Simvastatin and cholesterol

My hair kept coming out by the handfuls. I've lost at least 8 inches since I started simvastatin! I mentioned this to the endocrinologist and he said he didn't know, but he prescribed it. I am furious, hair is a woman's crowning glory.

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2001 and have been taking 10mg simvastatin ever since. Over the last six months have had severe increasing pain in right shoulder neck and arm. Out of the blue the doctor has since automatically changed dose from 10mg to 40mg. I have not taken the 40 yet as I am too scared and am using up the 10mg. Sometimes have diarrhea and nausea. I had to wait 2 weeks for xray and another 2 weeks for the result. Am to see the doctor in 2 days because I cannot stand the pain any longer. A month ago he told me to come off the simvastin as I would not have to wait long, but after 2 weeks thought I had better go back on it again. Have now stopped again because the pains are worse. wondering about taking herbal medicine instead.

I am so glad I found this site. I have been having hideous headaches and just today thought perhaps it's the Simvastatin that I started this summer. I had an occasion this summer where I lost the vision in one eye (half way up). The doctor said that is called "window blind" vision loss. So after doppler and MRI he said I had to absolutely take 81 mg of aspirin a day (baby aspirin) and started me on cholesterol lowering meds. I didn't want to take the cholesterol lowering meds so at first I resisted completely. However, in the past month I have started to take them. Every night I would wake up with a headache and my neck and shoulders were hurting also. I kept thinking that I was going to have a stroke. The pain was so bad I would vomit but the area of the headache was not where I would get migraines. The pain was more in the back of my head and my neck and shoulders. I decided to do some reading on the internet and found that headaches is a major symptom of simvastatin. I will do my own experiment now and stay off of it for 10 days. I will then start it again and see if the symptoms return. My doppler said I had mild build up of plaque...at 57 I would imagine most people of mild build up of plaque. I don't want a stroke or heart attack but I can't live with these headaches and the lack of sleep.

No side effects yet - coz I haven't taken it!!! I recently had my blood work done, it had been 2 years slightly elevated cholesterol so, in those 2 years leading up to latest bloodwork, I've eaten oatmeal every morning, taken Flax/Omega 3, B-complex, olive oil for all cooking, I have a glider, 20mins. 5 days wk. but had to watch myself, lost too much weight, I'm only 105lbs now, etc. etc....so, shock and horror my latest results: 232 Total Chol. 157LDL 57HDL-good number really, and best thing, 91 triglycerides, glucose 87 - so I guess some of the above improved some numbers. Dr. suggested a doppler/carotid.....a note received yesterday "some build up" and enclosed prescript. for 40mg. of this poison which seems kind of a high dose to me? So, is he not telling me the extent of "some build up?" what's "some"....I need to find that out first - but I really don't think I'm gonna be taking this stuff - there is so much info out there debunking this cholesterol thing....I'm 58, would there be natural build up in arteries, I mean your plumbing pipes don't stay pristine forever - there's bound to be build up, surely? Or am I kidding myself. Any suggestions out there, people!????

Updating - I am female in my sixties. started Simvastatin in Jan. this year due to 7.8 cholesterol reading. Came off for 3 months in May due to joint pains etc. GP said to try and lower cholesterol by diet. Practically lived on salads and fruit - however my cholesterol went up to 7.8 again. Proof to me that diet made no difference to my cholesterol reading. GP in August upped my dose then to 40mg a day. Felt very nauseous and ill and after 10 days came off yet again. I suggested to my GP high dose was making me ill. She agreed to my taking 10mg daily. Feel OK but still have joint pain. I have just read Doctor Malcolm Kendricks Book - The Great Cholesterol Con and I recommend it to all Simvastatin users. Very thought provoking. Please contact me if you would like more info.

I'm 55 year old female and was put on Simvastatin 3 months ago with a cholesterol reading of 6.8. I've been experiencing severe lower back pain, a burning pain in the right side of the groin and severe pain in my right hip and leg. It has become so bad that I'm finding walking difficult. I also have severe itching all over, especially on one part of my arm. I can't take anti-histimes because I am alreading taking beta-histine for vertigo. After reading the postings here I am seeing my doctor this week to have my medication changed. Since I live in the Uk cost is not a problem

I have corrected my typing error I am not on 400mg it should have read 40mg. Thanks to the reader of my experience who very kindly pointed out my error!!!!
Despite having a brush with the big C last year (I finished chemotherapy in January) I have been very fit and healthy during my 61 years! A few weeks ago I started having palpitations, hence a visit to the doctor revealed high blood pressure and cholesterol reading of 9.9!!! Shock, horror. He informed me that it was genetic and prescribed Simvastatin 40mg and Bendroflumethiazide 2.5 mg daily. Not being satisfied with the enclosed leaflets I have looked up more info. on the net. Should I have done this!!! After reading some of the posting on the site I am feeling a bit apprehensive. Last night I had a terrible night couldn't sleep for the pains in my legs and a bit nausea this morning. But I need to be sensible, I really don't have any choice but to take these drugs just hoping that I won't have to stay on them for the rest of my life and I don't get any of the side effects that some of you have suffered. I also wonder if the chemotherapy could have caused by raised cholesterol? Hope to keep you posted and would welcome any comments!

headache ;nausea ;pains;depression;bad dreams;dizzy head;forgetful;

hi there i have been on simvastatin about a year now and have felt so ill since taking them i am now due to have several blood test to see what they can find " as i suffer with nausea, pains in my legs and body /and terrible depression and i cant remember me feeling like this before i started taking these tablets i really don't feel like me no more / and i can easily sit down and cry because off feeling like i do / now i have been told to take double dose because my cholesterol is higher / i have spoke to others of these tablets and they have had same reaction so i have decided on my own thoughts to stop i will tell my doctor.and i am hoping i will get back to my old self i will try and keep my cholesterol in control and i think its well worth a try than to have all these side affects B.

Despite having a brush with the big C last year (I finished chemotherapy in January) I have been very fit and healthy during my 61 years! A few weeks ago I started having palpitations, hence a visit to the doctor revealed high blood pressure and cholesterol reading of 9.9!!! Shock, horror. He informed me that it was genetic and prescribed Simvastatin 400mg and Bendroflumethiazide 2.5 mg daily.
Not being satisfied with the enclosed leaflets I have looked up more info. on the net. Should I have done this!!! After reading some of the posting on the site I am feeling a bit apprehensive. Last night I had a terrible night couldn't sleep for the pains in my legs and a bit nausea this morning.
But I need to be sensible, I really don't have any choice but to take these drugs just hoping that I won't have to stay on them for the rest of my life and I don't get any of the side effects that some of you have suffered. I also wonder if the chemotherapy could have caused by raised cholesterol?
Hope to keep you posted and would welcome any comments!

I'm a 54 year old female prescribed 10 mg zocor(simvastatin) for slightly elevated cholesterol. Took it for 7 months before I clued in to the cause of my many symptoms. Muscle and joint pain, head fog, blurry vision, weight gain, stomach upset, fatigue, etc... The muscle and joint pain were excruciating at times --especially in my left hip...which had gotten so bad I needed a walking stick for support. I felt so darn old wondering if I would even feel normal again.
After reading many postings I decided to stop my zocor(simvastatin) 6 weeks ago and am very happy to report an improvement in many of my complaints...although far from where I want to be.
I am curious as to the withdrawal effects others may have experienced. The first week coming off I had stomach aches and I had awful headaches which thankfully did stop. The stomach aches and touchy digestive system still plague me though. Am I the only one experiencing this?....

recently was prescribed simvastatin. Pharmacist advised that 50% of people will experience severe muscle & joint pain and burning in the muscles. I can see by reading the site that this is true. Must try since cholesteral and bp are high and dr thinks at 51 I had two mini strokes (tia's). If I experience the severe pain that is discussed i will stop taking. Thank you for all the info! This site is awesome.

I am a 52Yr old male and was diagnosed with T2 Diabetes 2 1/2 yrs ago ....The doctor prescribed me simvastin a few month later 20mg once a day all had been fine till about 6 months ago when I developed tinnitus and started feeling very tired...My concentration started to lapse especially when driving as i found i couldn't remember driving down a stretches of the road etc ie passing speed cameras etc ...my memory also seems to have slowed down and i have problems recalling recent conversations or things i have done etc...just recently i have been getting severe itching on the soles of my feet almost becoming painful i have pains /aches all over and now especially have pain in my left arm right knee and fingers...when i get up in the mornings i feel like i have run a marathon the day before as i ache especially my neck and shoulders...needless to say i have now stopped taking the tablets after reading this forum and i am seeing my doctor next week initially i put all this down to getting older ...
Steve

I am a 55 year male and my doctor started me on 20mg of Simvastatin in Sept 2006 and has subsequently increased it to 40mg. I try to keep very fit through lots of exercise. Fortunately I have not experienced any major side effects mentioned here and my cholesterol has decreased from 6.8 to 4.5. However, I am constantly tired to the extent that I often doze off at my desk at work. In addition, I am having extreme difficulty in getting erections. My doctor claims these are not side effects and has prescribed Viagra but even that is not working now. At Easter, whilst on holiday, I stopped the medication for a week, my libido recovered after a few days, and I was able to have normal sex again for about a month. During the summer, I stopped it again and within 72 hours my libido started to pick up. My wife says it is psychological but I am convinced that it is the Simvastatin. I am going to see if I can get a second opinion.

hi im 62 woman been on simvastatin for over 3 years and i have acute pain in my right side upper stomach also pain in my thumbs (diagnosed as gout but blood test showed it wasn't)bad taste in the mouth and visit the loo about 6 times a day recently lost a loved one but my mind feels numb and im depressed most days (NOT LIKE I USED TO BE)after reading this sites letters im off the simvastatin for good as i now know whats wrong with me THANKS.......................

I'am only 26 but I have been a insulin dependent diabetic since the age of three. Being a diabetic for so long has made it difficult for my body to maintain normal cholesterol and triglceride levels. (I'am not overweight and I am very active) At 19 I was put on lipitor but it gave me severe stomach pains when I called the doctor they told me "it was just a side effect" and should subside. I wasn't on it for very long when I found out I was expecting and had to stop taking it anyway (can't take statins while your pregnant it can cause severe birth defects) Anyways, after I had my daughter they said my cholesterol was fine and they weren't going to put me back on anything. Yes! Until just recently my doctor discovered that my triglceride and cholesterol levels were so high he had the lab re-draw my blood tests! Odd because I feel perfectly fine. Because of the stomach pains years ago with Lipitor he put me on Simvisatin and Antara. Every since I have been on the Simvastatin my cholesterol levels are perfect but I am soo tired all the time. When ever I tell my doctor he says it's because I am a young mother of three and work full time. But this is a different kind of tired. I seriously could drink a five shot extra strength espresso and fall asleep this isn't normal. All my blood work is fine. It has to be a side effect.

Started in Jan. this year on 10mg dose. Came off in May for three months as I was experiencing nausea, joint pain and depression. Had to go back on last week as cholesterol is sky high. This time 40mg - feel violently sick, keeping going to the loo about -10 times between 7am and 10 am. and so tired am staying in bed most of day. Phoned the pharmacist today who says to stop taking over the weekend see my doctor on Monday as there is an alternative to Simvastatin that does not given so many problems and to try taking porridge each morning as this can significantly reduce cholesterol naturally?? Will give it a try, YUKKK......

My husband was prescribed 40mg of this drug 2 years back,for his high cholesterol reading. He is an ex-services and has always been extremely fit, he was tired for almost a year, then he began having headaches to the point he had a brain scan, because he thought he had a tumor. He also has had knee and neck joint problems and now the joints of his fingers are giving him pain He now wakes up each morning feels really ill and feels as though hes being strangled, the sensation lasts sometime for hours and he has to lie down. His doctor said it was blood pressure but he keeps a monitor and his pressure has been normal. His doctor said he should continue to take it, but when you read all the symptoms that people are getting while taking this drug it makes you realize they are all just guinea pigs for a large scale trial of the drug

I'm 58 years old and I've been on 10 mg Simvastatin for 14 months since I was diagnosed with Diabetes 2. Also Metformin and Glipiside as my bs got up to 499 at diagnosis with high cholesterol.

I had NO IDEA that my suffering the past year could possibly be tied to one of the drugs I've been prescribed. In the first three months after diagnosis, my Diabetes was controlled and I've even backed off some of the meds. My cholesterol also came down beautifully. However, the debilitating weakness and muscle aches (which has increased over the 14 mos.) has become so bad (especially this last week) that I came to the Internet looking for possible reasons for 'body ache'.

And get this: I take a packet of vitamins every day which includes a daily dose of Q10... BUT I haven't been able to take them for about a week and this last week I felt like I was ready for a wheel chair~!!! Worse than it's ever been, knees and feet in horrible condition, hands and wrists unable to open a water bottle. Total body aches so severe it made me want to research something, anything to see what might be the problem.... before seeing the doctor about it!

My shock at seeing my medication here listed with the horrible side effects I'm experiencing has been a revelation~!! I am going to stop the Simvastatinn and see what happens. BTW, I've been an active person all my life, was a 2nd Degree Black Belt and taught Tang Soo Do and know what muscle aches and pains are, know my body (at least I did) and pretty much thought my active life was over.....

Not now~!!! I'm FURIOUS!!

I have been taking simvastatin since June 28, 2008. I am 44 years old and have always been majorly active with my 17 year old daughter. Recently I have become chronically fatigued so much as to want to go back to bed within 2-3 hours after I get up in the morning, (definitely not me). I have felt spaced out,depressed to the point of wanting to cry all the time, have severe back, hip, knee, leg, and hand pain. I go to pain management for my back and hip problems (past surgery), but the usual pain has been intensified over the last 2 months and I wasn't sure why, until i decided to check out the Simvastatin to see if it has made me put on a few pounds, and boy have my eyes been opened!!!!!!!!! I AM STOPPING THE MEDICATION IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to all who have spoken up, I wish I would of checked on this sooner!!!!! I'm calling my Dr. first thing in the morning!!!!!!!!!!!

By exhausted in Canton

I have been taking Simvastatin 20 mg. for about two and 1/2 months now. It really lowered my Cholesterol but I have been extremely fatigued and now I am getting really dizzy when standing up and having some nausea.

I was diagnosed with type II diabetes and extremely high cholesterol about a year and a half ago. I was put on metformin and simvastatin. Through diet, exercise and 'natural' meds (banaba leaf, Gymnema, chromium, vanadium, among others) I got my diabetes under control to the point that I was able to go off metformin, but I was kept on simvastatin. I never experienced any of the horrifying symptoms described in previous postings; however, when I went on vacation a month or so ago I forgot my simvastatin- within 48 hours of going of this med, my libido actually returned- I had attributed the loss of not only function but desire to diabetes. When I resumed taking the pills, my libido once again evaporated. I went off of simvastatin completely a week ago and I feel like a new person!

I have never experienced the side effects of statins myself. I have never taken any - nor would I if my numbers should be too high.

I have had the opportunity - or rather was forced to - to "educate" myself on the cholesterol issue as i had 3 relatives suffering from side effects.

They were all over 70 and had taken Simvastatin (Zocor) for years.

In 2003, when I had just got an Internet connection, I started to look for information and was surprised to find these sites:

******

I also found "Stopped our statins" (google for those words) where there is a lot of information.

Under print articles you will find a very informative article from The Weston Price Foundation about the different statin studies over the years and also about the side effects.

Are you sure that a high cholesterol will cause heart problems - or is it just propaganda from the pharmaceutical and health industry?

After having visited some of these webb sites and read some of the books you might have changed your mind - like I did.

Your cholesterol is very important for your body and essential for your brain among other things.

Why should you live better and longer if you use medications to lower it?

It`s just to read all these patient stories - what quality of life is this?

I would suggest that you also read the messages for the other statins such as Lipitor, Zocor (=Simvastatin) etc.

All statins have similar side effects.

Here are some books that you might find interesting. Some about the cholesterol issue.

The Great Cholesterol Con (Antony Colpo)

The Cholesterol Myths (Uffe Ravnskov)

Lipitor - thief of memory (Duane Graveline

Malignant Medical Myths (Joel F. Kauffman)

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Overdosed America (John Abramson)

The Truth about the Drug Companies (Marcia Angell)

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Bitter Pills (Stephen Fried)
about quinolone antibiotics such as Cipro, Ciprofloxacin, Levaquin etc.

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The Antidepressant Fact Book
Your Drug May Be Your Problem
Toxic Psychiatry
Medicine Madness
(Peter R. Breggin - all books about psychotropic drugs)
____

What if medicine disappeared?
(Gerald E. Markle and Francis B. McCrea)

How doctors think
(Jerome Groopman?)

I went on Simvastatin 40mgs last Christmas 2007 because of the family history of strokes, I was generally feeling very well .
Since being on statins I have felt awful , with lots of side effects " muscle cramps, upset stomach, really really tired, strange feelings in my chest and bad palpations "... I thought I was really ill.which made me very depressed.and even had test's done at the hospital to try and find what is wrong with me thankfully nothing appears to be seriously wrong" so why feel so dreadful i thought it had to be the statins!!"
I came off them my self four weeks ago ,since then I have been to see my doctor who has agreed for the time being I should be off simvastatin but consider taking a milder statin.
I do feel slightly better after four weeks ,but still get some of the side effects can any one suggest roughly how long it takes to feel like one's old self again.....Please!!!

I am a 47year old male.I,ve been on simvastatin for about 10 weeks now and have been experiencing mild short term memory loss for a few weeks. I put this down to the onset of old age?. I,ve also been getting spurious pains to elbow and finger joints? could these problems be associated with the medication?.

I took simvastatin about a year ago and took myself off it because I had really agonizing night cramps in my legs. A different doctor recently persuaded me to take the drug again because my cholesterol was high, but after only two weeks this time I have a swollen throat and tongue and a persistent cough. Last night I had a breathing problem and thought I was going to die - I just couldn't get any breath into my lungs. I woke up every half hour or so in the night, unable to breathe. I'm thinking I shouldn't be taking these things into my body if they have such dreadful effects. Are they common> Does anybody else have these effects?

I am a hill walker. My name is Steve and I am 58 years old. I have been recently diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes. Fair enough. I have been given dispersible aspirin, metformin to lower blood sugars, ramipril to reduce blood pressure and SIMVASTATIN to reduce cholesterol. This drug (Simvastatin) made me so Ill that I couldn't walk up my drive without feeling as if I was going to pass out. I also suffered tummy pains, felt very sick and my heart was thumping and banging like a base drum. Every joint in my body ached so badly that I thought my walking days were over for good. I stopped taking it four days ago and already feel better. My doctor has given me a replacement medicine called PRAVASTATIN but I am frightened to take it, fearing that it may create the same or similar problems. Has anyone got any comments or experienced problems with Pravastatin? I would appreciate any feedback that you might be able to give, positive or negative.
Regards,
Steve.

Beside the joint pain and nausea experienced day after I started medication, was waking up each morning at 3 a.m. and not being able to get back to sleep again. Doctor suggested I come off for 3 months to see now that my cholesterol is down to 6.0 whether I can control it by diet alone. I was on 20mg at night.

Started to take Simvastatin, 40mg/day, 3 mts ago. Since a month got muscle pain in left arm, dizziness, skin being dry and more. I quit taking them on April 17th and the day after pain was gone and other symptoms as well. I know it seem weird but feel better now.

Hello: Posting about simvastatin. I have been off of the medication for about six weeks. Initially the symptoms led me to hop on an ambulance gurney and visit my local ER due to dizziness, lots of palpitations, and the feeling that I was going to drop on the sidewalk. I followed the ER with two days on the heart unit, and have pretty much have had just about every test but a brain scan (or at least it has seemed that way).

My symptoms progressed to intense burning in my torso, pronounced in the shoulder blade areas, upper chest, and into my forearms. A week after stopping the statin much of the intense burning was gone.

I still have pain and discomfort, but I have not been "white knuckling" to get through the nights like I had been, which is a relief. I read somewhere that someone described the muscle pain as feeling like he had been repeatedly punched with a bag of oranges. I can relate to that feeling, and recently I have felt the symptoms in my thighs as well.

Pain management takes up my days (although I have continued to work). I have begun massage therapy, and I am going to attempt acupuncture next week. I am trying to sort out what supplements may be the best and which ones won't interact with each other or other medications that I take. I am taking CoQ10, Omega 3 capsules, a multivitamin, and a B complex.

Anyone with similar symptoms or comments, please jump in. We are in similar boats, as they say. I have gotten the impression that some people out there (not on this site) don't see this as real. For those people, unless someone is bleeding profusely from an artery, they remain non-supportive or non-believers....

i am 42, have been on simvastatin for 2.5 years, for the last 6 months, have been having really bad leg pains, outer thigh, feels like its burning, tummy troubles, but now i have looked at this site, i feel it must be the statins.am on some many other tablets, and i am always tired but thought this was the beta blockers......

I'm a 46 year old guy - I am going on 180 days at 20mg before bed. I am having pain above my knees, weight gain, itchy shins and breasts, daily headaches that go away if I take two aspirin, some short bouts of depression, stomach pain (I feel like I ate rocks), dizziness/loss of balance. I'd rather have high cholesterol and try to do better with what I eat vs having the side effects.

I'm 56 and just started Simvastatin. I have started having chest pain every night now. I never had this before! What is up with this>? Anyone else develop chest pain from it? I'm going to stop taking it because it doesn't feel right to get chest pain from a pill!

My Mother started taking Simvastatin 6 weeks ago after a stroke, she has stomach cramps and her lips are all swollen and sore. Does it do this. It's all most odd as these things were not there before starting this drug.

DJ

My husband just started taking Simvastatin for cholesterol a couple of weeks ago. Has begun having sleep problems, tosses and turns and wakes up consistently about 5 hours after taking his 20mg dosage before bedtime....Any others out there?

i started taking Simvastatin a month ago an suffered with extremely bad pain in my stomach,nausea,and my cholesterol when up even higher,Bad chest pain and my fingernails became brittle also headaches

About 6 months after beginning to take simvastatin I began to have episodes of faintness, dizziness, loss of balance, loss of co-ordination and memory loss. Not a lot of fun! I would get up from my chair and fall over, fall down the stairs and stagger off the pavement into the road whilst out and about. My partner thought I was drinking in secret, and it got so bad that I fell off the pavement into the path of a moving car and was nearly run over. I read an article about the side effects of statins in general and realized that they may be the problem and so stopped taking them. Result? All side effects vanished and I'm as good as new. I'd rather have high cholesterol than go through that again.

I have been taking Simvastatin for 10 years, initially 20mg daily but increased to 40mg in the last year. I have noticed progressive softening of my finger nails- they split and break even with such minor trauma as fastening a button. I have not seen this reported elsewhere.