Zocor and diet

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

Have been taking Zocor for a month. I am about to give it up starting tomorrow. Calling my doctor. I rather try flax seed in my diet. Have had normal cholesterol for life, however the last couple of years it has been hovering around 230-260 esp. since menopause. So, the last check up the doc put me on 20mg, I don't like how I am feeling. Very tired. Low level of energy, and my skin tone appears to be changing yellowish color. Has anyone else experience the dis-coloring of their skin? I am nervous.

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 have been on Zocor for 3 months and until I found this site I thought
my pain was in my head. I am having difficulty raising my arms over my head or reach around my back because of severe shoulder pain in both shoulders. I had normal chol until last year it was 240 and doctor put me on zocor when diet did not work. The shoulder pain is terrible. I have felt terrible on this drug and now I know why. I am seeing my doctor Weds for a blood test and will not be taking zocor again.

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.

Generic for Zocor. In Nov. blood which was drawn as a pre-op surgery for another health problem was drawn and showed high cholesterol levels. I was put on meds right away. Was not given the option to try diet alone. Not knowing (and still learning) #'s, I felt the Dr. knew what was best for me. I too experience the waking, weird dreams, nausea or bloating and pains in thighs,upper back,collar bone, hips (inside and outside) until I sometimes can barely stand or walk. Have actually attempted walking in 'bent forward' position to cross the room occasionaly as the pain and difficulty of standing errect would not subside until I have reach the other side of room anyway.

There are 3 doctors in the office I go to. As if I don't hear it enough from my family members, one of the Drs.indicates it is because I am OLD that I have some conditions. But the main Dr. has showed concerns that I am on the medication. But he always blames my pains on ARTHRITIS. They are the skilled ones.......I am the one in pain ....but the #'s are going down.

I am afraid to eat most things as I also have FATTY LIVER.

Is anyone here when referring to Zocor taking the generic or the brand name? I have had trouble with vivid dreams and after several months I am exhausted from this sleep interruptions. I used to take the name brand before they had the generic
and had no problems at all.
The vivid dreams started after taking the generic.
Any responses would be appreciated.

thanks

After by-pass heart surgery in 2002, my cardilogist put me on 40mg of zocor.
I was in good health with no physical limitations. I had no heart damage. The restriction of heart arteries were found due to my stress test that was performed each year as a part of my annual Physical. After surgery I was on zocor for three years, during that time I experienced a little tiredness, little weakness, a little muscle aches. some tingling in my right arm and shoulder. I went to my heart doctor Jan. 2006 and he changed me to vytorin (10mg zetia and 40mg zocor). about 6 months all of the about symptoms got worse.
By Jan. 2007, my muscles became so stiff, I could not walk, had balance problems, severe muscle aches and cramps, numbness and tingling in both arms and hands, also stifness and pain in my hands, stiffness and pain in both feet, stifness and pain in my back and weird nerve sensations over my entire body. During Jan. and Feb 2007, I was seen by my family doctor, a neurologist, and a muscle doctor. Thanks to the internet, I found info on zocor and zetia, which is the drug vytorin. Warnings described the same symptoms I am experiencing. I stopped vytorin, I am not taking any statins drugs now. My doctor order a blood test to check for muscle damage, It indicated severe damage, a Creatine level of 770. This level should not be over 200. After being off the drugs for 30 days the creatine level dropped to 645. My condition has improved by 25%. I am walking a little better, but I still having muscle problems, there is improvement. I think there will be a very long recovery. There seems to be some evidence that these Statins affect people of age much more than the young. I am 70 years old. PLEASE PEOPLE, IF YOU ARE TAKING STATINS DRUGS, STOPPED NOW! SLOVE YOUR CHOLESTROL PROBLEMS BY OTHER MEANS. Since I stopped my cholestrol has gone from 157 to 280, but I am not going back taking these drugs. I am trying the natural way now. I have read post after post on many web-sites of people with the same symptoms that were using these drugs. The drug companies and the FDA are responsible for the the degradation of people's health taking these statin drugs.