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Can statins cripple you?
If you’re taking any of the prescription anti-cholesterol drugs called statins you need to know that they can be dangerous to your health. In addition to the common side effects**, top-selling statin drugs were found to: Raise blood pressure.
Can statins affect mobility?
While statins have been shown to significantly reduce cholesterol levels, they have also been reported to have negative side effects on skeletal muscle. Most statin-induced myopathy manifests in the leg muscles, which can lead to difficulty walking and exercising.
Can statins affect walking?
Unsteadiness in walking, especially on uneven surfaces or on changing direction, was the most common complaint. They usually could not pinpoint the onset, but their history of daily activities suggested functional changes by 6 months after the 1st use of a statin.
Do statins destroy muscle?
In rare cases, statins are known to cause a severe muscle condition called rhabdomyolysis, in which skeletal muscle tissue is destroyed, leading to serious complications. But much more frequently, people complain that the drugs simply cause muscle pain.
Can statins cause leg problems?
Within a month of starting statin therapy, they may feel aches or weakness in the large muscles of their arms, shoulders, thighs or buttocks on both sides of the body. About 5 to 10\% of people who try statins are affected. It’s more common in the elderly, in women and in those taking the more potent statins.
Can statins cause muscle wasting?
The side effects most commonly associated with statin use involve muscle cramping, soreness, fatigue, weakness, and, in rare cases, rapid muscle breakdown that can lead to death. Often, these side effects can become apparent during or after strenuous bouts of exercise.
Why do statins make your legs ache?
The researchers suggest that in most people, muscle cells can tolerate this calcium leak. However, in people already susceptible due to their genes or lifestyle, the leak caused by statins may overwhelm the muscle cells, giving rise to muscle pain and weakness.
Should the treatment with statins be balanced in the elderly?
In elderly people, the benefits and disadvantages of the treatment with statins should be put in balance, especially in those receiving high doses of statins. Keywords: elderly, atherosclerosis, statin, myocardial infarction, stroke
Are Statins life-saving?
The consensus is that statins are life-saving for people who have suffered a stroke or heart attack to help prevent another episode.
Do statins protect against more than heart attack?
We know that statins can be used to protect against more than heart attack – statins also protect against stroke in high-risk patients. A stroke is caused by blocked blood flow to the brain, and high cholesterol is one of the culprits for such blockages.
What are the possible side effects of statins?
The possible side effects of statin therapy are diabetes mellitus, myopathy, and rhabdomyolysis, hepatotoxicity. The side effects of the treatment are more likely to occur in elderly patients, due to their multiple associated comorbidities and drugs that may interact with statins.