I just started taking Zocor and I was wondering what foods to eat while being on the medication ? thanks in advance for any insight.

Amy

I've been taking zocor(simvastatin) for 5
years or more. It seems to work well. However I've recently been diagnosed with asthma and have had a lot of respiratory problems. I think that it is unrelated but my wife is convinced that simvastatin is to blame. Can anyone settle this?

Even though I'm only 32...I DO have high cholesterol, thanks to my genes ;( My first family Doc just told me to do diet and exercise, which I wasn't fat at all, if anything, I was underweight. He NEVER rechecked my cholesterol, and unfortunately, I had too much going on in my life to follow-up myself and ASK to get it checked..which I shouldn't have had to, but that's the kind of Doc he was ;(

So, got a NEW Doc now, and rechecked my Cholesterol, and he instantly put me on Zocor, told me it was WAY TOO HIGH, and it was a genetic thing, NOT a Weight/Diet issue necessarily...although diet did need to be tweaked. At last, someone was taking notice ;) And, I can relax!

I started Zocor 20mg about 8 weeks ago...and it DID reduce my cholesterol in 6 weeks...my dose was increased after 6 weeks to 40mg...and I'm due for a recheck in in ~ 4 weeks.

For me, just starting out, Zocor was a decent choice...it's cheap, and if it does it's job...lowers my cholesterol as it should, then it's worthwhile.

Although, I believe research is showing Lipitor is the leading statin right now...but it is more expensive.

If Zocor does the job, then I'm satisfied with that...if not...then off to Lipitor I go....but I'm already on a bunch of $$ meds, so I am willing to try the less expensive route first.


In regards to the asthma...THP636...I wouldn't think Zocor is the cause of this...there are so many other causes of asthma...Consider other risk factors: Are you a smoker, or surrounded by 2nd hand smoke either now, or in your past...allergies, any work related exposure, etc... Also, ask your Doc what he might think it's the cause of...

As to diet...a Low Cholesterol and Low Fat diet is considered a heart healthy diet. I would check out the American Heart Assoc website...I think sometimes they even have recipes, and even some cookbooks that they send out in the mail. Lots of good tips there too!

www.americanheart.org

Wished someone had told me that statins deplete coq10 so it's important to take supplements to replace it while taking statins. For more info see the University of San Diego statin study @ http://medicine.ucsd.edu/ses/
and for specifics re coq10, see:
http://medicine.ucsd.edu/ses/adverse_effects.htm#Statins%20and%20CoQ10

I have taken Zocor for several years now, it seems to be helping me because, my Dr. checks my blood often and he says it is fine. He did say I would probably have to take it the rest of life.
I have read that Zocor, Lipitor, etc. can cause damage to your muscles if that is the case, I'm in alot of trouble, because, I have Fibro.

I took Zocor for awhile, it caused a lot of muscle pain. It did lower my cholesterol though. Then I was put on Lipitor which caused me to have nightmares but also did a good job of keeping my cholesterol down. I'm now 40mg of Pravastatin which is doing a job on my muscles again. My Doc is thinking about switching me to 20mg of Pravastatin and Zetia along with it.