Statins are safe: Study debunks fears that they cause muscle pain; Indian docs agree

What was the general belief?

Some patients and doctors believed statin caused muscle pain. Researchers clarify through worldwide study. (Creative Commons)

Though it is proven that the use of statin is highly advantageous, there are a few patients and clinicians who believed that they could cause frequent muscle pain. Many patients across the world even stopped taking this drug due to this belief.

“The idea that statins may cause frequent muscle pain has been a persistent belief among some patients and clinicians. However, our study confirms that the statin is rarely the cause of muscle pain in those taking statins,” said Prof Colin Baigent of the University of Oxford and joint lead author of the study

Muscle pain reported on #statin therapy may not be due to the drughttps://t.co/oiXvPgsP2X #MedTwitter pic.twitter.com/YE9rMPsWe0

— Medscape (@Medscape) August 29, 2022

The study analysed data from 155,000 patients from 23 trials of statin therapy. Each trial had over 1,000 patients and a follow-up time of over two years.

The study found that, in 19 clinical trials that also involved people being given a placebo, 27.1 percent of patients who were given statins reported muscle pain or weakness, compared with 26.6 percent of those who were given the placebo.

The study suggested that statin was the cause of the pain only for one in 15 people.

Statin is considered ‘wonder drug’ in India, say cardiologists

Meanwhile, cardiologists in India believe that statin is a “wonder drug”.

“It is the recommended drug for any person with heart-related issues and cholesterol. It is highly safe, effective and, in fact, we call it a wonder drug,” Dr Manjunath told South First.

“Statin is used in patients with diabetes also — any diabetic patient at risk of any kind of cardiac-related diseases,” said Dr Abhishek N, an endocrinologist from Hyderabad.

Does statin really cause muscle pain? Most of the doctors South First spoke to termed statin a safe medicine to use and said there are very few patients who complain of constant leg pain, and they are termed as “statin intolerant”.

Dr Manjunath said a few of his patients have complained of pain in the legs. However, in such cases, too, it is first assumed that the pain is not due to statin and may have other causes like diabetes, vericosveins, etc.

“If the pain gets unbearable and doesn’t subside, then such patients are given alternate medication,” Dr Manjunath explained.

He said, nearly 95 percent of his patients have not had any issues with the use of statin. “When we weigh risks and benefits of this wonder drug, it is in the ratio of 95 percent benefit and only five percent risk. So, it is an absolutely safe drug,” Dr Manjunath added.

Uses of statin

Statin is mainly a cholesterol-lowering drug and doctors in India recommend it for those with cardiac-related issues, and those with long-standing diabetes. It is also advised for those who are diabetic and have more than seven percent risk of heart attack.

Meanwhile, doctors told South First that it is also prescribed for those who have had an event earlier, i.e., a heart attack, peripheral arterial disease, or peripheral vascular disease.

It is said to also reduce cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Statin also has an anti-inflammatory effect as it reduces cardiac events and hence is the favourite medicine of any cardiologist or endocrinologist, the doctors said.