This is my story with statins. First I was put on Zocor. I was only on it for 1 month and I could not pick up anything, my arms were so weak and painful. Called my doc she said immediately stop taking it. A month goes by and my doc says we need to revisit the cholesterol so she put me on Lipitor (another statin). If you watch the commercial at the end it says "If you experience muscle pain or weakness immediately stop taking it because it can cause a rare and serious side effect". Well I was one of those people. I now have permanent muscle damage in my left arm (shoulder to elbow). There is a swab test called a CYP450 that I think everyone should do before taking a statin. Wish I would have known about it beforehand.
There are many alternatives. I take no flush Niacin and Chia seeds. The chia seeds are great. It lowered my cholesterol over 30 points. Hubby & I put it on everything. Ive known over 5 people who told me their muscles hurt. I asked if they were on a statin they all said yes. Once they stopped their pain went away.
My opinion statins are a poison. Do some research first. Even a low dose of simvastatin can effect people especially over a long period of time.

Take care Geordie