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- Statin therapy does not exacerbate muscle injury, pain or fatigue in people engaging in moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2023/04/03/19/04/Moderate-Exercise-Safe-for-People-With-Muscle-Pain-From-StatinsModerate Exercise Safe for People With Muscle Pain From Statins
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Is it safe to exercise while taking statins?
Does high-intensity exercise cause muscle damage on statins?
Are Statins bad for You?
Do statins cause muscle weakness?
Should patients continue to take statins?
Mar 5, 2024 · Athletes are more prone to the development of statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS); however, there is inconclusive evidence to support a pathophysiologic effect of statins on muscle weakness or reduced aerobic capacity.
Regular exercise can sometimes lead to a rise in CK, so tell your doctor if you've been exercising a lot. Once your CK level has returned to normal, your doctor may suggest you start taking the statin again, but at a lower dose.
- Overview
- What are statins?
- Exercise intensity matters
- Statin-associated muscle symptoms
- Why physical activity is ‘very important’
- Exercising on statins: Recommendations
•A new study found that people on statins who are worried about exercising due to fears about potential muscle damage need not worry.
•After moderate exercise, the muscles of statin-taking participants and control participants in the study felt about the same.
•However, high-intensity exercise for statin users is not recommended.
A new study provides encouragement for people on statins who are afraid to exercise for fear of causing muscle damage.
Some people on the cholesterol-lowering drug report experiencing muscle issues, and may forgo physical activity that is important for their cardiovascular health.
The study finds that statin users, whether they do or do not have muscle problems, experience the same muscle-related effects from moderate-intensity exercise.
Statins are a family of medicines that can lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or “bad cholesterol,” in a person’s blood.
“Statins are the most effective treatment for hyperlipidemia [ high cholesterol] and a major treatment after a heart attack,” cardiologist Dr. David Lee, from Oregon Health & Study University (OHSU), not involved in the study, told Medical News Today.
“They are important treatments to prevent recurrent heart attacks and strokes,” he pointed out.
Emilee Taylor, doctor of pharmacy, also at OHSU and not involved in the current study, further noted that statins “have been a major reason that heart disease and strokes have reduced significantly since their introduction in the early 1990s.”
The study involved 35 symptomatic statin users — people with muscle problems from statins — 34 asymptomatic, or symptom-free, statin users, and 31 people who did not use statins.
The symptomatic participants were 80% male, with an average age of 64 years. The control group was the same age, and 62% of the participants in this group were male. The asymptomatic participants were slightly older, aged 68 years, and 82% of them were male.
All participated in a moderate exercise program in which each person walked 30, 40, or 50 kilometers (km) a day at a self-selected pace for 4 consecutive days.
Researchers took participants’ baseline measurements — weight, height, and waist circumference — 1 or 2 days before walking began. Their heart rates were measured on the first walking day every 5 km.
At the end of the first, second, and third days, participants’ weight was measured to assess their hydration. Their start and finish times allowed the researchers to assess their walking speed and exercise duration. A heart-rate-based formula provided an estimate of exercise intensity.
Finally, participants reported their experience with muscle pain before the program and after exercise.
Muscle problems reported with taking statins are collectively referred to as “SAMS,” which stands for “statin-associated muscle symptoms.” These include myalgia, cramps, and perceived muscle weakness.
Some patients who might benefit from statins refuse to take them, or decline to take prescribed dosages, due to concerns about SAMS.
There is some controversy regarding how common an experience SAMS are. The American College of Cardiology says that the incidence of SAMS is low in randomized controlled trials, yet much higher in clinical observation studies.
One study of former statin users reported 62% of them quit the drug due to side effects.
According to the National Lipid Association (NLA), research suggests the actual incidence of SAMS is about 10%, with different studies finding its frequency among statin users ranging from 5% to 25%.
While the symptoms reported by patients are real, 80% are not caused by statins, says the NLA.
With widespread, arguably exaggerated, reports of SAMS, some people who take statins are concerned about the safety of exercising.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Neeltje A. E. Allard, from Radboud University Medical Centre in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, explained for MNT why this is concerning:
“The combination of statin therapy and physical fitness lowers mortality risk more than either strategy alone. Patients that are prescribed statins generally have more risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, so for these patients, a healthy lifestyle, including being physically active, is very important.”
Dr. Allard’s previous research demonstrated statin users can safely engage in a 12-week moderate-intensity exercise program that improves muscle performance without exacerbating muscle symptoms.
Cardiologist Dr. Michael S. Broukhim, a board-certified interventional cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, who was not involved in the study, summed up the current recommendations for people on statins.
“Patients should continue to take their statins at their maximally tolerated dose after discussion with their healthcare providers, and should implement a regular exercise program, with preference to a moderate-intensity exercise program,” he advised.
Dr. Broukhim added that he recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week, the same recommended amount of exercise for people who do not take statins.
He cautioned that people taking statins should avoid high-intensity exercise, which can raise muscle enzymes to higher levels that can produce muscle damage.
Oct 24, 2024 · A ll drugs can cause side effects for some people, and statins taken to lower cholesterol are no exception. Dr Sarah Jarvis outlines the common short term side effects, what your doctor can do to help, and the serious side effects to be aware of.
Simultaneously, physical activity is increasingly recognized and recommended to reduce CVD risk. 9 Statin-associated musculoskeletal side effects, exacerbated by recommended physical activity, could lead to reduced statin use in individuals who would benefit from statin therapy. This review explores mechanisms that may increase the risk of ...
BHF-funded studies have led the world in showing that statins save lives by reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. But side effects, most notably muscle weakness or pain, are reported by up to a third of people taking statins.
It's important to talk to your doctor if you're thinking about stopping your statin. You told us the side effects you worry about include muscle pain, feeling tired and not sleeping and weight changes. Muscle pain and statins. The most common side effect reported is muscle pain, weakness or cramps.
