simvastatin and insomnia

[almaradlu]

After some feedback please

Not long after starting to take simvastatin(November), my sleep which was not that great , started to get much worse to the point of just being wide awake until 4/5am every morning. Have tried the old faithful lavender oil but has not worked this time. Got to the point over Christmas that I stopped the simvastatin and within a few days, I was back to how I was before. After a week I started taking the simvastatin again and now the insomia is back.

I'm going to stay off it now for a week and go back to our GP to see what he can do.

Was just interested if anyone else have had this problem?

I have googled and read the patient information leaflet and it is a common side effect.

Thanks :)

Thanks for the reply

I am a type 2 diabetic, found out 2 years ago, my readings were very high at the time of diagnosis and I was told I had been diabetic for at least 5 years. I had a cholesterol reading of around 5.2 on diagonsis of the diabetes, then it went up (think it was about 5.8) and then 6 months later last blood test was 6 . I had been less mobile between the last 2 readings due to a medical problem where I could hardly walk apart from short distances. Plus I had been advised to low carb, so had seen an increase in the amount of nuts, cheese etc - which I am sure increased my levels.

I cant remember the breakdown of the actual cholseterol test

My GP wanted me to go on the statins over a year ago and after reading about people and knowing someoone having pain as a side effect I refused. I refused as I am in pain for various things everyday and didnt want more added to it.
At my last appointment it was once again advised that I was to start taking statins, as I was at risk due to the diabetes, my cholesterol going up and one of my parents had a heart attack a few years ago (aged 70).They are also now on statins. So I just gave in.

He did ask me to go back a month later to review the pain side(as I was very anxious about it) and I did have an increase in pain and had ''new pain'' but as I didnt know if it was down to an increase in excersing or the statins, I asked if I could just plod on and review if needed -which I will do soon - going to give it a week or two before I go back. I want to give myself enough time off the statins to see an improvement before I go back.

I am overweight but since my last appointment I have lost just over a stone, making my weight loss 1lb away from losing 3 stones over 2 years. 2 stones left to go and will be at target.

I am now eating low fat and low carbs and I am doing my best, but I know I cant go on like this with the lack of sleep.
DH and I have looked online at a lot of sites, forums etc and there are so many people who have had so many side effects.

Thanks again for the reply :)