I was prescribed Lipitor by my physician. But I heard that Simvastatin (Zocor) has less of a negative effect on the body than Lipitor. Is it true?
Which drug is better - Simvastatin or Lipitor? Which does less damage to the body?
Question posted by tyrkeltaubbella on 13 Aug 2009
Last updated on 3 June 2013
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7 Answers
I have taken Simvastatin for almost one year. My knees started to ache in the beginning. In the last month both knees, both elbows and wrist feel as though they have arthritis. My doctor took me off Simvastatin one week ago. Symptoms are still there. I have difficulty walking. Bending any joint in my body is extremely painful. I you have had these symptoms, how long did it take you to feel better. This has been a very scary and devastating situation.
You might have your doctor check for Fibromyalgia. I ached for 20 years with no one making a correct diagnosis. My family doctor and I, got disgusted, and he sent me to Duke Hospital. It was purely a coincidence, but my appointment was with a rheumatologist that was part of a worldwide group of physicians, that were listing the conditions, necessary to accurately diagnose Fibromyalgia, and give it a name. He put me on a daily dose of tricylic antidepressant at night. 20 years of aching went away on night 2. At the time, the trycyclics were the best way to get a patient into the heaviest phase of sleep : phase 4 & REM. In that stage, your norepinephrine and dopamine are thought to "reconstitute", according to Dr. Rice. Deprived of phase 4 &/or REM sleep, your joints will get tender, without having arthritic symptoms. This was in the 1980's. It went away on it's own over the years, but now I have arthritis. Dr.John R.Rice was the Duke dr.
I'm a man, and normally more women than men are aflicted with fibromyalgia . I had fibromyalgia before it had a name and diagnosis. It IS real, and not an imagination.
I was on simvastatin 20mg and have suffered muscle problems and weakness in my feet; practically collapsing when walking. Stopped taking statins for a while and muscle pain seemed to get better. Have now been prescribed Lipitor 10mg as cholesterol rose without statin but still have muscle problems in lower back. Will be visiting doctor again to discuss.
I got the muscle problem from Lipitor years ago, there is no reversing that if it happens so please no matter what statin you take be very careful.
I have the same questions about taking SIMVASTATIN. I am fighting weight gain I tried taking this at night because of the memory problems, blurry vision, and feelings of fatigue I get taking it in the morning but at night when I took it I wake us unable to breath and my lungs have a lot of fluid and rattling and wheezing switch back to ams and the lungs are clear. before my MI my ldl was 105 and my hdl was 43 now it is ldl 30 and hdl 50. I can't figure why I was put on this in the first place especially 80 mg. 20 would have been a safety net if one was needed?
I have been on simvastatin for a few months and after a few weeks I notice rashes on my arm and between my fingers. I notice a weight gain (don't know if related) I have been having problems with memory and my joints ache and swell that is a first . I think that I am going to try Lipitor.
I was on Vytorin for several years and my cholesterol went from 208 down to 147. I changed (because of insurance) to simvastatin, was on it for 6 months and my cholesterol went up to 228. I had even started exercising and lost 25 pounds prior to starting the simvastatin. Now, I have recently started Lipitor and have noticed that most of my joints ache, I feel nauseated, and get calf cramps when I sleep.
I started taking simvastatin and after two weeks noticed that I had a problem walking as my knees ached. Then after two more weeks both knees started acting up. In researching found that this is a serious side effect of a statin type drug. Be very aware of muscle problems as they can be fatal.
I have taken lipitor when I was pregnant with my son a few years ago. I had no adverse effects from the med. Now I am on Simvastatin and I have been suffering headaches, but I am not sure if it is a side effect from the medicine yet. Although, my cholesterol has only dropped a few points in the last 9 months.
Simvastatin has been alerted as a problem statin. It is dangerous with certain other drugs. Consult your doctor.
Related topics
lipitor, zocor, high cholesterol, simvastatin
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