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Statin Cholesterol Drugs Linked to Muscle Damage

Many people taking statin-type cholesterol-lowering medicine complain of muscle pain or weakness. Doctors often turn to a blood test to detect signs of drug toxicity. Specifically, they look for elevated levels of creatine phosphokinase to determine whether symptoms are truly a side effect of the medication. A new study shows, however, that statin-associated muscle pain is linked to microscopic damage of muscle fibers. Only one of the many patients with that type of structural change had a severely elevated level of creatine phosphokinase. This suggests that doctors may need to take muscle pain related to statins more seriously and not just rely on a blood test to determine muscle damage and drug toxicity. 

[CMAJ, July 7, 2009]
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/181/1-2/E11

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About the Author
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. His best-selling book, The People’s Pharmacy, was published in 1976 and led to a syndicated newspaper column, syndicated public radio show and web site. In 2006, Long Island University awarded him an honorary doctorate as “one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.”.
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