Zocor and physicians

This is an update on my August 27th 2008 posting (see below). I have been off Zocor for about two weeks and all my symptoms have disappeared nearly completely. My wrist pain, which troubled me most, ceased in a week's time. Having researched the matter, I have decided not to worry about my cholesterol.

The following article in the WSJ may explain the reason for the significant number of Adverse Reactions to statin drugs.

Why You Can't Tell Where
Your Medication Was Made
April 8, 2008; Page D1- Wall Street Journal
Bananas come with those little stickers listing their country of origin. Why not pharmaceuticals?
That's what some consumers -- and even some physicians -- are asking since the Food and Drug Administration linked the deaths of 19 people to contaminated batches of the blood thinner heparin from China.
*******

I encourage every patient with a bad experience taking statins to contact the FDA (see, July 1, 2008 posting for FDA contact info).

I have been on Zocor for one year. I am a former athlete used to dealing with pain associated with playing and training at a high level. Since using Zocor, my energy level has decreased significantly, very tired, before, during and after workouts. Muscle pain specifically in my neck, back and legs has significantly increased without cause. I have a constant feeling of a stabbing pain in my abdomen, accompanied with nausea, bloating and abdominal gas. After seeing some of the posts on this site, has there been a lot of reporting of abdominal pain? Bloating? Gas?
I too, have had trouble sleeping, accompanied by unexplained itching, and now after seeing these posts probably some mild depression. I believe I've had some short term memory loss - but then I can't really remember - LOL. Is the drug worth it? Physicians all seem to downplay the side effects, justifying the desired lower cholesterol, as more important than the side effects.........is it?
At 46 years old and formerly a competitive athlete at an elite level, I'm wondering if feeling better by NOT taking the drug is better than feeling worse and taking it. My training regimen was very intense prior to starting Zocor - NOW - it seems as if I can't keep up any longer. Any response to these problems would be greatly appreciated.

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.

Someone mentioned the their doctor resisting the idea of Zocor causing muscle cramps. Here's why they resist. Believe it or not, and according to a senior sales rep from a major pharmiceutical company whom I know, most physicians receive compensation for prescribing certain medications to patients. If you look for this practice on websites in the United Kingdom for example, it is clearly a well documented, open practice there, however this practice is frowned upon by many in the U.S. so it is not formally acknowledged. I too recently quit years of Zocor therapy realizing that it was causing fatigue.

I was taking 40 mg. Zocor for about 5 months;although successful, I now know that I would have much preferred the higher chloresterol. Almost immediately I felt strange sensations in my legs and arms. At times I had trouble with balance. After 3 months the pain in my right thigh became extremely intense. All the usual remedies were without relief. The pain then went to my left thigh, then to the right elbow and then to the left elbow. I had great difficult in rising from a sitting position followed by difficulty in walking for about 20 steps. I still cannot raise my arm over my head or dress with some assistance. I stopped taking Zocor without my physicians permission (he later agreed on the unilateral decision)but relief has not been forthcoming. The most acute pain is while I am in bed; my shoulders feel as though a truck ran over them. Relief comes only after rising for 10-15 minutes three or four times each evening. I have been given every medical test known to man without avail. I could go on and on but will finish with this
IF YOU ARE PRESCRIBED ZOCOR, RUN, DON't WALK