Simvastatin and Tiredness: 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."

• So ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2016

For High Cholesterol "I was put on 20 mg of the drug, Zocor AKA simvastatin because my 'bad' cholesterol (the LDL) was high; 160. This was the first time ever tried a statin drug and will be the last time. I was up every night urinating. No sleep. I was getting muscle spasms like a charlie horse in my legs. My arms felt heavy. I was irritable, had no patience, and no ENERGY. I felt like I was in a fog. I had short-term memory confusion. Never again. For me? Diet change, exercise, 81 mg of aspirin and CoQ10. Check with your doctor. Good luck!"

• tmi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 11, 2013

For High Cholesterol "Since I started taking simvastatin 20mg at bedtime, I am not sleeping well, joint pain, tiredness, and my acid reflux is so bad I can't stand it anymore. Not sure if the simvastatin is the problem, but was not having the issues with my acid reflux while taking my Nexium until I started taking simvastatin. Talked with my pharmacy, and they told me that the simvastatin does not worsen acid reflux. It does seem funny. I was not having a problem with it until I started taking the simvastatin."

• Anonymous
• July 20, 2011

For High Cholesterol "I've been on Lipitor and now simvastatin 80mg for the past 13 to 15 years. For most of these years I have had no side effects and my cholesterol went down from 238 to 104.2. I was exercising pretty regularly. However, during this past year I have started to feel a lot of joint pain in my shoulders and now in my hips. I used to walk and run on my treadmill and take walks with my wife but because of the hip pain I'm experiencing I no longer can walk farther than around the block. I also get very tired after about 3 to 4 hrs from getting up in the morning and need a nap. I am 60 years old."

• Sop...
• March 30, 2016

For High Cholesterol "I have been on 20 mg Zocor now for 3 months. Within the past 6 weeks, I have developed muscle ache in my legs, stomach, and ribs, insomnia that I never had before, along with depression and a general feeling of lethargy. High time I had a chat with my doctor, I think. If it's Zocor that's causing this, then it's not worth taking."

• 480...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2017

For High Cholesterol "20 mg x 2 days... 1. Severe headache 2. No energy 3. Weakness 4. Very sleepy 5. Pain in ribs (L side more). I have discontinued the statin and will change diet, take fish oil, and low dose aspirin daily."

• Anonymous
• December 30, 2010

For High Cholesterol "Took simvastatin only once and had a bad case of vertigo within 30 minutes of going to sleep. The next day I felt okay for the most part, but that night I was playing drums in my band and had to stop after 40 minutes (we normally practice an hour and a half or more) because I was so exhausted. The rest of the night I felt like my whole body was being squeezed, and my muscles were really weak. I woke up three times during the night with my heart racing and feeling like I was going to pass out. I drank one liter of water in two hours, and finally fell asleep at 4 AM. If I hadn't improved after 4 AM, I would have gone to the hospital. The next day I felt almost 100%, but my left arm ached all day. And this was just taking it once. It's not for me."

• Aun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2018

For High Cholesterol "I took one pill, and about 12 hours later, I began to feel very tired. 18 hours later, I went to the grocery and didn't think I was going to make it back because I became so weak and short of breath. My legs felt so heavy - almost as if I wasn't going to be able to walk. At about 36 hours after the ONE pill, I experienced an explosive bathroom episode and saw very dark stool and several drops of blood in the toilet. It's now 48 hours later, and I just put a piece of spearmint gum in my mouth and cannot taste it or smell it. One pill did this!"

• 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."

• 345...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2013

Simvastatin for High Cholesterol "Only been taking for about two weeks. Feel lethargic, achy, headache, hot flashes are worse. Depression, occasional stomach pain. Muscle pain."