Heart and cardiovascular disease remain the leading cause of disease-related death in America. Since high cholesterol is a major risk factor for the development of these conditions, tremendous importance is placed on reducing high cholesterol levels in high-risk patients. Many patients require the use of statins, a class of drugs that lowers cholesterol levels. Unfortunately, adverse side effects involving muscle weakness and pain have been reported with the use of these drugs.
Statins and Heart Disease
High cholesterol levels expose the body to elevated amounts of lipids such as low-density lipoproteins and triglycerides. These lipids can accumulate in arterial blood vessels, causing clots that block arterial blood flow to vital organs including the heart and brain, possibly leading to heart attack or stroke. Statin drugs like pravastatin sodium help to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart and cardiovascular disease.
Pravastatin
Pravastatin is a commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of high cholesterol. Since all statin drugs are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, pravastatin blocks an enzyme that is responsible for the synthesis of cholesterol. It is metabolized by the liver and shares the same risk for certain adverse effects that is seen with other statins.
Statins and Muscle Aches
Muscle pain and weakness are side effects that typically cause the most concern for patients using statin medications. Symptoms include pain, weakness and muscle soreness. In severe cases, muscle breakdown and cell death can occur, a condition known as rhabdomyolysis. The risk of adverse effects increases when taken with certain medications and foods, such as grapefruit, that interfere with the normal metabolism of statin drugs by the liver.
Pravastatin and Myopathy
According to Bristol-Myers Squibb, a pharmaceutical company that markets pravastatin under the brand name Pravachol, rare instances of muscle pain and myopathy, a muscle tissue disorder, have been reported with use of the drug. Although the incidence was greater than 1 percent, it was not statistically significant when compared to placebo. Patient's taking pravastatin should be aware that myopathy can occur with all statin drugs.
Although statins effectively lower cholesterol, they can also cause adverse effects, and patients should speak to a physician before use.
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