a hot bath at times to get warm. It is more than cold hands or feet. Also he falls asleep the minute he comes home and sits down.
These symptoms have come upon him practically when he started Zocar. One other thing-blurry vision, pressure behind the eyes. He is self employed and totally relies upon his good health and strength. I am frightened for him. It is like he was a middle aged man-relatively robust and energetic and over the last 3 months it seems like I am living with an old man dressed in too many layers, caps, gloves, jackets-when it is only 48 to 50 degree weather. We live in Georgia! This type of weather for him in the past would have been for him to wear a long sleeved shirt.
Okay I have taken enough time and space, sorry, I am just afraid and need to hear if anyone else has heard of this. Many many thanks. And God bless each one of you-may we all slow down, and figure out ways to empower ourselves and support each other in taking our health and will back from the Corporate Mind. L.

Just started taking generic form and have icy cold hands and feet. No muscle cramps (yet) no other side-effects. Just freezing feet and hands.

Just started taking generic form and have ice cold feet and hands. No muscle cramps (yet) I exercise daily and jog 2 miles a day. I eat well. Still the cholesterol numbers are rising. I am 61 years old. I think I can live with the icey cold feet and hands, I am wearing 2 pairs of warm socks and gloves in the house.

On Simvastatin 2002 and off it Nov.2008. I can tell you folks, this year+ after I quit that poison I feel, if not reborn, so definitely back to my active life of 2002. The scary thing about Statins, in my exp. is that the side effects slowly sneaks in there and in my case, being a diabetic, I misinterpreted the signs as normal down-hill for diabetes. I´m 65y. male and the dose was 20mg.
So the side effects were:
-My leg muscles weakened and I kind of stumbled.
-Ice cold feet.
-Increasing neuropathy. (Nov-08, feet and most of my legs, were without feel).
-Loss of memory.
-Occasional leg cramp at night lying down.

ALL OF THOSE SIDE EFFECTS ARE COMPLETELY GONE !

So beware of Statins, they can take their time before they start eating muscles. And my ex.Doc knew it ! Geeez...
The only s.e. left for me now, a year after,is an annoying Tinnitus,but my new doctor says it may take some time more to heal.

I like the way posts here get responses. Background before Simvastn: I'm 46, 320 pounds, diagnosed with Diabetes and high cholesterol a year ago. Held off any meds for almost a year after Metformin and Simvastin were prescribed. Just started checking blood sugar several weeks ago, it ranged from high 200's to over 400. I've not been working for a while and had irregular sleep patterns like up all night and sleep from 1PM to 5PM, but thought I understood them. I decided to start both meds 2 weeks ago hearing no side effects.

A week later I had severe vertigo and my first ambulance ride. My doctor the next day said it was a sinus infection and put me on an antibiotic.

Since then I've had ambiguous symptoms. I had this new feeling of 'tired' that was weird. At night I started having the desire to sleep and 'pass out' I had not experienced. When I sleep now I sort of lay down and pass out and wake up hours later with a feeling of lke I didn't get sleep and absolutely no memory at all of the sleep, no idea if I had a dream, no 'light' sleep', it's different than before when I might have a 'twilight feeling' or some memory of dreams. It feels very different.

During the day, I was already a bit out of sorts so it's hard to tell, but I feel somehow more lethargical. There's a sort of weird feeling of not quite being alert, 'going through the motions'.

My left ear is ringing a few hours a day, medium/conversation level volume. My doctor thought this would go away with the antibiotic, a side effect of the infection but I completed it and ithasn't changed.

I'm at a loss whether there are symptoms or not, really. Luckily I don't have the physical symptoms like pain. I'm pondering whether to try stopping the medication and see how it feels.

My doctor is very good, it's awkward to hear the dollar conflicts of interest of the 'CYA' aspects to prescribing this, he seems much more trustable, but tends to prescribe without a lot of warning.

I am 48 years old (5'11" 195 lbs.), and was put on 10mg of Simvastatin (zocor) for high cholesterol (250) and bad HDL & LDL numbers. Doctor tried Tricor first helped with Triglycerides but not the rest. I also had leg pain with the Tricor, stopped and went away. Then tried fish oil but no go the numbers were rising. Then the Simvastatin and had the following problems. After about a month severe neck pain and headaches, which I hardly ever got before (2 weeks straight now). I will go off of it and see if the neck pain,headaches go away. Seems to be a common problem as I read this site.

My 58 year husband (5' 9'' 165 lbs) who eats a well balanced diet and gets plenty of exercise had ever so slightly low hdl levels - otherwise all cholesterol was normal. His doctor put him on 20mg per day of generic zocor in early April 2009. By the end of June he was having black bowel movements and was feeling "winded". He thought he had a stomach bug until he collapsed in our bathroom in the wee hours of a Saturday morning. His blood pressure was 70/40 when he got to the emergency room. After 4 days in Intensive Care (during which he received 5 or 6 units of blood) and every possible test which could not exactly pinpoint the site of the intestinal bleed, he was released. He went off the generic zocor for 1 month and resumed it at the beginning of August. By August 13th he was back in the hospital with another "intestinal" bleed requiring more transfusions. He has not gone back on the Zocor and has not had any further bleeding incidents. All his doctors insist that the Zocor was NOT the cause even though they cannot even pinpoint the source of the bleed. Had I not gotten him to the hospital during that first bleed he would have died by the end of the day!

I started taking ZOCOR one week ago and I feel both my feet numbness. I also have muscle spasm which shifts from legs to hands to arms to neck etc.

Gray stools that are loose. "Queasy, continuously. No appetite. Legs aching. No energy." Frequent (3-4 times a day and night of loose stools/diarrhea at times). 3 weeks of this. 2 trips to emergency room; nothing significant found. Said have blood of 60 year old/am 89 year old female. All within one week of starting simvastatin. Fine before (on previous Lipitor and other meds). PLEASE HELP.

I took Zocor for 25 days when I suddenly had such pain at night in my upper arms that I couldn't raise my arms up at all. It's been 2 full weeks since I stopped taking Zocor, and every single night around 7 I develop severe pain somewhere in my body, usually in my hands, knees or feet. It's in a different place almost every night. Tonight it's in my left hand across the whole top of my hand, below the wrist. Can Zocor cause this kind of pain so long after stopping taking it? And I only took it for 25 days! Please help - this really hurts and I hope it will improve.

I don't know if I can blame Zocor on my weak thighs--my doctor says that muscle weakness as a result of the drug should include all of my muscles. I've also developed an extremely itchy neck-also not sure if this is related. Weight keeps going up in spite of increased exercise and limiting daily caloric intake to below 1500 calories.

Started taking the Zocor generic Simvistatin just 2 days ago. My legs hurt so bad that I can not sleep. My right knee is swollen to the point I have very limited range of motion and can barely walk up stairs. It is after midnight and I can't sleep. Also having some angina and my little toe on my right foot is somewhat numb. I will be contacting my physician about this tomorrow. My cholesterol was 105 and this doesn't seem to be worth it to me!

I just read about a side effect from another member
He talks of pain in his inner elbows. Oh my I have that too, and I thought
it was because I strained that muscle when doing work. But it was so long ago. I still have the pain and find it hard to pick up things. Now I read about someone taking the same medication as me and having the same symptoms. I actually only take a half of a pill a day, but now i will discontinue it until I see my doctor (also my sleep pattern has been affected)
I did not have this problem when I took Lipitor.
I am hoping I can go back to Lipitor but maybe I will increase my exercise and not eat anymore junk food and then not have to take any of this silly medication.

i recently took glucosamine chondroitin 1500mg a day
for 3 days and on the 4th day i woke up with
itchy red bumps all over
I attributed it to the glucosamine/chondroitin that i took
On the simivastin bottle it says to avoid herbal remedies

I am hoping these bumps will subside, they are very itchy.

itching of scalp, face.

wow- glad I found you guys! I'm female, 54, thin, healthy, have always exercised and watched my diet. cholesterol went up to 280 a couple of yrs ago- tried more diet/exercise but it only came down to 250, so since then have tried 4 low-dose (40 mg) statins (crestor, lipitor, zocor, and now pravastatin), all of which after 2-6 months made me feel like I was jumping out of my skin and caused chest pain and palpitations that stopped almost immediately when I discontinued them. Also, I've always fallen asleep quickly and now take an hour or more, and recently my fingers have started falling asleep/tingling. I'm stopping the pravastatin today! Maybe 250 isn't so bad, if this is the alternative. Does anyone have any remedies to suggest besides low fat/low sugar diet? I just read that we should avoid reduced-fat milks (I drink 1%) because they contain oxydized cholesterol, which irritates the artery wall.

48 year old male - Hello all, I started with 10mg zocor (Simvastatin) off and on for about 2 months. No real symptoms other than it made me very nauseous. My cholesterol sky rocked and my doctor informed me that I needed to take it regularly and also increased my dosage to 40mg. I have been taking it religiously for about 3-4 months now and my cholesterol has improved very much, but about 2 weeks ago I started feeling pain in both my inner elbows, at the joints and along the sides. Its hard for me to lift things at times. Sometimes it’s a burning sensation and sometimes its sharp pain. My Doctor informed that it was the simvastacin and now wants me to change my meds to Lovaza (900mg omega-3 ethyl esters). I am going to stop using the zocor, but what do you guys think? Is there something better for me too use?

Oh my this page has made me feel like I am not going crazy. I have been on Zocor for almost a month the leg cramps started one morning with a cramp in my leg I couldn't walk the hole day. Then I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without stopping to try and relive the cramping I am a flight attendant and I thought it might have been the pressure of the plane but it continued when I wasn't working.It is a God send that I started to search this drug since this was the only thing that I could think of. There must be a kick back from the drug companies.

severe GERD, respiratory problems, blurred vision,tingling sensation, abdominal pain, abdominal spasms, nerve and muscle damage,chest pain,headache,

I am a 58 year old female Who has been taking Simvaststin for 16 months .
I have been increasingly bothered with mainly night leg pain ( bilateral) that radites to my hips and back. It's like a tooth ache. I too have had to resort to taking pain medication at night to sleep. During the day when I sit for long periods my legs ( especially the thigh area) aches and standing up , walking etc does not alleviate the ache. It is not constant at this point but very frustrating.
After reading the posted notes I am contemplating going off the Simvastatin for a while to see if my symptoms improve.
Any thought?

Thanks!

I am 50 years old. Two years ago was diagnosed with very high LDL and low HDL. I told my doctor then that I did not want to go on statin drugs, but 3 months of Niaspan didn't help the cholesterol, and I hated the hot flashes and flushing that could come at any time after taking a dose. So my doc put my on Zocor.

Two years later I my bad cholesterol is within normal limits but my good cholesterol is still too low, even with fish oil and borage oil taken regularly. Almost immediately after starting the Zocor I started experiencing light-headedness and dizziness that would last for up to a minute--even lying down in bed! My doctor prescribed Meclizine for the dizzy spells--more stinking drugs! I get migraines at least twice a month. For the last six months now I have been experiencing increasing muscle pain, joint pains in the knees, elbows and fingers, and now have been having stabbing pains in lower back around the kidneys. I would wake up in the middle of the night with shooting pains and stiffness in my left knee and cramps in my calf muscles. The first joint of my middle finger had become extremely soar so that I could not make a fist or grip tightly. I have had a recurring stabbing pain in my chest under the left pectorals muscle. My feet and toes are soar--especially my left foot. When I exercise even the slightest or do some long walking or outside work, my muscles in the arms and legs get very soar and tender, then stiffen up. I had to see a massage therapist to loosen up my legs last week! Six months ago I would be up at the crack of dawn, ready to start my day, but recently I have become very lethargic and tired with little zeal for any physical activity. I have had intermittent pain in my left testicle. We recently moved and I started seeing a different doctor. After a physical exam, he brushes off these symptoms.

Well, I stopped taking the Zocor a week ago, and already my fingers are much better, although my knees and elbows are still soar. The dizziness has gotten worse but I'm hoping that after my body re-adjusts and flushes the simvistatin that that will subside, too. I have drastically changed my diet to drop 15 to 20 pounds and lower the cholesterol with better eating habits and swimming exercise; hopefully that will help alleviate the pain, too.

I took Zocor for 9 months after I had a heart attack. After about 8 months I began having sever muscle spasm in my legs. I had a couple of episodes where when walking I couldn't pick up my feet and thought I was having a stroke and had to sit down and rest before walking on. I had to do this several times to get where I was going. I told my cardiologist and he had me stop the Zocor. The spasms stopped but I never regained the strength in my legs. Today I have had to put ramps in at home cannot climb steps. The ramp is difficult because of the incline but it is better than crawling up my steps to get in the house. I can only walk about 50 steps before my legs give out on me. I cannot walk on uneven ground without holding on to something or someone. I have now had 2 back surgeries because I have been told over and over it is my back with no relief for the legs. This last surgery my left foot drags and my big toe hangs down and I cannot pull it up. Now I fall a lot because of that and have to wear an AFO to keep my foot and toe up so it doesn't drag and trip me. The back doctor thinks it another pinched nerve and wants to open back up again. I am so tired of them trying to convenience me it is my back when I know it was the Zocor and the damage apparently is irreversible but no one wants to agree with me. I am sick of it and just wish they would say yes it was the Zocor and get you a scooter and live the best you can. I know I am headed for that road I use a walker and cane when I don't have someone with me to hold on to. Because I am so unstable on my legs.

Except for having high cholesterol (310), I'm a 29 yr old healthy active female, very petite and weigh 98lbs. My mother has had a quadruple bypass and 4 stents at the age of 54, high cholesterol is just hereditary in my family. My doctor put me on 40 mg of zocor. The first week taking zocor I started feeling strange, a little soar here and there and very tired at times, also I have become very forgetful. It's been almost 2 months now and I have severe pain in my legs. First it was the right leg and now both legs, the pain starts at my lower back all the way down to my cav. I have a burning painful feeling sometimes numbing feeling, its driving me crazy!!!! I can't stand for too long cause I feel tons of pressure on my lower back pushing down my legs, It feels like my sciatic nerve. I went to my doctor and he said he is 95% sure that this is from the zocor medication, he told me to stop it right away. This is my first day without it, I know I need to do something to prevent what happen to my mother, I'm on a strict healthy diet, staying away from all fatty cholesterol filled foods, but there has to be a better way then taking statin drugs! If anyone has some ideas of what kind of alternative meds I can take, please help.

I am a male, 61. and have a history of switching around cholesterol meds, most recently because of cost due to my high number of medical conditions and large number of medications for, but not limited to: CAD. CHF, diabetes, hypertension, renal impairment, and herniated disks. I have barely been on zocor a month and have experienced extreme weakness, pain in neck, shoulder, hands, legs & feet. Because I have both cervical & lumbar herniations, I was somewhat uncertain until I began reading these posts. I took myself off zocor yesterday and emailed my doctor's nurse. It also occurred to me that after any length of sitting, my legs hurt upon standing while i was on Lipitor, but don't really recall other symptoms. Sometimes, when you have a number of health issues, you come to believe this is "as good as it gets," but now I believe differently, otherwise why bother with the meds at all.

Just started taking Zocor and i am having horrific and very vivid dreams. It wakes me up and scares the heck out of me. I jump/jerk and wake my self up because the dreams are so bizarre and frequent during a single night.

I HAVE BEEN ON ZOCOR FOR 2+ MONTHS. RECENTLY I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY LEGS ACHE AT NIGHT- THE PAIN IS DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE OR TO PINPOINT THE EXACT LOCATION. I'M THINKING OF STOPPING THE MED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

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-(Zocor-generic)--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 doctor 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?

had horrific muscle pain and had burn blisters on my legs. I was just on the drug for 1 week also had severe headaches, there has to be some repercussions against this company. The pain is still there what should I do?

I have definitely noticed a weight gain! I started really watching my diet and running and it doesn't seem to be helping. Also, I have had problems with severe muscle aches and swelling in my right leg. It got so bad that I started taking prescription Naproxen for the pain, so I can sleep. I had no idea others were experiencing the same thing.

have been taking 20mg for about two weeks. a couple days after i started taking the stuff i started experiencing chest pains at night that would wake me up, coupled with leg pain. it's getting worse; now, after two weeks i am having severe lower back pain that radiates down both legs, similar to sciatica, happens at night but continues throughout the day. also leg spasms at night. i am stopping zocor today. can't face this pain anymore. i have bad knees, and recently had to have a cortisone injection, but this new pain is worse than the knees. owing to the chest pains, i had a stress test today at the heart group, and had such difficulty walking that i could barely make it down the hall with my cane. three of the nurses there said they hear this all the time about the statins, and that the doctors don't want to listen to the complaints but the nurses all agreed that the statins are the culprits. results on stress test were fine.

I am a 44 yr old female. I have been on Zocor for 2 yrs. I have never had high cholesterol. I have a family history of heart disease and after my 44 yr old brother had a heart attack and the transplant, my doctor put me on Zocor as a precaution. I have had problems over the 2 yrs and have been to the doctor many times only to be dismissed as Oh, I need to lose weight, I need to get out of the house more, I need to exercise, It must be my depression....and on and on. I have never had a kidney or liver test in 2 years. I never knew I needed on and my doctor never tested me. I have over 30 symptoms/side effects of Zocor. I only looked into the side effects after my mother-in-law had muscle break down, an intestinal blockage and a ruptured bowel and almost died a few weeks ago. I couldn't believe what I found on this site. I immediately stopped the Zocor. I started to feel better right away but it was short lived. i felt great for 1 week and then it all crept back in on me for a week and then this last week I am back in bed with dibilitating fatigue and muscle weakness. I will now list my symptoms/side effects.
Shortness of breath; heart palpitations; droopy eye lid (left eye); eye lid twitch (right eye); optical migraines; numbness & tingling of my arms (from the elbows down) and my hands; My hands "fall asleep"; Itching all over; severe muscle weakness ( I have dropped things); muscle pain; joint pain (even the little ones in my toes); leg cramps; critically anemic (on 3 iron pills per day); ruptured ankle tendon (left ankle, currently being treated with a brace trying to avoid surgery); hot flashes/flushing; cold hands and feet; dizziness;, loss of balance; headaches; blurred vision; mental fog; confusion; loss of memory; loss of concentration; extreme and debilitating fatigue; insomnia; trouble staying asleep (wake every hour); huge weight gain; swelling of calves, ankles and feet; dark colored urine; gas; upset stomach; diarrhea; stomach pain; depression; anxiety; hair loss; bruises; mouth ulcers; back pain; tingling on top of head; heaviness in my thighs; EXHAUSTION! I feel like I am 100 yrs old. I have had nights that I thought I was dying and had panic attacks that I would not survive the night. I have 3 young children to take care of. I can not even put conditioner on my hair or shave my legs in the shower because I have to get out so quickly due to exhaustion. I have to lean on one elbow at the sink to brush my teeth. When I get out of the shower I can barely breath, I am wheezing, my heart is pounding and I feel like I will collapse so I have to get out and rush to my bed. I home school my 3 children and most days we do school in my bed. Everything is an effort. I can never plan anything because most days I am incapacitated. I may have a good day and can actually go out to dinner or Walmart once or twice a month and then I can't wait to get back home and get in bed because I am so worn out. I don't see how this drug can actually remain on the market. I am so angry and upset that my doctor never told me this could happen. When I asked about side effects I was told "oh no there aren't any really". My doctor never ran tests on me. I just can't believe this. I go tomorrow for blood work and I go to the doctor on Mon to discuss the results and all of my problems. I am so afraid that I have permanent damage to my muscles and possibly my heart. I went tot he doc months ago with shortness of breath and swelling and she did an EKG and said my heart was fine and I was not having congestive heart failure. I fear I was and still am! It is not normal to be out of breath just brushing your teeth and combing your hair. I hope we all get the answers we are looking for and that we all recover from this horrible drug. God bless you all!