Simvastatin and statins

Wow, i cannot believe what i'm reading. I have been taking Simvastatin for almost three years. My Doctor never mentioned any side effects. It has gotten bad enough for me to seek information on the internet. What medicine cause all my symptoms; Tingling in the hand and feet, weakness of muscles, dropping things, dizziness, memory problems, sore muscles, sinus problems sore knees, arms, shoulders, stomach,numbness, sensitivity to light. I'm sure glad i have found this web site. I think i am going to take myself off of it for a week and see if things improve. Drug companies must be making a killing on this medicine since they refuse to warn potential patients.

WOW! My jaw is on the floor. I have been taking Simvastatin for 4 years! At around that time I started feeling ill. I ended up in the infection clinic. There they did 6 spinal taps since they could not understand why I had this major headache, and stablike pains.
I was hospitalized for 2 weeks and during the last 4 years I have been in and out of hospitals and doctors.
After they found 'nothing' they told me that I might have LUPUS/RA. So they started me on drugs to treat reumatism. I was on 2000mg per day! Complained and said that the meds where not working and I needed help and someone to listen to what I was saying. Then one of the many doctors I had was telling me to shut up and go see a psychiatrist. That got to me and so I started writing letters. I got a 'new' doctor and he said odd. Told me he was only interested in my joints. After the second time w him he passed away and so I met a fresh doctor, on that was right out of med school.
She looked at me and said...*You cant go on living like this, this is no life.* she sent me to the hospital for 2 weeks so that I could get the right treatment. There they realized that I have no sings of reumatisum but rather a connection w Simvastatin.
They right away told me to stop taking all the reumatisum medication and they will now focus on removing Simvastatin.
I am blown away.... I was so sick, so may hours lost from work, family and friends. I almost left my husband because I felt like I was just 'there' not ever being able to do things. I was so sick all the time.
Wow is the only word I have in my head right now- I am in a shock.

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.

Some good news re: my concerns in my Drs. note (posted the other day) "some buildup" and why such a high dose 40mg. of this poison?. I actually received something from the cardiologist on Fri. which made me feel much happier. 'NO SIGNIFICANT ABNORMALITIES - MILD CHOL. PLACQUE BUT NO SIGNIFICANT BLOCKAGE SEEN' so you can imagine how much better I felt - I had already made the decision to not take the Statins, but that report absolutely convinced me. If you haven't already had a doppler on your carotids, do so, it can ease your mind, since we're always being told we're clogging up our arteries with just about anything and everything, we're gonna have a stroke, etc. all these scare tactics. It's not an expensive test (about $80, not sure what will be added to that, as to cardio. reading the results), but worth it. Read up on the Red Yeast Rice - I've read several articles from several well known medical websites - it seems it actually can work better than Statins! Get off this stuff people, more risk than having a stroke!

In people close to me I have seen the following side effects:

All statins have similar side effects. They can come at once or after many years.

Pain in neck, shoulders, elbows, hands, hips, legs, feet

Pains that keep moving to different parts of the body and could be unbearable -like nerve pains.

Head ache

Burning, tingling sensations in the different body parts mentiond above and numbness

Weakness in hands which caused the person to drop things

Hair loss, difficulties to swallow, ringing noise in the ears, loss of taste, memory problems - particularly with short term memory, difficulties to find words and to remember what just had been read, impotens, extreme sensitivity in the skin (abdomen).

Please "educate" yourself.

Read books and look for information in many different places. Remember to find out who is behind a certain webb-adress. Could it be a pharmaceutical company.

Unfortunately I am not allowed to write webb-adresses here - but Google the titles of the books/writers below and you will find some webb-adresses.

The Great Cholesterol Con (Anthony Colpo)

--------------------"--------------- (Malcolm McKendrick) - this is another book

The Cholesterol Myths (Uffe Ravnskov)

Malignant Medical Myths (Joel F. Kauffman)

Overdosed America (John Abramson)

Lipitor - thief of memory (Duane Graveline)
Duane G. has an interesting site

The Truth About The Drug Companies (Marcia Angell)

Google "Stopped our statins" and you will find this webb-site.

Under print articles to the left you will find an interesting article from Weston Price Foundation.

It takes time to look for information and then read it, but often it`s quite essential to do that and to make up your own mind.

It`s your body and you know best how you feel.

Remember it`s a lot of money involved and that`s why news about serious side effects quite often are delayed.

The cholesterol issue - that high cholesterol should cause heart attacks etc - is very controversial. But it`s only the pharmaceutical companies who have the money to "brainwash" by advertisements, ghostwriters etc.

I hope my suggestions can make you more interested in the medications that you are taking.

Finally - a very interesting book about a certain kind of antibiotics - Bitter Pills by Stephen Fried.

English is not my native language but I was forced to read a lot of English books because of the suffering of my relatives, but without the Internet I would not have found them.

Remember new drugs are not necessarily better than old, but always more unsafe. They are also more expensive and that`s why they are so highly promoted.

Unable to focus eyes on any target while moving. Later extreme muscle soreness and weakness. Unable to do some simple chores. Lower back and upper legs ached mostly first thing in the morning, got a little better later in the day. Have stopped taking Simvastatin. Will wait and see. Have taking statins since an angioplasty 11-12 years ago. T.

Thought I would come online to check up about another possible side effect and caught a posting about male libido. I off Statins on 9th July this year after suffering all the pain related side effects mentioned on the site and in my previous posting in August. Last week my normal monthly cycle started up again after 8 months. I thought that I had gone through the change but with no side effects. Seems to me that Statins might also effect hormones, but as we all seem to be of a similar age groups, we blame the way our lives are effected on our age. I know that I thought that everyone who hit 50 experienced exactly the same fatigue, pain (arthritis - gout), weight gain, loss of drive etc. I have been off them for 13 weeks now and I haven't looked back. I really can't remember now just how bad I was feeling towards the end, but I know that I was very close to giving up I just didn't think that I could live feeling the way I did at the time and knowing that I was getting progressively worse. Now I am just very angry that people are having to go through what we have. I just wondered if any other women had their monthly cycle altered/ stopped whilst on this drug, only for it to return after coming off?

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!

This site may have saved my life! My blood pressure & cholesterol meds were changed last Sept., and like Virge, 3 months later I had a severe vertigo attack (while driving). Long story short, I have been a wreck ever since...feeling dizzy & faint, anxiety attacks, spiking BP, acute insomnia, soreness in the back of my neck, overly sensitive to bright lights and loud sounds, and several reactions to anti-anxiety meds & vitamin B pills (some of which placed me in ER!).

I've seen over 20 different doctors & specialists, and NOT ONE has ever questioned the Simvastatin. A couple weeks ago, I Googled Simvastatin & vertigo and saw that vertigo was listed as a side-effect...then I saw the notes on this site. This prompted another visit to my doctor.

I've been off it ever since, and have noticed a substantial change for the better (I can sleep well again!) - although I'm still always dizzy and my BP has risen. I'm hoping that by taking it for so long, I haven't incurred any substantial long-term side-effects! I'm also wondering why some of us react so negatively to the drug - if there is another underlying medical condition that would cause such an adverse reaction?

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?....

I am 45 and have been taking statins for 5 years since having 3 heart attacks in a 4 day period.At first I was on Atorvastatin 10mg and didn't suffer any side affects,I was put on Simvastatin 40mg 2 years ago due to cost.Since then I suffer with very sore muscle pain down the length of my right arm.My GP keeps on prescribing painkillers and doesn't mention the fact it may be side affects of the Simvastatin.I find it sad that costs of drugs are the reason I am in pain.

I've been on simvastatins for about 2 years after TIAs. I'm 56. I had two small Strokes about year ago despite being on simvastatins. Had brain scan which showed two small areas of scarring and carotid artery scan- arteries fine. Started experiencing dizziness last year and GP diagnosed vertigo and gave me seasickness pills which didn't do much good. Since then I've experienced headaches which last for weeks, increasing fatigue (now struggle to get out of bed in morning) muscle pain which is getting really bad and sore feet (?). Increasing memory loss, confusion, lack of concentration, eye problems (when I first wake in morning my vision is blurred for ab out 30 minutes or so. I've been worried i mmay be developing Alzheimers. I've also piled on weight and the texture of my hair has changed - it has become very soft and silky and become thinner - normally my hair is very thick. Also I've had two perms in last 6 months which won't hold curl - been having perms for years and never had this problem. I've had several blood tests including for under-active thyroid and they have all been clear. I've been really worried about all these problems and did some research and came up with this site. I am beginning to think my problems stemm from taking 40mg Simvastatins so am going to stop them and book appointment with GP. Any comments/advice would be appreciated.

I started simvastin on Aug 11. Lately I got severe lower back ache every time I get up in the middle of the night and every morning but the lower back ache goes away as I starts my day after 1 hour. I am also experience short memory loss.
Pls advice if this is a serious side effect of the drug.
Thanks....hw

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.

i am 55 and have been taking simvastatin for about 2 years although my cholestrol was under 5. over the last few months have had pain in my knees which i thought may be arthritis and then about 2 months ago the pain started in my left foot and became so severe that i had to change to an automatic car, still believing up until today that arthritis must be getting worse although my foot xray came back normal, i found this website today as my finger and thumb joints are hurting so much i cant hold anything and every muscle aching so much i just wanted to cry.after reading these letters i realize that even the choking feeling im sometimes getting isn't a menopausal panic attack and now i have checked my simvastatin leaflet an d box and realize that although my last cholesterol reading was only 3.5 one of my doctors has put my tablets up from 10 mg to 20 mg so big question is this an overdose ? im not taking another one of these pills an see what progress my health makes. i am slightly worried about heart disease and will look into herbal type as my parents use these,have never taken statins and are 90 and 87 so i think this speaks for itself,thanks everyone who has helped me diagnose my own illness!!!

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 was prescribed Simvastatin four days ago, against my wishes, as I had heard about the side effects of muscle pain and numbness in the joints and feet. However, what I had not expected were the terrible nightmarish dreams that followed. On the fourth night I stopped taking Simvastin as I was literally too afraid to go to sleep.
I then slept fitfully but did not experience the vivid and disturbing dreams of the previous three nights.
I shall ask my doctor for alternative medication. If she cannot offer me anything other than statins, I shall stick to Benecol and research further!

Jacqui M.

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)

--------

Overdosed America (John Abramson)

The Truth about the Drug Companies (Marcia Angell)

-------

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

-------

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?)

Over 6 years ago, the following Petition was submitted to the FDA. I would encourage every patient being treated with statins to read it and bring it to the immediate attention of their physician:

CITIZEN PETITION TO CHANGE THE LABELING FOR
ALL STATIN DRUGS (MEVACOR, LESCOL, PRAVACHOL, ZOCOR,LIPITOR, AND ADVICOR) RECOMMENDING USE OF 100-200mg PER DAY OF SUPPLEMENTAL CO-ENZYME Q10 TO REDUCE THE RISK OF STATIN-INDUCED MYOPATHIES (INCLUDING
CARDIOMYOPATHY AND CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE). http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/dailys/02/May02/052902/02p-0244-cp00001-01-vol1.pdf
May 24, 2002
Petitioner:
Dr. Julian M. Whitaker, M.D.

This Petition is based on the clinical findings of Dr Peter H. Langsjoen, MD, who also reported it to the FDA as follows:

Statins kill people - lots of people - and they wound many, many more. All patients taking statins become depleted in Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), eventually - those patients who start with a relatively low CoQ10 levels (the elderly and patients with heart failure) begin to manifest signs/symptoms of CoQ10 deficiency relatively rapidly - in 6 to 12 months. Younger, healthier people who's only "illness" is the non-illness "hypercholesterolemia" can tolerate statins for several years before getting into trouble with fatigue, muscle weakness and soreness (usually with normal muscle enzyme CPK tests) and most ominously - heart failure. In my practice of 17 years in Tyler, Texas, I have seen a frightening increase in heart failure secondary to statin usage, "statin cardiomyopathy". Over the past five years, statins have become more potent, are being prescribed in higher doses, and are being used with reckless abandon in the elderly and in patients with "normal" cholesterol levels. We are in the midst of a CHF epidemic in the US with a dramatic increase over the past decade. Are we causing this epidemic through our zealous use of statins? In large part I think the answer is yes. We are now in a position to witness the unfolding of the greatest medical tragedy of all time - never before in history has the medical establishment knowingly (Merck & Co., Inc. has two 1990 patents combining CoQ10 with statins to prevent CoQ10 depletion and attendant side effects) created a life threatening nutrient deficiency in millions of otherwise healthy people, only to then sit back with arrogance and horrific irresponsibility and watch to see what happens - as I see two to three new statin cardiomyopathies per week in my practice, I cannot help but view my once great profession with a mixture of sorrow and contempt.

I was taking Lovastatin until the VA told me that it was not on their formulary any longer and I had to take Simvastatin. Within a couple months my feet started burning and a numbness began creeping up my legs. I began falling, staggering and lost the ability to walk without two canes. I thought I was in the early stages of MS or ALS and feared I was dying. My fiance' did research on the internet (Spacedoc.com) and discovered that the symptoms I was suffering from were the result of Statin Poisoning (don't take my word...look it up) I took myself off the Simvastatin at the doctors request and began taking 4 1000mg of Omega 3 Fish Oil, 2 50mg CoQ10, 1 50mg L Carnitine, a multi vitamin, and 1 81mg coated aspirin per day. I still have numbness in my legs and some burning in my feet one and one half years later. My Neurologist has told me (and written a letter to the effect) that I am permanently disabled...that this will never go away. Statins (all Statins) are poison...don't take them....the pharmacutical companies only push them to make MONEY they don't care about you or your health. If you need more information contact me anytime and I'll be happy to share any research I have. ******

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 am 43 yr old woman and have been on simvastatin on and off for the past 3yrs, it's only since coming across this website that I have actually managed to find a connection between this awful drug and a whole heap of medical problems. The most recent course made me so ill that I thought I had an incurable illness that no one could diagnose, at times I have been in so much pain I thought I was going to die. It started with severe knee pain, I have a little arthritis in the knee but doctors were baffled at why it would hurt so much as x-rays on knees and hips were ok. I ended up having an operation to cut a ligament, that was over a year ago and had been in crippling pain ever-since. Also; foggy head, headaches everyday lasting all day, pain in jaw, shoulders, neck, swollen throat, incredible limb swelling, numbness all down right side, kidney problems, weakness in muscles, aching hips and legs, itching, insomnia, to name a few. I complained to my doctor when I was prescribed 50mg of this poison because as soon as I took it, I immediately felt ill and collapsed from terrible weakness, couldn't even lift a feather. They reduced it to 20mg, and I blindly kept taking it, in the meantime, my leg function was worsening, my back was killing me, I couldn't sleep because of the unbelievable burning in my shoulders, hip, neck and legs, everything hurt so much. I have been in tears from the pain and frustration of not knowing what was happening to me, painkillers, even high potency prescriptions just didn't work. I was a healthy gym-going person with a slightly high cholesterol reading, and suddenly, I was almost crippled, unable to function or look after my family, couldn't even handle simple chores that I had done a thousand times before, couldn't think, speak well, do crosswords, it was unbelievable. I have had ECG's, heart stress tests, been to and fro to doctors, hospitals, specialists, even seen an osteopath with these pains, they must have thought I was a hypochondriac! Finally, I insisted on an MRI on my thigh as it had changed shape as there was a lot of muscle wasting in both my right arm and thigh, and so much pain. A lump had also appeared and was really worrying me. The doctor tried to fob me off and said it was a fat lump, I argued that if it was fat it wouldn't hurt so damn much, so the result of the MRI is that I have a tumor which is getting bigger. If I find out that this is a result of the medication, the gates of hell will open.
I took myself off this lethal stuff immediately as soon as I realized there was a connection between it and my debilitating condition, though it's too late to save my 12 yr relationship, that went down the tubes because I just couldn't function well, oh, and my job. and any chance of working after being ill for so long.
I have been off it just a few days but already I feel almost human again. I know it'll be a while before I can see a marked difference and do some of the things I used to be able to do like walk the dog!! but I am furious with my doctor's and have written a letter of complaint, and have told them that I would rather take my chances with god and be a happy person than ever trust them again. I am in no doubt whatsoever that this drug has ruined the last 3 years of my life and probably caused irreversible damage to my leg muscles. Why take a pill because the doctor said so??NEVER AGAIN from now on everything will be checked via websites like this, I am so disgusted that instead of helping me, my own doctor just prescribed other medications I need not have had because of this pill when all he had to do was take me off it. I find it hard to believe that they don't know of these side effects, or pretend not to, how can they not make the connection?? Absolutely furious. I am in worse health now than I ever was, there should be a serious health warning before this is given to anyone, and the first port of call for any complaints should be the doctors who prescribe them instead of offering alternative solutions. This is a time bomb waiting to explode.

had most of the side effects that are mentioned to a greater or lesser degree.I have been taking 80mg for 1 to 2 years off and on, The quality of life decreases for the taker especially with the loss of clarity of thought, aches and pains i can put up with but as i am a teacher i feel that at times lately my speed of though is massively impaired and that is frightening. I am told by my friend in the USA that statins are banned overthere so why are we being experimented upon here? question your doctor and do not accept a carte-blanche answer this is not the holy grail that it is supposed to be....

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've been on Simvastatin for about 4 years but have been suffering pains in my arms as well as very tender soles of my feet.

Doctor started me on simvastatin 2 weeks ago. Since then i have been feeling nauseous, especially in the morning. pains in the back and shoulders and feeling very weak. Last Saturday i couldn't get out of bed because i was so weak. The Doctor advises me to continue taking the pills as they will help to reduce my cholesterol and help with my diabetic control i am not convinced. I have had a blood test to test the effect of the statins and has come back negative.

My husband has been taking 40mg Simvastatin for almost a year. Since taking the statins he has had numerous side effects one of which is stomach cramps with bouts of diarrhea. His muscles have also been wasting away and he has had on and off chest pains which recently landed him in hospital which resulted in an unnecessary angiogram which was a traumatic experience.

Between the pain in my legs and the pain in my feet it's tough to get around. Both occurred soon after starting on statins. If I squat to pick something up I can barely get back up again. Not fun.

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