Managing statin muscle pain - Harvard Health

The Nugget

Managing muscle pain from statins is essential, as up to 20% of users report discomfort. Implementing lifestyle changes, monitoring symptoms, and consulting your doctor can significantly mitigate these side effects.

Make it stick

🏋️‍♀️ Regular exercise may help reduce statin-related muscle pain.
🍏 A heart-healthy diet like the Mediterranean diet can improve overall health and may even lower cholesterol.
💊 Thyroid testing may reveal low hormone levels, and treating this could alleviate muscle discomfort.
💡 Supplements like vitamin D and coenzyme Q10 may provide symptom relief; consult with your doctor first.

Statins are prescribed to lower "bad" LDL cholesterol and reduce heart attack and stroke risk, especially beneficial for people aged 40-75 with risks such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Muscle pain is the most common side effect, reported by 15-20% of patients, with women's symptoms being more prevalent.

Symptom Monitoring: Track and report any muscle pain or new symptoms to your doctor after starting statins.
Exercise: Regular gentle exercise can minimize muscle pain; however, avoid starting a vigorous regimen while on statins.
Lifestyle Changes: Weight loss and adopting a Mediterranean diet may lessen the need for statins or even eliminate cholesterol issues.
Thyroid Testing: Low thyroid levels can exacerbate muscle pain; treating this may help improve symptoms and lipid profile.

Supplements: Vitamin D and coenzyme Q10 may relieve pain, but check with your doctor beforehand.
Adjusting Medication: If muscle pain continues, consider lowering the dose, changing the statin, or introducing ezetimibe (Zetia) to mitigate discomfort.

"In the real world about 15% to 20% of patients report myalgias, or muscle-related symptoms."
"Women are more likely than men to have undiagnosed low levels of thyroid hormone."
"There are no proven remedies for statin-related muscle pain, but some lifestyle changes may help."
"Regular exercise before taking statins may reduce muscle pain and cramping."
"Consult your doctor before stopping any medication or starting new supplements."

This summary contains AI-generated information and may have important inaccuracies or omissions.