Recently, a new etiopathogenetic mechanism has been proposed, in which the immune system also plays a role. This is the case of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy and antibodies against HMGCR, the enzyme that is usually upregulated by statins.

Why do statins cause muscle weakness?

New research suggests that muscle weakness and related side effects that can arise from statin use is likely due to the drug's effect on the energy production centers, or mitochondria, of muscle cells.

Why do statins cause myositis?

These symptoms often resolve without treatment when the medication is discontinued. Statin-associated autoimmune myopathy, however, is strongly associated with the form of myositis known as necrotizing myopathy (NM), especially when autoantibodies against hydroxymethylglutaryl–coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) are present.

Why do fibrates and statins cause myopathy?

Fibrates may have a direct toxic action on muscle cells in patients with an unrecognized predisposition to myopathy¹. One of the mechanisms by which they cause muscle damage is by increase in lipoprotein lipase activity.

When does statin induced myopathy start?

The Prediction of Muscular Risk in Observational Conditions (PRIMO) study reported a myopathy rate of 10.5% of patients (832 out of 7,924) who were receiving high-dose statin therapy (fluvastatin 80 mg; atorvastatin 40 or 80 mg; pravastatin 40 mg; or simvastatin 40 or 80 mg) with a median onset of 1 month.

Statin-Induced Myopathy

39 related questions found

Can myopathy caused by statins be reversed?

While myopathy caused by statins can be mild and can be reversed when the medication is discontinued, it may present as rhabdomyolysis or severe muscle damage.

Will statin myopathy go away?

Statin-associated myopathy or myalgia is a well-known side effect of lipid-lowering agents. Usually, after discontinuation of the drug, symptoms alleviate and patients may be re-challenged with another statin. However, in rare cases, symptoms of myalgia do not subside after statins are discontinued.

Why do statins cause muscle pain?

Statin medications and low cholesterol levels can both contribute to low CoQ10 levels. Calcium leakage. Calcium helps muscles contract, but when calcium leaks from muscle cells unintentionally, it can damage your muscle cells which causes muscle pain.

How is statin induced myopathy diagnosed?

If you begin to show symptoms of muscle myopathy after starting statin therapy, talk to your doctor or physician as soon as possible. A blood test is usually ordered to measure creatine kinase levels and rule out rhabdomyolysis. If rhabdomyolysis is the culprit, statin treatment will be stopped immediately.

How is statin induced myopathy treated?

Currently, the only effective treatment of statin-induced myopathy is the discontinuation of statin use in patients affected by muscle aches, pains and elevated CK levels.

Can statins cause muscle wasting?

The side effects most commonly associated with statin use involve muscle cramping, soreness, fatigue, weakness, and, in rare cases, rapid muscle breakdown that can lead to death. Often, these side effects can become apparent during or after strenuous bouts of exercise.

How common is statin induced myopathy?

1 About 1.5-3% of statin users in randomised controlled trials and up to 10-13% of participants enrolled in prospec- tive clinical studies develop myalgia. 1-4 As a conserva- tive estimate, at least 1.5 million people per year will experience a muscle related adverse event while taking a statin.

Does atorvastatin cause myopathy?

Myopathy symptoms were found in a significant number of patients taking atorvastatin and the incidence of myopathy increases with increase in dose of atorvastatin. Further, though benefits of statins continue to outweigh their adverse effects.

Where does statin muscle pain occur?

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 are the symptoms of myopathy?

The myopathies are neuromuscular disorders in which the primary symptom is muscle weakness due to dysfunction of muscle fiber. Other symptoms of myopathy can include include muscle cramps, stiffness, and spasm. Myopathies can be inherited (such as the muscular dystrophies) or acquired (such as common muscle cramps).

Does CoQ10 help with muscle pain from statins?

In a study published in the American Journal of Cardiology , researchers indicate that using CoQ10 supplements seemed to decrease the muscle breakdown, pain, and discomfort of people taking statins. However, a recent study in Atherosclerosis suggests that CoQ10 does not improve muscle pain in people taking statins.

Can statin cause myositis?

For some patients, statins cause necrotizing myopathy, a form of the rare idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, also known as myositis. Myositis is a chronic, debilitating condition that includes dermatomyositis, polymyositis, inclusion-body myositis, and juvenile forms of the disease.

Is statin myopathy permanent?

The injury is dose dependent and reversible after withdrawing the drug, with most recovery of symptoms occurring within 2–3 months (3). However, a different form of statin myopathy has been identified in recent years.

What is the difference between myalgia and myopathy?

Myalgia was defined as muscle discomfort including aches, soreness, stiffness, tenderness, or cramps with a normal CPK level. Myopathy was defined as muscle weakness, with or without CPK elevation.

Why was Crestor taken off the market?

Initial reports indicate the patient died of a muscle-damaging disease linked to Crestor and all other members of the family of cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins. The same side disease, rhabdomyolysis, drove the cholesterol-lowering drug Baycol off the market.

At what age should you stop statins?

Statins are drugs that lower your cholesterol. But if you are age 75 or older and you haven't had symptoms of heart disease, statins may be a bad idea. Here's why: Adults age 75 and older may not need statins.

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.

What does statin myopathy feel like?

Myalgia: This type of muscle pain usually feels like mild soreness in the shoulders, arms, hips or thighs. Myalgia also often comes with mild feelings of weakness. Myositis: Myositis, a type of myopathy, causes muscle pain and inflammation, as well as an elevation in CK (a muscle enzyme) levels in the blood.

Is muscle pain from statins permanent?

The damage is typically reversible once the person stops taking the statin. More rarely still, a severe type of muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis may occur, in an estimated 2–3 in 100,000 people taking this type of drug per year. Also, some research has linked statin use with cataracts.

What is the treatment for myopathy?

Physical therapy, supportive devices such as braces, and sometimes surgery may also be used as treatment tools. Treatment of metabolic, toxic and endocrine-related myopathy generally focuses on the underlying cause of the condition. Medication or surgery may be used to address the symptoms.