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Simvastatin problems.

Posted , 22 users are following.

Norfolk_gal
Norfolk_gal

Like others on here I was prescribed Simvastatin for high cholesterol.

I took it for a few months and as I already had some joint problems due to osteo arthritis and pain with same ,I noticed it was slowly getting worse.I saw my GP who told me that I was on such a low dosage 20mg that it could not possibly be Simvastatin to be the cause and it was my arthritic joints getting worse.I had sleep disturbance as well ,muscle pain in legs ,then my feet got so painful that on awaking in the morning I dreaded getting out of bed.

I saw my GP again who again told me to carry on taking as he was sure it was not the cause of the problem.

It got so bad that I just stopped taking it as I felt sure it was the cause of increased problems,that was June 2011,my routine blood test was 4 weeks later but my cholesterol level had gone to 7.2 so I had to confess I had stopped taking Simvastatin,I saw another GP in the practice who put me on Atorvastatin(Lipitor)20 mg.So far no side effects.Dec.2011.

3 likes, 65 replies

65 Replies

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  • patty29358
    patty29358 Norfolk_gal

    Posted

    Thank You for everyone sharing.  My Husband has been taking Simvastatin 40mg for 5 years.  He always had muscle pain and the last few days it was the worst ever in his foot we were not sure what it was. We went to a podiatrist and he knew right away it was his medication Simvastain he told him to stop taking it.  It has been 3 days and he still can not walk on his foot and is in great pain. The Doctor didn't think anything will help with the pain just time without any Simvastatin.  He is still in a lot of pain. Has anyone found anything that will help with the pain.  Thank You and good luck to everyone. 
    • pamsdish
      pamsdish patty29358

      Posted

      It will pass in time, the drug built up in the system over time, it has to deplete, it may take a week or so, but the pain will be lessening.
    • Norfolk_gal
      Norfolk_gal patty29358

      Posted

      Hello Patty,

      Pamdish is right,it has taken a while to effect your husband and so will take a while to diminish.I was told by a practice Nurse it takes a month to clear your system and with me it was about that time.

       

  • patty29358
    patty29358 Norfolk_gal

    Posted

    Thank you for responding with the foot pain he also has swelling that started today  we are putting ice on it and waiting.  He still can not walk on his foot.  It started on the arch and then on top of the foot now it's on the ankle and still on the arch. We thought it was the gout but didn't relize that simavastin can do this much damage.  Did anyone else have any ankle swelling.  
    • pamsdish
      pamsdish patty29358

      Posted

      I get foot pain, it`s from a small bunion, pain like a knife pushing up through the arch, ankle pain, again sharp stabbing, I asked the advice of a relation who was a chiropodist, hot as you can stand. heavily salted water, soak foot every day, I was having a lot of pain in the summer, flat shoes make it worse, soaked foot every day , after 3-4 days, pain better. Still get the odd twinge but not enough, or long enough to concern
    • graham_j
      graham_j patty29358

      Posted

      hi had the same problems i came of stastins 4 weeks ago left foot arch then it went into bone went to A/E was given ibfrolen gel did nothing at all went to doctors he just told me to go away as he thought it was in my head total numpty since i stopped stastins 4 weeks ago the pain is slightly going I work outside in the cold i put thermol socks and  gel  liners in shoes...Is he also on bisiprol bet a blockers there is evidence in this drug which i am looking into with cardiloghical heart  doctor...wish you luck but keep of stastins  
  • graham_j
    graham_j Norfolk_gal

    Posted

    hi had the same thing  but 2 stents was told before hand cholesterol was 7.5 aged 49 //18 stone built of mussle lol got on these awful stastins  lost a stone in wieght gave up drinking odd one but the pain in neck shoulders and left hip tingling feeling sin hands and feet  and painfull left foot was destroying my life so I stopped 4 weeks ago and did a diary on here .. WILL NEVER take any stastins ever again i feel nearly 80% better bt still have foot problem my colesterol is now 6.3  that was yesterday BUT i m not bothered anymore ...DONT  believe in all this rubbish and wish you well  
  • Lensgirl
    Lensgirl Norfolk_gal

    Posted

    Hello, I'm new to this forum but I would like to add something. there are 2 dvd's available from the $tatin nation website. Really interesting viewing. I have refused to take Statins much to the annoyance of my GP.
    • Norfolk_gal
      Norfolk_gal Lensgirl

      Posted

      Hi Lensgirl

      Thanks for telling me/us about Statin  nation website.Very interesting site.

      I have now refused any further statin medication.I have no idea what my cholesterol level is at present,my GP now says they are not compatible to some people system and as I feel so much better not taking them so we have left it at that.No muscle pain any where now thank goodness.

      Still taking the cider vinegar and honey in water 2 times a day.no idea if it has lowered my cholesterol ,but it is quite a nice drink.well I think so.

      Again thanks for the information.

      Every one on here should view it.

       

    • Lensgirl
      Lensgirl Norfolk_gal

      Posted

      Hi Norfolk gal

      Cider vinegar and honey is really good, specially if the apple cider vinegar has the mother in it, I still have it sometimes, but most mornings I have a lemon ginger blast - takes a bit longer to get ready, though I'm lucky - my husband is really into juicing so he makes it for me.

      I bought the first DVD, then I downloaded the second one - it was quicker than waiting for it to arrive in the post. 

  • lee12629
    lee12629 Norfolk_gal

    Posted

    I had to stop simvistatin,i was only on 10 mg.After one year I developed bad neoropathy symptoms,tingling and numbness in arms and feet.Also burning in feet.Muscle weakness that got so bad I could hardly lift my purse.I could not push a grocery cart or vaccume I felt like I was 90.I read about symptoms from the med on the web and took myself off it.2 months later I started to geel some improvement but took about 2 years to feel myself again.I encourage everyone to do research on the net before you decide to take it.
  • susan21433
    susan21433 Norfolk_gal

    Posted

    My husband and I both were on cholesterol lowering drugs and were having muscle and joint pain that we had never had before.  I was getting so stiff that I could barely walk after sitting for a short while.  My hips hurt so bad at night that I would wake up all night long flipping from side to side trying to relieve the pain.  We feel so much better now that we have been off these drugs for about 5 months.  My doctor told me that I had the high cholesterol that diet could not lower.  I know that I am not going to spend my life in such pain when it is obvious it is coming from the cholesterol meds. I take Lovastatin and my husband takes Lipitor.  I am trying drinking cider vinegar and just read about taking policosanol to lower it.  I ordered some and will begin taking them, then get a cholesterol test in a few months to see if my levels are still too high.

    Doctors scare us with warnings that we will have a stroke or heart attack with high cholesterol, but many live with high levels and live to be in their late 80s without this happening to them.  I don't know what to believe anymore.  

  • shelagh2604
    shelagh2604 Norfolk_gal

    Posted

    I was prescribed Simstatins in May 2015, I had no problems at all until 3 months ago when I started to experience intermitent pain in my right wrist and hand; then 4 weeks ago the pain became severe together with swelling, my GP prescribed naproxan but it did nothing.  Now my left hand and wrist is experiencing the same pain and swelling.  Things are so bad I can no longer drive, cook or even dress myself!  The pain is constant and prevents me from sleeping and in the mornings is so bad I often have a cry.  My GP seems to think it is neuropathic pain and has prescribed Gabapentin (a drug used in epilepsy), the side effects are numerous.  He does not seem to think my pain has anything to do with the stations.  I notice most on here refer to leg and hip pain but has anyone had it in the hands/wrists like me?  At the time the pain began I started taking Bisoprolol so am uncertain if this is the cause of my pain.
    • lee12629
      lee12629 shelagh2604

      Posted

      Nerve issues (nueropathy )are a documented side affect of statins. Google it and you can show your doctor .However by this date all doctors should be aware of this,there should be no excuse for them not knowing. My doctor took me off statins right away when i started having issues but was slow to admit they caused them. My husband has numbness in his feet. His doctor advised him to go off the medds for a few months to see if it made a difference. Even if it doesnt though it doesnt mean it isnt causing it. Took me much longer to get rid of my symptoms. You might want to tell your doc you want to try that or go to another doctor for a second opinion. I hope you feel better. Xx
    • lee12629
      lee12629

      Posted

      My arms also. When they used to take my blood pressure the cuff would even make this happen. I also had foot nueropthy. My feet on the bottom would either burn or feel like i was stepping on cactus needles. It got so bad if i went shopping i would go home and cry. As mentioned in the post above,i quit driving,vacumeing,pushing a grocery cart. My purse felt like it wieghed 20 pounds. None of my symptoms started for over a year on the statin. My choelesterol from the statin greatly dropped but i felt old and had no quality of life thats why i decided to take my chances and try to live like my age again. I stopped.
    • shelagh2604
      shelagh2604 lee12629

      Posted

      Thanks Lee for your response. I have taken myself off the Statins-too soon to see any improvement, in fact it is now affecting my fingers and thumbs. Called surgery today as appointment date arrived to see rhymitology at hospital,but it is not until 22 August!!  Been given Tramadol to try for the pain in the meantime, lets hope it gives some release.

       

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