Zocor and cholesterol

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.

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.

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?

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.

I am only 42 years old and have been on zocor for the past 30 months. I've had mild tingling in my feet and achy joints along with slightly elevated liver enzymes and fatigue since then. Ever since my doctor increased the zocor to 80 mg per day ( because although my cholesterol level is normal, my triglycerides are still very high) , I feel like I am 100 years old! All my joints ache so bad and my feet and hands alternately tingle or feel very cold! I am also having trouble focusing when I look from something close up to something far away! I am also clumsier and more forgetful. Could these symptoms be caused by coenzyme-Q deficiency?

Been on Zocor for two years went from 20mg to 40mg and since being on the 40mg I have increased leg & foot cramps so severe @ night that I have trouble getting out of bed, the foot locks up. Even getting up after sitting is a problem, sometimes my feet and legs go numb and I even fell a few times. I get very tired during mid day. The newest problem is my sight, I have notice that there is a blurriness that I don't know if it ever clear up, after telling my doctor this she said it was the arthritis and to take arthritis nonasprin and to stop the zocor for about a week, I am going to stop period.

I am 71 years old, I have been taking 80mg of ZOCOR ( Simvastatin ) for the past 16 years. five months ago I started to hurt in my lower back, hips,Knees,thighs, for two months then it traveled to my shoulders, wrist, hands, fingers. the Dr. gave me a round of prednisone (one shot and 11 pills) the pain stopped and everything was wonderful for two weeks,the Dr. stated that I had avused my body in the years gone by now the pain has started back in my shoulders, wrist, hands the pain is very strong,and my legs are starting to get weak again, I am taking Naproxen 500 mg two times a day and also taking Hydrocodne10mg every four hours also have Oxycodone 10mg to take every four to six hours, I have mentioned the results that I have read about the Statins in this forum but the doctor, does not act like it has any significance. does anyone have any suggestions??? if so please let me know, this pain is killing me, if you have any info. please email me at. ******

I had muscle aces and pains most of that time but near the end of the 3 weeks I would loose the use of my left arm for periods. I would feel faint and very weak. I have had restless leg since I was a child but my legs got much worse during the 3 weeks. Finally I remembered that if you had muscle weakness you were to stop Zocor so I did. The daily muscle weakness gradually went away but I developed severe restless leg and had to go on Requip. I also started having face spasms and “turrett” type spasms in my legs that would travel up into my arms and hands. My hands would clench and I couldn't talk plain. My head would jerk and my body would shake inwardly as if I were freezing. These symptoms were worse when I was stressed or got too hot. Eventually I had to quit my job, it was very high stress. Five years have past. I now stay home and garden and paint. I very seldom leave my home and my stress level is low but when I do get into a stressful situation I still have to deal with the “loss of control” over my body. My sleep is a nightmare every night. My restless leg syndrome is getting worse and I've had to increase my Requip and will probably have to do so again soon.

My cholesterol is very high and my doctor keeps trying to get me to go on some meds for that but I would rather die than add to the painful, exhausting struggle I go through now because of what Zocor did to me.

Have stopped taking Zocor today after finally accepting that my life has changed since taking this medication....am too weak to open a soda bottle, keep twisting words, memory is shot, Hips, knees and ankles scream whenever I have been sitting for more than 15 minutes....light headed, dizzy and constant headache...want to just curl up in a ball and cover my head for loss of ambition. I am exhausted all of the time.

I have been taking Zocor for 6 months. In the past 3 weeks I have developed intense tingling and burning in both legs from my feet to my knees. I also have a feeling of numbness in my right foot that at times is in the whole ball of my foot but will move to the side of the ball of my foot. I have been to the ER twice and all my neuro checks were normal even though my legs felt like they were on fire. I just this past week had a MRI of cervical and lumbar spine. My doctor is thing the symptoms may be related to the significant arthritis I have in my neck and may be due to nerve compression at one of the discs but I don't think so. I was worried about MS and Guillian Barre as these can be symptoms of those diseases as well but I didn't have any other symptoms of those diseases. At my last ER visit the doctor put me on Neurotin for the burning in my legs. I just happened to think to look on line for med interactions and side effects of the meds I am on and would have never expected that Zocor could be the culprit. I was astounded to find that the tingling and burning was more than likely due to the zocor. I stopped taking it about 4 days ago and am showing some improvement but I am still taking the neurotin. Does anyone know how long it takes Zocor to get completely out of your syste.? I also have nerve conduction studies scheduled.

60 year old male on zocor for approximately 10 years. taking 80 mg daily.
only recently (within the last 18 months) i noticed some changes going on.
first i had joint pain in my feet, both feet, same areas. the foot pain went away but then the pain traveled up to the back of my legs, behind the knee,
when the muscle or tendons attach. every time i sat for awhile, then got up, the pain was brutal. that lasted about 3 months. later the pain shot up to the joints in my hands. both hands, same place on both hands. when i rotate my thumb or move it, the knuckle area of the thumbs, same place,
hurt bad. i will confront my health care provided at the va on these issues.
she disregarded my previous remarks and said arthritis, hands and feet and perhaps i overextended something at the gym on my behind the knee issue.
i think she is wrong. recently i had a severe cold and did not take the zocor for two days. the thumb pain subsided substantially. i resumed and the pain came back. now it feels as if the pain will travel back down to behind my knees again as i am beginning to feel a pull. any others out there with these issues???

muscle aches, NO sex drive or interest in sex at all been on zocor, and lipitor off & on for past 7 yrs. and I'm 59 yrs. old

PLEASE HELP! My father, age 74, was on lipitor for a year or so and then was switched to zocor a few weeks ago to help control his cholestorol. In the past week, the tightening he experienced in his leg, while on lipitor, has become debilitating leg pain now while he is on Zocor. Ultrasounds have ruled out a blood clot. He has no pain when he sits, but he describes the pain has his calf wanting to explode when he stands and he cannot walk with out the help of a cain. The pain radiates from his leg up to his hip.

His cardiologist has taken him off the zocor for a few weeks to see if there is an improvement. It has been 3 days and he feels a bit of relief. SO here is the million dollar question: His labs indicate his cholestorol is normal now, most likely thanks to the statins.....can anyone suggest another form of meds that will help regulate his cholestorol....say COeq10 and fish oil? Any help is SO appreciated!!! Thanks to each of you for your posts. It is so comforting for my dad to know he isn't developing a new issue and that it can be resolved with the removal of zocor!

i had the most painful and frightening episode last night. thank god for the internet....the zocor stops today....after only a week or so of low dose....severe leg ,inner thigh muscle cramps and then last night...i must speak frankly,at the end of normal sexual relations, my climax spasm transitioned into a groin and lower stomach cramp that made me roll off the bed in pain and confusion,never have i felt such horrible mind numbing pain....took about ten minutes for spasm to release,still awful sore this morning....it's oatmeal and more swimming for me...just the memory of the pain and helplessness in the midst of it make me nauseous.

I stumbled onto this website just today looking for information on another drug. Little did I know what I was going to find and so happy I did. I have been taking Zocor for nearly 5 yrs. now. My health has taken a spiral downhill. I too, have been experiencing almost every symptom that has been mentioned. Rt. shoulder pain, hand pain, pain and tingling in hands and feet, leg cramps, muscle weakness, numbness, memory loss, itching, fuzzy headed at time, can't concentrate, and trouble breathing. My doctor has told me my cholesterol is just fine the last two times I've had my checkup, but has never suggested I come off it. I guess I will be calling him tomorrow.

Same here folks. I've been on Zocor for 2 months and have a constant pain in my left leg on the side of my calf. Always there; sometimes I get up from a chair and have to wait a minute before I move. My doctor advised me to go off for one week and see if I'm better but after reading these articles I want off it AS OF TODAY. NO more. I'm calling the doc and asking for another med. This is too scary - permanent damage may rise from this. Thanks for sharing and good luck to All.

I am a 58-year-old woman that changed from zetia to zocor about 6 months ago because of the price of zetia AND I had tolerated the zetia ok but my chol was still elevated. My initial dose of zocor was just 10 mg, even though I had a lot of aches and pains from the slighest exertion I really did not connect this to zocor. After my last checkup, the doctor wanted to up my dose to 20 mg daily because my chol was 228 (liver functions were all ok). I have been doing that for 6 days and my legs have become very achy, my left knee has swollen above my kneecap (which is very painful), and my lower back hurts. I have been having a lot of trouble sleeping and feel draggy all the time. I got on the net to research these symptoms when I found this site. I am going to go off this med and see if my condition improves! I will post an update as to the results.

I'm a 54y/o female prescribed zocor for slightly elevated cholesterol. Too it for 7 months before I clued in to the cause of my many symptoms. The 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. Felt like I was 95--and never going to feel normal again!
After reading many postings I decided to stop my zocor 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 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.

My cardiologist prescribed 40mg zocor in Dec 07, I couldn't understand why I was feeling tired, having muscle aches and pains and just recently every joint in my body was hurting and inflamed. I haven't been able to do anything but lay around.. even getting up to take a shower or use the restroom was a task for me. I was also very depressed and just not myself. I am 47 and I have always been very active and full of energy and couldn't understand what was happening to me. I never would have thought that this horrible medicine was the culprit. I quit taking it on Sept 15th and already feel so much better. I can only hope and pray that there is no long lasting effects. I can manage my cholesterol without it!!!!!

This is an update on my August 27th 2008 posting (see below). I have been off Zocor for about two weeks and all my symptoms have disappeared nearly completely. My wrist pain, which troubled me most, ceased in a week's time. Having researched the matter, I have decided not to worry about my cholesterol.

I am currently 58 years old and lead a very active, healthy lifestyle. I began taking 10mg of Zocor, along with 1000mg of niacin in the summer of 2004 to reduce cholesterol (251) and triglycerides (571). The therapy dramatically improved my blood tests, however, within 6 weeks, I began to experience minor chronic skin infections, both fungal and bacterial. They were easily controlled with topical over the counter type medications, but they were annoying. At no time was this new condition linked to the statin/niacin therapy by my doctor(s). The infections became progressively worse over the next 3 years, and evolved into chronic folliculitis in my scalp, neck, and face, cystic acne, and persistent fungal infections that were becoming more difficult to control. In addition, I began to get chronic eye infections. It was as if my immune system was becoming ineffective. I stopped taking niacin in December of 2007 and the symptoms immediately lessened. I stopped taking Zocor in March of 2008 and within 2 weeks, all the skin problems and eye infections completely ended. My health was restored completely and I am glad to have put that whole mess behind me! I have been taking Omega 3 supplements to control my cholesterol and triglycerides and have had results that equaled the Zocor and Niacin therapy, with cholesterol at 160, triglycerides at 91, and a favorable HDL/LDL ratio. My physician is skeptical, but I know that my body was not functioning correctly with the statin/niacin treatment. I have found anecdotal reports from others who seem to have experienced a change in their immune system, but no mention of this as a side effect by the medical establishment.

Hello Everyone,

I am 33, male, I have been doing sport actively for at least 10 years (swimming and running) and I have been leading a health-conscious diet. I have a hereditary high-cholesterol condition, a type which appears in adulthood (so they say). Since 2004 my blood tests have showed roughly the following results: HDL 1.1, CHL 6.2, LDL 4.1, TRI 4.38 (mmol/L).
I have been taking Zocor 40mg for about less than a month and recently I have been experiencing cramps in my left lower arm, fatigue, itching (this morning for example I was woken by the cramp in my left arm, not nice). I have just read all your posts and have decided to abort my Zocor treatment at once. I have bought Q10 capsules and vitamins and started to drink 4 liters (herb tea) a day. I hope the pain will soon abate because now I have a totally dysfunctional left arm (I can't grasp because of the pain).

I am going to write in a week's time about the de-Zocoring of my body. In the meantime, I wish a speedy recovery to everyone.

Peter

i have been taking zocor for about a year when i remember to take it but have been having very bad muscle weakness in my legs.I have had a few leg cramps occasionally.Also when i sit and then get up i am like an old women.The ache never really goes away.My legs are so much worse when i wake up in the morning.I am going to stop taking it for now and see if things change

I have been on zocor for over a year, about 8 months ago I began to have pain in my left arm, got and injection and it was better it started again in my left arm , this time there was pain , tingling, numbness, swelling , it got better but it moved to the right arm which is twice as bad, I am often brought to tears from the pain..I sometime describe the pain like shutting your hand in a car door. My Dr keep giving me the same meds.

i am a male 48 years old and have been taking zocor for only one month now and started getting a lot of heavy headache pain, and nausea,sinus headache and not feeling of working. ever since i feel always tired and not been able to proform at work also i m constipating with no bowel movements .

I am 31 year old been on zocor for 8 months. Doctror prescribed it for cholesterol was 230. I have had muscle weakness, pain in shoulder, chronic neck pain,anxiety attacks, hives,and uncontrolled itching,and have been put on meds for depression.I am stopping the medication tomorrow thanks for all the posting very enlighting. Will post again in a few months.

I'm a 52 year old female and have been taking Zocor for about a year. During the past few months, I've noticed increased muscle pains in my upper legs. It's to the point that I actually hurt when walking, even for short distances. I have also gained about 15 pounds in the past year. It could just be "middle age spread" but I can't help but wonder if this drug is the cause of it. I've also had some visual disturbances in the past month or two, like something that just won't clear out of my eye.....like a film across my eye. Anyone else with similar symptoms? I go back for a physical in a few weeks and am going to ask my MD about another medication. I have genetically elevated cholesterol and low cholesterol diet has not helped previously.

I have been on Zocor for one year. I am a former athlete used to dealing with pain associated with playing and training at a high level. Since using Zocor, my energy level has decreased significantly, very tired, before, during and after workouts. Muscle pain specifically in my neck, back and legs has significantly increased without cause. I have a constant feeling of a stabbing pain in my abdomen, accompanied with nausea, bloating and abdominal gas. After seeing some of the posts on this site, has there been a lot of reporting of abdominal pain? Bloating? Gas?
I too, have had trouble sleeping, accompanied by unexplained itching, and now after seeing these posts probably some mild depression. I believe I've had some short term memory loss - but then I can't really remember - LOL. Is the drug worth it? Physicians all seem to downplay the side effects, justifying the desired lower cholesterol, as more important than the side effects.........is it?
At 46 years old and formerly a competitive athlete at an elite level, I'm wondering if feeling better by NOT taking the drug is better than feeling worse and taking it. My training regimen was very intense prior to starting Zocor - NOW - it seems as if I can't keep up any longer. Any response to these problems would be greatly appreciated.

i was a healthy 35 year old male but had high cholesterol, so the doctor prescribed lovastatin (mevacor) and tried it for a month but developed muscle weakness. months later, i'm still experiencing severe muscle spasms and my neurologist is stumped -- mri's, spinal tap, emg -- all normal. I just want to feel normal again. can anyone help? please email me!

I am a 54 year old healthy woman, and thought I was going nuts! I have been on Simvastatin for about 14 months and on a gradual overall decline...big black pms-like cloud over my head and unable to find anything to feel happy about (I have a GREAT life). Couldn't sleep, gained weight, heart racing (went on 24 hr monitor-nothing!), dizzy and feeling like I could pass out ON A REGULAR BASIS! Tingle down my left arm, heartburn constantly, stiffness in my neck, tingly hot feet at night, zero interest in sex, miserable. I had been taking myself off all the over the counter stuff and estrogen trying to figure out what was going on...then I started the online research on statins. My doctor told me there was no way that a statin could be the cause of my dizziness and problems. WRONG!!! I was having the same side effects as all of you and went off the simvastatin two weeks ago. Bottom line is that I already feel so much better, walked 2 miles with ENERGY today and am happy. Hoping that I will get back to my old self again. I will be taking the herbal approach to lower my cholesterol...never again this crap!

To Kevin II and others

It doesn`t matter if you are on Zocor or Lipitor or any of the ot her statins.

They all have similar side effects. They can all can cause permanent damage to your body.

The side effects can come right away (lucky you) or after years.

Therefore, when you are reading messages, please also read those for other statins - including for Lipitor.

But the most important of all is to educate yourself when it comes to the cholesterol issue.

Are you sure that it`s the high cholesterol that will cause heart problems?

Please visit ****** and read some of the books that I have suggested in an earlier message.

Now I ask for some help.

Drugs can have many different names in different countries.

Please tell me (us) if Zocor (substance Simvastatin) also has other names.

It will make it easier to find more information.

In Sweden it`s called Zocord and Simvastatin.

How is it in the US and other countries?

This is my second post on this subject. The short story is I had a stroke at 43 years old, doctor prescribed Zocor to me, 90 percent of side affects posted here.

I went back to the doctors afraid I was going to get the treatment from mmy doctor that most others got "your crazy, and it's psycholog". To my surprise the doctor knew exactly what I was going through with the only information that I was on Zocor.

The doctor was aware of the undocumented side affects and told me stop taking it immediately. She prescribed Lipitor and so far so good.

Most of the side affects have gone, the foggy head totally gone. The doctor said I was lucky to be recovering so quickly as most take months and some times years from the damage of Zocor. The longer you take it the longer the recovery time which makes sense. The doctor said that Zocor is cheap and highly dangerous.

I urge anyone coming across this website to see your doctor for a medication change ASAP.

I will post again in six months and give an update.

This is a message that I wrote earlier on, but I think it´s good to repeat it because I want to encourage people to read and make up their own mind about the cholesterol issue.
_________________________

It`s very disturbing to read all these stories. I really feel for you.

My experience comes from seeing what happened to 3 people close to me. They all took statins.

I started to look for information on statins, and other medications in 2004 , and it continues to this day although two of my relatives are dead.

I have nothing to do with the health or pharmaceutical industry.

I saw the suffering and it made me very angry.

I am an ordinary lady in her sixties who live in Sweden.

The situation is almost the same here as in the U.S.

There is very little discussion about risks/benefits with this kind of medicatications - or others.

I think it`s a good idea to turn to the Internet and books to get other views about the cholesterol issue.

Is it really true that it`s the cholesterol that is causing heart disease?

Are you sure?

Please visit:

www.thincs.org

www.ravnskov.nu

www.spacedoc.net

www.statinalert.org

Also search for "Stopped our statins" on Google.

You will find a lot of information.

Under "print articles" you will find a very informative article from The Weston Price Foundation.

Also search on the names of the different authors below.

Here are som books:

The Cholesterol Myths (Uffe Ravnskov)

The Great Cholesterol Con (Antony Colpo)

Book with the same title (Malcolm Kendrick)

Overdosed America (John Abramson)

The Truth about the Drug Companies (Marcia Agnell)

There are many more.

For more information about these books turn to the Internet.

It´s good to have some other information than the one given by doctors because most of them have been "educated" by the pharmaceutical companies themselves - and why should they talk about risks, side effects etc. They are interested in profits.

Finally - here are some side effects that I have seen:

pains in legs, hands, elbows, shoulders, knees, hips, cracking noise in ribs, muscle weakness, loss of hair, head ache, burning, tingling sensations in hands and feet, numbness, difficulties to swallow, loss of taste, ringing noise in ears, cramps, insomnia, irritation, depression, difficulty with short-term memory and then advancing into more serious problems.

These side effects - i 3 different people - all over 65 - did not come at once.

All of them had taken statins for years (Zocor)

It doesn´t matter which product -all statins have similar side effects.

My relatives also had some other medications which makes it even easier for doctors (and patients) to say that it`s just old age.

I am happy for those who get problems right away because then there maybe a chance for the patient and the doctor to see that there is a connection.

You really have to look out for yourself and the people around you!

Good Luck.

l

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 55 YR YOUNG WOMAN. I AM VERY ACTIVE , FIT , AND LOOK
1O YRS YOUNGER THAN MY AGE. I DECIDED TO GO ON ZOCOR 5 MG
BECAUSE MY CHOLESTEROL WAS 250. I WAS CONCERNED AND THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE THE RIGHT DECISION. I HAVE HAD DRY FLAKY SKIN ON MY FACE AND GET VERY DIZZY. I HAVE DIFFICULTY
ALSO WITH BLURRY VISION. IF THESE ARE THE SYSTOMS I AM WILLING TO GO BACK TO THE HIGHER CHOLESTEROL AND DEAL WITH IT. GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT ALL THE OTHERS WHO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS MEDICATION AS WELL. NO MORE ZOCOR FOR ME!!!
I HAVEN,T EVEN FINISHED MY 90 DAY TRIAL SUPPLY.

I have been having upper back pain since I started this medication. In addition it has aggravated a shoulder problem that has bothered me intermittently for years. I am a 47 year old active male. I exercise 3 to 4 times per week and lift weights. I have had lower back pain in the past but never upper like this. since my activities have not changed with the onset of this pain I attribute it to the medication. It started after I started this medication.

Cholesterol was up to 260 so doctor prescribed zocor 20mg to lower it.
I have been on this for six weeks and head back for a recheck next Tuesday. I am hoping it is low again so I can get off this drug.

I am 33 years old and after a blood test about 6 months ago showed my cholesterol levels high my doctor prescribed me 40MG Zocor (actually generic Simvastatin). Since then I've started to forget things and just cognitively I'm slower and less capable. I also had more aches and pains and a weird creak in my knee showed up, but I really didn't key in on that stuff. I went back to my doctor and told him about the cognitive issues and he said "that shouldn't be a side effect of this drug".Well I am very glad I found this website because at least now I know I am not crazy. I stopped taking that garbage about 4 weeks ago and ever since that fog has been lifting.
I have also made a new commitment to myself to include more "heart healthy" foods into my diet and to completely eliminate all red meats as well. I realize there may be some validity to the studies done remarking that high cholesterol is an indication of something bad, but I am not convinced the medical community actually has a comprehensive understanding of cholesterol in the body. I will still go into the doctor to get my levels checked, but I will probably not go back to my old doctor. I'll probably find a doctor who is a little more open to other options. I hate to say it, but I have lost my confidence in my doctor. If I tried to pull something like that in my job as a computer network engineer my customers would simply say "it wasn't like this before you started". Jedi mind trick doesn't work buddy. My body wasn't like this before you gave me that stuff.