Zocor and leg cramps

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.

I am a 44 yr old female. I have been on Zocor for 2 yrs. I have never had high cholesterol. I have a family history of heart disease and after my 44 yr old brother had a heart attack and the transplant, my doctor put me on Zocor as a precaution. I have had problems over the 2 yrs and have been to the doctor many times only to be dismissed as Oh, I need to lose weight, I need to get out of the house more, I need to exercise, It must be my depression....and on and on. I have never had a kidney or liver test in 2 years. I never knew I needed on and my doctor never tested me. I have over 30 symptoms/side effects of Zocor. I only looked into the side effects after my mother-in-law had muscle break down, an intestinal blockage and a ruptured bowel and almost died a few weeks ago. I couldn't believe what I found on this site. I immediately stopped the Zocor. I started to feel better right away but it was short lived. i felt great for 1 week and then it all crept back in on me for a week and then this last week I am back in bed with dibilitating fatigue and muscle weakness. I will now list my symptoms/side effects.
Shortness of breath; heart palpitations; droopy eye lid (left eye); eye lid twitch (right eye); optical migraines; numbness & tingling of my arms (from the elbows down) and my hands; My hands "fall asleep"; Itching all over; severe muscle weakness ( I have dropped things); muscle pain; joint pain (even the little ones in my toes); leg cramps; critically anemic (on 3 iron pills per day); ruptured ankle tendon (left ankle, currently being treated with a brace trying to avoid surgery); hot flashes/flushing; cold hands and feet; dizziness;, loss of balance; headaches; blurred vision; mental fog; confusion; loss of memory; loss of concentration; extreme and debilitating fatigue; insomnia; trouble staying asleep (wake every hour); huge weight gain; swelling of calves, ankles and feet; dark colored urine; gas; upset stomach; diarrhea; stomach pain; depression; anxiety; hair loss; bruises; mouth ulcers; back pain; tingling on top of head; heaviness in my thighs; EXHAUSTION! I feel like I am 100 yrs old. I have had nights that I thought I was dying and had panic attacks that I would not survive the night. I have 3 young children to take care of. I can not even put conditioner on my hair or shave my legs in the shower because I have to get out so quickly due to exhaustion. I have to lean on one elbow at the sink to brush my teeth. When I get out of the shower I can barely breath, I am wheezing, my heart is pounding and I feel like I will collapse so I have to get out and rush to my bed. I home school my 3 children and most days we do school in my bed. Everything is an effort. I can never plan anything because most days I am incapacitated. I may have a good day and can actually go out to dinner or Walmart once or twice a month and then I can't wait to get back home and get in bed because I am so worn out. I don't see how this drug can actually remain on the market. I am so angry and upset that my doctor never told me this could happen. When I asked about side effects I was told "oh no there aren't any really". My doctor never ran tests on me. I just can't believe this. I go tomorrow for blood work and I go to the doctor on Mon to discuss the results and all of my problems. I am so afraid that I have permanent damage to my muscles and possibly my heart. I went tot he doc months ago with shortness of breath and swelling and she did an EKG and said my heart was fine and I was not having congestive heart failure. I fear I was and still am! It is not normal to be out of breath just brushing your teeth and combing your hair. I hope we all get the answers we are looking for and that we all recover from this horrible drug. God bless you all!

i have been on zocor for a month and a half, after taking the drug for about i started getting small leg cramps and numbness of my hands i also have had blurred vision and i don't sleep very well waking up with leg and arm pains and very very dry mouth. i only take 20mg a day. i called my doctor today and she told me to stop taking the zocor and to come in so they can run some labs

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 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 took Zorcor for about 9 months and developed cramps and spasms in my legs. At one point the leg cramps lasted almost twenty minutes. I literally could not move my legs.The cramps kept happening more often then less. I discontinue using the medication and it took almost two to three weeks for the cramping to seize.

leg cramps; leg weakness; headache; difficulty climbing steps.

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.

My doctor started me on Mevacor a few months ago at 40 mg - I could hardly stand up to walk - my back was killing me! Then she put meon 5 mg of Zocor - okay for the first few weeks, and my cholestorol went down so she told me to double it to 10 mg - then the leg cramps started. I stopped taking if for a few weeks and restarted at 5 mgs (again) last week - now my legs are aching and my ankles are swollen big time. Also noticing fatique and some blues/depression. I told my doctor today that I am not taking it anymore! Not asking her, TELLING her.

My husband started taking Zocor two months ago. He has always been very energetic and healthy. He is experiencing sore muscles, flue like symptoms, leg cramps, blurry vision, loss of concentration, pain in his heels and feet and is having trouble sleeping. He has severe hip pain and had x-rays taken but the results did not show anything wrong. After going to this website he is stopping the Zocor and seeing his Physician immediately.

I have been off ZOCOR for 3 years, but still suffering effects from the drug, which I took for 4 months only...20 mg. I lost all muscle strength in my arms, dark urine, leg cramps, continued after I stopped taking the drug. The first 6 mos of stiffness were terrible...then slow improvement. I still have difficulty going up stairs and standing up in spite of exercises for leg muscles. My arm strength is slowly coming back along with some energy. My doctor prescribed VIOXX and then BEXTRA to counteract Zocor effects. Amazing that I'm alive -- but refuse all drugs now.

I am 48 yrs old, invery good health, very active in sports, I run 3 times a week, exercise, and eat healthy. I have been on Zorcor for 2years now. I have been experiencing muscle pain in between my left shoulder and elbow for about 6 months now. I have gone to my doctor and he has treated it as bercitus. He percribed physical theropy treatment... a month has gone by and no changes. So I tried a chiropractor, it's been 2 weeks and no changes... so that promted me to check the internet for possible side effects and I came across this website....and I can't believe all the emails I'm reading on the side effects other people are experiencing! I also am experiencing other side effects that I thought were not related and now I believe they are, AFTER READING THIS! Beside the muscle pain in my upper arm , I am experiencing:::: hair loss, leg cramps, memory loss, ability to communicate, pronounce words, forgetting, depression, blurred vision, hot flashes(thought that was because of menopause! and could very well be!) I take 40 mg a day, it the evening. IS IT OK TO JUST STOP TAKING THIS DRUG SINCE I'VE BEEN ON IT FOR OVER 2 YEARS?

I take 10 mg of Zocor. My cholesterol was 240. It dropped to 110. I have been on it 2 years. I use to run and and never experienced leg cramps. Now I wake up with leg cramps about every 2 hours. They are severe enough to force me to get up and stretch my calf, Hamstring, Quad or foot which ever is cramping. The Dr. put me on Quinine for cramps, no help. I forgot to take my pill for 2 days now, purely accident and no more cramps. My hip has also been a problem where as it was not before. I am going to try not taking it for a couple days and see. If no more cramps ...NO MORE Zocore.

I also had Hepatitis A 30 years ago, told my Dr. and he said no problem. Now I read about liver problems and ZOCOR should not be combined. Who can we believe anymore.

I just found this site and I'm totally AMAZED at all the similar complaints I have. I am a 46 year old female and have been on Zocor for about 6 years. My cholesterol is high, due to heredity. I've gone from 20mg, to 40 mg, to 80 mgs. I had leg cramps so badly with the 80 mg. that I just quit taking it. I was put back on 40 mgs. and still have many of the complaints.. i.e.... chronic muscle pain in neck, shoulders, arms, legs... chest pain/burning just doing minimal walking (saw cardiologist and had treadmill - nothing found)... a rash that comes and goes on my face, especially on and around my eyelids... insomnia... strange to horrible dreams... sudden lower abdonimal protrusion (never had that in my life!)... inability to lose weight... So, there you have it. I will be consulting with my doctor and getting off this horrible medicine! Diet and exercise will be a forever friend to me. I'm so glad I found this 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.

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.

Muscle cramps so bad that my right big toe locked and it took me a few minutes to get it to release. I had similar problems with Lipitor. I get leg cramps and muscle cramps in my right forearm.

Was on ZOCOR 20mg for about 2 years and suffered from leg cramps and malaise... lost interest in sex, etc. Dr. increased dosage to 40mg and noticed bad rash on forehead and scalp area that came and went unexplainably. Skin disease speacialist called it "acute dandruff". Changed to LIPITOR and head rash disappeared but left red and patchy areas where rash would normally have been. After 2 weeks on 10mg LIPITOR, noticed loss of strength in legs, pain in muscle from armpit to elbow area.. thought it was heart-related and scared me... pain became fairly constant... Also, had "white-outs" for minutes at a time while walking or excercising, feelings of irritability and depression. I am quitting taking ZOCOR and LIPITOR, plus, any similar drugs and will go as "natural" as I can to improve my Triglyceride and Cholestorol levels. The resultant side effects of these two drugs are more ominous than their benefits. It scares me that Doctors do not consider the drugs as a cause of your symptoms when you describe problems to them.. there seems to be no acknowledged connection to the drugs but yet I read on forums like this one similar effects that I experienced. People to people will always be the best source of information, I suppose. I would suggest to anyone taking Lipitor or Zocor and experiencing muscle pain, joint pain, malaise, depression, "white-outs", loss of memory, leg cramps, unusual headaches, any form of insomnia and possibly darkening of urine or yellowing of skin, eyes, etc., to quit taking these drugs immediately and tell your doctor about what you are experiencing. It could possibly save your life.

Took Zocor for 8 months, have been off 6, quit because of leg cramps and hands and arms losing feeling at night and muscle pain. Continue to have muscle pain in arms and shoulders even after being off so long...in fact, it seems to be getting worse. Could this be caused by Zocor?

My 84-year-old mother's been on Zocor for 2 years. Her dosages increased from 20 to 40 and then to 80 mg. On the lower doses, she only had leg cramps when she missed her twice-daily calcium supplement. Since the 80 mg., she has leg cramps constantly. When I finally realized it was the Zocor, I had the doctor take her off of it. But 4 weeks later, she can hardly bear weight on her legs and has generalized flu-like symptoms. I'm really worried that the muscle damage might be permanent. Does anyone know if it can be?