Dr. Rx: Can statins cause muscle pain?
VCU School of Pharmacy faculty, alumni and students have provided the Dr. Rx column for Richmond’s Fifty Plus magazine since December 2009. We now share those columns on the SOP website, as well, for those who might not have seen the most recent issue.
Serving as Dr. Rx for April 2015 was Megan Kincer, a fourth-year Pharm.D. student. She earned her bachelor of science degree in chemical sciences from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Dear Dr. Rx: Could my cholesterol medication be the cause of my muscle pain?
Many adults experience some type of muscle pain or aches. It can be caused by a variety of conditions, including exercise, illness (such as the flu), injury and certain medications. A common medication class linked to muscle pain and aches is a group of drugs known as statins. Statins are highly effective at lowering cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.
Although the talk about muscle pain’s connection with statins has become very popular, not all patients who take a statin will develop muscle pain or aches. The risk of developing muscle pain with statin use might be higher in some people. Common risk factors include:
- Family or personal history of muscle problems
- Being female
- Age more than 65 years old
- Kidney or liver problems
- Heavy exercise
- Diabetes or hypothyroidism
- Drinking large amounts of alcohol
- Taking certain drugs with statins, such as Gemfibrozil, Erythromycin, antifungal medications, Cyclosporine
You might experience muscle symptoms when you first start taking a statin, but most symptoms will resolve within two weeks. However, muscle pains from statins can develop even years after starting the medication. Muscle pain caused by statins presents in a predictable way, so that could be the cause if you have some of the following symptoms:
- Burning pain or tenderness
- Pain in large muscles, such the thighs, upper arms or shoulders
- Pain affecting the same muscles on the left and right sides of the body
- Pain during exercise
- Pain that was not present before starting cholesterol-lowering therapy
- Additional symptoms, such as shortness of breath and exhaustion
If you suspect your statin could be causing your muscle pain, report your symptoms to your health care provider. In addition to being uncomfortable, muscle pain could be a sign of rhabdomyolysis, a more serious development from statins that involves muscle breakdown. Your doctor may ask you to describe your symptoms and run a few simple lab tests to help confirm the cause.
If a statin is found to be the cause of your muscle pain, your doctor might ask you to stop your medication. Because of the great cardiovascular benefits of statins, it is important to note that muscle pain from a single brand of statin does not mean that you will have the same effects with another statin. Several different statins are available, and you might be able to switch to an alternative one.
Remember always to speak with a health care professional about any unusual pain or side effects. If your muscle pain or aches are due to your cholesterol medication, alternative options do exist.
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