Whilst reading through the article, I very early on considered the time to onset of symptoms, and time to symptom resolution essentially invalidated the studies.
I always measure CK on patients with myalgia who take statins.
My experience is that even when CK levels drop to normal after cessation of the statins, myalgia often persists, sometimes indefinitely.
Then there are the questions as to the doubtful efficacy of statins on primary prevention of heart attacks, especially in those whom a lipid subfractions analysis suggests no increased risk of coronary artery disease.
These 2 studies appear designed to appeal to the ill-informed media class.
And here are some case reports that show patients can experience muscle symptoms with statins and have normal creatine kinase levels https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12353945/
Nice analysis of the research. As I've written before, I'm ambivalent about statins, but my husband recently started to take one after his calcium score increased significantly from the last time. He's on a hydrophilic statin rather than a lipophilic statin, since they tend to be associated with less myopathy. (No symptoms so far, fingers crossed). I don't know why CK testing isn't automatically done, even if it's not 100% reliable (no test is). Also, genetic testing:
Interestingly, the co-inventor of that genetic test which indicates susceptibility to muscle pain from taking statins, is Sir Rory Collins, the same guy who said that statin-induced muscle pains were very rare and probably due to the nocebo effect.
Yes, it was hypocritical that the “Statin Smart” test was marketed and sold directly to the consumer in the US under a claim that “29% of all users will experience muscle pain, weakness or cramps.” And yet publicly, Collins was saying that muscle harms from statin therapy were “very rare.”
I first started statins in 1995 after an early age heart attack. Within a month or two my leg muscles would ache in the morning. This was a year or two before I started to read about the side effects. To this day, depending on the dose level, I will still get the statin muscle ache. No study will ever convince me otherwise that for me statins result in my muscle pain!
Why do we think that a CK level is all that is necessary to check for statin side effects?
Why do we believe that pharmaceutical studies are not purposely designed to have/get their desired outcome?
Why even care much about myalgias from statins when the actual absolute risk reductions for statins is so low and the number needed to treat from statins are so high?
More questions but I’ll leave them be and let others chime in.
Great post Maryanne. I guess we shouldn't be surprised. But if we step back and look at this, we see something profound. A person starts with a lie, then concocts a "scientific" study to validate the lie, and along the way hides truths and tells more lies, until they finally come up with a big, fat, gross lie with high cholesterol due to a diet of junk science, until it finally qualifies to be published by the great defenders of truth. If I shake my head any more I might need a Viox for my inflamed neck.
I have been a fan of yours since your ground-breaking public expose of Big Pharma and statins on Australian television in 2013. You called out the lack of scrutiny by the Australian medical fraternity, researchers, family doctors, endocrinologists, National Health and Medical Research Council and the Pharamceutical Benefits Scheme. The medical fraternity came after you and the popular television science show Catalyst. The show was axed and you were were crucified for daring to question the establishement. Aided and abetted by Big Pharma. Many years earlier I was prescribed statins because of my "high" cholesterol. It got it down a little but I certainly got muscle pain and loss of muscle tone after several months. Not 1 or 2. And it took a while to subside after stopping. The doc said dont worry about it. This was some years before there was any public report. Jeeze. Please keep up your super scrutiny now that you are in the US. Very best regards. Nicolaas Tydens
I appreciate your support Nic and thanks for sharing your experience. I am glad you fully recovered from the symptoms, I’ve had people tell me that their muscle damage was so extreme that they never fully recovered. 🙏
Statins and muscular pain, myalgia, is difficult. High cholesterol readings in my late 50s and my doctor put me in 20mg Lipitor. I had muscular aches and saw the Catalyst programs. Asked dr if I could just stop Lipitor and so I did. I was involved in a big community legal fight and had a lot of stress and very very little sleep. 6 mths after stopping Statins I had a heart attack. A 99% blockage so I was very lucky. I was then put back on statins and 80mg dose. Myalgia returned with a vengeance. Years later I now regularly take 4 Ostalin vitD capsules daily and 450 mg of co-enzyme Q10 which seems to control the myalgia. Would love to give up the statins but my blood tests are all good these days.
Whilst reading through the article, I very early on considered the time to onset of symptoms, and time to symptom resolution essentially invalidated the studies.
I always measure CK on patients with myalgia who take statins.
My experience is that even when CK levels drop to normal after cessation of the statins, myalgia often persists, sometimes indefinitely.
Then there are the questions as to the doubtful efficacy of statins on primary prevention of heart attacks, especially in those whom a lipid subfractions analysis suggests no increased risk of coronary artery disease.
These 2 studies appear designed to appeal to the ill-informed media class.
And here are some case reports that show patients can experience muscle symptoms with statins and have normal creatine kinase levels https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12353945/
Nice analysis of the research. As I've written before, I'm ambivalent about statins, but my husband recently started to take one after his calcium score increased significantly from the last time. He's on a hydrophilic statin rather than a lipophilic statin, since they tend to be associated with less myopathy. (No symptoms so far, fingers crossed). I don't know why CK testing isn't automatically done, even if it's not 100% reliable (no test is). Also, genetic testing:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/muscle-problems-caused-by-statins-can-a-genetic-test-reveal-your-risk-201603039247
Interestingly, the co-inventor of that genetic test which indicates susceptibility to muscle pain from taking statins, is Sir Rory Collins, the same guy who said that statin-induced muscle pains were very rare and probably due to the nocebo effect.
Oh my goodness! Good to know! He certainly has all his bases covered, doesn't he?!
Yes, it was hypocritical that the “Statin Smart” test was marketed and sold directly to the consumer in the US under a claim that “29% of all users will experience muscle pain, weakness or cramps.” And yet publicly, Collins was saying that muscle harms from statin therapy were “very rare.”
I first started statins in 1995 after an early age heart attack. Within a month or two my leg muscles would ache in the morning. This was a year or two before I started to read about the side effects. To this day, depending on the dose level, I will still get the statin muscle ache. No study will ever convince me otherwise that for me statins result in my muscle pain!
Why do we think that a CK level is all that is necessary to check for statin side effects?
Why do we believe that pharmaceutical studies are not purposely designed to have/get their desired outcome?
Why even care much about myalgias from statins when the actual absolute risk reductions for statins is so low and the number needed to treat from statins are so high?
More questions but I’ll leave them be and let others chime in.
Well, you know my responses to these question 😉
Great post Maryanne. I guess we shouldn't be surprised. But if we step back and look at this, we see something profound. A person starts with a lie, then concocts a "scientific" study to validate the lie, and along the way hides truths and tells more lies, until they finally come up with a big, fat, gross lie with high cholesterol due to a diet of junk science, until it finally qualifies to be published by the great defenders of truth. If I shake my head any more I might need a Viox for my inflamed neck.
G'day Maryanne,
I have been a fan of yours since your ground-breaking public expose of Big Pharma and statins on Australian television in 2013. You called out the lack of scrutiny by the Australian medical fraternity, researchers, family doctors, endocrinologists, National Health and Medical Research Council and the Pharamceutical Benefits Scheme. The medical fraternity came after you and the popular television science show Catalyst. The show was axed and you were were crucified for daring to question the establishement. Aided and abetted by Big Pharma. Many years earlier I was prescribed statins because of my "high" cholesterol. It got it down a little but I certainly got muscle pain and loss of muscle tone after several months. Not 1 or 2. And it took a while to subside after stopping. The doc said dont worry about it. This was some years before there was any public report. Jeeze. Please keep up your super scrutiny now that you are in the US. Very best regards. Nicolaas Tydens
I appreciate your support Nic and thanks for sharing your experience. I am glad you fully recovered from the symptoms, I’ve had people tell me that their muscle damage was so extreme that they never fully recovered. 🙏
Maryanne, I would like to talk to you about another drug. How do I get in co tact with you please? Thanks
Ditta
No worries Ditta, I’ll contact you on the email you have subscribed with. 🙏
I would also add that a 20 mg dose would be a low one here in the USA.
Agree, 20mg is on the low side for many.
Statins and muscular pain, myalgia, is difficult. High cholesterol readings in my late 50s and my doctor put me in 20mg Lipitor. I had muscular aches and saw the Catalyst programs. Asked dr if I could just stop Lipitor and so I did. I was involved in a big community legal fight and had a lot of stress and very very little sleep. 6 mths after stopping Statins I had a heart attack. A 99% blockage so I was very lucky. I was then put back on statins and 80mg dose. Myalgia returned with a vengeance. Years later I now regularly take 4 Ostalin vitD capsules daily and 450 mg of co-enzyme Q10 which seems to control the myalgia. Would love to give up the statins but my blood tests are all good these days.
Agreed. Have you ever attempted to ask him about it?
Collins stopped responding to my enquiries was in 2015 and I have not tried since.
Why am I not surprised? Regardless, did I just give you your next story?! 😬
https://www.eurofins.com/biopharma-services/media/news-announcements/boston-heart-diagnostics-introduces-statinsmart/