Statin Side Effects Linked to Muscle Damage: Study
Published: July 8th, 2009 • Comments: 8
Data from a new study on cholesterol-fighting drugs suggest that side effects of statins, a class of medications that includes popular medications like Crestor, Lipitor and Zocor, could increase the risk of muscle damage.
The study, published in the July 7 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, found that 10% to 15% of people taking statin-based medications began experiencing at least minor muscle aches and weakness. Biopsies of some of those patients revealed damage to muscle fibers that could continue even after they stopped taking the medications. They also found that in some cases, the muscle damage from statins was not detectable by a commonly-used blood test.
Statins are the best-selling drugs in the United States, with $14.5 billion in combined sales in 2008. They use the liver to block the body’s creation of cholesterol, which is a key contributor to coronary artery disease. Statin is used in a number of popular cholesterol controlling drugs, including Crestor, Lipitor, Zocor, Mevacor, Lescol and Pravachol.
In most cases, patients complaining of muscle pain and weakness can be given a simple blood test to check for statin muscle damage. The test looks for an enzyme known as creatin phosphokinase (CPK), which leaks from damaged muscles. However, the new study suggests the test may not be as accurate as originally believed.
Researchers took leg muscle biopsies of 83 patients, 44 of whom had serious and persistent muscle pain, known as myopathy. The biopsies found 25 with muscle damage, but only one had elevated levels of CPK in the blood.
The study sample was too small to determine the rate of serious muscle pain in relation to statins, researchers said, and they do not think it affects a large number of users. The researchers state that anyone not experiencing muscle aches and pains were likely unaffected.
Statins have been linked to muscle damage before. Studies have found that about 1 in 10,000 statin users develop a sometimes-fatal muscle condition known as rhabdomyolysis. The rare condition causes skeletal muscle damage and releases myoglobin into the bloodstream. The myoglobin can cause severe kidney failure or death.
In 2002 and 2008, the FDA issued warnings about the increased risk of rhabdomylosis when statins are used in combination with heart medication containing amiodarone. In 2001, the statin-based drug Baycol was removed from the market due to its links with rhabdomyolysis.
Comment by Priscilla on 3 August 2009:
I took Lipitor in 1998. I have suffered muscle damage in my right leg.
Have to step up using my left leg. Had 3 MRIs, a muscle bioposy. My
creatin phosphokinase (CPK) went from 119 to 1191. As of this date, my CPK is still high at 797.
Comment by David on 11 August 2009:
I have had hip and leg muscle pain for over two years, I thought it was
arthritis. Recently my Doctor took me off of Zocor andn the pain stopped in two days. I haven’t had test for my muscles.
Comment by michele on 14 August 2009:
my 14 year old daughter died three years after being overdosed on the antibiotic Vancomyocin, due to a nurse and the hospital not properly handling her medications, trough blood level readings correctly and discharging her from the hospital on the same day that she had 2 fevers of 102.7 and later a fever of 104, I even have the autopsy reports that show the lethal dosage of the Vanco should have never exceeded 15-20 mg. and hers was 97.5 when I rushed her back to the hospital by E.M.S. on Labor day night. she unfortunately died 2 1/2 days later. The autopsy reports even confirm these findings and I can not get an attorney in Kansas to handle the medical malpractice suit. I have been carrying the case hrough court myself as a Pro-Se claimant. She was my only child, and my parents only grandchild. If anyone out there knows of any lawyer who would have the heart and stamina to take on tis case PLEASE let me know.
Comment by Patty on 11 December 2009:
I started taking the generic brand of Zocor this month. After 10 days of sever fatigue, muscle pain in biceps and calves, twitching, sometimes my leg would jerk suddenly about 8″ while relaxing, nausea after eating, sudden sleeping problems, and constipation bouts, I am usually regular, I started looking on-line to see if these were symptoms from statin use. I was appalled to see what I found as testimonies and case studies for these drugs! I am a very healthy 58-year-old women, energetic, active sports sailor and athletic person, strong for my age. I weigh 126 lbs, am 5′4 and have been slim all my life. People think I am in my early 40’s. My cholesterol is 250-260 with good HDL and low LDL and triglycerides. After reading so much about how bad these drugs are I stopped immediately. I take no prescription drugs, never had to. I already feel my energetic self, slept much better last night but still have a few muscle aches. (Weird, pinpoint sharp pains on corresponding sides of my arms and legs) How can doctors give this drug and try to say any of these symptoms are ok. Sounds like people my age and younger suddenly become very unhealthy and are prescribed more and more drugs to counteract the side effects of statins and have further decline in health and blame it on old age! This is a HUGE, DANGEROUS SCAM. I have recently had all the tests done to see if my heart is healthy and there are no “visible signs’ of artery plaque. I have had this kind of cholesterol for at least 10 yrs, when I started checking, but I refuse to become instantly unhealthy and slowly deteriorate from muscle damage all over my body. Isn’t the heart a giant MUSCLE? These drugs could be killing Americans slowly but surely, and truly making billions for the drug industry. While I am sure many people have dangerously high bad cholesterol, I would rather keep my cholesterol where it is (I’ll exercise more) and JUST SAY NO TO STATINS!
Comment by Pamela on 8 January 2010:
I was given Lipitor after I had chest pains 2 years ago, I was switched to Crestor when I started getting severe aches, pains, fatigue, muscle cramps and light headedness. When we switched medical plans, I was switched to Zicor. My pain became so severe, I was beginning to believe I was dying. When my doctor took blood tests for muscle enzymes, mine were triple what they should be. I was taken off the statins. I have not had a day without pain since. I belive my muscle damage is permanent. These drugs are dangerous. I have been damaged for life.
Comment by kenneth on 9 January 2010:
There are many dangerous medical procedures out there.
Comment by Deb on 21 January 2010:
When I was initally put on Lipitor I had some muscle pain. My doctor advised that it would pass and to continue the medication. I had to change doctors due to INSURANCE change, and subsquently developed the flu…so my first visit with the new doctor was for URI, muscle pain, fever, etc. I went on to have over 1 year of poor health with the same symtoms over and over. I suffered from fatique, muscle pain and weakness, aching joints to name a few…my doctor felt these were all residual effects from the multiple URI’s. I saw a new doctor today that was covering my current doctor while on vacation. I again had the muscle pain, flu like symtoms, sore throat, etc. He advised me to stop the lipitor…at first I thought what quack is this…then I went home and read all the stories of people also suffering. The time line matches up with everything that has happened to me this past year. So the quack may be my hero. I am hoping I recover with no long term effects. Lipitor should be required to reimburse anyone that has taken their product. My co-pay alone has been $45.00 a month since 2003. I thought I had some kind of immune disorder.
Comment by Julie on 4 February 2010:
My Mom was on a statin for 6 months, even though her doctor knew she was allergic to statins. She is 79 years old, she used to drive and was energetic and alert before she took the statin. She is now in an assisted living home (moved her from her home of 45 years) and needs help bathing, dressing, getting out and into bed, and also up from a chair, and has trouble with her bowels and thinking. Her muscles are so weak that she cannot even walk that far anymore. Her doctor does not believe in stain damage, but think he might be coming around, he is having her muscles tested. I took care of her for months, we’ve been to numerous doctors, and they concluded it’s all in her head. I am sick to my stomach about this, it all comes down to money and how much they make from statins, it’s a tragedy, we are a drugged society.