how to repair muscle damage from statins

Changing Medications Switching to another cholesterol-lowering medication is the first step to repairing any damage caused by statins, especially if you’ve been taking the drug for less than a year. Muscle damage is typically the most severe at the highest dosage during the first year of its use.

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How to strengthen the leg muscles damaged by statins?

What is the evidence for PEMFs helping muscles?

• Muscle soreness is a common result of muscle exercise, even in those not on statins. ...
• One of the most basic actions of PEMFs is on adenosine, which forms adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ...
• High intensity PEMFs used outside under the pelvis have been found to reduce urinary incontinence in women by strengthening pelvic muscles. ...

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Can side effects from statins be reversed?

Statin side effects can cause some to choose risk over discomfort but it is possible to reduce, if not reverse, the side effects of statins. Statin Side Effects. Statin side effects include muscle pain, liver damage, digestive issues, and rash or flushing. Muscle pain is the most frequent and troubling side effect reported with statin use.

What are the side effects of statins?

Statins cause far fewer side-effects than people believe, the world's largest study has found. The cholesterol-busting drugs are taken by about eight million people in the UK to cut the chance of heart attack and stroke. But up to 80 per cent of those who ...

Do you have muscle pain while taking a statin drug?

This serious muscle wasting condition is rare and occurs in a fraction of patients. While there are several theories as to why statins may cause muscle pain, none have been confirmed. Research has shown that the gene atrogin-1 may be the source of muscle pain in those taking statins.

Can muscle damage from statin drugs be reversed?

The majority of muscle damage by statins is secondary to its direct toxic effects, possibly via coenzyme Q10 depletion causing mitochondrial dysfunction. The injury is dose dependent and reversible after withdrawing the drug, with most recovery of symptoms occurring within 2–3 months (3).

How long does it take for muscles to recover after stopping statins?

In 44 patients, medical records indicated recovery from statin-associated myopathy a mean of 2.3 (3.0) months after the cessation of statin therapy (range, 0.25-14.0 months) (Table 4).

Can statins cause long term muscle damage?

Very rarely, statins can cause life-threatening muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis (rab-doe-my-OL-ih-sis). Rhabdomyolysis can cause severe muscle pain, liver damage, kidney failure and death.

How long does it take for statin induced muscle pain to go away?

Muscle pain usually goes away within 1 to 2 weeks after you stop taking a statin. If the pain doesn't go away, it may have been caused by something else.

How do you know if you have muscle damage from statins?

Rhabdomyolysis or milder forms of muscle inflammation from statins can be diagnosed with a blood test measuring levels of the enzyme creatinine kinase. If you notice moderate or severe muscle aches after starting to take a statin, contact your doctor.

Does CoQ10 help with muscle pain from statins?

In a study published in the American Journal of Cardiology , researchers indicate that using CoQ10 supplements seemed to decrease the muscle breakdown, pain, and discomfort of people taking statins. However, a recent study in Atherosclerosis suggests that CoQ10 does not improve muscle pain in people taking statins.

What is the treatment for statin induced myopathy?

Currently, the only effective treatment of statin-induced myopathy is the discontinuation of statin use in patients affected by muscle aches, pains and elevated CK levels.

Is neuropathy from statins reversible?

There are reported cases of statin induced peripheral neuropathy, which in the initial stages can be reversible.

How long does it take for coq10 to work for muscle pain?

Results: Pain decreased on average by 53.8% (p<0.0001), muscle weakness by 44.4% (p<0.0001). The CQ10 levels were increased by more than 194% (from 0,903 μg/ml to 2.66 μg/ml; p<0.0001). Conclusion: After a six-month administration of coenzyme Q10, muscle pain and sensitivity statistically significantly decreased.

Do side effects of statins go away?

Statin side effects commonly make people discontinue treatment, but most patients who go back to them overcome the side effects and remain on their medication long term, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China, reported in Annals of Internal ...

Do I need coq10 if I take a statin?

Every cell in the body needs coenzyme Q10 to help generate energy. When you take a statin medication to lower your cholesterol, it may lower the amount of coenzyme Q10 in your cells and in your bloodstream, too. That's because the mechanism in your body that makes cholesterol also makes coenzyme Q10.

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.

How does statin affect muscle?

They observed that in human skeletal muscle, statin treatment disrupted the release of calcium from muscle cells. Normally, muscles release some calcium upon stimulation.

How to reduce statin pain?

Scientists are still learning about what can help with statin muscle pain. However, some research suggests that the following may prove helpful: Moderate exercise : A 2019 study concludes that in rats, moderate exercise may reverse the physiological changes that could lead to statin muscle pain.

What are the risks of statins?

Risk factors for statin side effects. A number of factors may put a person at higher risk of developing SAMS, including: higher statin dosages. lower muscle mass, which can be more common in older adults, people with physical disabilities, females, and people with a lower body mass index. hypothyroidism.

What to do instead of stopping statins?

Instead of stopping statins entirely, doctors will first: remove any factors that could be contributing to muscle pain. try alternative statins. try different dosages. If these measures do not prove effective, a doctor may suggest an alternative to statins.

Does electric stimulation affect muscle strength?

However, when the scientists applied electric stimulation to muscles, it did not seem to affect the muscles’ ability to move. Similarly, statins did not have any influence on muscle function or strength in rats, possibly because exercise prevented the statins from causing muscle damage. The researchers suggest that statin muscle pain may affect ...

Does vitamin D help with muscle pain?

Vitamin D: Increasing vitamin D intake via safe sun exposure, food, or supplements may help reduce muscle pain in general . Further studies. Trusted Source. are necessary to verify the benefits of vitamin D for a person with SAMS.

Which drugs lower cholesterol?

one of the following: ezetimibe, a drug that reduces cholesterol absorption. fibrates, which lower triglyceride levels and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. nicotinic acid, which raises HDL cholesterol. bile acid sequestrants, a group of drugs used to treat high cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol.

How to help muscle pain after statin?

Although there are no proven remedies for statin-related muscle pain, the following may help. Exercise. There is some evidence that people who have exercised regularly before taking statins are less likely to experience muscle pain and cramping.

How to stop statins?

Ramp up your lifestyle changes. Commit to an exercise routine, lose weight if you need to, and adopt a heart- healthy eating plan such as the Mediterranean diet. Doing so may enable you to reduce your statin dosage, or possibly even lower your cholesterol enough to enable you to stop the statin.

How to reduce muscle cramps and muscle pain?

Take supplements. If you have a low blood level of vitamin D, restoring it to normal with a supplement may help reduce muscle pain and cramping.

Can statins cause heart problems?

Taking a statin may give you some assurance that you're doing all you can to avoid heart attack and stroke, but you may also experience side effects. Reported side effects include an increased chance of developing diabetes — which is largely restricted to people who are already at risk for diabetes, and who can be monitored with glucose or hemoglobin A1c tests. Statin use has also been associated with difficulties with memory and reasoning, although there is no clear evidence that the drugs were responsible. In very rare cases, statins may cause liver problems or a potentially life-threatening breakdown in muscle cells.

Can you take statins if you are not taking statins?

If you're not taking a statin now, you may well be soon. These medications are commonly prescribed to lower "bad" LDL cholesterol and have been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death. They are routinely recommended for people who have cardiovascular disease and for many people ages 40 to 75 who don't have cardiovascular disease ...

Do statins go away?

Keep track of any new symptoms that develop when you begin taking a statin, and report them to your doctor. Some symptoms may go away as you continue to take the medication. If you're taking the statin preventively, your doctor may try to determine if your muscle pain symptoms are actually due to the statin by suggesting a brief holiday from ...

How to repair statins?

Changing Medications. Switching to another cholesterol-lowering medication is the first step to repairing any damage caused by statins , especially if you’ve been taking the drug for less than a year. Muscle damage is typically the most severe at the highest dosage during the first year of its use. Although statins are one ...

How to improve cardiovascular fitness?

Keeping the weights and repetitions relatively low is a good place to start. As your strength improves, progressively increase both the weight and reps. At the same time, your doctor or physical therapist will likely encourage cardiovascular activity.

What is the best medication for high cholesterol?

Although statins are one of the most effective drugs used to treat high blood cholesterol, bile-acid-binding resins and cholesterol absorption inhibitors are also beneficial. Your doctor can help determine which medication best suits your needs.

Does CoQ10 cause pain?

A study published in the "Journal of the American College of Cardiology" found that patients taking CoQ10, as it’s often called, reported fewer incidences of pain while exercising when taking this supplement than other nutrients, such as vitamin E.

Can exercise cause myopathy?

Strenuous or extended periods of exercise are known to induce myopathy, particularly if you’re still on the drug causing the damage , so you need to take special care when starting an exercise program. Doing too much too soon could worsen your condition.

Do statins lower cholesterol?

Statins are one of the most common and effective medications used to lower cholesterol. In fact, millions of Americans take them each day. Most have no issues, but some people report muscle pain and weakness while on the drug.

Which statins cause muscle aches?

These statins, including atorvastatin (Lipitor®), simvastatin (Zocor®) and fluvastatin (Lescol®), are more likely to cause muscle aches. The hydrophilic statins, including rosuvastatin (Crestor®) and pravastatin (Pravachol®), have to be actively transported and cause fewer muscle aches. If you haven’t tried a hydrophilic statin, ...

Why do statins rise?

Sometimes, certain foods or medications prevent the body from eliminating statins at the normal rate, causing statin levels in the body to rise. The most common culprits include: Heavy alcohol consumption. The calcium-channel blockers diltiazem and verapamil. The antiarrhythmic drugs amiodarone and digoxin.

What statins can lower LDL?

If you’re still unable to tolerate any statins at all, ask about switching to exetimibe (Zetia®), which can lower LDL by 15%, or a PCSK9 inhibitor. There are two: alirocumab (Praluent®) and evolocumab (Repatha®). These powerful drugs can lower LDL to rock-bottom levels without triggering muscle pain.

What does it mean when you are statin intolerant?

What statin intolerance means. People who are statin intolerant are unable to tolerate the lowest dose of two or more statins, due to the adverse effects that they have on the muscles, joints or liver.

Can statins cause heart attacks?

Evidence that cholesterol-lowering statins prevent heart attacks and strokes is so compelling that these medications are recommended for people with cardiovascular disease or its risk factors. But statins can sometimes cause side effects that force people to stop taking them and lose the beneficial protection they provide.

Can you take statins once a week?

“True statin intolerance — when a person cannot take a statin even once a week — is extremely rare,” says cardiologist Leslie Cho, MD, Head of Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation.

Can statins lower LDL cholesterol?

That’s why statins remain the more common choice for lowering LDL cholesterol. A word of warning: Never stop taking a statin without your doctor’s guidance. “It can greatly increase your chance of having a heart attack,” Dr. Cho says. This article was originally published in Cleveland Clinic Heart Advisor.

How long does it take for muscle pain to resolve after stopping statins?

Muscle problems related to statin therapy usually begin within a few weeks to a few months after beginning treatment. While statin-related myalgia, myositis, and rhabdomyolysis will resolve once you stop taking statins, rhabdomyolysis may result in irreversible muscle damage.

Why do people take statins?

Millions of Americans take statins because they effectively target all aspects of one's lipid profile by lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides while raising high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. They also reduce the chance of stroke and heart attack. 14 

What are statins 2021?

Updated on July 10, 2021. Statins are a group of cholesterol-lowering medications. While greatly beneficial to many people working to manage hyperlipidemia, like all drugs, statins come with the risk of side effects. So-called statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS)—including myalgia (generalized muscle pain) and myopathy ...

What is rhabdomyolysis?

Rhabdomyolysis: While fortunately very rare, this severe type of myopathy is a life-threatening condition characterized by the breakdown of muscle tissue that causes muscle fiber contents to be released into the blood, potentially causing kidney damage. 3 .

What does statin pain feel like?

The following are the three most common forms of statin-related muscle pain: Myalgia: This type of muscle pain usually feels like mild soreness in the should ers, arms, hips or thighs. Myalgia also often comes with mild feelings of weakness.

What is the name of the condition that causes muscle pain and inflammation?

Myositis: Myositis, a type of myopathy, causes muscle pain and inflammation, as well as an elevation in CK (a muscle enzyme) levels in the blood. The presence of CK in the blood is an indicator of muscle damage. 2 . Rhabdomyolysis: While fortunately very rare, this severe type of myopathy is a life-threatening condition characterized by ...

Can statins cause liver problems?

While statins are proven to help reduce cholesterol, they come with a variety of risks and side effects. Besides muscle pain, these can include liver damage, digestive problems, increased blood sugar, memory loss and confusion. 7 .

Why are statins used?

Statins are used to lower cholesterol into what are considered to be optimal ranges. Cholesterol is a fundamental molecule made by the body for many health maintaining purposes, including helping to fight infection, reducing cancer rates, producing coenzyme Q 10, vitamin D, the sex hormones and the body’s own natural cortisone.

Can you take PEMFs while on statins?

At the very least, they can increase their activity and ability to exercise, while still taking their statins. Since there is evidence that the damage to muscles goes on long after the medication is stopped, PEMFs can be continued until muscles have repaired.

Can statins cause muscle weakness?

Complaints are often made worse by exercise. Statins have been shown to reduce mitochondrial oxidative capacity and content in human muscle and impair mitochondrial adaptations needed in muscle during muscle activity. This issue of the statins causing weakening of muscles, is especially important as we try to have everyone increase their activity ...

Can you stop statins with PEMF?

For various reasons, people who are taking these drugs may not be able to stop them, following doctors’ orders.

Do statins make you less active?

This means that people on statins are less likely to be as active or exercise as much as they should be doing . And, most people tend to follow their doctors’ advice and take the statin medicine as prescribed.

Do statins help with PEMF?

Since the effect of statins is on all the muscles in the body and felt most in the skeletal muscles being used during activity, any kind of PEMF may help, but whole body PEMFs, which cover a majority of the body muscles may be the most beneficial.

Is cholesterol a problem?

Modern medicine considers cholesterol a problem, primarily related to the possibility of it causing cardiovascular disease. It is associated with cardiovascular disease but many believe that it is not the cause. The late modern medicine deals with high cholesterol is to reduce it by using statin lowering agents.

What are the effects of statins on the body?

They also interfere with mevalonic acid and hemoglobin production. They disrupt the production of sex hormones, corticosteroids, and bile salts. Statins also poison your mitochondria–your cells’ energy factories. And they even disrupt production of vitamin D, an all-important micronutrient.

How long does it take for statins to leave your body?

The good news is, the actual drug starts to leave your body within 24 hours after you stop taking it. But it can leave behind lasting effects in your muscles. And even in your cells.

How much ubiquinol should I take for statins?

If the bottle says “Coenzyme Q10” or “CoQ10,” it’s probably Ubiquinone–the less well-absorbed chemical form. I recommend taking 200 mg of Ubiquinol daily with a meal as part of a statin recovery plan. (For everyone else, I recommend just 50 mg a day.)

How many studies have been done on statins?

In fact, nearly 900 scientific studies focus on statin damage and/or recovery. Of course, reading these studies can be overwhelming for anyone not in the medical field. (And even for most doctors, apparently.) That’s just one reason why you won’t hear about statin recovery from the mainstream government-industrial-medical complex.

Can statins cause muscle pain?

In fact, statin drugs are so strong, they block your tissues from getting enough CoQ10. This may cause you to experience severe muscle pain, fatigue, and weakness. These problems are common statin side effects. And they’re actually signs that the drug is poisoning your metabolism and depleting your CoQ10 stores.

Do statins cause collateral damage?

As I explained earlier this month, statins are designed to disrupt normal cholesterol production. And they also cause a lot of collateral damage. In fact, statin drugs are so strong, they block your tissues from getting enough CoQ10.

Does statin lower cholesterol?

Of course, your heart is a muscle too. So now–just think of the irony! You take a statin drug to lower your cholesterol and prevent heart disease. Sure, maybe it lowers your cholesterol. But it can damage your heart muscle in the process. And that’s not all….

How long does it take for statins to kill muscle?

The article goes on to say that statin-induced muscle damage can occur within a week of starting treatment or after four years.

What percentage of patients do not tolerate statins?

The authors point out that 5-20 percent of patients “do not tolerate the side effects of statins, resulting in discontinuation of therapy.”. Most of the muscle problems disappear after discontinuation of statins. The authors go on to say:

Is the FDA exonerated from statins?

Ultimately, the FDA needs to come to terms with the large number of people who are suffering statin side effects. A re-analysis of the many ALS-like and myopathy case reports may lead the agency to reconsider its exoneration of statins.

Does cholesterol medication increase Lou Gehrig's disease?

The agency analyzed data from clinical trials and concluded that: “FDA Analysis Shows Cholesterol Lowering Medications Do Not Increase the Risk of ‘Lou Gehrig’s Disease’ Agency recommends no change in prescribing and use of statins”.

Can statins cause myopathy?

The authors go on to say: “In these patients, statins are thought to cause a direct toxicity to muscle fibres that is self-limited, here referred to as toxic statin myopathy. In contrast, a small number of patients with concurrent statin use develop a progressive, autoimmune necrotizing myopathy.

Changing Medications

Assessing The Damage

Making A Plan

Improving Strength

Reducing The Pain

• Taking coenzyme Q10 may help — at least when it comes to the pain associated with statin-induced muscle pain. A study published in the "Journal of the American College of Cardiology" found that patients taking CoQ10, as it’s often called, reported fewer incidences of pain while exercising when taking this supplement than other nutrients, such as vi...

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