Cholesterol is produced by the body and found in many foods. Having a high level of cholesterol raises the risk of a heart attack or stroke. If lifestyle changes are not enough to bring cholesterol levels down, medications such as statins may be required. Statins work by either inhibiting the production of enzymes that help to produce cholesterol, helping the body dispose of cholesterol, or by stopping the liver from absorbing it. Like all medications, statins have side effects including muscle problems. Before deciding to take a statin, it is important to talk to a physician about the risk of a heart attack, and all the options that are available to bring cholesterol levels down.
Muscle Pain
Unless significant changes are made to diet and exercise habits, once a statin regimen is started, it is likely that the medication will need to be taken for life, states the Mayo Clinic. While these drugs are well tolerated by most, for some, they can cause chronic and generalized muscle pain. The higher the dose of statin, the more significant the pain. In some cases, the pain eventually diminishes as the body adapts to the medication. However, in some cases, the pain is persistent or continues to get worse. If this occurs, a physician can experiment with lowering the dose or changing to a different statin.
Inflammation
While rare, in some patients, statins can cause a condition called muscle myositis, which is an inflammation of the muscle fibers, claims the John Hopkins Arthritis Center. While the exact mechanisms are still unknown, statins can have a toxic effect on muscle cells. This condition can affect any muscle in the body and interfere with everyday activities such as walking, getting out of a chair and climbing stairs. It can also affect the muscles in the throat and lungs, making swallowing and breathing difficult. In most cases, these symptoms resolve as soon as the medication is stopped or changed.
Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyolysis is a serious condition that is diagnosed when there is a breakdown of muscle fibers. This breakdown results in a release of protein into the bloodstream. According to the National Institutes of Health, there are many diseases and situations that can cause this disease, one of which is taking statins. This extra protein in the blood needs to be filtered by the kidneys and over time, the kidneys may eventually fail. In addition, the muscle tissue that dies may start to absorb blood from the body, which can cause shock. Early diagnosis and treatment of this disease can help prevent complications.
