Zocor and knees

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???

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.

I started taking Zocor 6 months ago, switched from Crestor because of muscle weakness. About a month and a half ago started to get fuzzy head and could not sleep thru the night. I awoke up to five times a night and could not go back to sleep. I had tingle feeling on my head above the ears. Sometimes I had to get up from whatever I was doing and walk around and it felt like an “anxiety attack” with a feeling of tightness on the back of the neck. My knees are weak and I can feel them whenever I get up from a chair or getting out of the shower. A few times, I felt sharp pain on my right shoulder blade and my head hurts a lot. Cold and hot flashes mostly at night and sometimes in the morning after the shower and during the day together with the “anxiety attack”. Once in a while I would have warm flush feeling on my face. I also have a few pimples like tiny bumps on my head. I could not carry on my normal daily life for the last month and a half. I could not concentrate on anything except constantly feeling the fuzzy head/head heavy/pressure on my head. I also had a MRI on my head and brain to make sure there are no tumors inside and it came back negative. I just found this website a few days ago and I told my doctor that I am taking myself off of the Zocor for a while. I am feeling at least 50% better already after a few days. I am hoping the rest of the side effects would go away eventually. I feel for you all who have been taking this drug for many years.

I did not know that there were web sites like this, I stumbled on another web site last night looking for some help for my husband and realized these are out here.

I was on Zocor last year, I took a total of 29 pills from June 16, 07 to October 20, 07. I took them when I remembered. During that time I had many problems and did not relate them to Zocor since I did not take it on a regular basis. I'm 58, both my parents were sick and baby sitting 3 little kids from 6 mos. 2, and 4. Side effects did not come into my thoughts.

Anyway I am right handed and I begin to have (pain in my right hand, pain in knuckle of middle finger, lost all strength in (R) hand, and my hand would be very stiff). I could not longer squat down to get into cabnets or get low for any reason, pain was so severe in the back of my knees. I had pain in my hip, pain down my leg between my calf and ankle that was so pain ful I could not move or scream it was worst that labor pains.

I was given xrays for hand, finger and my hip. Still I didn't relate it to taking zocor. Finally the pain was so severe in my leg I went to the Dr. I told her that I have had pain in my leg off and on since June and how bad it was she looked at my chart and ask was I taking the zocor, I told her not regularly but I would start.

Then she said not to take it for a month and come back because the pain in my legs was a side effect other patients had had.

Well after 5 months my hand has come back to normal, no pain in hip, from time to time a lttle discomfort in my lower leg, and now I can squat still a little pain getting up.
Before I could not lower my body.

Oh yeah, I wasn't sleeping, and extreme constipation. I am sleeping now and constipation is long gone. My Dr. assured me that all the symptoms would leave eventually.

Through this I have learned that medication effects us all differently and just because it is not a side effect the Dr. is familiar with doesn't mean it does not exist.

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.

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.

Had a letter today from doctor's saying that when I next renew my prescription I will no longer be getting Atorvastatin- been on that for 4 years now with very little in the way of side effects. Already have dodgy knees and hip, so don't want any side effects like that. I am taking the print out of this when I see doctor later this week. Friend of mine was on Simvastatin for a year - side effects included nausea and vomiting, joint pains. Can't afford to take time off work to deal with side effects. Just another NHS cost saving exercise. Considering paying privately to continue with Atorvastatin, but NHS rules say that if you pay for one thing, all the other prescriptions have to be paid for too.

I have been on Lipitor for several years, but switched to generic Zocor (Simvastatin) for 3-4 weeks because of the high co-pay. I didn't seem to have any bad side effects with Lipitor (or not as bad as Zocor), but have had swollen ankles, sore knees, and difficulty walking for the past couple of weeks--that's why I'm here--to see what others are experiencing.

I was reading the various side effects and I have one more to add. Has anyone experienced vertigo--not dizziness but spinning. It lasts for about 15 seconds and it's enough to scare you to death! I've also noticed that the whites of my eyes turn red.
I've also experienced pain in my legs, heels and knees. It's so difficult to walk that I had cortisone shots in my knees and three series of epidural in my lower back. No doctor ever thinks it could be from medication. I've been on Zocor 10mg for two years
I've gone to more doctors now than I have in all my years. Everyone is a specialist. No one treats you as a whole. Now I have to go to a neurologist for the vertigo.
I'm thinking all this is related to Zocor. The only other medicine I take is Protonix.

I am a 48 year old male. Was placed on Zocor last year. Since the day I was placed on it, I have felt weak, no ambition, no drive, feel like a zombie. I eventually had pain in my legs so severe that I had to take Hydrocodone so I could sleep. The skin on my thumbs and two first fingers peels off. I haven't had a good nights sleep since the second day I was on this crap. I haven't been taking it since June and still have a lot of problems. I still am very weak, no energy, tired all the time, skin is still peeling off my fingers, can't think, can't keep a straight thought. I have pretty severe pain in my hips that started when I was on Zocor. Also, my knees are very weak, and they pop every time I get up. At the time I stopped taking it, I was unable to make it up a flight of stairs.
My doctor constantly denied any link between any of this and the Zocor, but amazingly, after I stopped taking it, some of the symptoms reduced. I still suffer from many.
I was a small business owner with 7 employees and have since lost everything. I have been unable to find a job now for almost a year. The doctors are all "programmed" to think and tell you that these are good for you.

Has anyone had severe headaches, loss of TASTE for food? My husband is taking 20mgs of Zocor and he has a terrible pain in his back in the center of his shoulders, knees crackle when getting up from a sitting position or bending to pick up something. His vision is getting very blurry, to a point he finds it hard to read, bouts of depression, cannot sleep, but, always tired, no ambition, thumbs lock-up like a Charlie horse, cannot lift anything heavy anymore. He started taking Zocor 40 days ago, and never been on any other cholesterol medication before this. 40 days ago he did not have any of these symptoms! I have a question for the people that have stopped taking Zocor and all other statins, what are you taking to keep your cholesterol and triglycerides down? Has anyone tried flaxseed; fish oil; cholesterol off and/or omega 3? I too, have many of these side effects, especially my left knee (my doctor says I will need a hip operation!!!!) sometimes I need a cane to walk, my eyes are also very blurry at times. We need help or suggestions, cannot get from doctors, they believe medication can do no harm. Would like to hear from those who stopped Zocor and all statins, thanks for reading, Helene

I am 55 and was prescribed 40mg per day of Zocor. I am physically fit and thin, but high cholesterol is in my family history. After about 2 months on the drug, my cholesterol improved dramatically. However, I have had increasing joint pain everywhere....even in my wrists. I could not even get up and down well, as my knees hurt. I thought I was getting cancer or something.....my mother is very ill and they gave her many medications that I was trying to monitor. One of them was Zocor. I read the side effects and was appalled. I stopped taking the Zocor just 2 days ago and I already feel so much better! Not sure how I am going to deal with the high cholesterol, but I will not take this drug unless I can take a small dose. I will have to ask my doctor about that.

Have been taking Zocor for about 5 years now, leg and knee pain makes in almost impossible for me to walk. Has this medicine caused permanent damage to my muscles and joints? a question I would like to have answered. I am 71 years old and up to now could walk endlessly without pain or distress. A couple of years ago switched to generic Zocor which is SIMVASTATIN. Noticed no difference, but still have difficulty walking very far and am from side to side unstable, when I walk, because of pain in one leg or the other. Now what is the answer, has this medicine caused permanent injury, it has caused me to be more comfortable sitting and have things to do. Will the pain go away and will I regain my strength back in my legs? Wonder what is the answer.

Tom.

I had Hodgkin’s Disease in 1981 at which time they removed my spleen.
I was given a supply of Erythromycin antibiotics as a prophylactic, as a result of my Splenectomy to counteract any ongoing infections etc. and I have used this now for years, on an as necessary basis rather than continual, with good results.
In 1994 I suffered a Heart Attack and they found my Cholesterol level to be 9.6. I had Angioplasty and a Stent was inserted to hold the artery open.
Following that, I was prescribed Zocor (Simvastatin) to reduce my Cholesterol level.
My eyesight, which has always been very poor as I have Cone Dystrophy, deteriorated over the next three years to a point where I was registered as blind in 1998. The form indicated “Primary loss of central field”.
I suffered various side-effects from the Statin including General Weakness, Panic Attacks and Palpitations. My Cholesterol during this period averaged around 7.
The Doctor changed my Statin to Lipitor (Atorvastatin) in 1998.
In 2000 I complained to the doctor that I had severe muscular problems, to a point where I had to wear knee supports just to climb the stairs. He referred me to the Physiotherapist who manipulated my legs and gave me exercises to help strengthen the muscles. I was unable to walk after that for about 2 weeks!
By sheer fluke, I went on holiday in 2001 and forgot to take my Statins with me. I did not start taking them again straightaway when I returned and I noticed my muscles improving. As I had an appointment with the doctor, I started taking Lipitor again and found that my muscles again deteriorated.
Apart from the muscle issues I experienced lethargy and some digestive problems.
I suspended taking the Statins in October 2001 and my muscles gradually returned.
My Cholesterol crept up to 9.2 and I was referred to the Lipid Clinic at St. Bartholemews Hospital in March 2002.
The specialist there put me on Lescol (Fluvastatin), together with a diet of fruit, beans and chicken.
My muscles continued to return but I suffered from sleeplessness, nightmares and headaches and generally felt unwell. My Cholesterol did, however, reduce to 6.1 and my Triglycerides fell from 14 to 2.3.
In July 02, I stopped taking Lescol (due to erectile dysfunction) and my general well being improved immediately.
I was not prescribed any other Statins at that time and by February 2003 my muscles had returned to almost normal but my Cholesterol had crept up to 8.7.
In February 2003 the Lipid specialist at Barts tried me on Supalip 180 Fenofibrate together with Ezetimibe, due to my intolerance to Statins
On this combination I suffered from fatigue, impotency and again, muscle wastage so I stopped taking any Cholesterol reducing medication for a few months and my Cholesterol rose again to 8.3.
Between May and August 2004 the Clinic tried me on Pravastatin and Ezetimibe but I still suffered from fatigue and impotency and stopped taking any Statins, with my Cholesterol at 7.3 and Triglycerides at around 7. Lipid clinic suggested trying Rosuvastatin (Crestor) but I had had enough by then and thank my good judgment for not taking it, as the side effects are reportedly worse than other Statins.
For the next 3 years, I felt fit and strong with no problems with my muscles nor any sleeplessness, panic attacks etc. In July 2007 my GP took a blood test. My Cholesterol level was 7.4 with Triglycerides at 7.
Over the last few months, I have been taking my glasses off more and more to be able to see more clearly. In the last few weeks the clarity of my vision has improved considerably and I can now see people’s faces and generally much more detail. Red things, like buses and traffic lights are now considerably brighter and I am now able to watch TV from a distance again rather than sitting a foot from the screen. I find I no longer need to wear glasses with a special red tint to improve my vision.
My vision appears to have almost returned to the level it was in 1994 before I had my heart attack and Statin therapy.
I have recently found that one of the side-effects of some Statins is blurring of vision, particulary the statin Zocor, and that this is also a symptom of Rhabdomyolysis which is caused by the taking of Erythromycin with Statins. I do not know what the nature of the blurring is, but nobody has ever mentioned that Statins could affect my eyesight.
Looking back at the timings, I had been on Zocor for 3 years when I was declared blind, and it could be only now that I have been off Statins for 3 years, that my eyes are recovering.
Whilst researching the side-effects of Statins which include, in particular, muscle breakdown and blurred vision, I have found that they should not be taken with Erythromycin!
I believe I suffered blindness, resulting and much discomfort for years as a result of misdiagnosis of the side-effects of the Statins and the prescribing of Statins whilst being prescribed Erythromycin.
I believe that Cholesterol levels in people who have had a Splenectomy are abnormally high and people who have a Splenectomy should be warned to immediately go onto a low fat diet and not have toasted bacon sandwiches on the way to work every morning as I did!
The Lipid Clinic also suggested that my complaints about various side effects were psychosomatic and even told me not to look at the side effects leaflet with the pills, just to give them a try for 6 months..
I recently visited my GP and suggested that the combination of Erythromycin and Statins was the cause of my severe muscle breakdown and eyesight deterioration and questioned whether the Statins should have been prescribed when I was on Erythromycin. He advised that he would not do so, would suspend one or the other, but that they probably knew more now than they did a few years ago.
I just wonder how many other people have been suffering for years, just thinking their health and vision is deteriorating with age, when it is probably the medication they are on!

I am so happy after taking myself off ZORCOR in mid August 2007. I have my ankles back. They had been swollen. My knees were swollen and were so painful. Although I am 66, I have been active all my life in activities which included running(now walking) aerobic dancing, swimming, hiking to name a few. In June 2006 following a strenuous down hill hike, I experienced knee pain and swelling. I was taking 10 mg. of Zorcor at that time. I went to see an orthopedic doctor and he gave me an injection of steroid in the knee joint. It did relieve the pain. Then the right knee started. My knees were so painful, that I could not sleep, I had difficulty doing stairs. In fact I began walking backwards down steps so the knees would not bear the weight. It was after I was advised to increase the dose to 20mg.that the addtional side effects began. I was having difficulty standing from a seated position and even purchased a sofa that was more firm so I could rise from it.
I could not sleep,I had shoulder and arm weakness and lethargy set in. Normally I am active from 6:30 AM until 10:30 PM still working and very involved in my community as well as hobbies. At 20 mg. I was tired, losing interest and was content to be a couch potato. So I went on the internet and read everything I could find on Zorcor. I noted that I had 5 of the 7 major side effects which included itching skin, particularly from the knees down, itching,scalp, trigger fingers (thumb index and middle fingers were locking as much as 3 times a week. Just touching my legs to put on body lotion was painful. I felt as though I was getting the flu, just really down(depressed) and tired. I decided to stop the ZORCOR so I could sleep. Within 3 days I found that the pain in my knees was gone. I had my ankles back (no swelling). It has been six weeks since stopping Zorcor and I am back to my former self. I will never take STATINS again!
I will continue to exercise and maintain a diet rich in fiber and fruits and veggies.
Quality of life still vies for Quanity in my book.

I have been off Zocor now for almost 6 weeks. I am not sure if my symptoms are from Zocor but they have been slowly, very slowly getting better. I have had numbness in both my legs, groin area and feet. Now there is this crackling feeling in both my feet and the numbness has changed to a feeling that my muscles are tightly flexed all the time. Has anyone else had these effects? I am trying to see if it is the Zocor or may be some other problem I may have.

I have numbness in both feet and legs up to about my knees. I was on Zocor for several months but the damage is done now.

My mother is diabetic and was put on Simvastatin 20 mg by her doctor.. both her feet are swollen... and has pain in her knees ..like crazy... we went to the doctor and he just gave her a steriod to counter it... unbelievable!!!!!
after i read this i told her to stop taking the medication.... so now we are gonna see if she improves.... after i read the side effects..i freaked out..... she shouldnt be on these due to the warnings ... these docors are killers!!! i want to sue them fo rthe pain they causing her....bunch of idiots!!!

Wow - I just found this site and am relieved to know that I haven't been imagining all these symptoms. I started on Crestor because my doctor had samples, then when those ran out I started on generic Zocor. The day after starting the Crestor I felt like I'd been hit by a truck by attributed it to overdoing it at the gym. I have horrible pains in my hip joints and my knees and have recently been experiencing unexplained fatigue and sharp stomach pains. Does anyone know if drinking alcohol will increase these side effects? I've been on the Zocor now for a few weeks, and the Crestor I started mid-December.

I have been taking Zocor for over 4 years after having problems with Lipitor. I have recentley developed muscle and joint pain in the neck, shoulders and elbows and sometimes in the knees and legs. I have a great amount of fatigue and general weakness at times. Occasionally, I have a pale colored stool. I have also noticed a loss of muscle mass particularly in my arms. I am also experiencing easy bruising. After reading these testimonials, I am discontinuing Zocor to see if the problems improve. I am a 61 yr old male.

55 yr old male. Extreme stiffness in left shoulder began shortly after I began taking zocor. Losing range of motion. I thought it was rapid onset of Rheumatoid Arth. Never thought about zocor. Dr said it was frozen shoulder, no known cause. Prescribed phys therapy. Therapy helps but I noticed that when I left zocor at home and did not take it while on vacation my shoulder loosened up considerably then returned when I went back on meds.
After reading some of the other comments, I think I will try a longer break.
As I think about it my knees are a lot stiffer on getting up from a chair too. Will see if the break from Zocor helps that as well.

I was on Lipitor for several years with no problems until my insurance company stopped paying. My doctor put me on Zocor. I have been on Zocor for 2 months. Within the last few weeks I've noticed my knees being stiff. I'm a teacher and am up and down so this is not only painful but inconvenient. I mentioned the stiffness to my pharmacist this evening when I went to pick up my new prescription and he took it from my hand and told me it was not a good thing to have and to call my doctor with the problem. Just from the little he said I assume the side effects can be really bad. I'll call my doctor tomorrow.

I have been on Zocor for six months. I have become severely depressed and anxious. My knees and hips hurt so much I can barely go up and downstairs. I am going off it tomorrow!

I am 61 years old and have always exercise and watched my weight. exercise and diet was not enough and the doctor put me on 10mg of Zocor for the last 5 years.
For the passed 3 years I have experienced severe pain, mostly on my knees and ankles that prevents me from walking, at times the pain is so bad that my wife had to take me to the emergency room. This year the pain is occuring more often, almost every week. I had several blood test and MRI's and the doctors can not find the reason for the pain. My cardiologist tells me that the pain is not related to Zocor because it should had happen at the begginig of using the medication. I know that I need to lower my cholesterol and tryglicerides, but after reading this page, I will be affraid to take this medicine.
Does anyone know any other method to lower Cholesterol and tryglicerides??????.

I have been taking Zocor for about one year, I have had both of my knees replaced.Suddenly I began to get body aches, fevers of 101 and above,during these episodes I could barly walk. I thought my knees were falling apart. I told my physician about this and without hesitating he told me to stop taking the Zocor. Why did they approve this medication??

started taking zocor for 2 months and some fatigue, joint
pains in knees but worst side effect was rashes and lost
hair in large spots on my legs. Where loss of hair the
oil in the follicle has dried up and became hard. Doctor said
no relation. Quit taking for 2 months stop spredding. Started
again symptom got worse. Stopped taking again. I am sure
its Zocor. If its doing this to my skin whats happening to my
body organs? Started taking Red Yeast Rice Plus CoQ-10 with
flush-free niacin all in 1 pill from health food store for now.

FATIQUE,NEASEA,NO APPITTITE,PAIN IN SHOULDERS, ELBOWS,ARMS,SWEATING,PAIN IN ANKLES,KNEES,HEAD.HAVE HAD ALL KIND OF TESTS.NOTHING SHOWS UP. BEEN IN HOSPITAL 2 TIMES FOR FATIQUE, AND DEHYDRATION.MUSCLE PAIN IS DEVASTING. MY ENERGY IS ALL GONE TO HELL. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED MY MARRIAGE.I;M ON 80MG OF ZORCOR.I HOPE IF I QUIT IT WILL GO AWAY.I;M PRAYING FOR US ALL.

Great reduction in cholesterol levels! But suddenly I felt absolutely without any energy to perform daily tasks, and, simultaneously both knees were swelling and it was difficult walking. I immediately stopped taking Zocor and went to my heart doctor. He agreed that I had done the right thing. I had also been taking Vioxx for lower back pain for a while. Don't know if there was any interaction.
My heart doctor sent me to a rhumatologist. He said there were no real problems with the knees except some expected osteoarthiritis, indicating a slightly greater wear in the cartledge on the inside of the knee joint versus the outside. He took some fluid from one knee and only recommend I get some physical therapy. I waited about four months before following up on the therapy. The physical therapist told me immediately that my problem was only mechanics...the way I walk and that if I would practice walking properly then I would be OK. I suspect there is some truth to this but the real cause of altered walking in my opinion was the pain from taking Zocor.
Please let me know if you have found solutions to this. I am 58 and otherwise quite healthy.

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.