Satin drugs: A health hazard?

Satin drugs, cholesterol-lowering option, can cause serious health hazards. A regular user of these drugs may have to suffer weakness in muscles, Myalgia and even rhabdomyolysis, muscle disintegration

CJ: goodnews

Tue, Mar 17, 2009 13:12:52 IST

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Health Care :

IF YOUR golf swing isn’t sending the ball as far these days, it could be the Lipitor you’re taking. Lipitor, along with other statins, can cause weakness in your muscles. While the side effect is not common, it may affect hundreds of thousands of statin drug users worldwide, because the market for these drugs is so large.

According to news reports, statin drugs (Lipitor, Zocor, Pravachol, Crestor, Lescol and Mevacor) are the most effective cholesterol-lowering drugs available, but these drugs can cause muscle problems. Myalgia is one of those problems. It is muscle inflammation with tenderness and pain. Myopathy is another problem. It’s muscle achiness and weakness. And the third, and most serious, complication is rhabdomyolysis, muscle disintegration.

This happens very rarely, to about one in 10,000 users. Lowering the dose, switching to another statin or changing to a different medicine is usually all the treatment necessary, except for rhabdomyolysis, or the breakdown of muscle mass.

Statins also cause general fatigue. People prescribed widely use cholesterol-busting drugs called statins may be more likely to feel fatigued than those who don’t, a new study finds. The research was expected to be presented this week at a meeting of the American Heart Association in Palm Harbor, Florida.

It’s possible that the drugs may cause problems by disrupting the way the body produces energy in cells; Vitamin D supplements may help such patients feel better.

Talk with your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms, while using Lipitor or another statin.

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