Simvastatin and Pain: What Users Say

• bes...
• July 5, 2010

Simvastatin for High Cholesterol "Zocor worked to lower my cholesterol from 288 to 150 with exercise, but the side effects became progressively worse and worse until I had to choose not to take it. I wondered if I had developed lupus because my entire body ached. My hips, my ankles, my wrists, my entire shoulder joints. I felt exhausted and had no energy. I stopped and could tell a 90% change in 48 hours. My joints and muscles are back to normal and my energy level has increased."

• Chu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2013

Simvastatin for High Cholesterol "This is about the 4th time they have tried me on statins. After a week on Zocor, I have severe backaches, muscle aches, and pains in my wrists where I previously had carpal tunnel surgery. I have been on it for about a week. I will stop it since I trust my body's response to these medicines. If you experience problems with any medicine, don't keep taking it without telling your doctor."

• jan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 23, 2015

For High Cholesterol "My Dr. put me on Simvastatin. My cholesterol reading 134. I guess it was a birthday present. I was on it for two years. Complained about pain and dizziness. Got Gabapentin and Vicodin. Pain persisted. Then after about twenty-two months I felt something crystallize in my leg muscles. My Dr. ignored it. I had this Dr. for more than forty years and never associated the medicine with my pain. Utterly stupid. Never trust your health to anyone. I have been in severe pain for the last eight years. Get off Simvastatin immediately when you feel pain. I had a muscle biopsy, but I am unable to get the results. In a matter of two years, I poisoned myself into an invalid. I spend most of my days in a chair. It is too painful to walk."

• Lem...
• April 1, 2012

For High Cholesterol "I am so happy I looked up Simvastatin here today. It was incredibly helpful. I had been having left knee pains originally and then calf and behind the thigh pains plus backaches sometimes from neck down. I now know from all the reports from users here that it was caused by this medicine."

• Lem...
• April 1, 2012

For High Cholesterol "I am so happy I looked up Simvastatin here today. It was incredibly helpful. I had been having left knee pains originally and then calf and behind the thigh pains plus backaches sometimes from neck down. I now know from all the reports from users here that it was caused by this medicine."

• Lem...
• April 1, 2012

For High Cholesterol "I am so happy I looked up Simvastatin here today. It was incredibly helpful. I had been having left knee pains originally and then calf and behind the thigh pains plus backaches sometimes from neck down. I now know from all the reports from users here that it was caused by this medicine."

• Wel...
• May 27, 2016

For High Cholesterol "I took the medication for three days and quit. I became so ill and could not keep down food for three days. I was in pain in my chest and back. The pain was so bad I could not sleep. I took Tylenol, and it did nothing. I called my doctor's office and let them know I could not take this medication. I had a terrible reaction to this medication."

• pep...
• April 4, 2015

For High Cholesterol "Simvastatin was a total nightmare for me. Lower half of back, hips, and legs were so painful, I could barely walk. For me it was like an intense burning sensation. And this was after my first dose, and this was my last."

• Anonymous
• December 11, 2009

Simvastatin for High Cholesterol "I took Zocor for 3 months, then started to have pain, swelling, and loss of strength in hands and fingers. Doctor said that was not one of the side effects of Zocor, but reduce to every other day. Didn't help, so I quit taking it, and within 3 weeks, hands felt better. He changed me to Lipitor in December... we'll see if any side effects develop. Did not have cholesterol checked in the 3 months on Zocor - don't know the effectiveness."

• soc...
• December 13, 2016

For High Cholesterol "I've been on 40 mg simvastatin for 12 years. Lowered my cholesterol from 240 to 160 consistently, and my HDL and LDL both improved. I have had no side effects that I would say are from the medicine. I do have some ankle pain on both sides, but I have played soccer my entire life, so I expect that and doubt it from the meds, but you never know. I'd rather have sore ankles than a heart attack."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• December 9, 2009

For High Cholesterol "I began to have bruising around insulin injection sites; it looked like I was on anticoagulants. I am having pain in my joints, and numbness and tingling throughout my body, including my face and tongue. I have a decrease in my ability to taste food. Also, I am bruising from mild injuries with dark purple areas at the site of the bruise."

• Ano...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 19, 2022

For High Cholesterol, Familial Homozygous "Statins made me crave fatty foods, pot roast, bratwurst, butter, as well as other high-fat foods (and dark sodas like root beer-bad for kidneys). NO STATIN lowered my genetically high cholesterol, I am of half Mediterranean descent. I was on 40 mg simvastatin for about 10 years, the doctor switched me to 40 mg atorvastatin about a year ago, for about 2 weeks, but too many side effects including collapsing and massive confusion, so he switched me to 80 mg pravastatin for about 4.5 months. None lowered my cholesterol! Then I started 500 mg niacin and 1 tablespoon Metamucil late in the day, and my cholesterol went from 300 to 200 in 1 month. My doctor made me start 20 mg simvastatin again, but it never lowered anything. All statins caused me so much pain, confusion, depression, cramping hands, legs, itching plaque skin, blurred vision, hearing loss, tiredness, and more, BUT NONE LOWERED MY CHOLESTEROL. I have been statin-free for about 3 weeks, and all my side effects are going away. I have energy and happiness again."

• LOa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 22, 2020

For High Cholesterol "So I was a STEMI, and after stent insertion, I was put on Simvastatin. I have been taking it for almost 18 months. Over the last couple of months, I began developing pain in my hips, thighs, and knees, with some lower back pain. I thought perhaps it could be sciatica. I saw a cardiologist a week ago and talked about the pain. He said it is highly likely it is Simvastatin. He said to stop it for 3-5 days, go back on, and report how I felt to him. Well, day 2 off, the pain was almost gone. Day 3, pain completely gone. I asked the doctor why after all this time. It can build up in your system. So, day 3 back on Simvastatin, and pain is slowly returning to my knees and hips. He is talking about injectable Repatha (not sure if I can afford that). My cholesterol was great. Right where he wanted it to be."

• kim...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 26, 2013

Simvastatin for High Cholesterol "This statin caused extreme pain in my knee and hip."