Some people do have intolerable muscle aches with the use of some statins - some people with ALL statins. If you have trialled small does of Crestor (2.5 mg) or of Pravachol (10mg) and have not tolerated them, then you are probably someone who can not tolerate any statin. Both of these statins are processed by different enzymes in the liver, have fewer drug-drug interactions and are water soluable...all things that help reduce their side-effect profile. Actual SERIOUS side effects from statins are very rare...indeed if you put it in context of the number of people who died from stroke and heart attack verses the number of people who were ever injured - even slightly- over the number of people taking a statin, the whole discussion becomes silly. If you are objecting about statins on principle (no intolerable side effects, personal preference alone) then please re-read the sentence above. You are going to die a lot more assuredly from the complications of arterial plaquing than you are from any possible side effect from statins - even in the worst possible case. If you are unable to take statins in any respect, the next medication I might consider would be Niaspan (extended release niacin at 1.5 to 2 grams - unfortunately often not covered by insurance companies) and/or Zetia. I have seen the combination of these two agents achieve results comparable to a statin. I hope this helps. Good luck!