Statins don’t cause muscle pain shows ‘convincing’ data
Study of single patients finds muscle symptoms are 'no higher' when they take atorvastatin compared with placebo
Statins have no overall effect on frequency or severity of muscle pain, according to a series of n-of-1 trials in UK patients who had previously reported muscle symptoms when taking the drugs.
In n-of-1 trials, individuals serve as their own controls, blinded to both placebo and the intervention drug.
Lead author Professor Liam Smeeth of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine says the findings “have convincingly demonstrated” that aches and pains are common, but are not caused by statins.
“Within the same individual, the level of muscle symptoms during periods taking statins were no higher than in periods when taking a placebo,” Professor Smeeth said.
