Simvastatin and Cramps: What Users Say

• Cha...
• November 17, 2013

For High Cholesterol "Taking this medication and having leg cramps that became severe. Did not know the source of the cramps at night. Stopped for a month and leg cramps disappeared. Started again and immediately had night leg cramps, severe enough to get me out of bed over and over again."

• Cha...
• November 17, 2013

For High Cholesterol "Taking this medication and having leg cramps that became severe. Did not know the source of the cramps at night. Stopped for a month and leg cramps disappeared. Started again and immediately had night leg cramps, severe enough to get me out of bed over and over again."

• Cha...
• November 17, 2013

For High Cholesterol "Taking this medication and having leg cramps that became severe. Did not know the source of the cramps at night. Stopped for a month and leg cramps disappeared. Started again and immediately had night leg cramps, severe enough to get me out of bed over and over again."

• Dea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 10, 2015

For High Cholesterol "I experienced nighttime severe reflux and aspiration, gasping for air with an overwhelming near-death feeling. Plus, I had the night cramps. I stopped the med. Changed my life, will never take it again."

• Lou...
• April 7, 2014

For High Cholesterol "About one week after I started taking it, I started with mild leg cramps. After three weeks, I couldn't stand it anymore. They would wake me up at night and throb, so I stopped taking it. I can't really rate effectiveness as I wasn't on it long enough."

• Mrs...
• May 5, 2016

For High Cholesterol "I have been taking this medication for over 15 years and have experienced leg cramping, sleepless nights due to having to use the restroom, and pain in my hip area. But overall, the medication has helped me to lower my cholesterol over the years. I will say that maybe it's time for my doctor to lower my dosage from 40 mg to 20 mg."

• Bru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 19, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I'm a 45-year-old female with a high cholesterol of 252, so the doc put me on a dose of 10 mg simvastatin. The first month I had side effects of leg cramps, toe numbness, and muscle weakness in my legs, so I consulted with the doc and she recommended taking it every other day. After three months, my cholesterol is down to 198. I've lost weight, so down 25 lbs as I had lost my appetite. I'm still having some weird feelings in my legs occasionally and plan on stopping after the pills are gone."

• Flo...
• January 5, 2010

For High Cholesterol "Started taking simvastatin 5 days ago. I warned my doctor that statins caused cramping every time I took them. She assured me that would not be the case, she was wrong. Only 5 days, and I've lost a night's sleep and am in pain most of the time."

• Bab...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 4, 2021

For High Cholesterol "While taking statins, I tried many different brands. I experienced some of the worst side effects. I am a 72-year-old retired registered nurse. I first started waking up in the middle of the night with horrible cramps in my legs, it felt as if a knife was sticking in my leg. Then I developed a rash under my breasts, which, after being prescribed four different creams, just got worse. Then I got gout in my big toe, and when I woke up in the morning, my feet felt numb. The gout was so painful. I realize that I need statins because of my LDL and carotid artery blockage, but when I stopped using the statin, all these different symptoms went away."

• Ivo...
• March 20, 2022

For High Cholesterol "I've been on simvastatin for about a month. I have experienced foot and leg cramps, mostly at night, sleepless nights, maybe some memory issues, back and chest pain. I just spent several days in the hospital because of chest pain, which I had never experienced before. When I had upper right severe back pain (not spinal), I was also very lightheaded, and my legs stayed quite weak for over two days. I believe I'll work on my diet, stop the simvastatin, and pray that the Lord grants me the wisdom to care for my body in a reasonable manner. I'm 81 and not too shabby physically."

• Suz...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 21, 2018

For High Cholesterol "I was having really bad cramping in my leg I believe because of my statin. Doctor suggested taking CoQ10 supplement. It really helped, and it’s good for your heart. I hope this will help others."