Had enough of Simvastatin

I had a good deal of trouble with statins particularly in the muscle cramps dept. On Simvastatin my legs cramped up and I couldn't walk for a month. Nurse changed me to a new statin which "no-one has ever complained about these". Within a couple of weeks the legs went again. A third statin which "no-one has ever complained about" and I suffered a more general seizing up. When I finally got to see nurse I was nearly rigid and could not move my head. My shoulders felt as if they were glowing.

I am no longer on statins because of the "severe reaction" I have to them and am told that I am quite unusual.

Two weeks ago I met a friend that I have not seen in years. He told me he had been in hospital with what the doctor called a Statin Seizure. It was like a stroke in that he went numb down one side.

Maybe I am not so unusual.

Can't answer about the grumpy bit because I think I'm lovely all the time.

On diagnoses 2 years ago was given simva along with metformin. Didn’t cash in statin and advise nurse I would not take them. Cholesterol was 4.5.
In May of this year, 2 years later, cholesterol was 4.9 and was strongly advised to take stats. Did so. Simva. What a nightmare. Head buzzed continuously, didn’t have one proper nights sleep during the 4 weeks of pill popping. Had appointment to attend nurse for blood test to check if pills were killing my organs. Wrote letter to say I would not be attending as no need for blood test. Simvas went into the bin. Nurse phoned me advising there was another statin I could try. Advised I will not be trying anything for now, 4.9 is not a panic situation, and will try other methods myself like daily drinkies of plant stanols, reduce the cig count and knock the 28 bottles of red wine per month down to 14.

After binning the simvas; life is great.

HBA1C 6.1
BMI 22

I feel quite happy that the nurse has decided that I should not take any more statins. I was never too keen to take pills but I find the HCP's can get a bit touchy if you start telling them what you are/are not going to do.

In the past, every time I went anywhere near the surgery I came away having been told I should never have smoked (years ago) and I should lose a bit of weight and I should do more exercise. It seemed like a blame culture which put the onus on the patient and enabled the staff not to do much except dispense pills. I got a bit bloody minded and decided I would take the pills and if anything broke then they would mend it because that would be their fault. Silly attitude on my part but at least I don't have to argue on the statin front anymore.

I got the metformin reduced also because it changed the way food tasted. Everything tasted like burnt plastic especially the vegetables.

I am no longer on statins because of the "severe reaction" I have to them and am told that I am quite unusual.

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You are perfectly normal. Our Dr said according to manufacturers' data, only 1/10,000 have trouble with statins. According to a report by a Dr in the Readers' Digest, 1/10 have problems.

I can't take them. My total chol at diagnosis 12 years ago was 7.6. On diet only its around 5.5.

Hi, I took Simvastatin for about 5 years with no side effects EXCEPT hair loss. I am a woman, type 2 and found this side effect particularly distressing. Told my regular GP and he said he didn't think it was anything to do with Simvastatin but I told him it was time related and I was sure that it was the simvastatin. He didn't seem very interested so I will not be seeing him anymore!
I then went to a woman GP who was very sympathetic and said that she was sure that my hair loss was in fact due to simvastatin and she then changed it to Fenofibrate. My hair loss has obviously not grown back but I have now stopped losing any more hair. According to the BNF a Fibrate is indicated where the patient has side effects to a Statin (they both lower cholesterol). So my advice to to explain to your GP the side effects that you are experiencing and ask to be changed to a Fibrate. If he/she won't then see another GP, you should not be having these symptoms, all the best, Deb

I think I won't bring the subject up again with my nurse. Not taking pills is good in my book.

I have serious doubts that the side effects that affect so many people taking simvastatin go unreported. Many Doctors are probably responsible for this but how far can you trust drug makers disclosing the truth about their products too?

I got my doc to change me to Atorvastatin after aching arms from Simvastatin. Have been on Atorvastatin for a couple of years now with no obvious side effects.

I suspect Simvastatin is cheaper.

When my consultant suggested statins last year I did a bit of research on the web about side-effects, Atorvastatin was one which seems to have the least side-effects and is effective at lowering cholesterol in a 20mg dose as Simvastatin is in a 40mg dose. It wasn't routinely prescribed as it was expensive compared to Simvastatin but I believe it came out of license in April/May this year so could be worth mentioning.

swimmer2 said:

I got my doc to change me to Atorvastatin after aching arms from Simvastatin. Have been on Atorvastatin for a couple of years now with no obvious side effects.

I suspect Simvastatin is cheaper.

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Yes it is swimmer, A few years ago I received a letter from my surgery saying that i was to be changed from the statin I had been on for years, Atorstatin(something like that), to simvastatin because it was a cheaper statin but just ass good. I came off statins about a month ago after reading info on here and Dr. Mackendricks book, also Jenny Ruhl and I feel much better, pains in legs gone.
Kate

Hi all

I have been in a statin ( first atorvostati and the ) for a number of years with no side effects. My total Cholesterol has never been above 3.8 since taking the statins. For those who try them and have side effects, Diadeb has mentioned an alternative above - a fibrate.

Regards

Doug