Simvastatin and Weakness: What Users Say

• Vik...
• January 11, 2016

For High Cholesterol "Took my cholesterol down. After one year, I developed what I believe to be awful side effects from this medication. Muscle weakness and neuropathy are at the top of the list. I went off statins and felt better after a few months, but it took about three years to feel normal. I know others who also had side effects from statins. I will not take this again."

• tri...
• April 27, 2016

For High Cholesterol "Lowered cholesterol. Took for about 4 months. Never again. I found myself in the emergency room often reporting extreme weakness, especially in legs and head. I felt like I was floating instead of walking. Extreme headaches. I'm a very active 40-year-old! I felt like I couldn't stand up or walk without help. Not to mention shortness of breath and sharp pains in my legs. Stopped taking as soon as I realized simvastatin may have been causing it about a few days ago. I still feel spasms in my legs, but not as severe, and my strength has returned."

• Kar...
• August 27, 2017

For High Cholesterol "I will NEVER use any statin again. I experienced neuropathy and muscle weakness. I felt 20 years older, and this was on a 10 mg a day. The side effects, which I believe were statin-related, did not show up for one full year. They did bring my cholesterol numbers down, but my quality of life greatly went down. It took me 3 years after quitting to not feel the effects of this anymore. At one point, my muscles were so weak I could barely lift my purse. I had prickling and numbness in my legs, arms, and feet. It was horrible!"

• Anonymous
• February 22, 2012

For High Cholesterol "I was on Simvastatin for approximately 8 weeks for high cholesterol. I experienced extreme muscle weakness in my arms and legs, along with severe muscle spasms at night. I also began to have increased depression (I have been on Paxil for 10 years), confusion, memory problems, and unexplainable irritability, anger, and paranoia. After 7 days without the Simvastatin, most of these complaints have subsided, although I am still having muscle pain and slight spasms at night."

• Lea...
• December 27, 2015

For High Cholesterol "Neuropathy, muscle weakness, chills, plus more. I only took 10 mg a day, side effects didn't show up for one year. It took 4 years to get over all the pain. The only reason I gave it a 3 was because it took my numbers down. My doctor did not argue with me when I wanted off this med. I know other people who also have stopped this med because of side effects. My husband switched off this drug to another statin as he developed bad neuropathy in his feet and can barely feel them. It started as a burning pain. The only reason he is still taking a statin is because he had a heart attack. He is off the simvastatin."

• 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."

• 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!"

• Mon...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 18, 2021

For High Cholesterol "I started on simvastatin 4 years ago. During that time, I developed severe muscle pain and weakness. I also developed heart palpitations. Just recently, I missed several doses and noticed all those issues were almost all gone. I have been pain-free and feeling a lot better. It is a good medicine, but beware if you start having those issues because it may be that medicine."

• Pau...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 28, 2022

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I started taking Simvastatin in 2005 after an angina attack and developed very late appearing side effects. 1. Muscle weakness affecting the piriformis muscle, causing back pain from 2016. 2. Spots of dry, flaky skin on thighs and back from 2018. 3. Breathing problems in September 2019, resulting in a damaged left lung. In 2022, the lung started to ache at times. 4. Low platelet count in January 2020, resulting in bleeding and a stay in the hospital. A variety of treatments were tried, including steroids and platelet infusion, followed by 4 more occurrences of low platelet count and bleeding between April and June 2022. Stopped taking Simvastatin on June 10, 2022, back pain gone, platelet count going up, dry skin spots improving, breathing improving, and no lung pain."

• 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."