Simvastatin and pharmacist

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.

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......

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?

Note to admin: please move my April 16 2008 7:50 AM note about Simvastatin to the drug Simcor. Simcor is a Niacin / Simvastatin combination and I posted incorrectly. I was prescribed Simcor which is 750 mg Niacin and 20 mg Simvastatin. The pharmacist says my itching burning was due to the Niacin and that I should take an aspirin 30 minutes before the Simcor pill.

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?

Stomach cramps, night sweats which stopped when I forgot to take them on a long weekend away.