Anyone have experience with side effects of Zocor?

Question:

My parents visited me last month and my Dad, a young 65 year old became crippled in pain. At first I attributed it to the long car ride but it became obvious it was something else. It was horrifying and embarrassed him, he always says everything is OK but this time it was not. The muscles in the back of his legs cramped up, his hands were red and swollen in the joints and he almost couldn't move. His muscles hurt so bad he walked hunched over like a 90 year old. He won't talk about it now and says he's fine but my Mom said she's wondering about Zocor. I just did research and can't believe I saw some of the same symptoms. Do any of you have anything to offer from experience w/Zocor? Thanks.
Answers:
Muscle pain/spasms is a common side affect with Zocor/simvastatin. Many patients I have dealt with discontinue taking it because it causes so much distress

Other Answers:
I am younger than your father and briefly took Zocor earlier this year. I didn't quit taking it due to side effects, but rather because it wasn't working to lower my cholesterol. The main side effects I have heard of relate to the liver. I would encourage him (or encourage your mother to encourage him to) discuss this with the prescribing doctor sooner rather than later.

Muscle pain/spasms is a common side affect with Zocor/simvastatin. Many patients I have dealt with discontinue taking it because it causes so much distress.
Source(s):
I work in a clinic/pharmacy

I was taking Zocor about 3-4 years ago and it made me feel awful. I quit taking it after about 2-3 weeks and told my Doctor it made me feel bad. I don't remember specific symptoms besides cramps, nausea and general discomfort, but it went away when something else was prescribed. It struck me as odd, but the manufacturer of Zocor sent me a questionnaire about why I quit taking it a few months later. I had never seen that before when changing prescriptions.

Adverse reactions to Zocor (Simvastatin) have usually been mild and transient. But studies have shown that among the people treated 1.4% people do show adverse effects. When taking zocor or other statins, you should regularly monitor your liver function.

Have him taken off this drug ASAP by his doctor.My mom was taking this drug and to led to further complications with her body.In fact my mom's druggist was the one to suggest she not take Zocor.I spoke to her doctor and he said to stop her from taking it.He didn't say anything about the side effects and that Zocor was one of the reasons she was staying so sick.She is no longer seeing this doctor.She went from very sick to completely well within 4 weeks after stopping Zocor.
Source(s):
Zocor is not for everyone.My mom is still doing fine.

If his pain is gone and he is still on zocor it is 100% certain it is not zocor. The myositis or mylagias on zocor do not and can not cuase red hands or swollen joints. a blood test called CPK should be done if any pain persists (while he is on zocor) to find out if he is having drug induced myositis.
This sounds unlikely to be zocor. I have prescribed zocor to hundreds of patients, I have seen the true myositis many times (it is disimilar from what you have described) and far more times I have seen people blame things on zocor and statints (other similar cholesterol meds) everything from rheumatoid arthritis , to rotator cuff tears to influenza.
people love to blame zocor and statins for all kinds of pain . The good news is your docotr can answer this quesitons definitively with a blood test, and clinical judgement.
Fortunately it is a very uncommon side effect nad it resolves promptly off the medicine. In general zocor is far, far safer than high cholesterol!
I wish you and your family good luck and if persistent muscle pain is present it is essential he be rechecked and hid blood be tested by his physician.

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Anyone have experience with side effects of Zocor?

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