The more we know about this pill, the worse it gets. Risk upon risk upon risk.

Over the years, I’ve exposed a lot of crazy moments in mainstream medicine. Still, when I tell you about the newest wrinkle in statin adverse effects, you might be astonished.

Because one of the things we knew was an issue…well…it just became a “Franken-issue.”

Killer workouts

We’ve known for years that statin use increases risk of muscle pain and fatigue.

Then it got more complicated.

It turns out, that pain and fatigue are symptoms of something much more serious: muscle damage. Here’s how the alarming warning on the Lipitor website puts it… This damage “can lead to kidney problems including kidney failure.”

Just to be clear, kidney failure is not a condition you come back from. It’s deadly.

But now the issue of muscle damage has taken another startling turn.

Here’s the new warning… People who exercise are the ones who are most likely to experience statin-related muscle pain. And the more you exercise, the greater the pain, and the greater the damage.

Wait. It gets worse.

According to The New York Times, about 10% of statin users experience muscle ache, pain, or fatigue. But among people who exercise regularly, that number rises to 25%. And the rate is 75% or more among competitive athletes!

The irony is as subtle as a sledgehammer.

Most doctors who prescribe a statin will advise daily exercise. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to control cholesterol levels. But many patients who begin taking the pills will soon feel fatigued. So they’ll be LESS likely to get started with the exercise.

But those of you who push yourselves to exercise despite the fatigue might cause greater harm to your muscles. You might actually be better off sitting on the couch and watching TV!

One cardiologist told the Times that it’s possible statins interfere with the body’s ability to repair damaged muscles.

What a fiasco! And the worst part is that the vast majority of people who use statins don’t need them at all.

Evidence shows that a small percentage of statin users who have known cardiovascular problems will benefit from a slightly reduced risk of fatal heart attack. Key word: slightly.

But for those who have high cholesterol and no other cardiovascular problems, statin benefits are virtually nonexistent.

It’s long past time for doctors to let go of their statin-prescribing dependency. It’s done.

Sources:
“Do Statins Make It Tough to Exercise?” Gretchen Reynolds, New York Times, 3/14/12, well.blogs.nytimes.com