Statins and Muscle Pain
Dr. Bruno’s Original Post: Muscle pain is “real” only 50% of the time? Please have a conversation with your physician if you are concerned. This is a summary of the article.
How Many People Can’t Tolerate Statins?
Medical researchers, normally a genteel lot, disagree sharply on the extent to which
side effects from statin drugs are a problem.
By Richard Klasco, M.D.,
New York Times, June 1, 2018
“Question: Are there studies concerning the number of people who cannot tolerate statins?
Answer: Yes. Studies show that about 5 percent to 10 percent of people are unable to tolerate statins, largely because of muscle aches and related side effects, including potential muscle damage. But many people who have been labeled intolerant to the drugs probably are not, and medical researchers, normally a genteel lot, disagree sharply on the extent to which side effects are a problem.
Proponents of statins argue that concerns about safety have been overblown, with some even describing the research on side effects as “fraudulent.” Opponents maintain that the concerns are real. Both sides agree that the debate is important, since a patient who has been inappropriately prescribed a statin risks muscle damage. But a patient who has been inappropriately denied a statin risks heart attack.
Statins can cause a spectrum of muscle symptoms. Muscle aches, known medically as myalgias, constitute the greatest number of muscle complaints and the greatest area of controversy. More serious muscle problems, on the other hand, are not controversial, since they are a clear contraindication to treatment with the drugs.”
“The key for patients who have muscle symptoms while on statins lies in a blood test known as creatine kinase, or CK, an enzyme found in muscles. High levels of the enzyme indicate muscle damage. If muscle damage is present, alternatives to statins should be used. If muscle damage is not present, temporarily discontinuing statins — in what doctors call a “drug holiday” — and restarting at a lower dose may be tried. Alternatively, many people who are intolerant of one statin may find that they are able to take a different statin without difficulty.”
“The only mistake would be to allow dangerously elevated cholesterol to go untreated.”