Zocor and headaches

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'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 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.

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.

Have only been on Zocor for 5 weeks, and liver enzymes up, shooting headaches on left side of head, episode of blurry vision lasting about 10 minutes the other night, and itchy scalp, as well as tiny reddened bumps on my scalp. Md wants to repeat liver enzymes in one month, and keep taking my Zocor, I, however have stopped using for last couple of days to see if symptoms go away. I'm supposed to see neuro for ruling out brain tumor since md doesn't think it's Zocor that is causing the problems. Everything I read on this site sounds very familiar.

This post is about my mom she was put on Vytorin which is a combination of Zorcor and Zetia. Her cholesterol was not all that high but her Dr wanted her to try it to see if it would come down. She was on it for one month and her cholesterol droped from 195 to 86 BUT she was having really bad headaches and her neck would be stiff her legs hurt and she had blurred vision in her left eye only and shooting pain in the left side temple. Before taking Vytorin she was in pretty good shape for a 71 year old but not she is so tired all the time, I am really worried about her overall health. Yesterday when I took her back to her Dr to find out why she was still having these problems he said the medician should already be out of her system since she quit taking it on Nov 17. I requested that he send her to the hospital for blood test since Vyortin had been known to make blood test abnormal. I also requested a CoQ10 Blood Test which should show any damage to the muscle tissue which can be a side effect of the Vytorin it breaks down muscle tissue in some cases. I really think MD's need training on these drugs before giving to patients. Also do anyone know how long it takes these meds to get out of the systems. Has anyone else had these problems. Thanks for any response and help. Sharon

I have been taking Lipex (Simvastatin) for 6 months. During this time I have been experiencing an enormous amount of gas, cramps, constipation, headaches, blurred vision and an itching rash. Three weeks ago after looking up the side effects on the internet and finding these symptoms listed - I stopped taking the pill. My health has improved dramatically.

I have only managed to take Siomvastatin tablets (1 x 10mg) per day for 5 weeks. the headaches have been terrible.
I already suffer from stomach problems (intolerance to wheat, corn, maize starch etc..) and I cannot say this medication has made it worse, as I would not know.
Stopped medication for a week and then startedagain today--within 2 hours a headache, slight dizziness and nausea.

I am a 66 yr old male on ZOCOR 20mg for 90 days and I am having knee joint grating noises and over all weakness and
musle pain.

I am also having headaches and just on power.

Does this sound like a reaction to the ZOCAR???

DM MILLER

been on simvastatin 2 weeks now. Feel thick headed get headaches have become very weak and memory is suffering. told the Doctor he said keep taking it! But i don't know how much longer I can put up with this. My quality of life is becoming badly affected

after reading the testimonials of so many people who have had problems with Zocor. I know I am going to stop taking it.I am 61 and have been on Zocor for 8 years. I was a healthy 53 when I had a stress related heart attack. Even the nurses told me I did not fit the heart patient profile and that I looked more like a 40 year old. My doctor put me on 10 mgs. of Zovor a day. About 2 years ago, I changed doctors and she increased my dose to 20 and then 40mgs. I have not been taking 40 mgs, I split the pill but I have experienced just about every side effect that I have read about today. The most noticeable are weakness, fatigue, headaches, fuzzy head, ears ringing, irratibility, vivid dreams, mostly bad dreams, and trouble sleeping even though I take Klonopin,and doxipin. I truly believe now that I have been on Zocor too long and probably a higher dosage than I need. My cholesterol is way below 200 about (140). I am so happy I found this Web site. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences, and thank you for the Web site

I have been on Zocor about 3 months and have severe back pain, leg cramps, and now my knees are so sore that I can hardly walk very far. I also have the tremors in my index fingers and sinus pain and headaches. I also have blurry eyes sometimes and often it feels like a haze covers them. I have been wondering why I have felt so "lazy" and stiff and sore for the last little while. I was on an anti depressant and even with that, I have felt more emotional lately. Also sex drive has decreased noticably for me. I am (or was) a healthy 53 year old female who has always enjoyed good heath until the doc noticed my cholestrol levels were up and prescribed statin drugs to lower it. This morning I woke up with the distinct impression that it is the zorcor and that is when I started researching on the internet and found this site. It is interesting to me that all the symptoms I have been having are described by others taking this same medication. I will not take it again.

I have taken all the medication for high cholesterol- the side effects are the same as everyone that I know have had- muscle pain- depression. anxiety, headaches etc etc. even went to see a foot specialist becasue i could hardly walk- after spending $265 for special inserts for my shoes and almost going crazy with the pain now tranferred to my hips , i decided that i was going to stop the cholesterol medications- it has been 2 weeks and i already feel good-
I am so mad at the so called specialists- not one of these doctors even suggeted that could have ben the zocor or liptor . what aprice to pay for lowering your cholesterol. I will continue to investigate and see if there are any other options besides suffering with all those side effects.

I am a 69 year old with elevated cholesterol (280). I have been on 20 mg Zocor for 27days. It seems to have effected my sleeping pattern, some headaches, throat irritation, and most recently soreness in my calves and feet area. Normally I could be on my feet for hours at a time with no problem, but not now. I have several friends who are on Lipitor with no reported problems. I felt great before starting Zocor, so plan to talk to my Dr. about either stopping or switching.

I NOTICE WHEN I TAKE THE ZOCOR I GET HEADACHES AND HAVE TROUBLE SLEEPING

My husband has been experiencing leg cramps, shoulder cramps, arm cramps, foot cramps, headaches, and muscle spasms in his chest. Has anyone heard of muscle spasms in the chest being caused by zocor? I have told him to go off the medication and see if the side effects disappear. Loss of strength in arms and hands as well. Fatigue too.

I'm 36 w/high chol. Dr. has me on 80mg Zocor-its lowering chol. but cannot stand side-effect of eye pressure(puffy eyes), lowered sexual drive, headaches, rashes, and most of all loss of short-term memory and some depression. I notice that if I do not take it for a few days most of them go away. Does anyone know if any of these could become permanent?? The dr. does not seem to believe what I am saying about the drug. The side-effects are very real to me!! Whose interest does he have in mind??? I have heard similar storys here. Good luck folks!!!

I've been on Zocor for about a month now. I'm a 53 year old woman and get headaches every morning. Is this caused by Zocor...my Doctor says no. I took Lipitor a couple of years ago and stopped taking them because of the same headaches. Does anyone else have headache symptoms?

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..

45 yr old male. Went on Zocor 40 mg in late January. Total numbers went from 255 to 161. Headaches at first, but went away after two weeks on drug. Three nights ago, I woke up at 3:00 AM with painfully constricted left side of chest. It lasted about two hours before diminishing. Very scary. I could only take a third of a breath. I had eaten a spicy meal earlier that evening.

I am a 68 year old male and am now on 40 mg. of Zocor for 4 weeks. I have never been on any Rx medications since I have always been in excellent health. My annual physicals have always been perfect except for elevated chlosterol (237). My doctor put me on Zorcor 5/9. Now my ears ring,neck hurts, tenderness of skin, tired all the time, hard to sleep, vision problems, headaches, and outlook on life is not as it was.
I am stopping Zorcor now. I plan to pursue a natural method of lowering my chlosretol. Diet change, excercise (treadmill) and a product put out by Twinlab (non-Rx). If this doesn't work, at least I won't hurt so much and can again enjoy life as I was before taking Zorcor.

Dowhatworks

I am 38 years old, put on 40mg Zocor 3 months agao because of high cholesterol. While it lowered my overall numbers, I started having a fuzziness in my head, not sharp minded, fatigue. I exercise 4x a week and was losing energy. At first, I associated it with stress until my stressful project was finished, doctor upped my dosage to 80mg and it hit me, it was the Zocor. I have been off for 10 days now, headaches still there, but hoping they will go away. If anyone has thoughts, let me know at build2suit@excite.com