Zocor and numbness

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.

I am a 56 year old man who has been on zocor for a few months. A few weeks ago after going out to a party, the next day I was ok in the AM, but then became increasingly dizzy to the point of having to stay in bed.

Last Saturday, I had a two hour drive and felt dizzy driving and got worse as the drive went on. I had several anxiety attacks and had to stop several times. On the way back Sunday, I was so dizzy and disoriented, I had more anxiety attacks and had to stop several times again. That night, I went to a birthday party and had several glasses of white wine, which made me feel a little better.

Ever since then, I have had severe dizziness and numbness almost sending me to the emergency room. This site keeps me out.

After 5 days of no zocor, and limited alcohol and caffeine intake, I am feeling much better.

Also, over the last few months, I have been getting weird flaking of skin on my face.

Don't take zocor. If you do, don't drink, and limit the caffeine.

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 on zocor for over a year, about 8 months ago I began to have pain in my left arm, got and injection and it was better it started again in my left arm , this time there was pain , tingling, numbness, swelling , it got better but it moved to the right arm which is twice as bad, I am often brought to tears from the pain..I sometime describe the pain like shutting your hand in a car door. My Dr keep giving me the same meds.

I have experienced burning in my arms, legs and feet. If you have how long did it take to stop after stopping Zocor? I have been off for 3 weeks and no relief.

Over 6 years ago, the following Petition was submitted to the FDA, I would encourage every patient being treated with statins to read it and bring it to the immediate attention of their physician:

CITIZEN PETITION TO CHANGE THE LABELING FOR
ALL STATIN DRUGS (MEVACOR, LESCOL, PRAVACHOL, ZOCOR, LIPITOR, AND ADVICOR) RECOMMENDING USE OF
100-200mg PER DAY OF SUPPLEMENTAL CO-ENZYME Q10 TO REDUCE THE RISK OF STATIN-INDUCED MYOPATHIES (INCLUDING
CARDIOMYOPATHY AND CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE). http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/dailys/02/May02/052902/02p-0244-cp00001-01-vol1.pdf
May 24, 2002
Petitioner:
Dr. Julian M. Whitaker, M.D.

This Petition is based in part on the clinical findings of Dr Peter H. Langsjoen, MD, which he also reported to the FDA:

Statins kill people - lots of people - and they wound many, many more. All patients taking statins become depleted in Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), eventually - those patients who start with a relatively low CoQ10 levels (the elderly and patients with heart failure) begin to manifest signs/symptoms of CoQ10 deficiency relatively rapidly - in 6 to 12 months. Younger, healthier people who's only "illness" is the non-illness "hypercholesterolemia" can tolerate statins for several years before getting into trouble with fatigue, muscle weakness and soreness (usually with normal muscle enzyme CPK tests) and most ominously - heart failure. In my practice of 17 years in Tyler, Texas, I have seen a frightening increase in heart failure secondary to statin usage, "statin cardiomyopathy". Over the past five years, statins have become more potent, are being prescribed in higher doses, and are being used with reckless abandon in the elderly and in patients with "normal" cholesterol levels. We are in the midst of a CHF epidemic in the US with a dramatic increase over the past decade. Are we causing this epidemic through our zealous use of statins? In large part I think the answer is yes. We are now in a position to witness the unfolding of the greatest medical tragedy of all time - never before in history has the medical establishment knowingly (Merck & Co., Inc. has two 1990 patents combining CoQ10 with statins to prevent CoQ10 depletion and attendant side effects) created a life threatening nutrient deficiency in millions of otherwise healthy people, only to then sit back with arrogance and horrific irresponsibility and watch to see what happens - as I see two to three new statin cardiomyopathies per week in my practice, I cannot help but view my once great profession with a mixture of sorrow and contempt.

I have many of the symptoms stated by readers. It started with general fatigue and muscle stiffness. I told the doctor that I have never felt this old before ( I am in my mid forties). I have gone from being healthy and fit to feeling old and fatigued. I have stopped Zocor after almost a year. I now have numbness and tingling in my right arm, legs ( including toes). My Doctor is trying hard to convince me that it could be because of diabetes when I have not been diagnosed as having diabetes? I am sure Zocor is the cause and the FDA needs to investigate. I do hope there are no long term repercussions!

I had been taking Zocor for 4 1/2 months, Soon after I became sick, muscle pain, weakness, numbness, tingling, stomach problems etc. Now they have been getting worse dizziness, hard for me to work. The only way I can explain is that I feel like I am dying everyday. Does anyone know about a lawsuit?

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.

I can't really say I have anything new to report. I had been taking Lovastatin for maybe a couple of years, first 20 mgs, then 40. I don't remember having any problem with that. Then about 4 months ago my Dr. switched me to Zocor, 80 mgs because my cholesterol was 240. First I started having numbness in my feet and legs, cramps in my feet and Charlie horses at night in my legs. I mentioned it to my Dr. but he just seemed to feel it's part of the aging process and not to worry. Then my knee started hurting so bad I couldn't bend it and could hardly get up and down the stairs. I went in and they said I had arthritis and gave me Nabumetone and Vicodin which I didn't want to take because of the side effects. I finally gave in because the pain was getting worse. I was supposed to take two pills bit I only took one and I only took the Vicodin if I just couldn't stand it any longer. I took the drug for about 3 weeks and I wasn't getting any better. In fact my other leg started hurting, and my elbow and two or three times my lower jaw felt numb and I thought, Oh my God, I'm having a stroke. Anyway by some miracle I found this web site and see that many others are suffering the same symptoms that I'm having. What is wrong with the doctors? I am trusting my Dr. with my life. I'm sure he's heard similar complaints before about these drugs, but he acts like it's no big deal. I told him I don't want to take this anymore and he said well sometimes people do get some muscle pain but you can take a over the counter medication, not sure of the name, CO-2, something like that.
I'm wondering what's happened to the Dr's integrity? Why do they keep pushing these drugs when they know they are harmful? I guess I have to look for another Dr. My Dr. is with Kaiser. I guess they all pedal the same poison. So sad that we are controlled by the drug companies for profit. They are killing us. Look what happened with the HRT drugs. Meanwhile I'm afraid to quit this drug cold turkey since I was on such a high dose so I'm cutting the pills in half, 40 mgs, and then in about 2 weeks I will go to 20 and hopefully by then I will have selected something natural and safe. I am 67 years old. Before this I was active and I used to walk my dog a mile everyday. I can no longer do that. Right now my leg hurts so bad I don't want to take another pill but I'm scared if I quit cold turkey something terrible will happen. It's a holiday...

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.

Just got out of a 3-day stay in hospital because of Zocor.
Started with back pain, abdominal pain and cold feet & fatigued.
Then hands started getting numb.
Then numbness started making its way up my arms and legs, with increased pain all over.
My GP’s an idiot, time to find a new one; I thought I was going to die.
“They” say it will take 2-4 weeks for things to settle down.

Anyone have peripheral neuropathy on Zocor? I had shooting pains down both arms for a few days one month into taking Zocor. This stopped but is replaced with intense muscle pain in arms, hands, shoulders and back - and recently hot flashes. I stopped taking the Zocor 3 days ago AMA (against medical advice) as my doc said the neuropathy is not a side effect of Zocor.

I have been on Zocor for approx 4 months. Everyone in my family has died from a heart attack and dr. thought it best to be on zocor. I bruised easy but had no other side effects. I got put an anti-depressent because of being practically evil to everyone. I've been ont he anti-depressent for 7 days and for the last 2 or 3 I've felt like I've been dipped in a vat of menthol...I tingle and have numbness all over. After reading this...I'm dying from a heart attack regardless...I'm quitting the zocor.

I HAVE BEEN ON 40MG ZOCOR FOR SIX MONTHS, HAVE HAD BLURRED IVSION, CONSTANTLY, WITH EYE PRESURE , WENT TO EYE DR, EVEN HAD MRI. DONE, STILL HAVE SAME SIDE EFFECTS, HAVE A LOT OF TINGLING AND NUMBNESS IN BOTH ARMS

My husband, 42, has been on Zocor for about a year. 4 months ago his cardiologist doubled his dose to 40 mL. He is experiencing almost constant eye twitching, and lower lip twitching, and recently, tingling and numbness sensations in his face. I haven't read any other symptoms from other people regarding twitching, but am really wondering if it's related to his Zocor.

I had been involved in a research study about Zocor. I had previously been on 20 mg without any seemingly side effects. Had a brief 'wash out' period and was rx'd 40 mg. On 40 mg I have had the eye twitching, face numbness, weakness, especially in my hands and fingers, fingers became sore, and general muscle stiffness. However, the most troublesome side effect was depression to the point of teariness. I have been off the 40 mg of Zocor for a week and a half and the depression seems to be lifting and I am sleeping much better. Hope these comments help others.

I have been on 20mg of Zocor for 18 months and have had a steady downhill spiral with reflux disease, depression, numbness, stiffness and tingling in toes, muscle cramps and shooting pains and trouble sleeping. After much research, I am begining to suspect the Zocor although my doctors don't want to hear it.

I am on Zocor for the last 3 months ,I developed burning sensetion
and tinglings on my neck,back ,upper arms,hands and patchy area
of numbness in the lower limb.

Don't know if it's the Zorcor or not but I have severe right hip pain & right leg pain plus numbness of the lower right leg. I've been on 40mgs. a day for a month after heart surgery by pass. I'm stopping the zorcor today, and will moniter my own results. there's got to be a better way

My doctor started me on Zocor in December to lower my cholesterol. New Years Eve I developed a fever and a pain in my groin area on my right side. My doctor diagnosed it as kidney stones. I was taking the Zocor, they told me to drink plenty of water. When the stone hadn't passed the next day they gave me Viagra to take and told me to drink beer. I asked about the beer and Zocor because it said not to drink with this drug but the doctor said it was ok. I drank two cans of beer for two days. The third day I drank a can of beer and threw up. The pain in my right side moved and finally stopped. Three days later I had severe lower back pain. The doctor told me that I had a severe kidney infection from passing the kidney stone. He gave me antibiotics and pain killers. After the antiobiotics I was in pain again. It started in my right groin area, I also had pain on my right side, lower back, legs, knees and arms. I was sent to a urilogist to rule out a kidney problem. I told him my symptoms and he said it sounded muscular. At this point I could not walk without help from my husband, I was nausiated, could not sleep at night after taking the Zocor, no sex drive even after the pain got better. For one week I could only lay in bed in pain. There were all kinds of tests done on me and they could not find anything wrong with me. The only relief I got was the shot the urologist gave me and the Viox for the pain. I called my doctor and told them that I thought it was the Zocor. I also experienced numbness in both my hands and arms. Four days since I stopped taking Zocor. Feel better already. I will not take this drug again. I pray symptoms will leave.

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