Zocor and statin drugs

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.

PLEASE HELP! My father, age 74, was on lipitor for a year or so and then was switched to zocor a few weeks ago to help control his cholestorol. In the past week, the tightening he experienced in his leg, while on lipitor, has become debilitating leg pain now while he is on Zocor. Ultrasounds have ruled out a blood clot. He has no pain when he sits, but he describes the pain has his calf wanting to explode when he stands and he cannot walk with out the help of a cain. The pain radiates from his leg up to his hip.

His cardiologist has taken him off the zocor for a few weeks to see if there is an improvement. It has been 3 days and he feels a bit of relief. SO here is the million dollar question: His labs indicate his cholestorol is normal now, most likely thanks to the statins.....can anyone suggest another form of meds that will help regulate his cholestorol....say COeq10 and fish oil? Any help is SO appreciated!!! Thanks to each of you for your posts. It is so comforting for my dad to know he isn't developing a new issue and that it can be resolved with the removal of zocor!

I was prescribed Zocor for high cholesterol. Almost immediately I began to experience body aches -- some days more severe than others. I would take ibuprofen and it would help. Then, I started getting a pretty strong pain on my hip which radiated down my leg onto my foot. The pain was so severe, even the Motrin 800 mg. pills didn't help it. I am 53 years old, but I felt like a 90 year old. I had problems walking, especially after sitting for an hour or so. I had problems with stairs. Even laying down was painful. I tried heating pads, ointments, etc. When I told my doctor about it, she said that this was a typical side effect of statins, and that because I am diabetic, I need to continue taking Zocor to keep my cholesterol down. Just the other day, I stopped taking Zocor for 3 glorious days and guess what? NO pain!!! I resumed it because my doctor insists that I stay on it, but I wish there was something else I could take that wouldn't cause pain.

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.

Have been taking Zocor for a month. I am about to give it up starting tomorrow. Calling my doctor. I rather try flax seed in my diet. Have had normal cholesterol for life, however the last couple of years it has been hovering around 230-260 esp. since menopause. So, the last check up the doc put me on 20mg, I don't like how I am feeling. Very tired. Low level of energy, and my skin tone appears to be changing yellowish color. Has anyone else experience the dis-coloring of their skin? I am nervous.

Due to the large number of people suffering devastating side effects from Zocor and other statin drugs, I would like to encourage everyone here to home video your statin story and post it on ****** This would be an excellent way to alert the world to the problems with these drugs.

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 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 am male 37 years old. In June 2007, my blood test shows 249 total cholesterol. After that, I was taking super B-complex, fish and flax seeds pills. It went down to 213 total cholesterol (40 HDL, 136 LDL and TRI 176). And I asked my family doctor to give prescription for Zocor(I asked particular drug because I will get good discount rate at my employer's place). he gave me Zocor 20 mg. After taking 1-month medication I felt some inconvenience during sex . You don’t feel it normal. I can’t do much exercise and some times feel depressed. I usually do 1-hour exercise or any form of exercise (Yoga). After Two months I tested my blood cholesterol level. It shows now total cholesterol 181(LDL 93, HDL 42 and TRI 223). And also showed ALT and urine protein little elevated. Now I stopped medication for past two days, feeling better at day time but night I am having weird dreams and indigestion problem. I guess these are withdrawal symptoms. I would go for natural medication like regular exercise, diet (oat meal, high fiber content, less sugar, less white rice). No more Statin drugs. Any one have same problem?

been on simvastan for about 3 years, started getting left side kidney pain mounths ago and it's not going away. very tender at times, take ibprofen and it helps somewhat. gona stop taking the statin tonight.

my mom took zocor and it caused pain in her hips. after a week it was so bad she couldn't walk. she'd never had a problem with them but ever since then they'd bothered her. she's been diagnosed with degenerative arthritis and it's spread to her lower spine. we know now that she's terribly allergic to statin drugs. she's always been a sensitive person when it comes to medications so please be very careful if you know you have the same problem. her arthritis is hard on her and i don't want any one else to suffer the same fate.

I had my first MI at age 57 on Oct. 29th 2004. I was given Zocor 40 meg. and my problems started in the hospital. I had terrible leg aches and they even looked for clots. Finding nothing I was sent home after 5 days with two stents and told if I got tired just rest. I had to take two months off work. In January I returned back to work but the leg aches continued at night. In January I returned to the hospital with another episode and received three more stents. My cholesterol was at 110. The Dr. continued me with the Zocor 40 mg. twice a day now. I continued to have problems with clogging arteries and in the next four months I had another 4 stents. In the summer I walked a lot and still continued to have leg aches at night. After a year of complaining I was put on Vytorin and things really got worse. In six months I couldn’t walk right, kept falling, couldn’t sleep with the cramping, my joints all felt like they no longer supported my frame. I was put on Crestor, then Lipitor, then Zetia, and then I took matters in my own hands. I stopped the statin drugs. My cholesterol skyrocketed of course to 289. It was only 189 at the time of the first MI. I have slowly regained my ability to walk and joined Curves. This is about all I can do and am slowly getting better. I tell everyone I can about my horror story with statin drugs. I’ve been to an arthritis specialist, negative on all forms of arthritis causing this. I went to a gastric specialist and no stomach problems. I was sent to a neurologist who told my muscles were very weak and not to take statin drugs, but like all the Dr.’s I’ve been referred to none would touch the statin drug issue. My last referral was to an orthopedic surgeon because of my walking problems, and at first I was told that if my hips didn’t stop degenerating I would need them replaced to be able to walk. Last month after 9 months off statin drugs he retook x-rays and said my hips are looking fine. There is hope. I have been on a strict diet and exercise program and am ready to start stationary bicycling to try to rebuild muscle mass lost during the 2 years on different statin drugs. I also took C10 150 megs. after getting off statins to see if that would help and I don’t know, but I am told to keep doing what I’m doing. I hope the cholesterol will come down as I eat more oat bran or oatmeal. I hope my story helps some of you because I do believe I am getting well.

I have been taking zocor for about 3 years. Started out with 10 mg every other day, then every day; for nearly the last year I have been taking 20 mg once a day. It did lower my cholesterol enough to suit the doc. Did not really notice any symptoms at first. It seems I have been noticing more and more problems recently. Especially after my husband decided to tell me that he thinks something is very wrong. Maybe my problems are just age related. Most recently I have had two falls brought on by a simple "toe stubbing". For the past 3-4 months I have had unrelenting lower back pain and hip pain. Both to the point that I can't sleep and am having trouble walking. All of that I attributed to arthritis which I do have in my hands. The tingling, pins/needles sensations and foot pain started over 2 years ago but my doc said that couldn't be the zocor. My liver function was normal every time he checked. Diabetes has been ruled out. I am overweight so I just wrote off the fatigue to that. But - three years ago I was walking daily on our farm - up and down hills for over one hour at a time - and teaching high school full time. I am retired now and I don't think I could do that much walking because of the pain and stiffness. Does any body know how long it will take me to get rid of the symptoms? I stopped the zocor without the doc's knowledge day before yesterday.

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.

A friend has been on the generic version of Zocor (simvastatin) for a couple of years. He is young (38) and now he can barely walk because his feet and ankles swell so badly he can't put on his shoes or pants.He is under the care of a VA hospital and they just keep sending him home, after running every test in the book, saying he will simply have to "live with it" and they can find "nothing wrong". Statin drugs cause muscle debilitation and the risks far outweigh the benefits, in my opinion.He has a slim build,doesn't eat fat and only takes medicine for high blood pressure. He does smoke.
I say all of you on Zocor need to go to legalzoom.com (I am not affiliated with them in any way), and discuss a possible class action lawsuit. I am really angry about this.

I started Zocor the night I had a heart attack and the leg aches and muscle problems started that next day. I was even taken to ulta sound lab looking for blood clots the pain was so bad. I continued taking 40mg twice a day for six months before the Dr. listened and then he tried other statin products. I am female and 57. This yo-yo affair with statin drugs continued for another 18 months before I refused to take them again. I am still having problems, muscle aches and etc. I have been sent to other specialists from gastric, arthritis, neurologist, and now I am seeing an orthopaedic Dr. I have had physical therapy to try to get my muscles working correctly, but no Dr. will even give the slightest acknowledgement it just might be statin drug side effects. The arthritis Dr. said I did not have any form of arthritis and did not fit the profile of any patient he'd ever had and sent me to the neurologist. My muscles respond to electric shock and are coming back according to the neurologist and as a bit of advice he said that even Dr.'s have had problems like mine and have had no problems until one morning the wake up weak, unable to exercise, and general muscle weakness. There is no way to prove our problems are because of the statins. My last blood work now show I may have liver problems and kidney problems. This slow death is not over for me, even though I am off the statin drugs. My last drug was red yeast rice used under Dr.'s care and it too is a statin. They all caused problems. I have tried them all. My advice is to listen to your body and your gut feelings about these products. I have had 3 heart attacks even on the statin drugs so they did not prevent future problems for me. I now have nine stents and am thankful to be alive, but my quality of life is deteriorating. I teach school and continue to do so, but I am having difficulties with extreme fatigue. I am looking at early retirement from something I have always enjoyed doing.

In July I was put on lovastatin for moderately elevated cholesterol, I have a family history of heart disease. After being on it for a week I started feeling achy, and flu-like symptoms. My joints and back hurt. My doctor had me go off for two weeks and try again. This time after just two days all symptoms came back. Again, my doctor took me off the lovastatin and a month later had me restarted Zocor (simvastatin). My back pain got worse and the back of my legs started aching and getting charleyhorses at night. My doctor checked a CK level which was normal and her nurse advised me to keeping taking the drug, that it wasn't doing any harm to my muscles and that my side effects would probably get better. Two weeks later I woke up in the middle of the night with restless arms and muscle twtiching all over my body. Another CK level was done and it was normal. I have seen two neurologists and they seem to think it is lingering effects of the statin drugs. I have been off of them for a month and still have twitching, although I think it is a little better. I am really getting tired of this and think that something is really wrong. Has anyone else ever experienced somethimg like this?

Trigger finger developed in fourth finger of both hands. More severe on the right. This comes and goes with exercise and if I am careful to sleep with my hands open. I've never had this problem before and am not prone to joint problems. My father had severe gout. I've asked if my reactions to the statin drugs might be related to this potential hereditary problem but was told there is no relation. Anyone else with family (or personal) history of gout who is also having side effects from statin drugs?

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.

44 yr old white male in excellent physical condition. Dx'd last yr w total chol of 290 and elevated liver enzyme, probable fatty liver disease. I was on Pravachol for 3 months and had problems w muscle aches. Also had problems w increased liver enzymes, so reduced dose from 20 to 10mg and went to every other day. Still had some side effects and was switched to ZOCOR.
Have been on zocor for 3 weeks in combination w ZETIA. Worst side effect for me is the lightheadedness (like being stumbly drunk) and malaise that others report. Some muscle pain in legs and arms (though not as bad as w Pravachol). Cannot sleep through the night, but am tired and worn out all day. Some increased level of depression, some sexual side effects. Have had pain "behind" my eyes. Some difficulty breathing.
Will be having blood work again in 1 week to see if probs still exist w liver.
Are the side effects worth the reduction in LDL? Worst part so far is that my chol has not been significantly reduced. It may be better to leave the drugs alone and concentrate on diet, excercise and try some herbal ("snake oils") remedies instead. I have an MBA in mktg and am married to a physician.. i wonder if these statin drugs are more of a well marketed product rather than a proven treatment protocol.

Hi, I am a 57 year old male. I have just read all the problems experienced by others on Zocor. I was taking Lipitor for several years with a lot of lower abdomin pain off and on. I also developed trigger fingers in three finger of my right hand. I took myself off of Lipitor and in about 4 weeks all the lower abdomin pain was gone and I felt great again. Of course the trigger finger problem is still there, but that I can live with. Then about 2 months ago my doctor said my cholestrol was up and he wanted me to start on Zocor. He gave me enough samples to last until I go in for a blood test next week. I have decided that I will not take any more statin drugs. I have experienced a lot of pain in both my hips and down my legs. Muscles ache for no apparent reason. I feel out of breath and exhausted after just two flights of stairs. Tearing up at the least little thing, and a general crappy feeling. Sex drive is a problem and sleep problems, which I have never in my life had before. Also it feel like my heart is skipping a beat or something when I go to bed a night. Blood pressure and pulse are fine. I think depression is also a big problem with this drug. I would think long and hard before taking this drug. I believe that they need a better way to get your cholestrol down to a lower level.

If you have debilitating side effects from taking the statin drugs and do not know where to turn, try my approach.
Do it naturally with herbs and vitamins. It really works!!
E-mail me and for NO CHARGE I will tell you how in 8 weeks my son lowered his total cholesterol from 262 to 181.