medication

[justwilliam]

after a mini-stroke I was prescribed a medication called simvastatin.Far from feeling better I have never felt so ill in my life.My G.P. has reduced the strength from 40mg to 20 but it made no difference.I have now stopped taking them and after only a few days I am feeling better. I just wondered if it was just me or has anyone else had problems with simvastatin

[sqad617]

It's a statin and no I haven't taken it, but side affects similar to yours are common.

Stop taking it and go back to your GP.

[Ice.Maiden]

All drugs can have side effects, and what suits one person won't another.
Have another word with your doctor, and explain exactly what you've done, and why.
As the name suggests, this drug is a statin, and lowers cholosterol levels, therefore helping to prevent heart disease, but there can be side effects with it, and it should never be taken if you consume grapefruit or grapefruit derivatives.
It can be taken in doses of up to 80mg, but this's proved to be toxic, and can effect the kidneys. As a general bit of information, perhaps this might help:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simvastatin

[marie26]

Statins do not suit everybody, however, there are a number of different types of statins, and one of these may suit you better than the one you were prescribed. As suggested, please check with your GP, or with the stroke clinic when you next attend.

[sara3]

you can't not follow this up. if you need medication, work with your GP to find the one that suits you best. don't risk a full-on stroke, please.

[jamesnan]

I was put on Simvastin but after about 3 weeks was suffering most horrendous pain in my back - after investigating on the internet I stopped taking them, the pain went and I contacted my doctor. He told me to stay off them for a couple of weeks,start again and see what happened. I did so, and the pain came back exactly the same. Muscle pain is one of the side effects.
He then changed me to another statin, but again, after a couple of weeks the pain was back and I had to stop again. For some months now I have been on another tablet for cholesterol , Exetrol, which seems to be working without pain, so fingers crossed.
Certainly worth speaking to your doctor.