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Statins & Muscle Pain

Statins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol in patients with high cholesterol or other related cardiovascular health issues. They are among the most profitable drugs in history, but they have several side effects, including some characterized by muscle pain.

  1. Statins

    • Statins are drugs classified as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, meaning they inhibit the action of the enzyme in the liver responsible for the formation of cholesterol. They have also been approved to treat numerous other cardiovascular conditions.

    Fat-Soluble and Water-Soluble Statins

    • Statins come in fat-soluble and water-soluble varieties. Fat-soluble statins enter cells much more readily than water-soluble statins and consequently increase the chances of muscle pain. Examples of fat-soluble statins include Lipitor and Zocor, and water-soluble statins include Pravachol and Crestor.

    Myalgia

    • Myalgia is general muscle pain not accompanied by elevated enzymes in the blood. While some muscle pain that correlates with statin use can be attributed to exercise programs, myalgia in the core muscles and lower back have been linked to statin use.

    Myopathy

    • Myopathy is muscle waste that may or may not be symptomatic, characterized by heightened muscle enzymes in the blood, which signify cell damage. If symptomatic, it arrives in the form of fatigue and cramps.

    Rhabdomyolysis

    • By far the most dangerous muscular side effect of statins, rhabdomyolysis refers to the rapid breakdown of muscle cells and muscle cell destruction, which leads to taxation of the kidneys and possible kidney failure. It is characterized by intense muscle pain and weakness, as well as kidney pain.

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