Statins are a type of drug that lowers cholesterol levels in the blood. Usually, people who take statins tolerate them well. However, some may experience side effects, such as statin muscle pain. Researchers estimate that approximately 7–29% of people who take statins experience statin-associated muscle symptoms, known collectively as SAMS.

Very rarely, statins can cause life-threatening muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis can cause severe muscle pain, liver damage, kidney failure and death. The risk of very serious side effects is extremely low, and calculated in a few cases per million people taking statins.

According to the research, statins cause spontaneous and irregular leaks of calcium from storage compartments within muscle cells. Under normal conditions, coordinated releases of calcium from these stores make the muscles contract. Unregulated calcium leaks may cause damage to muscle cells, potentially leading to muscle pain and weakness.

A survey in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology found that the most common side effects among respondents were:

• Muscle aches and pain
• Cramps and stiffness
• Muscle weakness
• Joint or bone pain
• Memory problems
• Tiring easily

Causes:

Scientists do not fully understand the exact cause of statin muscle pain. There are differing theories in the scientific community.

• Cell damage
• ‘Nocebo’ effect

Statin medications and low cholesterol levels can both contribute to low CoQ10 levels. Calcium leakage – Calcium helps muscles contract, but when calcium leaks from muscle cells unintentionally, it can damage your muscle cells which causes muscle pain. People who take statins and drink large quantities of grapefruit juice may be at increased risk for muscular side effects. Also, people with liver and thyroid problems may also develop muscle pain while taking statins.

In many cases, the benefits of taking statins outweigh the risks. A doctor can help with deciding if they are the right option for a person based on:

• Their current cholesterol levels
• Their risk of developing other health conditions due to high cholesterol
• Whether or not dietary or lifestyle changes have helped lower cholesterol sufficiently
• Any risk factors that could make side effects or complications more likely

Moreover, people may need to consider options other than statins if they have prediabetes, have impaired liver or kidney function, or take medications that interact with statins.