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Does statin medication for cholesterol deteriorate muscles in the elderly?

Asked by ReneeGilbert | Dec 29, 2009

Has anyone heard of statin cholesterol medication deteriating muscles. That is what my 77 year old father was diagnosed with this past June.

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Lynn Harrelson, Jan 16, 2010

Lynn Harrelson is a pharmacist who specializes in medication and prescription management for seniors. She provides health care services and information that help individuals remain independent in their homes, retirement and assisted living facilities.

Statin medications may alter the development of certain proteins involved in muscle metabolism and function. This may result in muscle pain and tenderness and can result in a condition known as statin myopathy.

When patients notice moderate muscle aching, they are advised to stop taking the statin drug and contact their doctor. Muscle aches and pains usually disappear within a couple of weeks after stopping the statin drug.

Statins may cause muscle cells to break down in the more severe cases and this condition is called rhabdomyolysis. The most common signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis are severe muscle aching throughout the entire body, muscle weakness, dark or cola-colored urine. This condition is more often seen with the higher doses of the statins and when statins are taken with other meds that worsen this effect.

You should be sure that your father is off the medications that are contribute to this condition and ask the physician to monitor the appropriate labs

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NANCE

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Jan 17, 2010

Is it "normal" after taking satins for 2 months that a yellow discharge appears--even with a bm-the stool isn't yellow but still a yellow sign.

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ReneeGilbert

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Jan 18, 2010

My father was hospitalized for almost the month of June. Of course the statins were stopped. But he almost died a couple of times. Several tests were done to rule out anything else. He had to have lots of therapy to be able to walk again, still very unstable on feet and has lots of difficulty sitting and standing due to lack of muscle in legs now. He was a very independent person last year, so becoming so dependent has been as big a change for him as the physical part of all this. It has certainly been an eye opening experience for all of us.

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SBINEK

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Feb 14, 2010

Are there any statin drugs that do not have muscle aches and
pain associated with them?? Can one move off of statin drugs by eating better and exercising more??

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