Vytorin side effects

On Vytorin for the first time 10/80 for 8 weeks -cholesterol numbers are fine now. My liver count was slightly high and my doctor said that was fine. I took myself off. This is the 3rd day without and I am less tired each day and I am feeling like myself again.

* Completely sunburned after 30 minutes in the sun
* Have to get up at least once a night to urinate (never had before)
* Extreme pain in my feet when I first get up in the morning. (Goes away in 30 seconds) If I feel it when I get up to urinate, I won't feel it later when I normally get up
* Decreased sex drive
* Cholesterol decrease from 310 to 147

Afraid these side effects are just the beginning

Yes, I have been taking Vytorin 10/40 for about 10 months, and it did reduce my cholesterol and triglycerides to 'normal', however, I slowly developed (initially) some 3 months back, problems in my left solder, diagnosed eventually as 'rotator cuff' ligament damage, however, it came on slowly and progressively worsened. I had not done anything strenuous to develop such a condition. It became so bad that I was basically redd to using my right arm. On top of this, the muscles in my lower arms became sore and felt strained even lifting a glass of water was painful. My Doctor was informed of increasing on-going muscle problems, did an emzine muscle test, which turned out to be 'clear'. And I also lost my sexual drive gradually.
I went off taking Vytorin a week ago on my own gut feeling, and my arm muscles and left shoulder have improved. I am also hoping no permanent damage. I am moving to a much higher exercise regime to 'burn' cholesterol and reduce triglycerides, and in the mean time look for 'natural' solutions as well.
I am not impressed with the medical responses I got, along with miss-diagnosed muscle / tendon supposed 'rotator cuff' serious problem that developed in my left shoulder, which I suspect may never be the same functionally. I recommend looking at other alternatives and natural remedies, this is my course of action. MM

To all of you here I would suggest that you also read messages for the others statins such as for instance Lipitor, Zocor and Simvastatin as all statins have similar side effects.

I have written several messages there (Swedish). I have nothing to do with the health or pharmaceutical industry.

Just an ordinary lady in her sixties who have experienced side effects in people close to me.

That made me look for information. It started in 2003 and continues to this day because I think it`s necessary.

I hope you will be able to read some of the books that I mention in my messages to enlighten yourself.

Unfortunately the names of the webb-sites have been replaced with ***' but if you google for the names of the writers I am sure you will find them.

Good luck!

Was on Vytorin for 2 years & experienced no noticeable side effects during that time. It lowered my cholesterol to 179. Had a hysterectomy (complete) in Dec., 2007. In May, 2008, I began a sudden on-set of severe numbness in both hands (especially when lying down)--classic carpal tunnel symptoms and intense pain in all joints. When I move from a sitting position to stand up, I can hardly do it. This is what I thought I would feel like at maybe 80 years old--not 46 yrs. I thought maybe it was because I'm not taking hormone replacements, but my doctor said it could be the Vytorin & he took me off of it. I've been off for 2 months, but the symptoms are not improving. The carpal tunnel seems to have lightened up a bit, but the joint pain (especially hips) has not gotten any better. I wonder if it ever will????? Also experience fatigue, foot pain, & weak fingers.

headache,memory loss,muscle pain,fatigue,insomnia.

I have been on Vytorin for about six months. I just recently started experiencing numbness/tingling from the waist down to my feet. I have also experienced it in my forearms and fingertips. Two days ago, I woke up and my face was tingly. My muscles are very week, and I have no energy. I stopped taking it two days ago, but haven't seen any improvement, yet. Hopefully, I'll see some soon. I am drinking lots of water to try to get it out of my system. I am done with statins.

Vytorin makes me urinate every 15 or 20 minutes. I haven't been able to get a good night's sleep since I started using it because I'm up every 15 or 20 minutes going to the bathroom. I know it's the vytorin because I stopped using it after a weekend I don't have to get up every 15 to 20 minutes any more to go to the bathroom.

I have been taking Vytorin for about 9 months. I have severe pain and stiffness in my feet and toes. It is so bad that most nights it wakes me up. I am having a lot of pain in my knees too and after reading all of these symptoms, I am also wondering if it is not all related to the Vytorin. My cholesterol numbers are great but I feel like I am falling apart. I am a 52 year old female and have never had so many aches and pains.

I have been taking Vytorin for approximately 8 months. I noticed that my knees were weak and I had cramps not only in my thighs but also my hands. I can hardly stand up from a sitting position. I thought it was because of the normal aging process. I am a Nurse and started to look at the medications I was taking. I decided that Vytorin could be the culprit. So 1 week ago I stopped taking it. I see some improvement in my knees and cramps. I did have problems with Lipitor in the past. I will not take any more Statin drugs. It is ridiculous to have such side effects from a drug that collegiately is suppose to help you. My cholesterol is around 200. I will seek other avenues to lower my cholesterol.

I am a 45 yr old female and I have been on Vytorin for about 2 yrs or so for my cholesterol problems. Was on Lipitor before that and was getting leg pain so I stopped taking it. When blood work time came around it was still up so my doc put me on Vytorin. I have noticed that I feel like I'm dying. I have severe neck,back and arm pain, cold and hot attacks, can't sleep, chest pain,blurred vision, sudden stomach cramps, nausea, throat and ear aches, and bad stomach problems. I have had heart cath, ekgs,endoscopy, blood work and everything keeps coming back normal. Matter of fact, I went to the heart doc today and he put me on a 24 hour monitor and for low heart rate that has gradually gotten worse over the past few months.He even mentioned a pace maker. I don't even want to start about the depression and anxiety attacks that I have. They are AWFUL. But the more blogs that I have read, I think I know where the problem may lye. The Vytorin, so as of tonight I will NOT take another one..I just hope that there is no permanent damage done as far as my liver. I hope you all the best and I will let you know how I start to feel in the next few days...

Due to the large number of people suffering debilitating side effects from Vytorin and other statin drugs, I would like to encourage each and everyone here to tell your statin story on home video and post it on ****** This would be an excellent way to alert the world to the truth about the dangers of these drugs.

Wow! I can really relate to this website. I started taking Vytorin about 3 mos. ago. Within a few weeks, I thought I sprained my knee-went to urgent care-came out with a knee brace and crutches. Then my knee got progressively worse - and my other knee started swelling and the pain was so horrible I could hardly walk or move around. Then I got lower back pain - my physician has referred me to an Orthopedic Specialist - but I was crying so much the other nite with my pain - I literally prayed out to God to please help me. He put the thought in my head to go check the internet for side effects and I realized the only drug it could be was Vytorin. I am so grateful for finding this website. I hope and pray my muscle damage is not irreversible. This truly has been worse than anything I could ever have imagined. Thought my life was over. Just stopped taking the drug - I will never take it again.

I was on Vytorin for about 3 years. Originally I was prescribed 40 mg and when my ldl didnt go down enough for the doctor. I was prescribed 80 mg a day about a year and a half ago. A bit of history....I had a heart attack at 33 years of age and at that time was given angioplasty. I am now 44 years old and have not had another attack. I have been having muscle pain for over year, although it feels more like my syatic sp? nerves in my lower back. My knees are so bad that I have been having to wear knee braces periodically and can no longer kneel without falling over in extreme pain. My muscles in my thighs have been deteriorating even though I have been working out with a personal trainer for over a year and my calves were getting huge to compensate. I also went to an eye dr. as I was having trouble reading and driving at night due to blurry vision. They said that I still had 20/20 vision and to start using very light reading glasses when reading and that should help. The last straw was when I was on vacation and had a terrible bout of paranoia. It was so bad that I can't even tell anyone what it was about. Another major effect that I have had over the years from any statin is the fact that my sexual urges are basically non existent.

Now for the good news!!!! In late April, after returning from my vacation, I decided that I wanted to see if the Vytorin/Simvastatin was giving me a majority of these symptoms and decided to quit cold turkey. Well 2 months later I can say that I feel about 90% better. I haven't had to use the reading glasses within 48 hours of stopping (I'm not even sure where they're at now). Within a week I noticed my libido returning and the paranoia completely gone. Within the last 2 weeks I have noticed my thigh muscles coming back and the muscles around my knees getting stronger. I am so thankful that I am returning back to normal!!

I will never, ever take another Statin again!!!!

I just started taking Vytorin and my doc told me if I had any muscle aches to call him. I haven't yet. But my symptoms are very tired all the time, my hamstrings and calves ache all the time as if I have the flu. I have an ache in my left arm, my joints ache like the flu, also my right him feels like its going to slip out of socket sometime when I stand and turn. My back hurts a lot as if I have bee lift weights with my back.My appetite is almost gone, that part I like however I go all day sometimes without being hungry or eating. Some mornings I wake up very, very thirsty. The worst symptoms is the body and joint aches. I was attempting to have sex with my wife everything started out fine then all of a sudden whammo, it turtled-up. I've experienced this before but only after playing 3 hours of basketball or weight lifting. I've only taken Vytorin every other day.

every day my feet, legs up to knees, hands and up to mid forearm and face become tingly, numb and very weak to where I cannot get out of my chair or out of bed. Sweaty and chilled, headache, neck ache, thirst. I am on vytorin10/80. 63 yr old female. It sucks!

I'm 44 and have taken Vytorin for several months. Having a lot of the symptoms listed. Has anyone had a problem with the heart skipping beats? I took myself off the stuff yesterday and already I feel a lot better - not great yet but I'm hoping thats to come.

Wow! I have been on Vytorin for 7 months. About a month after starting this poison, I had a panic attack. Scared me to death. I have been working with my Dr. to find the root of this new found anxiety. After reading these threads, it sounds to me like the Vytorin may be to blame. I also have a clay colored stool and have 2-3 bowel movements a day.

Cramps in feet and legs

Not sure if this is Vytoring related, but I have near-constant nausea (with NO loss of appetite), fatigue, exercise intolerance and shortness of breath and pain in both elbows.

It cut my cholesterol in half and is still down, but my triglycerides have shot way up....

As MANY of you have posted, "I thought I was just getting 'old." Now I know it's the statins. I thought I was doing the right thing because I have family history of cholesterol problems. I was first on pravachol, then lipitor for a few years, now Vytorin - which dropped my numbers to the lowest ever - 190.

HOWEVER - I have never felt worse. I have all the 'symptoms' described in this blog. Reclusive, depressed, extreme shoulder/neck stiffness and pain. Low back, and hip joint pain (severe). I can't even workout because I don't have the stamina to go through my routine. LOSS OF MEMORY!! This is severe. I use to be able to memorize hundreds of numbers or addresses and now can't remember a number that I looked at 2 seconds ago! This is insane! They need to remove this drug from the market. I'm done with statins.

Had double pypass surgery in November '07. I'm 61 years old. All went very well, no heart attacks prior or to date.

While at the hospital I was put on Vytorin. Never thought much about it until recently I started experiencing insomnia. Not mild...I'm talking about up until 5 a.m. then it would subside. Finally the light came on. I have stopped taking Vytorin and have requested my doctor find an alternative. I have had other symptoms that I now can attribute to Vytorin. From what I understand it could take months to get out of my system. Any comments?

I have been on Vytorin for about 4 years; was taking Crestor before that. In the last year, the tops of my feet have developed a burning feeling, and different parts of my feet have numbness at different times. I also got up 2 to 3 times per night to urinate. My core felt weak and my muscles ached. I read the comments on this forum and others regarding Vytorin side effects. I decided to quit taking this drug and informed my doctor of my choice. Vytorin got my cholesterol down to 137, but who cares. I'm relying on a sensible diet and Omega 3 to keep me going. The foot burning is still there after 3 weeks but it seems like its less than it was.

Shortly before Christmas 2007 my doctor decided my LDL was too high (104) so changed me to Vytorin from just Simvastatin. Shortly after the new year I became so weak that I would look at my stairway and wonder how I was going to manage going up for the night. I was extremely tired and terribly weak, hurting all over. I didn't even want a back rub from my husband because I hurt so bad. I arbitrarily stopped taking the Vytorin and resumed my Simvastatin (40mg/day) When I called my doctor he poo-pooed my symptoms and said if I had those symptoms with Vytorin I would have them with the Simvastatin. 2 weeks later my cardiologist assured me that I was not imagining the symptoms and increased my Simvastatin dose to 60mg/day which seems to be fine. Three of my co-workers experienced the same problems and took themselves off medication. Doctors...listen up!!!

a lot of pain on the right side , back pain, nausea, gas, lots of stomach distress

Hey guys....I'm 27 and have been on this for about 2 years and everything was ok, until a month ago. First... abdomen uncomfortableness, not really pain. Then, I was driving and it seemed like I just couldn't hold my neck up and it was so tired. I just wanted to lay my head down. Weird random muscle pains in my legs like the calfs and thighs. Then one night a pain in my left shoulder blade.....more muscle pain. Oh...and really crazy sweaty feet and sweaty joints like in the back of the legs and in the arms. This went on for about a month. I am posting this because I want to get the word out that it doesn't matter what age and totally normal healthy people can get this. The side effects were not Terrible but weird and not fun. You don't have to have the whole gam-met of anxiety attacks and insomnia. I have been off for 2 weeks and it got a little better...we'll see. Time to take fish oil instead. I will post later. Cya

Guys - I just have to make a little follow up to my earlier post in January of this year. After giving it consideration and after reading all of your posts - I truly felt that I should stop this poison. And I did. Cold Turkey......

First day - mentally, I felt like I had been freed. Probably just a psychological thing, but nonetheless...
Second day - okay...my head felt clearer....my ear started to feel better...ah....my back...it's starting to feel less stiff...
Third day - no heating pad at night....I feel "lighter" (for lack of a better word)
Fourth day - my thighs don't hurt anymore.....I'm still tired.....very very tired...but the anxiety seems to be subsiding....I feel like I've come out of a strange fog....
Fifth day and on - my hubby says it took me a good two weeks to come around to "me" again.....now I'm still continuing my 2 TBS of flaxseed a day.....slowly losing a little weight - 5 pounds at this point.....15 more to go.....and thank God my chest doesn't hurt anymore. I don't feel like I'm dying (well, I still have anxiety attacks - but that's a separate thread - haha)....

My hubby just got diagnosed with cholesterol problems as well and he's on Simvastatin (sp?) which I believe is Zocor....and no problems. It's all in the makeup of a person, I'm convinced.

So everyone - if you feel like you're dying on this crap Vytorin, try to free yourself....even if it's just for a month....eat really well...take your flaxseed.....and see if you can get off of this horrible poison that OUR bodies don't accept...

Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now....."-)

I've had a heart attack at age 46 (2000) and had two stents put in. I have been on various cholesterol medicines. If my cholesterol went down my triglycerides went up, leg pains were horrible. In 2004 the Dr did another angioplasty my arteries looked clear. In 2007 I started having chest pains and went in for another angioplasty, I had two 90% blocked arteries and One 70%. I have been taking Vytorin for over two years, I started with 10/20, I had moderate cholesterol and a little high in triglycerides, and a little high in my liver enzymes. My doctor increased me to 10/40 since the angioplasty, yes everything dropped in to normal ranges except my liver enzymes which have now doubled.I have had very strange eye attacks, it is like my eyes go numb, anxiety attacks, depression, horrible lower back ache by my hips, shoulder pain coming on lately. The good thing is that this comes and goes, it is not constant, but when it hits it is bad. One thing I think I have been an example for, is Vytorin doesn't work any better than anything else, because if it did I wouldn't have had 2 more blocked arteries,
Now I am concerned about the 3rd one he did not put a stent in it and upped my dosage hoping it would keep it from clogging. I fear I am doomed...

Muscle enzyme test indicates Vytorin as the cause of massive fatty deposits on the backs of my thighs and arms.

Anyone else have this side effect?

1. Throbbing and radiating pain in thigh muscles, back muscles, and arms and hands.

2. Calf cramps when sleeping and Restless Leg syndrome.

3. Numbness in toes

4. Headaches when in a lot of pain.

5. Blurry vision throughout the day along with dry eye syndrome

6. Dry Skin problems, and bacteria infection of hair follicles on head.

7. Chest Pains like having a heart attack.

8. Forgetfulness, short and long term

9. Anxiety, Depression, disorientation, panic attacks, worrying about everything

10. Overly Aggressive behavior, not normal to past personality

11. Feelings of dying and death in general. Being overly concerned that life insurance is paid up etc...

12. Problems swallowing, breathing, and sleeping

13 Kidney & Bowel problems

14. CPK Test of 2300, 2600, and rising until medication stopped.

15. Glucose variations between 62 and 136 during repeated fasting FBG

16 Biopsy of thigh muscle showed Statin Drug throughout thigh muscle causing severe degeneration & inflammation.

17. Five months after stopping Vytorin CPK is down from 2650 to 900. I still have symptoms, but throbbing and radiating pains seem to be gone. Still have muscle pain & weakness, difficulty swallowing and breathing, and am being treated with an anti-inflammatory drug, a pill for anxiety and depression, a sleeping pill and CPAP machine for breathing when sleeping. However I still have trouble sleeping and pains in the night.

My calves feel like I walked up 25 flights of stairs, similar with my thighs. I started reading the side effects and have been on Vytorin for about a year, and for about 8 months this has been going on. I thought I might have restless leg syndrome. I am going to stop Vytorin for a few weeks and see if this muscle pain decreases

I'm crying reading these posts. I thought there was something wrong with me. I'm 41 years old - and my family has a health history of "making" cholesterol. Both parents were on statins. My total cholesterol was 267 a few months ago - LDLs were 171 and my HDLs were 42. I started taking flaxseed meal every day - and within a few months, my cholesterol dropped to 193, my LDLs were 117 and my HDLs were the same.
My doctor's didn't think it was the flaxseed - they had prescribed Vytorin which I reluctantly took for about a week. They attributed my lowering numbers to the statin, not the flaxseed - so I followed their advice and started taking the Vytorin about 3 weeks ago......
Now I don't know if it's coincidence, but I have developed a severe left ear problem....and have taken 2 separate antibiotics, but to no avail. I have also developed a severe pain in my left shoulder, the back of my left arm and sometimes it shoots into my chest.
I suffer from anxiety attacks, so of course, to me, this is a heart attack, but since I've been tested so many times and I'm a healthy woman, I know that's not it. I thought I'd log onto google today and search out what could possibly be causing these troubles. I read these posts and I literally have been crying for about 15 minutes. My doctors have told me that Vytorin is almost a "magic" pill. They said if someone could tell you that you could take this pill and it would reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke by 50%, why wouldn't you take it? Given the history of your parents, it would be foolish to not.
I have also been given instructions to lose about 25 pounds (not bad), and I know that if I could just exercise, eat well and take my flaxseed as well as making sure I eat 2-3 meals of fish a week, then I have to be better, don 't you think?
Do you think statins are the only way to go? I'm so happy to know I'm not alone - I'm not going crazy - I'm not experiencing any heart attacks....my anxiety is ten-fold lately - I wake up after a full-night's sleep feeling exhausted. I have four wonderful children and a wonderful husband - I live for them - and I feel so sad and depressed lately.
Oh my gosh everyone - do you really think that the Vytorin would have such an incredible impact on all of our lives?????

My husband just started taking Vytorin again after about 2 to 3 months of being off of it-because of the cost of the prescription. He started developing severe back pain. He has had spinal fusion 10 years ago and it was so severe he felt like one of the rods had broken. Pain is now a little better after a few days, but he still can't stand for anyone to move in the bed when he is sleeping. After finding this site I am tempted to have him quit taking Vytorin for awhile and see if the pain subsides. He says he hurts worse at night after taking the medicine.

I never thought about Vytorin being an issue until I went to the ear, nose and throat guy the other day for an earache and bronchitis I had been having for the last month. Reviewing my chart, he said what ever you have heard in the news about Vytorin just ignore and keep taking it. Long story short, every since August I have been having what the doctors might think is MS, but they can't peg it. Tremors and seizures, constant pain in my legs and arms, a vision problem, tired all the time, numbness in my face legs and arms, headaches, depression. the list goes on. I had stomach problems but they could never find anything wrong for my feeling sick all the time, so I'm on another med for that. I was just hospitalized again, this time for pancreatitis, again they have no idea why this occurred, they can't explain it. I just know that I am tired of feeling like crap and being sick and being in the hospital all the time. I am going to talk to my doctors about being pulled off the Vytorin and we will see how I feel then. Plus I guess I need to consult my attorney also.

After reading the side effects listed by other people, I realize many of my health problems may be related to Vytorin. I've been taking it for about a year. Insomnia, anxiety attacks, bloating and nausea, hot and itchy back, sore and stiff hands are the major ones. Last weekend i was in the emergency room for an unexplained right side pain that was excruciating (like being stabbed by a knife over and over again). All the tests revealed nothing but a higher white blood count. After I went home, I experienced lesser pain for a week, then the ah ha moment - I stopped the Vytorin and the pain stopped and many other symptoms subsided.

I am totally freaking out while reading these Vytorin postings. I have everything listed plus more....I have never thought anything more than it was me 'aging' or what ever. I started working out almost a year ago, just to make me 'feel better' but continue to battle with bad health. About 1 month ago, I got pneumonia (2nd time in 2 years), 3 weeks ago I started having deep 'tennis elbow' type pains in my arms. I mentioned this to a lab tech friend and she flip replays 'sounds like a side effect from a drug you are on.' I am taking Vytorin (and only Vytorin) so I decide to look it up: As I am reading these other postings, I find a familiar string with ailments I have experienced and told my physician but have never been led to think any possible connection with Vytorin. I have had several problems including: shooting, electrical pains in my lower and upper back and chest, elbow pain, pneumonia, diarrhea/constipation flux, anxiety, strange visual thoughts and memory loss.

I started having extreme pain in my shoulder. Then in my hip and lower back. Then one day I was fifty miles from home and I had extreme pain in my stomach and back. The pain was so bad I couldn't hardly drive. I had to call someone to come and pick me up and take me to a doctor.
I was given a pain shot and an antibiotic shot. He said my white blood cell count was pretty high. The pain shot did nothing for me.I've been given a round of antibiotics, Z pack, inflammation tablets, and muscle relaxers.
The pain has eased up a little, but the pain is still pretty bad. The doctor wanted to know if I had started a new medicine recently. The only new medicine I was taking is Vytorin. I had also had chest pains. I had no idea that any of these pains had anything to do with each other.
To me Vytorin has been a nightmare.
My whole Christmas was ruined because I was in extreme pain.

God Help me, I am starting on this poison

Have been taking Vytorin for about two months. So far, main side effects have been frequent stools, gas, and occasional diarrhea. Some tiredness; hard to know if it's caused by the Vytorin, though.

The only truly bad problems I've experienced happened when I ate a half a grapefruit. That night I awoke with a splitting headache and chills/sweats. The next day I had to take Pepto Bismol before leaving the house because I was constantly in the bathroom. Obviously the grapefruit doubled the effect of the medication.

I am not sure if Vytorin is the cause. I saw the doctor today. I have taken Vytorin approximately 5 months. The past 3 months I have sever nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, frequent headaches, aches and pains in joints. I have lost 20 lbs. Sweaty palms and feet, chills to burning up.I am exhausted and depressed. Some slight lower abdomen pain. It is difficult to even leave the house. I saw the Dr. today and he hardly recognized me. I have no idea what is wrong, but today I stopped Vytorin. If it turns out to be Vytorin I will post it immediately.

I have been taking Vytorin for about 10 weeks. During this time, I have experienced aches and pain in my neck to the point of tears. Hands get numb, lower back, now....knees, joints, fingers, hips, EVERYTHING HURTS. At first I thought it was due to the fact that I just started work (bar tender/food server) which requires a lot of lifting, reaching, stretching etc. As far as I know all that motion would make me healthier. Right? Common sense tells me......hmmmmm if I've been working for a month and I still HURT and it's getting worse....what the????? The Dr who prescribed the Vytorin then suggested that I go to physical therapy; The PT told me that I had strains in my back from working. What the? Then I'm told that I'm experiencing aches and pains because I'm in recovery????? What the????? I'm in so much pain when I wake up, my hands are stiff, I can hardly move my entire body. This is like it's a drug induced fibromyalgia. I'd rather go home to the Lord from high cholesterol than live with this pain. Today I am stopping the Vytorin. I had one of those AH HA moments that was posted on this site. It's really sad that I had to do the research on what has been the cause of my aches and pains; when the first thing any doctor asks.....what medications are you taking? BOLD LETTERS......VYTORIN!!! I'm going to take a nap, try to rest the next two days off work being that I have a doctor's excuse to do so after marching myself to the medical facility where I live and BEING ANGRY and letting them know........I should not have to have had to diagnose myself. WE ALL KNOW OUR BODIES....I kept insisting that I hurt so bad and it wasn't from "work" or being in "recovery". So, I certainly can relate to all the posts. I'm going to be 50 on 12/19 and I feel as if I'm 80. Thank God (lol) I "look good". A sense of humor goes a long way......but it's so hard to not be a little grouchy when we hurt, right? You are all in my prayers.

Was on Vytorin for 3 mos before I started developing serious health issues. First it was pneumonia. While trying to recover from that, I started experiencing pain in my thigh muscle which caused me to have difficulty walking and sitting. Each day the intensity of pain was increasing, so much so that by day 5 my husband took me to the emergency room at 4 in the morning because the pain wouldn't stop. I was put on bed rest for a week and had to take a narcotic for the pain, anti-inflammation and muscle relaxer meds. I missed 2 weeks from my job in 2 months. After paying attention to the commercials (something I never do) I realized that Vytorin could have caused my problems.

I've been off the drug for 30 days now. It has also caused damage to my liver. I have to have blood drawn bi-weekly to see if my liver is healing properly. The pain in my thigh has gone away to the point where I can walk normally but I'm still stiff when trying to stand up after sitting for a while. I tried to go back to exercising but the damage to my muscle isn't allowing that to happen. I'm praying that this won't be permanent.

I have been on Lexapro for several years to help with migraine auras brought on by anxiety.
6 months ago my doctor put me on Vitorin for my high cholesterol (280 total) which was not being controlled with Lipitor. Lately I have been having the auras again and thought maybe the Lexapro had stopped working.
I also have a problem sleeping straight through the night, have recently started having strong frequent urges to urinate, and some strange mental/visual experiences. e.g. I was recently in route to JFK terminal and I swore that a sign said "Jet Blue-terminal 4". My daughter said that it was 6 but my brain literally SAW 4. She was right.
The other day I was taking a frozen dinner out of the freezer for lunch. The package said "Stouffers" and I was surprised because I didn't think I had bought Stouffers. When I went to open it it was a "Smart One" frozen meal, but I SWEAR I saw "Stouffers." I'm 54 but thought maybe I had a brain tumor or early Altsheimers or something.
I came upon this forum by mistake looking for answers. Maybe Vytorin is my problem, even though I do not experience any of the joint or muscle pain.
I need to go back to my primary physician to have the cholesterol rechecked. This better all end soon because its scaring the daylights out of me!

Taking for almost a year. Have insomnia, wake up many times a night. Always tired and want to nap. Moodiness and reclusiveness.

I do not know how long I am taking Vytorin, maybe a year or so. The doctors called me and whooped it up ( I thought it was a serious issue) but they were just so excited that my cholesterol levels and other levels went down by more than one hundred points. I am now investigating sleep maintenance i.e. I go to sleep and wake up many times during the night and then go back again. This never happened before. It is like I have a newborn baby. Besides that I am tired all the time and later in the day I want to nap, i.e. I feel bone tired and it is more like I am sick. I took this all into the idea of aging but I am beginning to look into my drugs that I am taking. Just read that Zocor has effect on sleep and Vytorin has Zocor in it.

I have been on Vytorin for several months. I had issues, but didn't think it was the drug, like tennis elbow. Now two days ago, I have had severe muscle pain from my lower back to the tops of my feet. I've had to take vicodin for the pain so I can sleep at night. I stopped taking Vytorin and only pray that the pain will go away. I have read many websites that say the pain may never go away due to damage to the muscles. I can't believe this. I am suppose to have surgery to have my ovaries removed due to pain in my pelvic region, now I am wondering if it's Vytorin causing the pain. I have also experienced headaches for days, blurred vision, severe sleepiness all day, painful hip joints, irritable to name a few.

I began taking Vytorin and within a week I had terrible muscle and joint pains. Pain in my hips, calves, knees, shoulders, arms. With each day that I took the pill, the pain got more intense to the point where I couldn't walk without limping. After reading multiple entries about this side effect, I immediately stopped taking the drug and the pain is beginning to subside. I absolutely cannot take this drug and will try to find other alternatives to lowering cholesterol as the side-effects in my situation far outweigh the benefits.

My Doctor prescribed Vytorin becase my LDL was high (160), about 1 month ago. At the beginning, I didn't feel anything, but gradually I have been feeling stiffness and pain in all my joints and an incredible pain on my left shoulder, extending to the arm giving it a burning sensation. My mood has changed. I'm more irritable, depressed and my memory is worse than ever. I can't enjoy reading anymore because is very difficult to focus. My appetite increased enourmously and I gained 5 pounds since I'm taking Vytorin 10/40 every other day. I just read in this site that many people is experiencing the same side effects, so tomorrow (Monday), I'll notify my doctor I'm going to stop this poison. Iread in other websites that it causes muscle destruction and inhibits the synthesis of cholesterol in the brain, needed for well functioning. Who approved this crazy drug?

In Sept, I was given a script for Vytorin as my triglycerides were high while rest of cholesterol was in the good zone. I have taken Zocor for years with no problems at all. I am also hypertensive and type 2 diabetic. I take a lot of medications. I was told that there might be a possible problem and to stop the medication if it did come about, by my primary care dr. The chief pharmasist also talked to me about drug interaction that could take place due to one of my BP drugs. I had trouble from day 1, starting with severe HA. It got worse as the days went on and by day 5 I was a wreck, pains from top of head to bottom of feet and depression issues as well. I was unable to reach my PCP as he was in the Arctic Circle on training exercise. I stopped the medication and it took about 10 days for me to come back to what for me is normal. I then called in a request to go back to the zocor as it had not bothered me in the past. Happy to say that I have only the old problems that I have been living with for years and doing fairly well. I have since been tested for any possible damage and thank heavens there was nothing new. It will be a long time before I accept a change or addition in my medications. I guess if it sounds too good to be true it must be so.

I started getting very exhausted with lower back pain and had felt like I had to urinate constantly. I went to my doctor and found out my gall bladder and pancreas was inflammed. I am now waiting on more lab results and 5 days after stopping my sypmtoms are still the same. I am at the point were I have missed 2 days of work because I have been so miserable. My boss is pissed at me, like its my fault. Thanks vytorin and your unsafe ways. Just say No to statins!