My dad stopped taking his chol. med after reading about the muscle pains it can cause...it was 360 yesterday!!!!!! And the one that is supposed to be under a 100 was 290!!! Dr. told him "You could have a heart attack right now" and told him he MUST MUST take it....he has done this in the past too. I said "Muscle aches are better than a heart attack"...I know some can cause serious side effects but the dr. monitors him. He has to take this stuff. He already has a stent in keeping an artery open.