Experts have been arguing about statin side effects for years. A recent meta-analysis suggested that muscle pain is not a common complication of drugs such as atorvastatin, lovastatin or simvastatin, because the rates of complaints about muscle problems were not significantly higher among those taking the drug than among those on placebo.
New research shows that the studies upon which such analyses are based frequently have not done a good job defining and recording musculoskeletal complaints. The review included 42 statin studies, but only one had specifically asked subjects about muscle pain or weakness. While muscle problems were only slightly more frequent among volunteers taking statins in all the studies, the lack of a standard definition of statin-related muscle problems or even of a question about muscle symptoms in most of the studies makes it difficult to sort out what might be statin-related and what are normal aches and pains. Hopefully, future studies will be far more careful about collecting these data systematically so that the results will reveal to what extent muscle problems are actually related to statin use.
[American Heart Journal, online April 10, 2014]
Many visitors to peoplespharmacy.com are quite convinced, based on their own experience, that statins can cause muscle problems. Here are a few links to related stories:
https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/scientists-fight-about-statin-side-effects/
https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/statin-side-effects-are-all-in-your-head-really/
https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/statin-ruined-his-bodybuilding-career/
People who would like to learn about lowering cholesterol without statins and their (possible) side effects may be interested in our book, Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy.
