Many physicians tell us that even if statins increase the risk for diabetes, the drug benefits far outweigh any increase in blood glucose. But diabetes is a challenging condition to treat. Then there are the twin complications of muscle and joint pain. Most of the drug company research shows that simvastatin side effects are barely different from those brought on by placebo. The conclusion is often that simvastatin and related drugs do not really cause muscle pain or weakness and do not contribute to joint problems. Readers tell a different story.
A Simvastatin Experience:
Q. I took simvastatin for many years to control my cholesterol. Soon after I started taking it, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I don’t know if there is a connection.
About six months ago I stopped taking simvastatin; my hips and knees no longer hurt. My latest lab results show an increase in LDL to a bit over the standard range. My HDL is OK.
I had also experienced sexual problems, but I attributed those to paroxetine I took for depression. I stopped taking the paroxetine about two months ago and the sexual difficulties have completely disappeared. I feel much better after eliminating both drugs.
A. Simvastatin can raise blood sugar and make people more prone to type 2 diabetes. A fascinating study showed that people taking a different statin, pravastatin, together with paroxetine had elevated blood glucose levels not caused by either drug alone (Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, July 2011).
Do Simvastatin Side Effects Include Joint Pain?
The official prescribing information for simvastatin suggests that in the pre-marketing controlled clinical trials the most common adverse reactions that led to treatment discontinuation were: gastrointestinal disorders, myalgia [muscle pain and weakness] and arthralgia [joint pain]. That said, few health professionals ever mention joint pain or arthritis as a potential simvastatin side effect.
Other Readers Report Simvastatin Side Effects
Joint Pain:
Deloris had this experience:
“I’ve been disabled from taking 10 mg of simvastatin for a year and a half. The basic side effects (muscle pain and cramping) haven’t stopped after over 4 years. Among the other adverse effects I have or had are extreme fatigue, joint pain, shortness of breath, balance problems, peripheral neuropathy, denervation atrophy, a cataract, and calcification of the coronary arteries. I feel that the drug also triggered my rheumatoid arthritis.”
Allan reports a somewhat similar story:
“I have suffered numerous simvastatin side effects, all of which my GP tries to deny-severe arthritis, muscle wasting, cataracts in both eyes, pain and sleep problems. I stopped simvastatin after only two months but since I had none of these problems before, I am convinced that this drug was to blame, particularly as I keep hearing of others suffering in exactly the same way!”
Nurse Leslie shared this tale of woe and intrigue:
“The side effects that I suffered as a result of taking 40 mg of simvastatin nightly almost cost me my sanity. I am 57, a nurse, keep dogs and have raised five children and do not smoke.
“I became exhausted just dressing and doing normal housework. I was unable to climb stairs. It is frightening because you don’t know what’s wrong with you and you think you are going mad.
“I couldn’t carry my shopping, walk up a slope against the wind, or pick up my grandchildren. It’s been a nightmare and the pain in my legs, ribs and shoulder joints is unbelievable.
“A colleague of mine sent me a link to all of these symptoms to statins in the British National Formulary. My doctor was dismissive. I’ve stopped taking the statins myself and while I am still quite tired I can now get dressed and pick up some leaves in the garden without having to keep sitting down to catch my breath.
“Yes, I am concerned about my cholesterol as my father died at at age 42. Cholesterol is not the only cause of strokes and heart attacks. If you can’t physically move, then this is also not good for your overall well being.”
Diabetes:
Elizabeth reports:
“I was on simvastatin for 18 months and did not realize why I had trouble going up stairs, opening bottles of water and experiencing electric-type pains and aches in my legs that would make me jump just sitting watching TV. This was all because my total cholesterol was 200.
“Then I was diagnosed with diabetes-with a blood sugar level of 499, A1C 12. I lowered it in 3 months to 6.3 with medication and a dramatic change in diet and titrated down the simvastatin. In trying to ‘help’ people with their cholesterol, the doctors have created a horrible new problem.
“NOW I understand why there is a diabetes epidemic in this country…it’s from the statin epidemic that has been going on for years!”
Gary’s story:
“All I can say is that after starting to take simvastatin my legs and joints began aching more and more to the point of having difficulty getting to sleep at night and needing to take ibuprofen to ease the pain. After a few years I eventually stopped taking the statin, and in a few weeks the pain and aching was gone.
“I was also diagnosed with type 2 diabetes during the time I was taking the statin. There is no family history of diabetes. Coincidence? I’m convinced that the statin was the cause.”
Dealing with Simvastatin Side Effects:
Response to Our First Reader:
We trust that you told your doctor you stopped taking simvastatin and he is monitoring your progress. Without simvastatin on board, you might be able to control your blood sugar with natural approaches. Ask your doctor to track your blood sugar carefully over the next several weeks and months.
We are sending you our Guide to Managing Diabetes so you can discuss this with your doctor. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (70 cents), self-addressed envelope:
- Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. DM-11
- P. O. Box 52027
- Durham, NC 27717-2027.
It can also be downloaded from the website at this link:
