Zocor and Joint Pain

Joint pain is a rare side effect of Zocor, occurring in less than 1 percent of people who take the drug. However, there are some short-term relief suggestions that you can try if you're taking Zocor and joint pain does become a problem. These suggestions include taking over-the-counter pain-relief drugs like Tylenol, aspirin, or other NSAIDs; and applying heat and cold to the sore area. Some examples of using heat and cold to relieve joint pain include taking a warm bath or shower and placing a heating pad or cold packs on the painful area.

Zocor Medicine

Zocor and Joint Pain: An Overview

Joint pain, which occurs in less than 1 percent of people taking Zocor^®(simvastatin), is a possible but rare side effect of the drug.

Zocor and Joint Pain: Suggestions

If you are taking Zocor and joint pain is a problem, there are some things that you can try.

These suggestions for short-term relief include medications and heat or cold.

Medications

Patients who experience joint pain while taking Zocor often benefit from using over-the-counter pain-relief medicines, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol^®), aspirin, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin^® or Advil^®).

Heat/Cold

Moist heat (such as a warm bath or shower) or dry heat (such as a heating pad) placed on the painful area of the joint for about 15 minutes may relieve joint pain. In some cases, cold packs (a bag of ice or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel) can relieve pain or numb the sore area. If you have poor circulation, do not use cold packs. Water therapy in a heated pool or whirlpool also may relieve joint pain and stiffness.

(Zocor and Joint Pain Continued: Page 2)