Author Topic: Cholesterol meds simvastatin. (Read 704 times)

powderman · « **on:** November 03, 2012, 01:11:06 PM »

I know we had a thread on this but I can't seem to locate it. My legs are worse and I remember several of you said you had leg probs with this med, simvastatin.

My scrip runs out in a week and I'm going to ask the dr for something different. Our pharmacist`even had a name for my leg probs caused by this med. She recommended either pravachol or lipitor and said that they should not cause any leg probs.

Either is at generic price of $4 a mo. I'll get a 2 week or so refill of my med and have it changed after the 1st of Dec, I'll have limited med coverage then for a dr appt.
What do some of you take and do you have any probs with the meds recommended to me?? I've taken this for many years and I've got to have some relief. Thanks. POWDERMAN.

soli · « **Reply #1 on:** November 03, 2012, 02:41:54 PM »

I have been on all of them,had and still have muscle problems.After 15 years I stopped taking them,watch what I EAT AND FEEL alot better,Damn things will kill you.

thumper113 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 03, 2012, 02:43:41 PM »

What leg problems Powderman? I'm on it, too.

powderman · « **Reply #3 on:** November 03, 2012, 03:07:08 PM »

Quote from: thumper113 on November 03, 2012, 02:43:41 PM

What leg problems Powderman? I'm on it, too.

I walk every day and some days my legs don't want to keep going. They get tired and painful. As soon as I sit the pain goes away. I take pentoxifilin for PAD for my legs, also diclofenac for my knee. We had a thread on this several months ago and the general consensus seemed to be that folks taking certain statins for chol were having legs weakness and pain like me.
The woods is probably several hundred yds away and I walk there and back at least once a day, usually 2 or 3 X. The pharmacist said not all statins affected the legs like this one does so I definitely want to try something different. We were out the other night and had been to several stores and before we were done I was in misery, they hurt so bad it was an effort just to make them move. POWDERMAN.

Sourdough · « **Reply #4 on:** November 03, 2012, 06:22:27 PM »

I have been on all of the statin drugs. At first there was no problems, I was taking Lipator. Then I started having the cramps. Todate I have tried everything, no relief. Still have leg cramps, it got so bad back in the summer I quite and said no more. I was off for about six months before the cramps went away. Now I take two tablets a week, Monday and Friday nights. the cramps are limited to below the knee, and those I can handle.

briarpatch · « **Reply #5 on:** November 03, 2012, 06:24:23 PM »

Are you taking CO-Q-10 with your simvastatin. This is sold over the counter. When you take a drug like lipitor it removes CO-Q-10 from the body and a supplament will help. I take lipitor and take CO-Q-10. Ask your doctor about it. Better yet ask a dietitian they know a lot more than a Doc about drugs. I have found a doc can perscribe drugs but seems to be in right field when it comes to interaction of drugs.

SwampThing762 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 04, 2012, 12:20:17 AM »

Been on simvastatin for a couple of years. No problems at all. I think you will be okay with it, Charlie. I would also suggest you get counseling from the pharmacist as well.

St762

Cuts Crooked · « **Reply #7 on:** November 04, 2012, 01:40:17 AM »

Been on Simvastatin since 2003.......nary a problem.

KIMBER45 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 04, 2012, 01:35:22 AM »

Ask your doc. if taking Vit D3 will help with the pain from the statin.

oldandslow · « **Reply #9 on:** November 04, 2012, 02:16:04 AM »

My wife took lipitor. She got to where she could barely get up out of a chair. Her doctor switched her to crestor and the problem went away over a period of several weeks. He told her that this happened with about 5% of the people taking lipitor. Her older sister's husband had the same experience with lipitor. He says he has never recovered the muscel strength he lost while on lipitor and it has been about three years since he was switched to another drug.

I'm on my second year of a very low dose of lovastatin and have had no problem with it. Very inexpensive also.

kenfred · « **Reply #10 on:** November 04, 2012, 02:22:01 AM »

Speaking as a Pharmacist here, a couple questions first....

Do you consume grapefruit in any way, shape, or form. If so, stop at once. Absolutely no grapefruit (includes Fresca, Squirt, etc.). Secondly, have you tried a lower dose? Cramping is inherent with all the statins, but appears to be dose related in most people. Most benign statin when it comes to the cramping is Pravastatin (Pravachol). Your MD will decide if it is right for you.

"Natural" options include Niacin and Red Yeast Rice. However, that is a discussion for another day.

spruce · « **Reply #11 on:** November 04, 2012, 02:45:48 AM »

Maybe you've already ruled this out, but I had the same problem develop - gradually progressed to the point I couldn't walk hardly any distance at all without weakness/pain in my legs. Finally had some tests done and found I had PAD. Both Iliac arteries going to my legs were plugged up. Had surgery to put a stent in one and a bypass in the other, made a world of difference. Legs are better now than they had been for several years.

I take Simvastatin now, and Lipitor in the past and have no problems with either. Guess I should have started on statins earlier in life, before the arteries got plugged up! Best of luck to you, I understand your pain and frustration.

powderman · « **Reply #12 on:** November 04, 2012, 04:10:49 AM »

Thanks guys, you've given me a lot to think about, no, I don't take co-q-10, d-3, or niacin.
KENFRED. Do you mean that the pravacol and I should get along well?? That was the first one my pharmacist reccomended. I won't be able to swith til after Dec 1st. POWDERMAN.

mechanic · « **Reply #13 on:** November 04, 2012, 04:22:03 AM »

The only one that worked for me to lower cholesterol is Crestor. I also take a D3 supplement.

Ben

kenfred · « **Reply #14 on:** November 04, 2012, 07:10:58 AM »

Playing the odds here, as well as personal observation-Pravachol usually is the Choir Boy. Having said that, it does not always work to lower cholesterol to the desired numbers. For now, perhaps you could call your MD and see if splitting the Simvastatin and taking half the dose would be OK for you.

Suffice it to say that there are many options for you to consider.

Spirithawk · « **Reply #15 on:** November 04, 2012, 07:21:34 AM »

Statins are a very good cholesteral med but like all new meds Statins have their drawbacks. The main seems to be severe muscle cramps. I've been on Statins for 12 years and have had that problem arise a few times. In each case I just stayed off them for a week or so and then started them again. What happens is they build up in my systom and I need that week or so to thin things out. Works for me. However, saying you've been on Statins a long time without problem, or how they effect you personaly, is meaningless. No two people's metabalism is the same. How they effect one has nothing to do with how they effect another. Follow your doctor's advice and you shouild do well.

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #16 on:** November 04, 2012, 07:25:33 AM »

I was put on statins, had leg cramps, joint pain, tendonitis. I quit them, and take two garlic tablets a day, and try to eat right. Keeps it down. I eat a lot of red meat too. Just balance it with fresh fruits and veggies, oatmeal, and various nuts. Eat less, exercise more. Stalk hunt, hike, go fishing more.

Spirithawk · « **Reply #17 on:** November 04, 2012, 07:30:18 AM »

Quote from: Dixie Dude on November 04, 2012, 07:25:33 AM

I was put on statins, had leg cramps, joint pain, tendonitis. I quit them, and take two garlic tablets a day, and try to eat right. Keeps it down. I eat a lot of red meat too. Just balance it with fresh fruits and veggies, oatmeal, and various nuts. Eat less, exercise more. Stalk hunt, hike, go fishing more.

Might add, fish oil is a big help too.

KIMBER45 · « **Reply #18 on:** November 04, 2012, 10:00:57 AM »

Quote from: Spirithawk on November 04, 2012, 07:30:18 AM

Quote from: Dixie Dude on November 04, 2012, 07:25:33 AM
I was put on statins, had leg cramps, joint pain, tendonitis. I quit them, and take two garlic tablets a day, and try to eat right. Keeps it down. I eat a lot of red meat too. Just balance it with fresh fruits and veggies, oatmeal, and various nuts. Eat less, exercise more. Stalk hunt, hike, go fishing more.
Might add, fish oil is a big help too.

Yep fish oil helped me and several of my friends. Ask your doc how much you should take daily.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #19 on:** November 04, 2012, 10:49:57 AM »

NIASPAN.....some don't tolerate it well......massive amounts of niasin

i also take atorvatatin since the herat surgery

colesteral is in the 90's now

i had a reaction a few years ago from taken other colesteral drugs
they said stop immediately.....blood test showed some minor liver damage

try the niaspan.....just take it at night and slep through the occasional 30 minute reaction

Defoe · « **Reply #20 on:** November 04, 2012, 11:44:24 AM »

Quote from: powderman on November 03, 2012, 01:11:06 PM

I know we had a thread on this but I can't seem to locate it. My legs are worse and I remember several of you said you had leg probs with this med, simvastatin.

My scrip runs out in a week and I'm going to ask the dr for something different. Our pharmacist`even had a name for my leg probs caused by this med. She recommended either pravachol or lipitor and said that they should not cause any leg probs.

Either is at generic price of $4 a mo. I'll get a 2 week or so refill of my med and have it changed after the 1st of Dec, I'll have limited med coverage then for a dr appt.
What do some of you take and do you have any probs with the meds recommended to me?? I've taken this for many years and I've got to have some relief. Thanks. POWDERMAN.

the generic for pravachol is pravastatin. works for me and much cheaper than the name brand.

powderman · « **Reply #21 on:** November 04, 2012, 03:55:15 PM »

Pravastatin is what I'm going to ask my dr for, after Dec 1. Thanks for all the input. POWDERMAN.

Old Fart · « **Reply #22 on:** November 05, 2012, 04:22:58 AM »

I was on a statin for many years and it worked weel.
Then I started having the side effects.
Doctor put me on Niacin and it's come back to a semi tolerable level.
I'm trying the red wine thing right not.
Studies have shown that it can help lower levels by 10% which would fix me up.
Side effect is an evening buzz....

gstewart44 · « **Reply #23 on:** November 05, 2012, 09:03:35 AM »

Hey Charlie,

I know what you mean about them leg cramps - they used to be brutal

..... but mine came from Lipitor (along with spiking up my liver enzymes). I told my doc about it and he changed me over to CRESTOR, and no more cramping!

The Crestor has my Cholesterol down to about 150 (I started at 390). As far as your generics all I can say is give it a try and see if it agrees with you.

KB21 · « **Reply #24 on:** November 05, 2012, 04:29:56 PM »

This is definitely something you need to speak to your doctor about. Your symptoms sound more like intermittent claudication to me than it does myalgias from statin use. If you already have a history of PAD, then you probably need to get a CT of the abominal aorta with bilateral run off to determine where your blood flow is being diminished at, or at least get doppler arterial studies of your legs with ABIs.