Zocor and back pain

Like many posts describing side effects, I was not sure that all the new little health-related issues I've been noticing were connected to taking Zocor. I'm thinking that perhaps my issues are related to the drug, especially since the only other drug I take is Levothyroxine (for hypo-active thyroid). I have been on the generic for two months. (I'm a 39 year old female.)

In the first month, my total cholesterol score was 278. After taking it for one month with no change in diet or physical activity, it reduced to 207. So, the drug does work! Now I need to determine if the cost is worth it.

In the past week, I've noticed several of the side effects listed in some of the posts: sharp pain in knee (feels like there is a paring knife in it!); lower back pain; joints creaking and popping; skin on tips, sides, and underneath of fingers kind of blistering-hardening and peeling off; brain fog in the morning; difficulty maintaining a deep sleep; crazy dreams; general increase in skin blemishes; heartburn; loose bowel movements; and increased sinus congestion.

I am a 67 year old female who has been in good health. I was put on 40 ml of Zocor about three years ago. After taking it for six months I asked to be changed to Lipitor because of stomach pain I felt was caused by Zocor. I didn't have stomach pain with Lipitor.

A year ago I must have had a senior moment because I changed back to Zocor. Generic Zocor was much less expensive than Lipitor.

During the past year I developed most of the side effects that everyone is mentioning: stomach pain, nausea, memory loss, sleep problems. I didn't relate this to Zocor.

Then I woke up one morning and could not stand without severe pain in my left knee. It hurt to touch it. A week later my right knee developed the same symptoms. This didn't happen gradually. It was very fast. I can also identify with those who say that back pain makes them walk bent over. The pain also radiated into my shins and one heel.

I wept when I found this site and read all the posts about similar symptoms. I decided to go off the Zocor for a month and see what happens. I've been off it for three weeks today. The pain is MUCH less but not gone. I'm hoping that it will continue to get better.

Just got out of a 3-day stay in hospital because of Zocor.
Started with back pain, abdominal pain and cold feet & fatigued.
Then hands started getting numb.
Then numbness started making its way up my arms and legs, with increased pain all over.
My GP’s an idiot, time to find a new one; I thought I was going to die.
“They” say it will take 2-4 weeks for things to settle down.

MY WIFE HAS BEEN TAKING ZOCOR FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS, SHE NOW SUFFERS FROM BACK PAIN ,JOINT PAIN ,MUSCLE PAIN,GENERAL STIFFNESS ,BACK MUSCLE TWITCHING,STOMACH PAINS AND FATIGUE. IN THE LAST YEAR ITS GOT SO BAD THAT IT HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED HER LIFESTYLE(MINE TOO...I NOW KNOW WHERE THE HOOVER IS KEPT!!!!!!!)
DEXA SCAN MRI SCAN NEUROLOGIST ORTHOPEDEIC SURGEON
NONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG!! WHILE ALL THESE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT HER G.P. CONTINUES TO PRESCRIBE ZOCOR!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION FROM THIS MOMENT SHE WILL NEVER TAKE ANOTHER ONE

My doctor just put me on Zocor a month agao. Both my bad and good cholesterol were high. My total cholesterol was 273. I am already thin and have a good diet so medication was the next step. I have had back pain, muscle stiffnes in my joints, especially my legs. I can hardly get out of bed in the morning. My chest on the left side hurts all the time and I feel a throbbing in my back on the left side. My doctor has done a ton of blood work and also a cat scan. Everything has came back normal. I did not have any of these symptons until I started the Zocor. I have asked my doctor to take me off of Zocor. One last thing, I have also experienced the diziness and blurred vision just for a moment.

In July I was put on lovastatin for moderately elevated cholesterol, I have a family history of heart disease. After being on it for a week I started feeling achy, and flu-like symptoms. My joints and back hurt. My doctor had me go off for two weeks and try again. This time after just two days all symptoms came back. Again, my doctor took me off the lovastatin and a month later had me restarted Zocor (simvastatin). My back pain got worse and the back of my legs started aching and getting charleyhorses at night. My doctor checked a CK level which was normal and her nurse advised me to keeping taking the drug, that it wasn't doing any harm to my muscles and that my side effects would probably get better. Two weeks later I woke up in the middle of the night with restless arms and muscle twtiching all over my body. Another CK level was done and it was normal. I have seen two neurologists and they seem to think it is lingering effects of the statin drugs. I have been off of them for a month and still have twitching, although I think it is a little better. I am really getting tired of this and think that something is really wrong. Has anyone else ever experienced somethimg like this?

I have spent the last hour reading these messages. Yes i can believe that many Drs refuse to believe you when you tell them what is happening to you. I was told I am a hypochondriac, anxious etc. Funny how physical symptoms are there though huh? 2 days I have been taking Zocor and I have 12 symptoms described in others posts!! I remember many years ago I was on Zocor, then went to Lipitor for some reason (possibly side effects then stopped that too) but haven't been on any statin meds for several years. I am not taking Zocor EVER again. The chest and back pain was the worst for me. Blow that!! I have hereditary cholesterol even though I was vegetarian for 5 years weighed 130 pounds, (I am 5'5") rode horses, swam, did all the great stuff, still didn't make a difference (aint I lucky :| ) I will do it without meds from a western pharmacy!! I have emailed larryhor@optonline.net and I am telling you this person seems like a genuine wonderful man, wanting to share his experiences with lowering levels with everyone. What have you got to lose folks? ALL the horrible symptoms and your cholesterol levels right??? I will let you all know how things go with me over the next few days and weeks. I hope all of you get relief and are able to resume your normal lives real soon.
Blessed be to you all and THANK YOU LARRY!!!!!
Raine.....

I am a energetic 46 y/o female. Doctor placed me on a very low dose of Zocor after my yearly physical. After only eight days I had EXTREME left side pain. Literally spent four days bedridden. Thought I might have pulled a muscle...but then kept getting worse. I was constantly bent over in pain. Thank goodness for this website!!! Zocor was the only medication I was taking and just by luck I searched for any side effects. I was amazed to say the least. Stopped taking 5 days ago and now I'm back to my old self. PAIN GONE!!!! My 83 y/o mother in law was also on Zocor and was complaining of "back pain". Her doctor scheduled her for an MRI after running many tests to no avail. I asked her to stop the Zocor after my findings on this website. I am very happen to report she is pain-free as well after only 4 days!!!! Thank you all so very much!