Brief Answer:
Yes, it may be a side effects of simvastatin.

Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thank you for asking on HCM! I understand your concern, and you are right when you think of a possible connection between simvastatin intake and muscle pain. It is well known that statins (including simvastatin) exert sometimes such side effects, like joint and muscle pain, and you have to be very alert and to discuss with your prescribing doctor about that. A breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue should be suspected. I recommend you to perform some blood tests like AST, ALT, CPK, LDH, urine analysis, and to consult your prescribing doctor regarding your complains. If pain persists and blood tests are abnormally altered, then you should stop the medication. But this should be done under close supervision of your doctor.
Hope to have been helpful to you. Greetings! Dr. Iliri

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Brief Answer:
Practical dietary and life-style options are the best options.

Detailed Answer:

Hello again XXXXX!

Regarding your question, my answer is Yes! Of course, there are alternatives. Drugs like ezetimibe may prevent cholesterol from being absorbed by small intestine, and thus entering the bloodstream.
Another option is to use resins, which bind to the bile in the small intestine and block cholesterol absorption too. They are old drugs and should not be used for a long time.
You can lower cholesterol indirectly, by lowering triglycerides first. You can use fibrates and Niacin for this purpose.
Though all of the above are considered alternatives, they are not as efficient as statins, and they may exert their own side effects. So, I would say that, it is hard to find a drug free of side effects.

I would suggest more practical options like: physical activity, avoiding saturated fat in foods (consult Mediterranean diet schemes for more details), stop smoking (even passive one), use small quantity of red wine, consume fish oil or fatty fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel, etc) and so on.

Hope to have been helpful to you. Best Regards!

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