Muscle Weakness from Statins – Side Effects from Long Term Use

The Statin Drugs:

If you’ve been diagnosed for cardio vascular diseases due to high cholesterol, you are most likely to have heard about Statin -a drug prescribed to lower cholesterol level in the blood. So what exactly is Statin, how does it work and most importantly what are its side effects?

Statin is a drug that lowers cholesterol in the body, by blocking its production. It reduces the production of LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) or the Bad cholesterol in your body, thus keeping heart related diseases at bay. In some cases it is found to reduce the size of the existing built up of cholesterol form your blood stream and vessels.

What are the side effects of statins?

As with any other drug, these too have their side effects. But the side effects as a result of taking Statins are more pronounced than the side effects through other drugs. Common side effects include muscle pain, weak or tender muscles with fever or flu like symptoms, stomach pain, heartburn, constipation and nausea. Statins are also believed to interfere with other drugs including vitamin, iron and mineral supplements. In fact even grape fruits and grape fruit juices are said to interact with Statins (with results that can be dangerous).

Out of the above mentioned side effects, muscle weakness is a common and serious side effect. About 1 in 100 patients are believed to suffer from myositis (the medical term for this problem). In some cases there could be a complete muscle breakdown, which could further cause problems like kidney failure.

Statins used in the long run are believed to cause severe liver problems as the medication is said to affect the liver enzymes. If you are on a medication for liver related problems and are prescribed Statins, make sure to inform your GP about it.

Research has also shown that long term use of Statin result in memory loss, sexual dysfunction and even irritability. Statins should also be not taken during pregnancy as they have been proved to cause birth defects. Although they reduce the LDL level in the body, they are ineffective on triglycerides, which is also a reason for heart diseases.

Statins are also said to reduce the level of CoEnyme Q10 (CoQ10). This is a very important enzyme that de stresses the cells and DNA in your organs, bones, skin, hair and eyes. A reduce in the level of CoQ10 can be very fatal to your organs.

In the Fortune 500 list of companies listed in 2002, the combined profit of the 10 drug companies listed was more than the combined profit of the remaining 490 companies. This is the profit that pharma companies derive from hapless patients like us. They play on our fear. There are a number of other cholesterol lowering ingredients that are proved to outperform Statins. What is known now to the general public would have been known to these pharma giants long ago, but they still promote Statin as the miracle medicine to curb cholesterol. It’s only now that manufacturers o Statin have started mentioning a warning sign that using these drugs could cause muscle pain and weakness.