Zocor and weakness

I am 59. Not overweight and now eat intelligently .Had moderate heart attack in August 2001 and have taken 20mg of ZOCOR every day since.About four years ago I stated getting mild pain in right buttocks muscle and groin but thought this was just "AGE" setting in.Doctor thought it was arthritis in lower back and causing associated musle strain.Went to physio but no progress in pain alleviation, in fact pain and weakness kept getting steadily worse.Pain then started in left shoulder last spring (2007) then about three months ago really severe in left hip and buttocks. Sleep was interrupted every night by pain.Movement from sitting position to standing/walking was like a ninety year old,slow and stumbling.My legs felt nearly numb when walking.Getting out of bed in the morning and putting on my socks became an ordeal of PAIN.
Seen my doctor last week and told him of current status and that I couldn't go on like thisanymore.He said to STOP the Zocor immediately. I can feel the difference already, in one week!!! Not perfect but maybe 50% improvement!!!
He ordered a battery of blood tests including PSA . I just hope something else isn't now really F--ked Up from taking this stuff for six years ?
I will defiately NOT TAKE ZOCOR or any other STATIN again!!!

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 am 52 years old. I started taking 40mg of Zocor when I was 47. After 3 months the muscle pain and weakness became so bad that I could not function. My Dr. told me to stop the Zocor and within 3 days that pain and weakness was gone. Within 4 months it started coming back. First it was once a month for about a week. Then twice a month and the last year it has been constant. I have also developed major depression and memory loss. It has ruined my life.

April 2007--I live with my elderly parents and am on the
constant lookout for side effects. We nearly lost my
father a few years ago because of a severe, gradual aller-
gic reaction to Hydrolazine. My mother was on Lipitor and
became so weak that she fell and was not able to get up
by herself along with extreme fatigue & muscle pain. A
couple months ago my dad's doctor put him on Zocor and this
past week I began to notice a gradual deteriation of my
father's health that included shortness of breath, muscle
pain & weakness, which also affects bladder control, memory
loss, depression & a flushed face. Some people notice an almost immediate change, but with my father it has been a gradual and subtle build up of side effects. He is now off of Zocor, and, we are praying his vitality will return &
his quality of life begin to improve.

I think this medication should be pulled off the shelves!
My father was having weakness in his legs and arms that started overnight. He got so bad we had to call an ambulance to take him to the hospital because he could not walk. Simvastin took over all of his muscles in his body which 2 weeks later killed him. The physician said his mylogan was over 2 million and he had not ever seen it that high. If you know of someone that on this medication please warn them!

How long does it take for zocor to get out of your syste? I've been having blured vision muscle spasms, muscle pain and weakness, I've been off Zocor for two weeks and haven't seen a big difference

I have been taking Zocor for over 4 years after having problems with Lipitor. I have recentley developed muscle and joint pain in the neck, shoulders and elbows and sometimes in the knees and legs. I have a great amount of fatigue and general weakness at times. Occasionally, I have a pale colored stool. I have also noticed a loss of muscle mass particularly in my arms. I am also experiencing easy bruising. After reading these testimonials, I am discontinuing Zocor to see if the problems improve. I am a 61 yr old male.

Started Zocor in May 2005, took for approx. three weeks. Had been given samples by GP. Stopped June 10, 2005 due to problems. Following is a list of symptoms as they occurred. Head shake, thinking and speaking problems, difficulty swallowing, weakness, low back pain, muscle spasms, pain in legs (especially left leg) Kidney pain, dark urine for one day only, and especially extreme fatigue. GP said was Myopathy. didnt seem to know cause. Continued to get worse untill approx. July 15, 2005. Started phy therapy. This helped to build back the muscles lost but would only build to a certain point. Presently, april 2006, Most of the symptoms have abated but I still have difficulty walking and standing very long. Had to quit working, could not handle. I will keep updating as I progress. This has been some nightmare.

I have had diabetes 47 years, and have been treated for high cholesterol for nearly 25 years. First with Lopid, then with Lipitor which causde my leg muscles to weaken and hurt after minimal exertion. Was swtched to Zocor about 1 year ago - the weakness and pain in my legs are still present, although not with too much difference that I have noticed. Weight-bearing exercise does seem to help the weakness, but the pain during the exertion is very unpleasant. Interestingly, the strangest thing did occur after starting Zocor. Suddenly I could hear my heartbeat very loudly inside my head. This seems to occur for a few days, then it will quiet down (although it will not disappear completely) for awhile. My cardiologist was certain that I had to have some blockage in my heart, and was sure that I was experiencing major blockage in my carotiids. The result: no blockage in my heart, and minimal blockage in my carotids. The doc was quite shocked, but let me say that vegetarianism pays off! So there is no explanatin for the loud beating in my ears. I take several supplements and they do seem to help, and they are strongly recommended for diabetics with high cholesterol: vitamin E - 400 IU daily, CoQ10 - 60 mg daily, cayenne pepper - 1 capsule at each meal, and Garlic - 1 talet or capsule at each meal. The medication did not seem to be very effective (diabetics' bodies produce an inordinate amount of their own cholesterol for some reason), but since taking the supplements, I have noticed a significant reduction in my cholesterol levels. I went from 238 in January 2005 to 93 in January 2006.

I am a 66 yr old male on ZOCOR 20mg for 90 days and I am having knee joint grating noises and over all weakness and
musle pain.

I am also having headaches and just on power.

Does this sound like a reaction to the ZOCAR???

DM MILLER

My mother who is 84 has been on Zocor for quite a few years after a small heart failure. Recently I started to do some "research" on her medication as she had some unexplainable weakness in her legs this past summer.

I found this address www.thincs.org - a group of cholesterol sceptic researchers/doctors. I recommend reading of the book the Cholesterol Myths which I believe were published in the US around year 2000.

Thank you for this sight. It will make it easier to convince my mother´s doctor that she should stop this medication. So far, I have not convinced my mother although I have read some of these stories to her.

Greets from a thankful daughter in Sweden

after reading the testimonials of so many people who have had problems with Zocor. I know I am going to stop taking it.I am 61 and have been on Zocor for 8 years. I was a healthy 53 when I had a stress related heart attack. Even the nurses told me I did not fit the heart patient profile and that I looked more like a 40 year old. My doctor put me on 10 mgs. of Zovor a day. About 2 years ago, I changed doctors and she increased my dose to 20 and then 40mgs. I have not been taking 40 mgs, I split the pill but I have experienced just about every side effect that I have read about today. The most noticeable are weakness, fatigue, headaches, fuzzy head, ears ringing, irratibility, vivid dreams, mostly bad dreams, and trouble sleeping even though I take Klonopin,and doxipin. I truly believe now that I have been on Zocor too long and probably a higher dosage than I need. My cholesterol is way below 200 about (140). I am so happy I found this Web site. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences, and thank you for the Web site

I am a 61 year old female. I have been on Zocor eight years. after a heart attackat age 53. At first it was 10 Mg, then when I changed Doctors,about 2 years ago, my Zocor changed to 20 Mg, then about a year ago she moved me up to 40 Mg. She does't know I am splitting the pill and taking half of 40 Mg each day. After reading all these other patients problems, I am going to stop for a while to see if I feel any better. I have just about every side effect that I have read about today.The most noticeable is severe fatigue, weakness, ears ringing, fuzzy headed, trouble sleeping,headahes,vivid dreams,mostly bad dreams and irritability. I also take celebrex, klonopin.doxipin and an aspirin a day. I am so glad I found this Web site. I feel sure that I have been taking Zocor toooo long. Bye Bye Zocor.

I had posted before about severe muscle/joint pain and weakness while taking Zocor. I was also having a problem with my white blood cell lymphocyte count. They were less than a tenth of what they should have been. This would adversely affect my disease fighting capability. After several visits to a hemotologist/oncologist and over 20 lab blood samples, nothing was found. I told my doctors that I had read on the Internet that Statins had been found to be immunosuppressors, lowering both T & B cell counts dramatically. None of them knew of or had read about this.
The only reason my blood cell count was even checked was because I complained of tiredness, pain, etc.

I decided to stop taking Zocor on my own and the improvements were dramatic. The muscle pain and weakness lessened considerably but did not totally disappear. My vision sharpened. The Lymphocytes went back to normal in a little over two weeks.

With so many people taking statins, are our immune systems being weakened making us more susceptible to cancer and disease? Certainly this question needs to be answered.

I have been taking 20mg Zocor (simvastatin) for 14 mos post heart attack/stent placement(2) in L. ventricle. About 2 monts ago I developed severe muscle pain and weakness in right forearm/elbow, left elbow, dexterity problems in the hands from time to time. I have had for some time; a burning sensation in the right leg, foot cramps, fuzzy vision and other symptoms. I am also taking other drugs; atenolol, lisinopril, asprin and venlafaxine, so they all had their part.

I am guest #2020 who suggested that when your physican suggests Zocor that you RUN , DON'T WALK. I have been off Zocor since December '02 and have had no relief whatsoever from the intense pain in my shoulders coupled with weakness in my legs and arms. Please be aware of the May '03 issue of National Geographic (rear) there was a very carefully worded "DISCLAIMER" for Zocor which covered every possible malady except an "ingrown toenail". Why would such a successful and beneficial drug be given such attention except for the benefit of "We told you so" in case of litigation. Inconspicuously, it suggests that you call Merck to see if you qualify in the "patient assistance program" (1-888-merck-68). May I suggest that we test the sincerity of Merck by calling to inquire if there is any explanation for our Zocor induced misery. Finally, if there is no logical response to our misery, would any of you care to join me in publishing our Zorcor related problems/benefits in a prominent national publication? Also I would be most anxious to be apprised if the famous "BE THERE" coach is still a "BE THERE".

the drug-zocor and lipitor--if u are experiencing any muscle pain-weakness-it is a side effect and your doctor will take u off of it,(u can lose all your muscles-very seruois side effect,-if u feel like your moving in slow motion-with your bodyfeeling heavy that is side effect of liptor also your dr will take u off of it,,)try some garlic pills to get the cholestrol down--taking a diet pill will bring cholest,,down too=and alot of walking,,kswiss

I was on Zocor for 1.5 months. I developed muscle pain & weakness. My Doctor was on vacation when this first began occuring. By the time I was able to see the Doctor, I had developed Trigger thumb on my left hand accompanied by carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger in 3 fingers of my right hand and carpal tunnel syndrome in the right hand as well. I am in custom splints for my hands/wrists and can barely lift my arms to shoulder height. The extreme fatigue and muscle pain in my shoulders, neck, back,hips,legs and feet was significantly reduced when I was taken off Zocor. However, I still have significant problems with my arms and hands.

After taking 80 mg for about a year I noticed (after loosing
15 lbs) the following:
1) constant constapation
2) tingling in my hands.
3) weakness in fingers.
4) extreme taste degradation.
5) smell sensitivity.
After stopping zocor for 5 weeks symptoms 1,2,3
seems to have improved, taste is only marginaly
improved. I still can't take the smell of bleach
or gasoline, and coke tastes like acid.
I'm sure it is the xocor

I have been on Zocor for only three days and am already experiencing sudden intestional cramping followed by diaharrea. My husband took it for several months and experienced the same symptom- plus mucle weakness/atrophy of leg muscles, fatique. Lipitor has worked much better for him.

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 zocor for three months and am experiencing the most severe muscle pains and weakness in my legs, to the point where I may need a walker. The pain is intense and constant. Walking has been recommended but I am too weak to walk and I felt fine prior to this even though my cholesterol was high. On this board is the first hint I have had that it may be a side effect of Zocor.

I'm a 53 year old male started Zocor through VA, started retaining fluid, went from 250 lbs to 340 lbs,had joint pain, weakness,loss of energy,head aches,congestive heart failure 3 times. Entered a Class Action Lawsuit against Zocor.