How do I know if my muscle pain is from statins?
Statin-related muscle pain, if it happens at all, usually happens within the first few months after you start the drug or raise the dose. You may feel a constant soreness or weakness in your shoulders, thighs, hips, or calves. If you’re like most people, it’ll affect both sides of your body equally.
Does statin muscle pain go away?
In most cases, if you’re going to have muscle pain from statins, you will notice it soon after you start taking the medication. For many people, however, this side effect is temporary and goes away somewhat quickly.
How do you prevent muscle pain when taking statins?
Exercise. There is some evidence that people who have exercised regularly before taking statins are less likely to experience muscle pain and cramping. Although gentle stretching may relieve muscle cramps, beginning a new vigorous exercise regimen while taking a statin may increase the risk of muscle pain.
Can statins make existing muscle pain worse?
However, in people already susceptible due to their genes or lifestyle, the leak caused by statins may overwhelm the muscle cells, giving rise to muscle pain and weakness.
Which muscles are most affected by statins?
Within a month of starting statin therapy, they may feel aches or weakness in the large muscles of their arms, shoulders, thighs or buttocks on both sides of the body. About 5 to 10% of people who try statins are affected. It’s more common in the elderly, in women and in those taking the more potent statins.
What does statin pain feel like?
One of the most common complaints of people taking statins is muscle pain. You may feel this pain as a soreness, tiredness or weakness in your muscles. The pain can be a mild discomfort, or it can be severe enough to make your daily activities difficult.
What can you take instead of statins?
7 cholesterol-lowering alternatives to statins
- Fibrates. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis.
- Plant stanols and sterols.
- Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins.
- Niacin.
- Policosanol.
- Red yeast rice extract (RYRE)
- Natural products.
Is there a statin that doesn’t cause muscle pain?
There are two: alirocumab (Praluent®) and evolocumab (Repatha®). These powerful drugs can lower LDL to rock-bottom levels without triggering muscle pain. A word of warning: Never stop taking a statin without your doctor’s guidance. “It can greatly increase your chance of having a heart attack,” Dr.
What is the mildest statin drug?
In the analysis of 135 previous studies, which included nearly 250,000 people combined, researchers found that the drugs simvastatin (Zocor) and pravastatin (Pravachol) had the fewest side effects in this class of medications. They also found that lower doses produced fewer side effects in general.
Is there an alternative to taking statins?
There are many non-statin medications your doctor might prescribe: Bile acid-binding resins, like cholestyramine (Locholest, Prevalite, Questran), colesevelam (WelChol), and colestipol (Colestid) stick to cholesterol-rich bile acids in your intestines and lower your LDL levels.
What can I take instead of statins to lower cholesterol?
Do you have muscle pain while taking a statin drug?
This serious muscle wasting condition is rare and occurs in a fraction of patients. While there are several theories as to why statins may cause muscle pain, none have been confirmed. Research has shown that the gene atrogin-1 may be the source of muscle pain in those taking statins.
How do statin drugs wreck your muscles?
– Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). While reducing the body’s production of cholesterol, statins also interfere with the body’s manufacture of CoQ10, a vitamin-like nutrient. – Vitamin D. Vitamin D is needed for the normal synthesis of muscle tissue. – Magnesium. – Amino acids. – Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). – Turmeric extract.
What should I know about statins and muscle pain?
muscle pain,especially in the shoulders,lower back,or thighs
What are the bad side effects of statin drugs?
Muscle pain and damage. One of the most common complaints of people taking statins is muscle pain.