As a cardiologist, statins are an important part of my armamentarium in the fight against heart disease. Statins, a class of drug designed to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, include such well known brands as Lipitor (atorvastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin), Mevacor (lovastatin)and Crestor (rosuvastatin). When used appropriately, they can reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular complications by 30 percent or more. However, as with virtually all medications, some people will suffer side effects. The most common side effect is muscle pain, which happens to about 5 percent of those who take the drugs. Much rarer is the complication known as rhabdomyolysis, a life-threatening breakdown of muscle tissue that, if left untreated, can ultimately lead to kidney failure and even death. Rhabdomyolysis happens to roughly 4 out of every 100,000 people treated with statins each year, and is more common with simvastatin and lovastatin. Certain combinations of drugs can also increase the probability of this reaction, so it’s important that all of your doctors, as well as yor pharmacist, know exactly what medication you are taking.
Because the muscle-related side effects of statins are so well known, many people assume that any pain that develops while they are taking the drugs must be related to the statin. In fact, I often receive worried calls from patients concerned that their joint pain could be related to their statin therapy. That’s why I was so interested to read about a new study from the Keele University in the UK, published this month in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, that found a 40% lower likelihood of osteoarthritis (the most common for of arthritis) in people who had taken a relatively high dose of statin for 4 years, compared to similar individuals who took no statins at all.
The link is not so far-fetched as it might seem. There is evidence that high levels of lipids in the blood are connected to increased inflammation of the joints. Statins also are known to have anti-inflammatory effects. And people with cardiovascular disease are more apt to suffer from arthritis.
While no one is recommending statins for arthritis treatment, it’s great to know that these commonly used drugs may in fact have other health benefits.
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