Zocor and drug companies

My father started taking Zocor, after being on Lipitor for almost 3 years.(He had to stop taking Lipitor, because of the memory lapses and confusion.)After reading these testimonials, I am not expecting Zocor to be the greatest thing either. I am starting to believe that the doctors, and the drug companies are working together to make more money. If this doesn't work, I have seen some adds for lowering your cholesterol with vitamins, and I will most likely have my dad try that.(Against medical advice of course!)Since doctors seem to laugh off natural remedies.

I have not taken Zocor in eight weeks. The pain in my legs is almost completely gone. I can stand up for ten minutes (which is nine minutes longer than 8 weeks ago). My balance is still off, and I still fall, though not as frequently. I feel better mentally and physically. I don't know that the damage already done will be reversed, but I can say with certainty that I have not gotten worse since I stopped taking the Zocor.

Good luck to anyone that will end up having to see a neurologist. I am finding that physicians and the drug companies work together.

My prescription plan at work is sponsored in part by Merck,
who also makes Zocor.

I've been on simvastatin for about 8 years - recently increased to 20mg pd. Side-effects seem to match up very closely with other posters. Back and shoulder pain, often quite acute. Pain in left side under ribs. Various stomach pains and a general feeling of being unwell. Recently had treatment for trigger finger on right hand.
I'm fairly certain that the longer one takes this medication,
a/ the side-effects gradually get worse and
b/ the side-effects last longer when you stop taking the drug.

The main thing I attribute to Zocor is insomnia. It was very hard to get to sleep the first night I took it, and I didn't sleep well after that, until I quit after about 3 weeks. To me it's not worth it to get numbers down while not getting healthy sleep.
I'll try something else, like diet and exercise. My doctor makes decisions by the numbers. I don't think i've ever heard her ask me how I'm feeling. I think she gets a commission from the drug companies. She's drug happy.

I was put on 80mg of Zocor with Lopid in 1999. That great decision by the cardiologist resulted in rhabdomyolysis in 2001 and three episodes of anaphylaxis shock! In addition, I had a cardiolite stress test in 1999 prior to going on the high doses of Zocor that reflected a left ventricular ejection fraction of 70. One month after my episode of rhabdo, a cardiolite stress test revealed my heart had enlarged and weakened and I had a left ventricular ejection fraction of 37! That is what that wonderful drug and doctors that believe the propaganda released by the drug companies can do for you.