Zocor and blood work

I'am 45 year old female and I have been on simvastatin 40mg for at least 6 months. Here in the past 3 weeks I have had very weak legs and arms,they felt like they were wet noodles. I also was getting these week spells where it felt like I couldn't lift my arms or legs cause they was so weak.I had pain in my ear and big bad headaches that wouldn't leave. My heart feels like it skips a beat and I get very bad anxiety attacks. I have been to the ER several times and they can not find anything wrong. I even got very dizzy. The ER doctor told me that the dizziness and headaches was from a inter ear disturbance,well I think the inter ear disturbance might have come from the simvastatin after running across this web site. I'm going off the simvastatin tomorrow! Oh yeah and forgot to mention the weight gain and the tiredness and how I feel like a couch zombie. I think I'll stick to my salmon oil.

I was prescribed Zocor for high cholesterol. Almost immediately I began to experience body aches -- some days more severe than others. I would take ibuprofen and it would help. Then, I started getting a pretty strong pain on my hip which radiated down my leg onto my foot. The pain was so severe, even the Motrin 800 mg. pills didn't help it. I am 53 years old, but I felt like a 90 year old. I had problems walking, especially after sitting for an hour or so. I had problems with stairs. Even laying down was painful. I tried heating pads, ointments, etc. When I told my doctor about it, she said that this was a typical side effect of statins, and that because I am diabetic, I need to continue taking Zocor to keep my cholesterol down. Just the other day, I stopped taking Zocor for 3 glorious days and guess what? NO pain!!! I resumed it because my doctor insists that I stay on it, but I wish there was something else I could take that wouldn't cause pain.

Everyone should check these web sites to keep themselves sane. I've asked my Doctor about numbness in my arms and hands. I was told that there is no way for it to be from Zocor. The burning pain brought me to tears. I've been on this medication for 8 months and I'm removing myself from this medication. I will advise if and when there is improvement.

I am 59. Not overweight and now eat intelligently .Had moderate heart attack in August 2001 and have taken 20mg of ZOCOR every day since.About four years ago I stated getting mild pain in right buttocks muscle and groin but thought this was just "AGE" setting in.Doctor thought it was arthritis in lower back and causing associated musle strain.Went to physio but no progress in pain alleviation, in fact pain and weakness kept getting steadily worse.Pain then started in left shoulder last spring (2007) then about three months ago really severe in left hip and buttocks. Sleep was interrupted every night by pain.Movement from sitting position to standing/walking was like a ninety year old,slow and stumbling.My legs felt nearly numb when walking.Getting out of bed in the morning and putting on my socks became an ordeal of PAIN.
Seen my doctor last week and told him of current status and that I couldn't go on like thisanymore.He said to STOP the Zocor immediately. I can feel the difference already, in one week!!! Not perfect but maybe 50% improvement!!!
He ordered a battery of blood tests including PSA . I just hope something else isn't now really F--ked Up from taking this stuff for six years ?
I will defiately NOT TAKE ZOCOR or any other STATIN again!!!

I've been on Zocor since December for high cholestorol, 20 mg. In july, after blood work, it had no effect on cholestorol so my cardiologist, increased dose to 40mg. I don't have the muscle issues described here, but I noticed in August, my eyes have become extremely dry and I can't cry. They are so dry especially at night. I've been on allergy and asthma meds for 2 years now- but those prerscriptions haven't changed. Also, taking zoloft for depression- that was increased also after my car accident in Dec. I don't know if this is a new problem or a result of meds- If anyone has this problem please write. I've changed jobs, my insurance now stinks and can't afford to see my doctors at the present time.

I had triple bypass surgury, and put on zocor as a preventative RX, along with other meds. Two months post surgery I started getting a pain in my right foot when walking 2 minutes and a continuous pain in left thigh all day and night long. Dr said I could take tylenol when needed. I started cardiac PT, walking on treadmill, exercise bike 3x per week. Pains persisted. 3 weeks later Dr agreed to take concern serious. Did blood work. Muscle enzymes elevated. Took me off Zocor taday to see if in a few weeks thigh would stop hurting. Ordered Ancle Bracial Index test to see if foot issue is circulation related.

I started Zocor the night I had a heart attack and the leg aches and muscle problems started that next day. I was even taken to ulta sound lab looking for blood clots the pain was so bad. I continued taking 40mg twice a day for six months before the Dr. listened and then he tried other statin products. I am female and 57. This yo-yo affair with statin drugs continued for another 18 months before I refused to take them again. I am still having problems, muscle aches and etc. I have been sent to other specialists from gastric, arthritis, neurologist, and now I am seeing an orthopaedic Dr. I have had physical therapy to try to get my muscles working correctly, but no Dr. will even give the slightest acknowledgement it just might be statin drug side effects. The arthritis Dr. said I did not have any form of arthritis and did not fit the profile of any patient he'd ever had and sent me to the neurologist. My muscles respond to electric shock and are coming back according to the neurologist and as a bit of advice he said that even Dr.'s have had problems like mine and have had no problems until one morning the wake up weak, unable to exercise, and general muscle weakness. There is no way to prove our problems are because of the statins. My last blood work now show I may have liver problems and kidney problems. This slow death is not over for me, even though I am off the statin drugs. My last drug was red yeast rice used under Dr.'s care and it too is a statin. They all caused problems. I have tried them all. My advice is to listen to your body and your gut feelings about these products. I have had 3 heart attacks even on the statin drugs so they did not prevent future problems for me. I now have nine stents and am thankful to be alive, but my quality of life is deteriorating. I teach school and continue to do so, but I am having difficulties with extreme fatigue. I am looking at early retirement from something I have always enjoyed doing.

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 Janyary 2001, I was diagnosised with diabetis. Besides the diebetic medicine the doctor put me on plavic and zocor as a preventative measure as my cholesterol was normal it was always between 160 and 189. I was 66 yrs at that time.

After taking the zocor for six months my legs and feet began to swell and I developed a bone spur in my right heal and could hardly walk. By the end of the year my legs were hurting, tingling, burning , numness and I could not stand on my feet for more than an hour. When I would discuss this with my doctor , he said I probably needed potattisum and calcium.

After a while I began to notice that my purse seemed too heavy for me to carry. I was suffering from depression and it took a lot of effort for me do do anything. I still had no idea that the zorcor was causing the problems. I got a walker to help me walk. My back hurt me so bad when I was on my feet that I found it impossible to keep up with my house work.

I began to have breathing problems, so I was put on oxygen.
I was gaining weight very fast over 103 pounds in three years. I was hungry all the time. I could not open my eyes in the morning. The muscles around my eyes just didn;t want to work. I would have to rub them and sometimes use a wet cloth so that I could get my eyes to open.

As of this year, I am no longer able to do my own shopping, or drive my own car. Using my walker to walk from the front door to the car is painful and leaves me breathless. My son has to help me into the car and buckle me up, while I am trying to catrch my breath. My last blood work showed my cholesterol to be 136. I stopped taking zocor about a month ago after seeing someone on TV that said they could hardly walk from using zocor. I was taking 40 mg daily since 2001.
I am now dependant on a wheel chair to get around the house . Will I ever be normal again and able to walk?

I have been taking Lipitor for the past 6 years without I thought any problems. I now have pain in my left shoulder that feels like a rotator cuff injury. Doc sent me for an X-Ray
which showed no abnormality. He then wanted to send me to
an Orthopedic dr for an MRI which I didn't do. I just had my
blood work done for the 6 month check and it revealed tha I
was anemic. He referred me to a hematologist to check
further. His preliminary diagnosis is multiple myeloma. I have lower back pain along with pain just under my rib cage
on my left side. I have felt all along the problem is from the Lipitor, but the doctors don't think so. How does this pain take to clear up. I have been off the Lipitor for nearly 3 weeks with no change. If anyone else has had this pleas let me know asap.
Thanks

AFTER ABOUT 3 DAYS OF ZOCOR MY LOWER BACK SUDDENLY BEGAN TO HURT SO BAD I CAN HARDLY MOVE. I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH PAIN, IT IS ALMOST LIKE A GALDBLADDER ATTACK PAIN. I TAKE CELEBREX FOR ARTHRITIS IN MY SHOULDERS, BUT MY BACK HAS NOT BEEN BAD. I RAN OUR OT CELEBREX AND HAVE BEEN OUT FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS, I HAVE TO GET BLOOD WORK DONE BEFORE I CAN GET A REFILL, BECAUSE I HAVE LUPUS. DOES ANYONE THINK THE ZORCOR COULD BECAUSING THIS PAIN? MY DR SAYS KEEP TAKING. THANKS FOR ANY HELP.

Level: Jr. Member
Registered: 06-20-2003
Posts: 7
IP: Logged

LOWER CHOLESTEROL WITHOUT DRUGS-YOU MUST READ THIS LETTER
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LOWER CHOLESTEROL WITHOUT DRUGS-YOU MUST READ THIS LETTER

To Larry:
I just received the results of my blood work after taking the vitamins & supplements which you recommended. I can hardly believe the results after only 10 weeks.

BEFORE AFTER
CHOLESTEROL 290 215
HDL 73 58
LDL 185 131
My Dr. said to continue with the supplements.
Would it be o.k. to just take it every other day, or what do you recommend?

Thank you!!!!!

This is an authentic letter from a real person.

If you want my 2 page protocol that includes 1 vitamin and 2 supplements, I'll gladly send it to you free of charge--no strings attached. Contact me at LARRYHOR@OPTONLINE.NET Here is your chance to kick the drug habit!!

44 yr old white male in excellent physical condition. Dx'd last yr w total chol of 290 and elevated liver enzyme, probable fatty liver disease. I was on Pravachol for 3 months and had problems w muscle aches. Also had problems w increased liver enzymes, so reduced dose from 20 to 10mg and went to every other day. Still had some side effects and was switched to ZOCOR.
Have been on zocor for 3 weeks in combination w ZETIA. Worst side effect for me is the lightheadedness (like being stumbly drunk) and malaise that others report. Some muscle pain in legs and arms (though not as bad as w Pravachol). Cannot sleep through the night, but am tired and worn out all day. Some increased level of depression, some sexual side effects. Have had pain "behind" my eyes. Some difficulty breathing.
Will be having blood work again in 1 week to see if probs still exist w liver.
Are the side effects worth the reduction in LDL? Worst part so far is that my chol has not been significantly reduced. It may be better to leave the drugs alone and concentrate on diet, excercise and try some herbal ("snake oils") remedies instead. I have an MBA in mktg and am married to a physician.. i wonder if these statin drugs are more of a well marketed product rather than a proven treatment protocol.

29 Male 250Lbs..
I have had most side effects talked about here.. Worst was when DR. bumped me to 40mg because my levels wern't coming down fast enough for him.. Had a major side effects. This was last summer. swollen ankles , could barely walk. muscle soreness in legs, arms, shoulders and chest. Weight gain.
Felt like I was always in a cloud.
I was on holiday's when most of it hit, and my son had just turned 1. after a 3 weeks on DR visits he dropped me back to 20 mg.. my levels where perfect.. but what a cost.. my levels have good ever since.. but I have changed DR's..
Muscle soreness comes and goes now.. headaches are very frequent.. Gas is a big problem. more for the people around me.
I am to the point now I am going to try alternative methods.
I have a yearly physical with blood work in 4 months.. it should show by then if I stop now. I'm just sick of feeling like this.. and I think without Zocor and some hard work I can get down to my ideal body weight..