There are two other points to consider. But don't forget to include that exercise can help lower your cholesterol levels. However, the FDA started requiring warnings about diabetes on all statin medications in 2012. While regulatory agencies have deemed statins to be safe to use for their intended purpose, no drug is without side effects in susceptible individuals. Discount Code - Valid Some people experience memory loss, report an inability to concentrate, or feel that they are developing Alzheimer’s disease when taking statin drugs. Copyright © Statin Answers. This really muddies the waters, I think. Pravastatin 40 mg- 10.9% Superior mesenteric artery dissection on CT, sagittal view. Patients complaining of muscle weakness or soreness are often evaluated with ankle-brachial index devices to measure differences in blood pressure through the body, which can be a sign of vascular disease. The peripheral nervous system controls autonomic (that is, automatic) functions of the body like breathing and heartbeat. By Mayo Clinic Staff Doctors often prescribe statins for people with high cholesterol to lower their total cholesterol and reduce their risk of a heart attack or stroke. Solutions include changing the dose, changing the statin, or eliminating other contributing factors. Sometimes these aches manifest as muscle cramps at night or more generalized leg pain at night. There are many causes of neuropathy, including injury to the nerves caused for example by an accident or various diseases like diabetes and kidney problems. ... Statins do cause … The study showing connections between statins and diabetes has been criticized as flawed. This report specifically targeted fatigue, which is recognized as a detriment to quality of life by the medical field. Walking proven to work for PXE. The pain indicates muscle breakdown. A famous Danish study of neuropathy as a side effect to statin use concluded that an individual who is a long-term user of statin drugs has anywhere from 4 to 14 times greater risk of developing peripheral neuropathy than a person who does not take statin drugs. (Coincidentally, a new study suggests that This is an example of a “nocebo effect“. Many patients have heard of a possible connection between statins and leg pain. For example, in patients with peripheral artery disease. A recently published study showed that rats given statins were not able to run as far as rats without the drug. We have not received any money or support from pharmaceutical companies. Rhabdomyolysis (often called rhabdo for short) is the medical term for the breakdown of muscle fibers that results in the release of muscle fiber contents into the bloodstream. So, if one statin caused pain you may do well with another one. Some have even suggested use of statins may ease arthritis symptoms. These potentially life-saving medications have some important medical uses, but the downside is that they could also cause muscle pain or muscle cramps—also known as statin-induced muscle pain. In fact, grapefruit juice should be avoided when taking some statins to avoid this complication, though some do not support this recommendation. There are anecdotes about patients who think statins harm their athletic performance, but formal establishment of an effect is not so clear. Also, reducing the dose of the statin can be effective. There are over 100 types of neuropathy, each with its own cluster of symptoms that can be diagnosed by a neurologist. I was referred to vascular surgeons who diagnoses the intermittent claudification at age 32 despite having the symptoms since early childhood. These types of problems are known as cognitive defects. If left undiagnosed, neuropathy can lead to deterioration of the muscles and paralysis. Simvastatin actually lowers the risk of Parkinson's and Alzheimer’s diseases.) Simvastatin 40 to 80 mg- 18.2%. First of all, it turns out that people who do not know of the possibility of pain, actually report less pain. Statin Answers presents scientifically grounded, yet easy-to-understand facts about these drugs. - Invalid Analysis of the muscle showed animals on the medicine had less glycogen and there was evidence of mitochondrial damage. But, not all statins are the same. Unfortunately, some people find that they cannot tolerate any statins. Tasks that were once simple, such as climbing stairs or walking, may make you uncomfortable and tired while using statins. These numbers are shown only for comparison and to indicate that muscle pain of some sort can be common. Muscle weakness is frequently a symptom of neuropathy and the muscle weakness may develop in a matter of days or may slowly progress over weeks or months. Log in to renew or change an existing membership. Recent research has found a mild increase in diabetes risk associated with statin usage. If muscle symptoms are building up, avoiding more severe symptoms is logical. The study, which focused on older women, was an observational study (as opposed to a blind study comparing two regimens). ... Other patients may experience calf pain when walking … ... Statins do cause muscle pain in some people, though … When tissues break down, the body must eliminate waste products.