I took a fairly low dose of Simvastatin for over 4 years and gradually got increasing leg muscle pains and weakness, to the extent that I could barely walk 100 yards and had to give up my job. Fortunately I was 60 and able to retire.
I stopped taking the statins in February. I am gradually getting better, in that the pains have almost gone and I can now stagger as far as the village shop ( about 150 yards) without having to stop for a rest. I am happy with my total cholesterol at 5, because my total:HDL ratio is very good, as are my triglycerides. I don't intend to go back on them again, and have discussed this with my doctor, who has accepted it. He told me "you'll die of a heart attack instead of cancer, which should be quicker and might be preferable"!
I expect my total cholesterol will continue to drop now I'm firmly back on the low-carb. I shall be trying to increase my exercise when the weather improves, which should also help.
Apparently there is some evidence that statins are less good at protecting women from CHD than men, and supposedly as we get older we all function better with slightly higher cholesterol. The info is out there if you look. I try to stick to respectable sites - journals and universities, mostly.
I've done a lot of reading round on this subject, but please don't for a minute believe anything I say. I'm happy with my own decision, but I can't recommend it to anyone else. I am not qualified and you should listen to people who are. Having said that, I know 2 GPs and one practice nurse who won't take them. One of the GPs only prescribes them as a last resort. None of these individuals is in my practice.
It seems to be the usual thing - every individual is different, and reacts differently to drugs.
Cheers
V