"Physical exercise appears to
increase the likelihood for the development of myopathy in patients
taking statins. It is thought that as many as 25% of statin users who
exercise may experience muscle fatigue, weakness, aches, and cramping
due to statin therapy and potentially dismissed by the patient and
physician. "

Fortunately, the use of statins is relatively safe with few
side effects. Myopathy is the most common side effect with symptoms
ranging from fatigue, weakness, and pain to symptoms associated with
rhabdomyolysis which is a life-threatening condition.

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Confusing No?

Bill

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1: Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2006 Dec;291(6):C1208-12. Epub 2006 Aug 2.
 Links
Statin-induced apoptosis and skeletal myopathy.
  ?  Dirks AJ, Jones KM.
Wingate University School of Pharmacy, Wingate, North Carolina 28174,
USA. adirks@wingate.edu
Over 100 million prescriptions were filled for statins
(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) in 2004.
Statins were originally developed to lower plasma cholesterol in
patients with hypercholesterolemia and are the most effective drugs on
the market in doing so. Because of the discovered pleiotropic effects of
statins, the use has expanded to the treatment of many other conditions,
including ventricular arrythmias, idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy,
cancer, osteoporosis, and diabetes. The elderly population is growing.
Therefore, it is estimated that the number of statin users will also
increase. Fortunately, the use of statins is relatively safe with few
side effects. Myopathy is the most common side effect with symptoms
ranging from fatigue, weakness, and pain to symptoms associated with
rhabdomyolysis which is a life-threatening condition. The development of
statin-induced rhabdomyolysis is rare occurring in approximately 0.1% of
patients; however, the occurrence of less severe symptoms is
underreported and may be 1-5% or more. Physical exercise appears to
increase the likelihood for the development of myopathy in patients
taking statins. It is thought that as many as 25% of statin users who
exercise may experience muscle fatigue, weakness, aches, and cramping
due to statin therapy and potentially dismissed by the patient and
physician. The mechanisms causing statin-induced myopathy have not been
elucidated; however, research efforts suggest that apoptosis of
myofibers may contribute. The mitochondrion is considered a regulatory
center of apoptosis, and therefore its role in the induction of
apoptosis will be discussed as well as the mechanism of statin-induced
apoptosis and myopathy.
PMID: 16885396 [PubMed - in process]

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