Zocor and stiff

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.

I had been taking Zocor for about five years when I developed a tingling in my feet & toes. I went to my Doctor
and he said I probably had a pinched nerve that was causing the problem. So I went t a chiropractor for about a month, but the problem got worse. Went back to my doctor and he immediately said that I had neuropathy. I went to a neurogolist had tests taken and sure enough I had nerve damage to my feet & legs with severe shooting pains and tight
muscles. I asked the neurologist what caused the problem, he said it was the statins in the Zocor I was taking. I stopped
the Zocor the immediately but the damage was done. The neurologist told me the statin break down the fatty tissue covering the nerves and could take months even years to heal. Now I was a very active 70 year ald man went to the ymca three times a week walked 3-4 miles a day, worked the weights even played golf 2-3 days a week. Well, all that has stopped. walking has become a chore. because the pads of my feet feel like they have big knots in them. But the good news is I wont give up and let this rule my life. I still work the weights and still struggle thru the pain of walking that 1 mile a day. oh yes I have started taking vitamin C for my cholesterol

I started taking generic Zocor 5 days ago and I too feel like I've been hit by a truck. My neck is so stiff and I seem wide awake at night and have trouble sleeping. After doing some research I thought perhaps I had adrenal fatigue because I had most of those symptoms. I'm going to quit the Zocor cold turkey today and see if I start feeling better because it's difficult getting up and going to work. My muscles are aching and when I get up I seem to be stiff all over, even felt some weird chest pain this morning and lightheadedness. If this is how I have to feel on cholesterol lowing medication then I'll just keep my high cholesterol (258).

This is just an update, I have been here before.

It has now been four months since I have been off of Zocor. I am still left with muscle twitching, not as bed and some days not at all. I have permanent leg pains and tightness. I beleive Zocor declined my health for good. I have always enjoyed good health and looked young for my age, but now feel terribly sore and stiff and like I have aged. I wish I could make a claim to someone. I never thought this would happen to me. When I see the commercials on TV when it says report any muscle aches as it could be a rare, but serious condition, boy they aren't kidding.

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.

This post is about my mom she was put on Vytorin which is a combination of Zorcor and Zetia. Her cholesterol was not all that high but her Dr wanted her to try it to see if it would come down. She was on it for one month and her cholesterol droped from 195 to 86 BUT she was having really bad headaches and her neck would be stiff her legs hurt and she had blurred vision in her left eye only and shooting pain in the left side temple. Before taking Vytorin she was in pretty good shape for a 71 year old but not she is so tired all the time, I am really worried about her overall health. Yesterday when I took her back to her Dr to find out why she was still having these problems he said the medician should already be out of her system since she quit taking it on Nov 17. I requested that he send her to the hospital for blood test since Vyortin had been known to make blood test abnormal. I also requested a CoQ10 Blood Test which should show any damage to the muscle tissue which can be a side effect of the Vytorin it breaks down muscle tissue in some cases. I really think MD's need training on these drugs before giving to patients. Also do anyone know how long it takes these meds to get out of the systems. Has anyone else had these problems. Thanks for any response and help. Sharon

I am now in my 11th month of suffering severe side effects from 4+ months on Zocor. Muscles in arms and legs very weak...I can barely stand up. Most joints very painful and stiff. Even with exercise therapy, not much improvement noticed. I am retired, but this is no way to live. Please post IF anyone knows how to recover.

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.

I started taking Zocor in April for high cholesterol. In late August I started getting muscle
aches in my hands and calves. My feet are so stiff I can hardly walk sometimes. I have been
to my doctor twice and he has run test, he thinks it is side effects of Zocor even though I have been off of it for 7 weeks. Another women, who is a frienc of a friend developed fibromyalgia from it. Any one else have this happening to them?

I've been on Zocor for over two years. I have been getting muscle pain in almost every part of my body. I recently developed severe chest pains. I was sent for all kinds of tests with no results. My right thumb has become stiff and very painful, I can barely sleep at night. I told my doctor I suspected the Zocor. She disagreed but agreed to take me off for a while to see what happens. My chest pains have subsided, although my thumb is still painful and stiff.