
Do Simvastatin Side Effects Include Diabetes and Joint Pain?
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 s
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