| Key to ratings for zocor: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |
| Rating | Reason | Side Effects | Comments | Sex | Age | Time Taken | Date Added | |
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| 3 | high cholesterol | Five hours after the first dose of generic zocor 40 mg I have intense abdominal pain, followed by diarrhea. The pharmacist suggested that perhaps I should have been started off on a lower dose. | F | 35 | 1 days | 11/19/2009 | 1 | My cholsterol was about 220. | After about two weeks on Zocor I began feeling overall weak and it was very apparent that exercise was not something that I could maintain as I had done prior to starting Zocor. I was recovering from back surgery, and exercise was a very important part of my rehabilitation. I had to give up exercise at the gym as I no longer had enough strength to ride a stationery exercise bike. The large muscles of my arms and legs were affected. After three weeks on Zocor, I notified my doctor that I was stopping it. It has been about two weeks since I stopped taking Zocor and I am a little stronger but am still greatly affected by the Zocor with weakness and shaking in the large muscles. I will NEVER take this medicine again. Unlike most of you, my doctor started me off at 80 mg of simvastatin (generic Zocor) even though I told him that sometimes I'm very sensitive to medications. The simvasatin brought my cholesterol down to 159 within two weeks. This has been a good lesson for me to be more aggre | F | 64 | 22 days | 11/14/2009 | 1 | high cholesterol | Zocor lowered my LDL but after 4-6 months I was experiencing lower back pain, pain in my feet and general weakness. This was so gradual and after I had been on Zocor for a few months that I didn't attribute it to the drug. I would describe the pain as extreme stiffness to the point of pain, not so bad when I was up and moving, exercising etc., but after sitting, driving or sleeping, it was difficult to walk for several minutes. I felt old, tired and unmotivated. | Dr. though arthritis, however, xrays revealed little of that. After stopping Zocor for 3 months, I am about 80% improved. Began taking 50 mg. of Co Q10 which seemed to speed up the improvement. -I have heard of benefits in pain reduction while on statins when adding Co Q10. | F | 52 | 10 months | 11/13/2009 | 1 | High Cholesterol - hereditary | My bones ached all the time. I started to experience heartburns on a regular basis. This was never a problem before. Fuzzy thinking. Gained 15 lbs. during the 3 months I took Zocor. The worst part: I stopped taking it in November 2008 and the heartburn developed into serious acid reflux, that does not go away, so now, thanks to Zocor, I have to take regular medication to help with acid reflux. Also the pain in my right shoulder never went away. I don't know if it ever will. 2 lasting side effects so far. | This stuff is pure poison. My doc prescribed 40 mg. He did not start with the lower dose of 20 mg, which is beyond me. When I came back to see the doc because of all the side effects, he was in complete denial. I felt like an idiot and have since found a new doc who actually listens. Yes, the Zocor signicantly lowered my cholesterol, but who cares, I could not live with the side effects and still have them after quitting Zocor almost a year ago. This is unbelievable. | F | 51 | 3 months | 11/10/2009 | 1 | Elevated cholesterol level | Gradually started hurting and feeling stiff everywhere-thought it was old age and the effects of a very stressful year catching up to me. Numbness in my right arm and around right kneecap. Anxiety and depression. Woke up with swollen, painful wrist one morning with no apparent cause.Then extreme lower back pain and numbness radiating down to legs. When the shooting pains began from ankle up my calf (so bad, my leg jumped) it occured to me it might be the simvastatin. Had my daughter look up side effects on the internet. Stopped taking it that night. Next day felt so much better-I did a lot of strenuous yardwork and hardly had any stiffness or soreness that night.Most symptoms gone after 1 week off, except for the wrist still sore and sometimes swollen-worse right after I wake up. | Will never take another statin. I think it's all a big racket by the pharmacutical companies. My cholesterol is not that high and I feel fine and fit otherwise. | F | 53 | 3 weeks | 11/7/2009 | 3 | High Cholesterol. | I took Zocor and other statins for approximately 15 years at the 20mg level. I started around age 30 using various different statins depending on what my insurance company was getting the best deal on. I did fine until I hit 44 and I started having some anxiety and my blood pressure would pop up at the doctors office. I took Zocor for the vast amount of the time that I was on statins. The doctor felt that perhaps I was developing hypertension and increased the dosage to 40mg. I also noted some water retention in my hands and feet. I also started to develop nueropathy in my hands and feet. The 40 mg didn't really make much of a dent in my cholesterol levels. So the doctor bumped it to 80MG. This is when my hair started falling and my bowels slowed the a crawl. The last inch or so of my rectum stopped working so I would end up with some pretty nasty wipes for a while. It was just better to shower after wards. If you didn't it would slowly leak out for hours. My anxiety and sl | A warning for all the side effects of this drug can be so subtle it's really hard to tell what is causing it. | M | 46 | 15 years | 10/31/2009 | 1 | cholesterol | foot cramps with bruises to feet. Chronic foot pain now getting worse even after off a year. | F | 56 | 5 months | 10/30/2009 | 2 | High Cholesterol | The first side effects-excessive dry mouth, constant thirst, and diarrhea--began almost immediately, the day after taking the first dose. Then the chest pain and tightness began along with tingling, numbness, and a shredding feeling across the top of my chest from my throat/neck/collarbone to my breasts. Heartburn and belching. Chronic fatigue and lethargy, insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Painful left groin in conjunction with a dull ache extending from left buttock to the back of the knee causing me to limp from time to time. Finally, intermittent blurred vision in one eye. | I stopped taking Zocor two weeks ago. Most of the physical side effects I experienced have gone. The depression, anxiety, and fatigue have also seemed to disappear (but just in the past few days) and I am sleeping again. What scares and angers me about this drug and the more than 3 months of unnecessary misery I experienced is that I, not my physician, made the connection between the Zocor and the symptoms I had. In prescribing Zocor my doctor only mentioned dry mouth, diarrhea, and minor muscle soreness as possible side effects. About 4 weeks after beginning the drug, I talked to her about the chest pain, tightness, and heartburn. She said my symptoms were the result of anxiety, and prescribed meds for that and for the insomnia. There was no mention of Zocor as a possible cause of the conditions for which she was now prescribing more pharmaceuticals. | F | 55 | 3 months | 10/21/2009 | 1 | Elevated cholesterol | Muscle weakness in legs and back, progressively worsening until recently I also developed ache in shoulder and arm. Have had several bouts of Plantar Faciitis in my foot as well. Leg cramps, and a sore shoulder,meant that at night I could not sleep on my side. | I was prescribed this by my doctor because I have a family history of heart disease and my cholesterol was at about 220. I have been on the drug for 2 years until I decided last month that enough is enough- I feel so achy all the time that exercise, even moderate walking has become a big effort. I felt more like an 80 year old, rather than 50. I have put on weight because of the lack of exercise, and now my blood pressure is getting high. So my doctor suggested meds for that as well. Instead, I have stopped the Zocor, I will consult a dietician and follow a vegetarian diet, and hopefully soon be out walking again. At least I sleep better now- no more leg cramps! I tried to report this to the FDA as a few of you suggested but their website is impossible. No wonder side effects are reported in a small % of patients....I can't imagine many people bother to report this. | F | 50 | 2 years | 10/19/2009 | 1 | hyperlipidemia | My teenaged daughter was prescribed this medication in generic form and within a month had a psychotic break. She was hospitalized for three weeks, given antipsychosis medications and never improved. When I found a small article about psychosis on this med, I requested she stop taking it. Within a week she significantly improved, although is still not completely lucid yet. We will be reporting this as an adverse reaction to the drug. She has lost a month of her senior year of high school, and may still not return for another week or two. Watch your family members closely on this medication. | F | 17 | 28 days | 10/17/2009 | 1 | High Cholesterol | After six months on Simvastatin (Zocor) 40 mg per day. I had a TGA. I went to the VA Dr. 3 months later for liver blood tests. I told the Dr. about the memory loss for 30 min. and he said it may be a TIA and sent me for more tests. | After researching on the internet and finding my exact symptoms occuring in many others I'm confident that the CT and carotid ultrasound tests will be negative and instead of the Dr.'s suspected TIA it will have proved to be a TGA. I've been fatigued, need a nap, lack of interest, foot tendon pain and memory loss. After 9 months I am in the process of discontinuing my statin treatment gradually from 40mg to 20mg per day for 2 weeks and 10mg for one last week. | M | 67 | 9 months | 10/12/2009 | 1 | high cholesterol (210) | I was okay for 1.5 years (nothing noticeable), but last year I began sleeping all the time, didn't care for anything going on around me, hip joints started aching, very foggy-minded, depressed, didn't care if I lived or not, then arms began aching along with my big toe(!). After reading "Overdosed America" (strongly recommend this book), I quit taking Zocor on 9/20/09. On 10/7/09, I awakened from the dead as if someone flipped a switch. I clean the house, socialize, and have a real interest in life again. My arms still ache, but hopefully that will go away. I cannot believe the difference. Please read the book, everyone. The doctor writing it is not a quack out to make a buck. He himself was shocked by his investigations about the so-called effectiveness of this new medical fad, especially for women. I am alive again and will only take herbal remedies from now on. Since 75% of heart attack victims don't have high cholesterol, I am not worried. Good luck, all. Don' | F | 53 | 2.5 years | 10/9/2009 | 3 | High Cholesterol | Pain and Swelling in Toes and Fingers | We'll haven't thought I had any side effects up until now. But my brother has been pushing me to look into the side effects, and sent me the link to this site. For about the same time, since I started on Zocor (later simvastatin, the generic), I've been having these terrible pains in my toes, accompanied with swelling. The pains moved from toe to toe on one foot, then into my other foot, now into one of my fingers. I've been going to a Podiatrist, had XRays, MRI's, bone scans, and all are showing inflammation, and actually swelling of my bones, which I found odd. But it has still never been diagnosed, and I've been living with it all this time. I just quit taking it, might be feeling a little better, but I'm gonna give it some time to see if there is a connection. Check back for update. | M | 41 | 5 years | 10/2/2009 | 1 | Prescribed for high cholestrol | Only took Zocor for about 2 weeks. Arm muscles began to weaken. Dr. said don't worry, drug only affects large muscles (??). Maybe, like the heart? I stopped taking the drug long before Dr. said she would switch me to Lipitor. I refused to take any statins. Cholestrol up to 444. Muscles are wasting away and painful. Leg cramps unbelievable. It has been over 8 years since this started and getting worse. Taking CoQ10. Cholestrol still high, but my father had over 420 count at age 82, so what is the big deal? First find out if a high count is a problem. | There is nothing Zocor can do to replace the muscle mass I have lost, and what damage is going on with my heart? Wish they would come up with an answer to stop the ongoing damage. | F | 68 | 2 weeks | 9/30/2009 | 1 | High cholestrol | Lower back pain, upper back pain, arm pain, fatigue, weakness, cloudy thinking--terrible drug | Look at the Harvard Med School warning about these statins www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Dyslipidemia/8489 I am a slender man with a cholestrol level of 140. My doc told me it was too high (!) and I needed a statin, so he put me on simvastatin 40 mg saying it was a low dose. After several months I developed severel low back pain, was in for 2 weeks. In that time my wife did research and told me that it was the statins, so I stopped taking them and my back pain went away. 4 months later and back at the doc, who told me it was all in my head and to get back on the statins, so I did. That was three months ago, and here I am in bed, again, with a sore back and intense pain going down my arms. I have been like this for a week, unable to do anything. I am so tired. My wife reminded me (how easily I forget--cloudy thinking) that I had these same problems before and that I need to get off this darn drug! She went out and bought me some CoQ10 to rebuild my muscle strength and I am taking niacinamide 2x daily 500 mg. Not only that, my wife says that a cholestrol level of 140 for a guy my age is good, why take the statins? | M | 62 | 10 months | 9/25/2009 | 2 | high cholesterol | muscle pain in the legs, extreme tiredness...never felt like I had enough sleep...have been on this drug for several years | F | 67 | 3 days | 9/23/2009 | 2 | Yes | Side effects came on slowly so it was difficult to pin them to Zocor.Neck muscles would tighten up so much that I felt dizzy, visual disturbances, almost like pre migrane.Pain in Left side of neck and shoulder.Thought I had a pinched nerve..Bloating,strange sensations in both arms like my muscles were not coordinating well,blurred vision in the morning,Stopped taking Zocor and bingo all side effects are going away slowly. | Watch your diet, these side effects are horrible.Although it did bring my cholesterol down to acceptable limits I'm not sure that putting up with these side effects are worth it. | M | 56 | 7 months | 9/19/2009 | 2 | High Cholesterol | lump in throat feeling, sore throat, "sore" tongue, stuff nose/nasal dryness. | M | 43 | 2 weeks | 9/9/2009 | 1 | high cholesterol | Joint pain in knees and feet. | Started taking Zocor in December 2008. By mid-January I was in almost constant pain, without apparent cause. First noticed the pain in my knees, felt like it was focused just underneath both kneecaps. I would take the pill at night as recommended and then wake up in the morning with pain. I knew there was no reason to have pain after sleeping for several hours, and not having the same level of pain when I went to bed. I'm 38 years old and in good physical condition. I am in the military and running has been a way of life for me for the past 12 years, never had ANY problems with my knees until now, but it started suddenly just a few weeks after I started on Zocor. There is NO doubt in my mind that Zocor is the culprit. To verify this to myself, I stopped the pill for a week and my knee pain quickly improved. I have tried to get more than one doctor to listen to my story but they seem either uninterested or openly doubtful. Zocor has done its job--my cholesterol numbers are back in the normal range, but it has cost me the ability to move about comfortably. Stairs are a nightmare, and sometimes it hurts too much to walk across level ground. I can no longer run or ride a bicycle unless I stop taking Zocor for a few days first. | M | 38 | 8 months | 9/9/2009 | 1 | to manage cholesterol | been taking zocor for 10-12 years, begain on 20mg - brought my levels down but doctor advised increasing dose to 40mg - clinical trials indicated longer term benefits from 40mg. Leg cramps, poor sleeping, burning feeling in large leg muscles when I stand or walk for more than 10-15mins, unpredicatable diarrhoea, poor concentration, irritable, loss of muscle mass and strength, went back to Dr -no mention of possible side effect, prescribed anti-depressants, I have been googling the symptoms for months till I found the link to zocor. Seems to be obvious now. Stopped the zocor and will go back to GP. On the B vitimans and fish oil plus exercise - hope my drive and fitness will return but fearful of long term damage | Friends (2) had been taking zocor for 20 plus years, both developed severe pancreatitus and died of pancreatic cancer within 18 months - be very careful of this drug. I cant be sure of the link but I am very suspicious. | F | 51 | 12 years | 9/5/2009 | 1 | High cholesterol | Hair loss, hot flashes, feeling of being out of it, foggy, couldn't think clearly, very agitated and angry, very short temper, muscles in my arms and legs hurt, felt lousy. | Been off Zocor for 2 weeks and feel like a new person. Give this poison up! My poor excuse of a Dr. suggested I up my intake of Zocor to 30 mg. I did that and at the same time started a diet, long story short, I quickly lost 15 lbs, had my cholesterol tested, it was down to 120. Called the Dr. and said I don't think 120 is normal, her response? 120 is great, keep taking the Zocor. Within 35 days of losing the weight and uping the Zocor the symptoms started, my hair started falling out, a lot, my mood was terrible, I was foggy and out of it (not like me), I was getting agitated and angry all of the time (not like me), my arms and legs hurt, I had terrible hot flashes. I wrote all of this off to PMS, just getting older, etc. I started researching all of the possible reasons why my hair was falling out because the Dr. had no clue, of course, and finally I came across an article about statins. Bingo! I learned that any cholesterol reading under 160 is cause for concern, mine went down to 120 and I was still taking 30 mg of Zocor, what an idiot! I learned that your hormones, organs, your entire body, especially your brain needs cholesterol, period, to function correctly. I stopped the Zocor 2 weeks ago and I feel like a new person, my hair stopped falling out on day 5, no hot flashes, my mood is almost back to normal and I feel great. I will never take Zocor or anything like it again. | F | 47 | 1 years | 9/4/2009 | 1 | High Cholesterol | I was on Simvastatin (generic for Zocor). There are many similar drugs in this category including Crestor, Lipitor etc... I strongly encourage any of you to discuss the possible side effects of that drug with your doctor and should you decide to take it pay careful attention to how you feel. I felt fine for a year or so after beginning Simvastatin then my health crashed. I am 39 years old. I run, lift and Box daily so there was no good explanation for an immediate loss of energy, complete loss of sex drive, stamina, focus and drive. The worst effects though may have been the loss of memory and mental clarity which even now has not fully returned. I have been off the drug since Jan' this year and I would say that I am probably about 80% but I hope that I will recover fully in time. Only after I took it upon myself to do an in-depth search of the internet based on my symptoms did I find that MANY people on cholesterol lowering drugs have some of these same symptoms. With that said, | Some additional resources: http://www.medicinenet.com/simvastatin/article.htm http://www.mombu.com/medicine/human-head/t-statin-adverse-effects-faq-memory-loss-amnesia-dementia-lipitor-lovastatin-optic-nerve-lens-2212371.html | M | 39 | 3 years | 9/2/2009 | 3 | high colestrial | Had ben taking 2omg for three years wit no side effects. Dr. raised me to 40mg. Started to have muscle pains in legs. Started on COQ10. That helped with pain, but now have trouble sleeping, a side effect of hte COQ10 | F | 62 | 60 days | 9/1/2009 | 4 | High Cholesterol | I've been taking 20 mg for years with limited side effects, but there was a spike in cholesterol and triglycerids during my last bloodwork so my dotor has increased my dose to 40mgs. Since then I have experienced whicked dreams every night. Vivid and sometimes downright weird. | M | 40 | 5 years | 8/27/2009 | 3 | Mod levels;familial heart disease | None | So far everything is okay. I'll know more once I check my blood in a few weeks. | F | 45 | 60 days | 8/26/2009 | 3 | high cholesterol | I've been on this med for about 2 months, and it did indeed bring my numbers in order; however, I have felt like crap for the last 2 months, with severe joint pain in my knees and hips (my hips have been replaced, so it must be tendon pain there). I thought the pain was due to taking Indocin (anti inflamatory) by a different manufacturer, but after reading this site, I'm not so sure. I am also extremely tired, and have been napping nightly as soon as I get home from work! This is so not me! | I'm going to discontinue the simvastatin and see if the joint pain goes away again with using the Indocin. If it does, and I stop needing to nap, this drug is going right down the drain! | F | 55 | 60 days | 8/23/2009 | 1 | bad cholesterol number was high | After taking 40mg(generic version Simvastatin) every night-- I would start my day and a few hours in I would feel like I was going to pass out. If I didnt get up and walk around I would get light headed. Heart palpatations after working out and my attitude would be dismal and a feeling of tiredness around noon. | After reading this site --I immediately got off the prescription and the NEXT day --I felt normal. Im back in the gym and feel great. This is a bad prescription and will the drugs out there---be very careful and listen to your body. Dont get caught up in Dr's opinion. There are a lot of pill pushers out there--listen to your body or get mulitplt opinions to address your situation. I would recommend staying off the meds and controlling your diet, implemented with exercise. | M | 38 | 8/21/2009 | 1 | hypercholesterolemia | Fatigue, low back pain, swollen hands/feet, easy brusing, multiple migraine aura type eye problems, insomnia,severe intolerance to heat and overall not-feeling-well. | I was prescribed simvastatin for hypercholesterolemia. I also take Synthroid for hypothyroidism with TSH usually 2.40; good for me. I was not very good at taking it consistently but two weeks before my lab tests I took it 13 nights out of the 14. I started with various side effects and assumed that it was due to "postmenopausal symptoms." I had blood work done a week before my appt and lipid profile was good; but for the first time I had creatinine low at 0.61, albumin/creatinine ratio high at 43.7 and TSH had risen to 4.46. I was concerned. I had these problems magnified because of the consistency I had taken the simvastatin and I believe it affected my blood work. I printed a list of symptoms and gave to my doctor; he did not agree. I reminded him how sensitive I am to medications due to being hypothyroid, and I told him I had quit taking it. I have lost weight, my tummy is decreasing in size, I sleep better and I no longer have an intolerance to heat. I am very concerned about possible permanent liver damage because of this medication. I feel let down by this doctor/clinic. I have applied for a new life insurance policy and I have to do repeat urine sample for two consecutive days; I am very anxious and hope that I do not have any permanent damage. Hope for the best!! | F | 58 | 14 days | 8/21/2009 | 1 | high cholesterol | Muscle pain, joint pain, leg cramps, neck and shoulder pain, headache, blurred vision, sweating, swollen hands and feet. | This is the second time I've tried Zocor. About 1 year ago dr. insisted I take Zorco and had same side effects. Now this year he insisted I try it again even after reminding him of the horrible side effects from last year. Side effects were actually a little worse than last year. I know when I go back to see him next month he will tell me these problems are not from the Zocor, but I know they are. I'm never going to take this or any other statin ever again. | F | 58 | 30 days | 8/17/2009 | 1 | High Cholesterol | I'm in very good shape for 60 years of age, and regularly rollerblade, bike ride, scuba dive plus I have low blood pressure and no illness of any sort. I can run the length of an airport. You get the idea. The brilliant doctor told me to take Simvastatin (40MG) and when I went outside to help the fuel oil man, my legs buckled under me and I fell down in the snow with no warning this was about to happen. Had I been on my roof shoveling snow like I’ve done for years I could have fallen to the ground and seriously injured myself or worse. Also, I experienced brief periods of complete memory loss/blackouts that were scary. For about 2 months after I stopped taking Simvastatin, I had a hard time keeping my weight up; something that has not happened to me in my entire life. What really torqued me off, was the the doctor's reaction to the letter I sent in, completely ignoring me, expecting me to take more and surprised that I actually over-ruled his poor judgement. They put me in | What a mistake! Now the same doctor has me on Zetia which has me feeling like I'm in la-la land and God only knows what it will do to me. | M | 60 | 3 days | 8/17/2009 | 1 | high cholesterol | Pain in foot, ankle & knee only on the right side. Chronic pain, I have stopped taking this pill after reading the posts. My 80 year old mother has high cholesterol and has never taken a pill. I feel older and I'm in more pain than she is. Something is not right with this picture. | Have been taking since April 1, 2009 Generic | F | 55 | 3 months | 8/12/2009 | 2 | familial cholesterol | very tired feel like I need to take a nap during the middle of the day, trouble with memory, | I am the youngest person i know taking a simvistatin and it is because i have genetically inherited high cholesterol and can't lower it without a drug. My doctor wanted me to start taking this drug as soon as possible. It has worked in lowering my cholestorol numbers, from 284 to 180, but there are so many side effects i didn't expect and that my doctor believes isn't related to the drug, though I know they are. I used to be a normal weight and have gained 15 lbs since i have taken the drug. I also had really bad leg pains on lipitor, so i switched to a generic form of zocor and the pains have mostly gone away. I used to have a lot of energy but now i feel like i have hit a wall and can't concentrate for long periods of time. I might take a break from this drug for a few weeks and see if the effects go away. --let me know if you have similar symptoms at my age by emailing me at portalissa@aol.com | F | 19 | 6 months | 8/9/2009 | 1 | 7/29/2009 | 1 | cholesterol | Muscle aches, dizziness, short breath, choking feeling,Legs and arms constantly tingling. Have had side affects that felt like a heart attack, head aches, depression, anxiety and over all feeling of dread. | I have been on this medication for 2.5 yrs. since the start of zocor i have been rushed to the hospital 3 times with symptoms described in my side effects, I have had 2 nuclear stress tests, MRI, EKG's , Heart monitors, blood work, all have found nothing wrong. I have asked countless times if the medication could be causing these side effects. I have been reassured by many DR's that it would not be zocor, they have had me change my diet and workouts. Now they feel I have clinical depression and want to start a "PILL" to help this. I have never been sick or in the hospital until the start of this medication. I have decided to stop taking this medication and see if the side effects go away. It is sad that I must self diagnose. Thank you for this site... | M | 43 | 2.5 years | 7/18/2009 | 1 | high cholesterol | Horrible, ongoing side effects which began after 8 weeks, and are still continuing 7 weeks after stopping this toxic drug. It started with 2 days of my left knee becoming unstable. While just standing, something shifted internally in my knee, contracting the muscles behind it. due to arthritic issues and having knee problems with my other knee, and, being 62,( as many of you did) , I initially made the assumption that it was those issues, and part of aging. However, starting the 3rd day of experiencing this adverse effect, I had bilateral pain from my lower back down through my toes. This pain involved muscle, joints, bones - everything! The pain was horrific, and lasted about 3 1/2-4 weeks. Then it stopped and my right knee became unstable. I am still in that state now, going to physical therapy, and having to use a cane! My cpk test was double what it should be, confirming what I suspected was the result of this drug. Initially my doctor was also feeling it was arthritis, but ate hum | I wonder where these drug companies get their statistics. My doctor had informed me that only 5 % of patients experience any adverse effects. After this happened to me, I started talking with others and in one day came across 6 people who had adverse effects (with lipitor, rather than simvastatin). It seems to me that most of these adverse effects do not get reported. So please be sure you contact fda/medwatch and report your adverse effect so that these statistics can become more accurate. Thank you so much for this very helpful website! | F | 62 | 2 months | 7/17/2009 | 1 | stroke/heart attack/LDL/HCL | panic/depression/thoughts of insanity/pain in my arms,legs,chest and back nausea/vomititing/ibs/gerd/gas/diarrea/skin and hair changes/weight gain/becoming old to damn fast... then lets talk about the hard hit on our bank account/my inability to work and function normally as a woman.The days wasted... 2 years 4 months and 3 days to be exact and most importantly the effects it had on my family,my friends my marriage and my sanity. You may wonder why sanity keeps popping up, so again I will say 2 years 4 months and 3 days ,understand how long that is to a once normal, active, fun, loving, young woman? It seems a lifetime ago,and the mirror agrees with me. | I was prescribed Zocor 40 mg 2 years and 4 months ago for a possible stroke. My insurance tells me | F | 39 | 2 years | 7/17/2009 | 1 | To prevent heart disease | I have never taken any statins - nor would I. I saw a very close friend suffer from side effects and that made me look for information. Please see my earlier comment - 11th of May, 2009. | All statins have similar side effects. Therefore please read the comments for Simvastatin (=Zocor), Lipitor, Pravachol, Mervacor etc. The side effects can come at once or after many years when they often are diagnosed as somethings else or written off as old age. | M | 74 | 7 years | 7/16/2009 | 3 | high cholestoral | F | 50 | 120 days | 7/11/2009 | 1 | post-bypass med | Increasing and considerable weakness throughout but without pain. Started taking it 4 months after double by-pass. Got to the point I was weaker than right after double bypass. | I told VA docs over and over that I was getting weaker and not a one of several managed to connect the problem with simvasatin. They seemed to think that pain was a required element of the side effect. Had to find out for myself with extensive web browsing. Since then TV ads for statins mention weakness w/o pain. Now having joint and muscle pains on lovastatin but the VA docs haven't figured out - after three consults - that my non-trauma muscle pain might be a side effect. | M | 70 | 2 years | 7/11/2009 | 1 | High Cholesterol | Headaches, dry mouth, diarrhea, anxiety, shooting pains in various locations, tingling in neck and jaw, bloating, gas. | I'm discontinuing use as of today. Hoping these side effects go away quickly. | F | 42 | 26 days | 7/9/2009 | 1 | to lower my cholostreol | I was diagnosed 3 years ago with bursitis of the hip. I have lived with this ever since but until recently things began to get worse. Four months ago I would wake up with horrible cramps in my calfs. When I asked the Dr. he told me it wasnt the medicine. I continued to take it. Then in February I found I couldnt get up from a sitting position and walk . The bottom of my feet hurt so bad, he sent me to a podiatrist that diagnoses me with osteoarthritis and neuritis of the feet. He tells me to buy $400 night splints and $200 sneakers (NOT COVERED) but the pain gets worse. My feet are in so much pain and my legs, my fingers are swollen and the muscles in my arms are all inflamed. I just came from another doctor who immediately asked me if i was on any drugs to lower my cholostral and I said yes and he said stop it now! He also gave me Medrol to allevitate the swelling and pain since I cant take any NSAIDS and referred me to a Rhematologist. I will die if I start to feel better. | If anyone decides to sue this company for this poison and needs me for a class action suit I am willing to join. | F | 50 | 3 years | 7/9/2009 | 4 | high cholesterol | none none so far | been taking 20 mg.for 1 year; although cholesterol levels have dropped, doc has doubled dosage to further improve cholesterol levels; recent tests show changes in liver; will be watching closely for negative side effects | F | 58 | 1 years | 6/26/2009 | 2 | Heart Attack & PVD | Terrible leg pain while resting or sitting; heart palpitations; increased pulse rate; increased blood pressure; unmanageable and painful belching (despite taking Mylanta); very easily fatigued; weakness; chest pain radiating up to neck & jaw (belching seems to alleviate somewhat); gas & diarrhea; mysterious & fleeting pains throughout my body; very easily “winded;” feeling as if I could not take a full breath; tinnitus; mental confusion and feeling disconnected from reality. | Prescribed 20mg Simvastatin daily after a heart attack and diagnosis of Peripheral Artery Disease 2 weeks after my 42nd Birthday. Cholesterol was at a healthy level, but due to the MI & PAD, the Dr. felt lowering the LDL would lower my risk of another MI. After reading the comments of others here, I plan to stop taking it. I'll increase my physical activity & add natural supplements to my already very healthy diet, instead. The side effects of this medication cause unnecessary worry - it feels like I'm having another heart attack! My peace of mind and a good night's rest are far more important to my well-being. | F | 42 | 18 days | 6/20/2009 | 1 | High Cholesterol | Muscle Breakdown, Extremely weak,Lower back pain extremely bad, Has did something to my repiratory track, Depression, | This stuff is poison and should be removed from the market | M | 53 | 2 years | 6/17/2009 | 5 | High cholesterol | Very achy. | Started taking Fish Oil and I felt normal again. | F | 48 | 90 days | 6/13/2009 | 3 | 14 heart stents | Muscle pain and cramps | I have taken zocor on and off for 17 years. When I stop it because of muscle discomfort and cramps, the pains resolve it a few days. No permanent pain or problem. Lawsuits will limit the choices for those who need it and will improve with the medicine. The side effects are real but are temporary for me. It is proven to reduce your risk from another heart attack but some people can't take it like me. | M | 63 | 17 years | 5/25/2009 | 1 | To lower cholesterol | FEAR - of all the possible side effects. | I find it shameful that many doctors are quicker to break out the script pad than they are at discussing options with their patients. I am finding that in "my case" a high fiber diet (green leafy carbs, brown rice, oatmeal, etc..) smaller portions of lean meat, plenty of water and exercise as well as a daily dose of niacin (a B3 vitamin) supplementation is what I needed (without any side effects) I would recommend to everyone on statins to discuss with your health care provider/and nutritionist the consideration of exercise and diet w/niacin supplementation in lieu of prescription statins. I have been reading that in some cases lower doses of statins and a daily dose of Niacin were more actually more effective than the higher dose of the statin (that many doctors like to prescribe) I have attached a few links for those that would like to research this further. - Note: Niacin supplementation does pose some risk to certain individuals ie.. if you have liver enzyme issues, diabetes, or a few other conditions--that is why I say to DISCUSS it with your medical provider. Please don't just jump into a high dose niacin regimen and expect your health to improve. Remember - a Doctors business is called a "Practice" - Current Law restricts their practice to humans, so they "PRACTICE ON YOU!!!" *Don't be a submissive guinea pig, be an informed one!* http://intelegen.com/nutrients/niacin.htm http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/niacin/CL00 | M | 51 | 5/12/2009 | 1 | to prevent heart disease | A very close friend suffered from insomnia, terrible pains in legs, feet, shoulders, hands. He also felt numbness and weakness. He lost his taste, had difficulties to swallow, had ringing noise in his ears, was irritated, lost his brilliant thinking etc. etc. He passed away after terrible years in 2007. | Please educate yourself. Are you sure that it`s high cholesterol causing heart problems? Read - The Great Cholesterol Con (Anthony Colpo) Malignant Medical Myths (Joel F. Kauffman) Overdosed America (John Abramson) The Truth About The Drug Companies (Marcia Angell) Visit: www.ravnskov.nu, www.thincs.org, www.spacedoc.net. Google "Stopped our statins". Under print articles you will find several interesting articles. I particularly like one from Weston Price Foundation. Read more patient stories on www.medications.com, www.spacedoc.net (Forum), www.peoplespharmacy.com (search for statins). In the middle of April 2009 the English newspaper Daily Telegraph published an article about Christopher Hudson`s experience with statins and memery loss. There are also more than one hundred comments under the article. You will find it if you Google - Daily Telegraph - and then search for statins. Side effects can come at once - or after many years. Then you migh get a completely different diagnosis and more medications as a result. Or you might be told that its "old age" and that you have to live with your problems. This cholesterol brain washing is going on all over the world. I live in Sweden. It`s your body and you know best how you are feeling. To lower your cholesterol is no garantee that you will not suffer heart attacks or die in advance. Besides it might totally alter your quality of life. Is it worth it? | M | 70 | 7 years | 5/10/2009 | 1 | high cholesterol | The first night I took it & at 4:30 am, I had horrible diarrhea. Had to stay home from work that day. (Hadn't missed a day sick in 3 years.) The next day after sleeping most of the previous day, I took the Zocor after I ate my lunch. Exactly one hour later, I had to run to the restroom with projectile vomiting. I finally made it to the nurse's station because the vomiting continued for over an hour. After 30 minutes the diarrhea started. I spent an hour & 1/2 in the nurse's office, before it would quit long enough for me to drive home. I forgot to take the pill (it was new to me) until the following Wednesday. Again, I took it after I ate my lunch. Exactly one hour later,again with the projectile vomiting, didn't even make it to the restroom this time. Then the projectile diarrhea started. Both reactions lasted until I was totally drained of bodily fluids. I experienced dehydration, and horrible leg cramps in my upper thighs. Needless to say, I will not take this drug a | F | 54 | 3 days | 5/10/2009 | 2 | high cholesterol | My calves have begun cramping at night, bloating of my stomach along with occasional acid reflux and reduced urine output. I also noticed dehydration (by pinching the skin on top of the hands-elasticity reaction was slow). Fatique is daily and I struggle with getting into the gym. Tingling/left hand falls asleep on occasion. | I have been on statin drugs during the past 10 plus years and due to insurance coverage the types have varied from zocor, to crestor, lipitor, vytorin and now back to zocor. All of the drugs have improved the ldl/trig results but I have noticed that since being on zocor 40mgs daily, for just 27 days, the above side effects have increased/worsened. I had never exceeded 20mgs daily of any statin drug until now; the lower dosage has ceased to work. My wife reminded me that all drugs have some side effects but when the "cure" destroys the quality of life vs the possible outcome of the disease we have to consider our choices carefully. I am convinced that age along with other factors hinders our ability to deal with the drug's toxins. I tried oatmeal, metamucil, green tea extract, niacin, fish oil, garlique, etc, none did the job but 'cept for redness and itching from the niacin they had no side effects like these I am now experiencing. | M | 54 | 5/9/2009 | 2 | To lower Cholesterol | Knee pain, Headaches, Sleep problems, itching, memory loss, depression, frequent urination, Joint aches, decreased sex drive, dry mouth, increased neck pain, dizziness, weak & tired | Like many of the reports from people, I attributed my symptoms to other causes, mainly getting older. After increasing the dosage from 10mg 10 20mg, per doctor's orders, the sysmptoms increased. This made me wonder how much/many of my symptoms could be attributed to this drug. After reading this website and a few others. I have discontinued the use of this drug. I will compare how I feel after a few weeks, but I strongly suspect that most of these symptoms will subside. I had low blood pressure prior to starting this drug and now it is borderline high. Isn't one of a doctor's priority's to his/her patients is to improve the quality of life... | M | 51 | 3 years | 5/8/2009 | 1 | High Cholesterol | Extreme fatique, night anxiety, irregular heart beat and palpitations, muscle aches. | I hate this drug. I will do diet, exercise, plant sterols. I would rather never eat meat again (and rarely do now) than take this drug or any other statin. Doctor told me to stop taking it when I called about my heart skipping beats. | F | 51 | 7 days | 5/7/2009 | 1 | High LDL (148) | Severe lower back pain (no problems before), burning sensations in mid section, diarrhea, pain under rib cage, muscle cramping in calves, anxiety, headaches and fatigue. | Four days after stopping this drug (with doctor's approval), I am feeling much better but still have miserable back and abdominal pain. Diet and exercise are the only remedy I'll consider! | F | 51 | 10 days | 5/6/2009 | 3 | high cholesterol | twice have become dehydrated and had to be hospitalized. I have now been taken off of it. | It did a great job lowering my cholesterol, but this side effect, dehydration, causes me to give it a 3 rating. If not for that, I would have given it a 5. I can't give it a 1 rating because it did work, and possibly had I been drinking more fluids, the dehydration might not have happened, though I will never know. I have no idea what my doctor will tell me to do next, I don't want my cholesterol going up too high. I do NOT eat red meat, in fact very little meat at all. Just chicken mainly. I have heard B6 and B12 and Folic acid supplements (all 3) can help. | F | 71 | 8 years | 4/29/2009 | 1 | high cholest. | I posted yesterday describing problems after ten days. After being off zocor for four days, I was not feeling better. I ended-up with a 104 fever and was told by doctor to heat straight to the emergency room. Result was that I had a virus and ER doctor was firm about it not being related to the zocor at all. They did blood work and a flu test as well and none showed anything that would indicate the zocor. Don't really know what to do now but will have to wait a few days for virus to pass and then figure out a new plan. | Wanted to follow-up and make sure I didn't alarm anyone. Maybe some of my side effects were from zocor but, coincidentally, I was also getting a virus. All in all, not a great week. | F | 47 | 10 days | 4/26/2009 | 1 | trying to lower numbers | Within 10 days, severe leg pains, particularly up and down thighs. Could not fall asleep or stay asleep. Head ache and fever. Stopped taking it three days ago. The leg pain is better but I still have fever and feel my whole body hurts. My doctor told me to wait a few weeks and try another statin but I am really reluctant to do that after this negative experience. | I am active and at a good weight. Diet and exercise did not help with my numbers so the doctor suggested zocor. I am not sure what other changes in lifestyle I can make but I will try. This is a strong drug and the side effects are huge. | F | 47 | 10 days | 4/25/2009 | 1 | High cholesterol | Experienced extreme pain over entire body. Became bed ridden and could not get up and was very active before. Went to emergency room twice but all tests came back ok. Admitted to hospital and doctor immediately cancelled the Zocor and Metformin. Now in rehab to regain strength in muscles. | Have talked to three or four friends and neighbors. All have experienced pain and muscle problems from statins. | F | 80 | 2 months | 4/13/2009 | 1 | high cholesterol | Bilateral knee pain. R shoulder pain preventing sleep. Severe fatigue upon waking. Ruptured L achilles tendon on very easy forehand tennis shot. I felt I would have to quit playing tennis. Loss of pectoralis strength in bench. | I am a physical therapist and I could not make sense of this until I did research on side effects. I am having surgery in 2 days. I am discontinuing drug immediately. | M | 47 | 3 months | 4/12/2009 | 1 | cholesterol | Excrutiating pain down both arms, mental fog, dizziness, muscle and joint aching. Most days are pure misery. I feel much older than I am. | I'd been on Zocor for about 2 months when the painful attacks in my arms started. I went through every test known to man, heart cath, MRI, MRA, EMG, various blood work. All came back negative and my pain was attributed to cervical spondylosis. I was given Neurontin, then Celebrex and Tramadol by my neurologist to deal with the pain. I was never bothered by any arthritic pain before going on Zocor. I kept researching the problem and recently consulted with a rheumatologist who suggested that maybe the Zocor was causing me muscle pain, and to talk to my cardiologist about it. He thinks I should stay on the Zocor, but I've decided that I have taken my last tablet. I think this is a very dangerous drug. I pray that the damage is not permanent. | F | 52 | 2 years | 4/10/2009 | 1 | high triglycerides | Foot swelling and severe pain in the area of the big toe. Podiatrist ran labs and ruled out Gout. I also have pain in my left elbow. | I would not take this drug again unless it was presumed to be life saving. Since I am a runner, I will gladly alter my diet to try and manipulate the triglycerides and lower the LDL a few points. | M | 58 | 2 months | 4/3/2009 | 1 | high cholesteral | I experienced leg, foot and abdominal cramps, pain under my rib cage and radiating to the back, sometimes severe. Also had diahrea. | My doctor told me to stop for 2 weeks and start again. I did this and the pain improved. I started again, but then stopped for about a month. I ruled out some other causes of the pain, had an ultrasound and then after being completely pain free for about 3 weeks, started the drug again. Cramps in feet started after 2 days. Abdominal pain started again after 4 days. Stopped taking it after 5 days and will not go back on it. | F | 58 | 3 years | 3/29/2009 | 1 | high LDL | Extreme back soreness, muscle and joint pain,vertigo, feeling weak, depressed, lack of energy | I am taking 80 mg. of cholesterol for 6 months at least, because LDL is slightly over 100, my HDL is near but under 200, My Dr. said I needed to lower my LDL so he raised the milligrams I was taking up from 40 mg. I didnt think this pill was the cause, but after reading this site, I am now convinced, I am calling my doctor today! | F | 56 | 6 months | 3/28/2009 | 1 | To lower cholesterol | Started taking zocor one month ago. Have not felt like myself since starting medication. Left knee and ankle pain, wrist,hand and heel pain, loss of appetite, bloating, less urination, neck pain, trouble sleeping, lower back pain, depression, tingling in hands at night, difficulty standing from sitting position | I am so glad to have found the comments on this site. It confirms to me that my symptons are caused by this medication and I will not take another pill! | F | 52 | 30 days | 3/27/2009 | 2 | TIA | I started having leg cramps in left leg,waking me up at night | I have been on drug for over 1 year. After developing the leg cramps and reading up on drug I asked my GP, he said it was bursitis. I am not convinced. I stopped taking the drug two days ago, and my leg cramping has improved about 50%. I slept last night for 6 straight hours for the first time in many months. | F | 59 | 1 years | 3/25/2009 | 3 | lower my risk of heart attack | After 1st Zocor dose, I woke up w/severe headache that didn't go away until late in the day; 2nd dose no side effects at all. I'm watching closely based on what I read in re: possible side effects. I'll post again if symptoms develop. | I already suffer from fibromyalgia and the associated pain, extreme fatigue & foggy head, so don't expect much there; also have bad irregular heartbeat and am taking high dose of fish oil and magnesium daily to lessen (and of course, less caffeine). | F | 46 | 2 days | 3/23/2009 | 1 | High cholesterol | Side effects I have experienced...Hmm, well, guilt for one, hugely stressed, extreme exhaustion but I'm not the important one at the minute! Mums side effects...Constipation, Unable to Walk, Lost 3 Stone, Unable to sleep AT ALL, Weakness, Feeling Sick, Extreme Exhaustion, Loss of Balance, Depression, Anxiety, Upset Stomach, Loss of Interest in everything, the list goes on and on. | My mother started Simvastatin 7 months ago, stopped going to work 6 months ago due to ill health. 3 weeks ago she tried to take her life and is now in a psychiatric hospital, all extremely distressing! I just hope to god that when I go to my doctor with all the information that he takes her off these awful drugs. Sadly she is still on them at the minute, I will be traveling 120miles on Saturday to visit her, armed with lots of information for her doctors. Wish me luck, I think I need some! Regards, Lindsay | F | 56 | 7 months | 3/19/2009 | 1 | High Cholesterol | Side and back pain, spasms under my ribcage, abdominal pain, gas and constipation, lack of energy. | This was my first try at statins - I will never, ever go back on a statin - will try plant sterols as I already monitor my diet and I do exercise. | M | 41 | 3 weeks | 3/19/2009 | 1 | Elevated Cholesterol | It happened gradually but the side effects from this drug cumulatively became intolerable. Starting with a general mental fog, severe vertigo which resulted in an emrgency room visit, blurred vision almost daily and muscle spasms over my entire body. | At this point, I consider this drug to be a poison or at least poison-like. I took it for almost a year without noticeable side effect but then strange things started to happen. Mentally, I began to be somewhat foggy in general with ever increasing episodes of not being able to recall the name of a person or place. This is unheard of for me because my memory prior to Zocor was outstanding. After the fog came dizziness and then severe vertigo with visual disturbances - wavy lines, somewhat scrambled images. Huge bags appeared under my eyes where there were none before. I became to a large extent listless, merely going through the motions of life, as opposed to my normal eager and excited approach to everything. Headaches and eye aches became the norm, along with intermittently blurred vision and extreme sensitivity to light. Of course I had the MRI and MRA, both totally normal. Nightsweats, profuse at times, along with small spasms over my entire body started taking place. I had sharp piercing pain on the right side of my eye socket and spasms on the side of my head. I itched all over and had ringing in my ears, my scalp tingled. I began to have a violent shaking below my left ribcage and woke up one night trembling uncontrollably over my entire body. I developed a very bad taste in my mouth. Less than one week ago, I stopped taking the drug and the fog is starting to lift, the spasms have largely subsided and I am just beginning to feel to some extent normal. | M | 58 | 11 months | 3/18/2009 | 1 | Marginal cholesterol | Day fatigue, night anxiety, chest pain, kidney pain, abdominal pain. Felt 20 years older. | After 2nd trip to emergency in a month (1st for chest pain, 2nd for night anxiety rapid heartbeat), I quit the simvastatin. Took CoQ 10 for a month to help relieve pains. 6 weeks later after quitting, all symptoms but abdominal pains (now slight) have ceased. My energy is back! Now taking 3g Omega3 for cholesterol reduction try. | M | 45 | 6 months | 3/14/2009 | 1 | high cholesterol | I have been taking zocor for about 8 years. All of a sudden I began experiencing severe pain in my knees and spasams in the calves of my legs. Could hardly walk. Also had pain in two of my fingers and received cortisone shots to relieve pain. Took myself off zocor about 1 month ago. Pain got better, but now it is back. I feel is has damaged my muscles. My doctor was not so concerned and just told me to stop taking it and that is all he said. I will see my primary doctor soon and have some blood work done. Pain is so severe in my legs. Keeps me up most of the night. I never thought after taking this drug for such a long time this would happen. I will never take it again. | Now I am wondering if all the hip pain and leg pains I have had through the years are because of Zocor. Also recently had an MRI of my right knee because it was swollen and painful. Was told I had arthritis. I would definitely take part in a class action suit against the drug company. This website was so helpful. After reading all the comments I feel so much better. I just hope the damage is not permanent. | F | 64 | 8 years | 3/13/2009 | 1 | Mini Stroke followed by PFO closure | Foot cramps, lethargy, palpatations, no appetite, impaired distance vision. | I was given no warnings about side effects and was told to take 40mg a day for the rest of my life even though my cholestrol was only slightly above normal, but I'd had a mini stroke which was attributed to a hole in my heart. I've had an op to close the hole and I'm not happy about being on the statins now - will stop them tomorrow. Will continue on an aspirin a day and watch my diet instead | F | 47 | 4 months | 3/8/2009 | 1 | High Cholesterol | Extremly leg pain could hardly walk for 2 days, started bleeding urine my liver count was 15427 my liver and kidneys were failing was hospitalized with iv for a week very scary | The worst experience of my life when you have 4 children at home waiting and you dont know if you will see them again now im wondering how long is my body going to feel weak and everything seems like it takes alot of effort | F | 35 | 3 weeks | 2/28/2009 | 3 | Moderate Chol Levels | Extreme Fatigue and Exhaustion. Heart Palpatations | I read many other people having heart palpatations. I always from time to time have them but on Zocor, it was more frequent and worse. Doctor also said it was not Zocor, but after stopping the drug, it has subsided. So has the extreme fatigue and muscle weakness. It did lower my numbers and my liver function after 3 weeks was great, but my cholesterol was not so bad that it's worth the side effects. I am very active and have a good diet so I'm stopping. | M | 44 | 4 months | 2/26/2009 | 1 | high cholesterol | Tingling in both hands and feet... 24/7 | F | 56 | 3 weeks | 2/26/2009 | 1 | High LDL & Triglycerides | Chronic heel pain, possible reduction in sex drive. | The effect of Zocor/simvastatin on my cholesterol levels has been amazing. 10mg of brand name Zocor daily, I was UNDER the recommended level for LDL-C. I did not achieve similar performance w/comparable dosage of generic simvastatin. However, after taking brand name Zocor for 6 months, I began to notice pain in my left heel during daily 2+ mile walks. Visited a podiatrist. Arch supports and steroid shots temporarily remedied the pain. I also noticed that, moving from brand name Zocor to generic, this pain subsided as well. Fast forward to mid 2008, and I was not getting good readings from equal dosage of generic simvastatin, my MD put me back on Zocor. Readings dropped below minimums once again. My heel pain returned, and became so painful I had to return to the podiatrist for more shots and a set of orthotics. It was at this point that I stopped all statin therapy for a few months, while trying to allow the orthotics to cure my heel issue. Also during this time, I noticed s | M | 51 | 3 years | 2/24/2009 | 1 | High cholesterol | Nausea,muscle aches,fatigue,headache- I felt like I had the flu- absolutely awful. | I felt so much better, like myself again after stopping the medication. Not sure what I'll do next- there is mounting evidence out there that statins do not reduce heart attack significantly in women and many say women should not even bother with them. Statins are serious medications and should not be taken without a lot of thought! | F | 51 | 4 weeks | 2/23/2009 | 1 | High Cholesterol | After taking Zocor for about 6 weeks I started experiencing severe lower back pain, right hip and knee pain, very fatigued, and severe flu like symptoms | Within 3-4 days of quitting Zocor all the side effects that I had experienced went away. This is a nasty med | F | 39 | 8 weeks | 2/19/2009 | 5 | High Cholesterol | None and I found this site the day I filled the scrip, so I have been acutely paying attention. | I am getting older so I figured it`s time to start looking after myself better. I had been watching my total Cholesterol results each time I would donate blood(3 or 4 times per year) and I knew I was high going in. Went to the Doc for the first time ever in my adult life and came back at 268 total cholesterol with 183LDL & 46HDL. When he called with the news that he was going to put me on a generic statin, I mentioned I get Zocor free from my Ins plan so he called in a 6 month scrip at 20mg per day to the pharmacy. I gave blood 2/4/2009 and the results came today 2/17/2009 it shows my total is down to 173. At the time of my most recent donation I had only been taking it for 6 weeks. Quick results and no ill side effects. | M | 51 | 2 months | 2/17/2009 | 1 | High Cholesterol | Hip joint and big toe joint started hurting first. Then about 3 days later, severe cramping in both feet, hands, shoulders and very fatigued. Muscle ache in most of my body. I am stopping the drug after 5 weeks. | F | 53 | 5 weeks | 2/15/2009 | 1 | high cholesterol | severe leg and foot cramps | started taking zocor 1 1/2 months ago -had mild leg cramps on and off-2 days ago woke up out of a sound sleep with the most excruciating pain I have ever had! cramps were from my rt.hip down my thigh and to my ankle then foot. I have never experienced anything so painful! it took about 20min.for the pain to slowly subside. that was 2 days ago and now I am having milder cramps in my rt.ankle and foot. I stopped taking this med right after the first occurence. I have taken Lipitor and Crestor in the past without any problems but I asked my doctor to change it to something with a generic to save some money-that was a very bad idea! | F | 54 | 45 days | 2/13/2009 | 1 | High Cholosterol | After 60 days on Simvastatin 20MG (generic Zocor), I suddenly experienced extremely tired legs, dizziness, no appetite - only wanted to lay down and take a nap. Could only work about 10% of the time. | Stopped taking the drug 5 days after the terrible side effects started - feeling a lot better. Legs are getting back to normal. I'm off statins for good. | M | 60 | 2 months | 2/10/2009 | 1 | High Cholesterol | Early one evening my entire thighs (both of them) felt like they were on fire and tingly and very painful. I went to bed early but couldn't find any comfortable position in which to sleep...the pain kept me up all night and I just read a book to try to get my mind off the pain. When I got up out of bed in the morning, I walked to the bathroom and passed out on the way. Ended up in the emergency room because my primary care physician was convinced a heart problem caused the passing out; I was convinced I passed out because of no sleep and a lot of pain. To make a long story short, after a full and half day in the emergency room and hospital and lots of heart tests, my heart was found to be normal and I was told to go off the Zocor. Two days later I was pain free...unbelieveable and wonderful. Looking back I think the thigh and butt pain started two weeks earlier but because I injured my back two months ago and still had some pain from that, I was attributing the earlier pains to m | I have family and friends who take Zocor and have not yet experienced any bad side-effects, so the drug may work for many but not all. But after I went through what I did with this drug I am not going to consider taking any other statin drugs. If I die early because of it, so be it. It just isn't worth the risk of ending up with such pain or possibly permanent muscular damage. I was lucky that my bad side-effects occurred reasonably early so I could attribute them to the drug; I recovered fully within 3 days of stopping the medication so I am very thankful for that. Am sorry to hear some of you have had permanent muscle damage as a result of this medication. | F | 66 | 24 days | 2/6/2009 | 1 | High cholesterol. | 58 years old. One dose simvastin , twelve hours later muscle cramps, tendonitis , chest and stomach ache. I felt so tired and achy I was sure I had the flu. I had not expected any side effects. My legs and arms were weak , I woke up that afternoon with a numb hand. | The drug was meant to rescue me from high cholesterol . I plan on losing weight and exercising. My blood pressure , kidney and liver functions are all good and normal. I have an Hba1c of 6.8 on an uncontrolled diet and 5.8 if I lose weight. I discontinued this drug , I run a woodworking shop , I need to have hands that are strong and I am om my feet for eight hours a day minimum. | M | 58 | 1 days | 2/4/2009 | 1 | high cholesterol | weakness and pain to the point of being bed-ridden. At first I thought it was my fibromyalgia but there was dizziness, extreme dreaming and waking up during the night. My arms and legs hurt the worse but I felt like I had the flu. | I quit and some of the symptoms subsided within a day. Still have some residual weakness. I was taking the generic version. I am going back to natural remedies! | F | 47 | 5 weeks | 2/4/2009 | 1 | heart attack at age 80 | Severe pain and swelling in knees. I was only able to limp around the house with the aid of a walker | After angioplasty and 4 stents, I was walking 2 miles/day. After a year on 40 mg Lipitor, this was becoming painful. My doc switched me to 80 mg Zocor to get my LDL down to 70. After 10 days the severe pain started. The day after I stopped taking Zocor, the pain began to subside. I am now walking a mile/day comfortably. A friend of mine, same age, had a similar problem. Lipitor for 5 years then Zocor. Leg pains started. His doc measured his CK and said it was the highest he had ever seen. He said "stop taking simvastatin". A few days later on a doc visit, his CK was measured again and was back to normal. He subsequenly had a kidney removed. | M | 81 | 10 days | 2/1/2009 | 5 | lower chlorestral | NONE | It is working great for me. !! | F | 70 | 7 years | 1/29/2009 | 1 | High cholesterol | Severe muscle pain and body aches, felt like the flu; insomnia; memory problems; could not lose weight despite being on a 1200-1400 calorie diet | I read an article in the paper today about problems with statin drugs, and I am absolutely stunned. I had no idea. What really blows me away is that I went to my doctor several months ago complaining of weight gain, muscle aches and insomnia. All he could come up with was that I was depressed. He'll be getting a phone call from me tomorrow. | F | 54 | 5 months | 1/28/2009 | 1 | high cholesterol | severe pain and weakness of legs, hair falling out, itching, fatigue | a very dangerous drug | F | 81 | 4 years | 1/24/2009 | 4 | Heart Attack High Colesteral | Upper back pain in afternoon, subsided after adding a daily cod liver oil pill. Cured my dermatitis , topical treatment no longer required after 40 years of use. | The generic version from Wallgreens had no effect on my colesteral..... The brand name product worked | M | 52 | 5 years | 1/23/2009 | 1 | High Cholesterol | Extreme fatigue. | Since I started taking Zocor, I wake up in the morning feeling exhausted and by mid afternoon I am completely spent, it's all I can do just to make it through the day. Co-workers, friends and family have noticed this change in me as well. | F | 40 | 20 days | 1/23/2009 | 3 | High Cholesterol | I am watching my self closely...for muscular issues or anything abnormal for me...possible tiredness and muscle soreness. | A friend of mine could not tolerate and was switched to Lipitor- no problems for her. I AM also seeking currently the help of a Naturopathic doctor...he has told me they know these statins can damage your liver that why the lab test for liver function. These drugs also reduce/deplete the body of Co enzyme Q10 which the body needs for muscular function...gee your heart is a muscle...mmm what is it doing to your heart then??? These drugs slow dodwn your liver so that it controls the cholesterol. Slowing down your liver is not always a good thing. As for myself I am taking the zocor for now and working toward getting off of it with the supplements the naturopath is recommending...everyone is unique...but I am taking choline, coq10, a blend with niacin and another blend called lypo, soy lecithin which gently cleanses the arteries. I would not recommend trying to figure out what is best for you on your own but seek out a reputable naturopath to have him formulate what your individual body n | F | 48 | 26 days | 1/21/2009 | 1 | high cholesterol | After taking one dose before bed, I awoke the next morning with intense upper and lower arm pain (both arms), intense right shoulder pain and pressure, and chest pain and pressure. It was so bad I truly thought I was having a heart attack | Please think carefully before taking this drug. | F | 54 | 1 days | 1/14/2009 | 1 | cholesteral levels | I started feeling queezy, tight in chest, not very hungry at all, had tightness in neck one night, then into back,, then chest, on the left side, felt terrible pulpitations, abdominal pain, dizziness when walking, and an overall not so good feeling,,,actually feel crampyness when breathing in and such | After reading the notes of others,,I know I got it right. I went on the drug for 10 days and all that others have felt,,I have as well. I stopped asap, and feel better in just one day, but 100 percent. I will certainly excercise and diet before I ever take that stuff again. I do plan on seeing my doctor tommorow to let her know how bad I feel, and her example of pain sometimes when taken,, was way to low in her explanation,,,I will never take again | M | 38 | 10 days | 1/12/2009 | 4 | low HDL and high LDL levels | pain in shoulders and neck | Zocor has helped my overall cholesterol I had to increase dosage from 10 mg daily to 20 mg daily to see if my cholerterol improves even more | M | 56 | 2 years | 1/9/2009 | 1 | high cholesterol | achy joints and muscles, muscle weakness, tingling in feet and arms. Everyday chores are impossible now. Extreme fatique. Weight gain. | Was taking Lipitor and switched to Zocor with our work prescription plan having been changed. I feel "toxic" on this drug. I stopped taking it one week ago, however, symptoms have not subsided yet. | F | 52 | 2 months | 1/5/2009 | 1 | control cholesterol /diabetic | achilles tendon complications, both legs (hobbled, limping) requiring MRI & surgical repair and reattachment w/ 12 wks in cast, severe and imflamed hand joint and wrist pain, 40+ lb. weight gain, loss of libido,night sweats, low energy - feeling like I was strangely, getting very old very quickly. | I would never had known to relate my symptoms to this medication, except for being housebound and reading about recovery from achilles tendon surgery. My hand pain was so bad it was worse than the pain from my AT surgery. I stopped the medication just three days ago and my hand joints are much improved, simple asprin helps. I believe this is a very dangerous and toxic drug for many unknowing people, like me. I can trace my symptoms beginning when I started the medication, only 20mg at night. I too, think this is potential for class action lawsuit- it has caused serious harm to so many of us here. | F | 54 | 1.5 years | 1/2/2009 | 5 | hypertension | None | Zocor has worked great in improving cholesterol numbers. | M | 49 | 4 years | 1/1/2009 | 1 | chlorestrol | extreme and horrible pain in my right leg. Worse than a broken bone. After 6 weeks off Zocor, leg is improving, but still not up to what it was before Zocor. | F | 61 | 18 months | 12/29/2008 | 1 | to lower cholesterol of 260 | Heart palpitations, restricted breathing, dyspepsia, weakness. | There was fluttering in my chest, vague nausea, and weakness for weeks. Then, driving home from work one night had severe irregular flip flopping in my chest and shortness of breath. I could barely continue driving. Ended up in the ER. Only massive pre ventricular contractions, not a heart attack, but stayed overnight on monitor, with a stress test with echocardiogram the next week. I kept having the disturbing symptoms and terrible weakness. Not once did a cardiologist suggest it could be the Zocor. Finally, one night… having taken my Zocor and feeling gurgling in my chest….I thought of a friend who told me he had to stop Zocor because it caused heart palpitations. I stopped it 3 days ago. The chest fluttering is almost gone. Yet, there are no cardiac side effects listed for Zocor! One doctor labeled me as having a panic attack, and asked if I had previous psychiatric problems! I am so angry that I had to spend a night in the hospital and have expensive testing, wor | F | 56 | 6 months | 12/29/2008 | 1 | high cholesterol | Joint pain, memory loss, legs cramps, sex drive dive, muscle weakness, depression, undue exhaustion, poor urina flow, developed a very high sensitivity to cold. I was unable to work as a carpenter and could bearly run my business. | I feel I have been poisoned by Zocor! I have been off Zocor for a week. My mental functions returned quickly. Sensitivity to cold is gone. Joint pain slowly improving. Most upsetting is that over the last few years I bought these issues up to my doctor to no advail. | M | 54 | 10 years | 12/25/2008 |
| Key to
ratings: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |
