Being that the majority of VIGOR Training members are middle-aged, and that statins are the second most common prescription for this age group, it’s likely that many members may deal with one of the most common side effects of statin use: muscle pain.



With this realization in mind, and the fact that many men keep such pain and discomfort to themselves, I felt it was appropriate to share some information on statin induced myopathy (SIM) and related statin side effects.



If you experience this side effect, or know someone who does, I hope this article empowers action, so that short-term discomfort doesn’t become long-term disability.







Statin Use in the United States



According to the CDC, as of August, 2019, lipid-lowering drugs ranked second behind antidepressants for prescriptions in adults aged 40-59 in the United States. For adults aged 60-79, they were the most common prescription.



Just as there are risks along with benefits for a COVID vaccine, the benefits of statins don’t come without risks or side effects either.



Known statin side effects include:




Muscle myopathies, including pain and weakness



Memory loss or mild dementia



Depression



Increased risk of tendon ruptures



Decreased testosterone



Decreased renal function




Being that so many VIGOR Training members are at an age where statins are often prescribed, I’ll focus on statins’ impacts on muscle function here.



Statins and Muscle Myopathies: Pain, weakness, and muscle loss



Lipophilic statins, such as simvastatin, atorvastatin, lovastatin, and cerivastatin are more likely to cause SIM.



As many as 29% of statin users experience muscle pain or other muscle-related problems. Rhabdomyolysis, an extreme form of myopathy that causes massive muscle loss, affects about 1 in 100,000 statin users. Also, 2-3 out of 100,000 experience immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, where one’s immune system breaks down its own muscle tissue.



In one study, where 10.5% of stain users experienced muscle pain, the pain was so severe that 38% couldn’t even perform moderate-intensity physical activity and 4% became immobile.



Interestingly, exercise seems to exacerbate statin-related muscular problems. 



Older adults who use statins tend to lose strength faster and fall more often.



Even if a statin-user doesn’t experience debilitating side effects, the statins may compromise muscle growth, or even cause muscle loss, which ultimately harms one’s health and quality-of-life.



Though statins are supposed to improve cardiovascular health, muscle aches, pains, and cramps often keep statin-users from exercising, which reduces or compromises their cardiovascular health. Up to 50% of statin users stop taking them during the first year because of muscle pain.



The most common symptoms of statin-related myopathies include cramps, stiffness, and decreased muscular power. Muscle pain can occur in both the upper and lower limbs. 



Some research suggests statins change the properties of fast-twitch muscle fibers, which is the muscle type that most affects strength, speed, and power.



Clinicians may describe such a patient as having “statin intolerance.” Unlike lactose intolerance, which may cause diarrhea or excessive gas, statin intolerance can lead to serious muscle-related complications.



What causes statin induced myopathy?



Though doctors prescribe statins to achieve lower cholesterol levels in patients, statins do not lower cholesterol levels. They inhibit cholesterol production, which then affects many physiological needs and processes downstream of that inhibition.



I stress that point because few people understand how they work, and what negative impact they may have in comparison to their potential benefit. Fiber lowers cholesterol by removing existing cholesterol. Statins interrupt the production process. That’s a big difference, and explains why their use may lead to issues like muscle myopathies.



As one paper put it,