Interní Med. 2016; 18(2): 74-76 | DOI: 10.36290/int.2016.018

Statin associated muscle symptoms - literature review and our experience

MUDr.Ľubica Cibičková, Ph.D., doc.MUDr.David Karásek, Ph.D.

Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc, 3. interní klinika &ndash, nefrologická, revmatologická, endokrinologická

Muscle symptoms associated with statin therapy (statin associated muscle symptoms, SAMS) decreases patients’ adherence to this

effective therapy. SAMS are not specific muscle aches, which can but needen’t to be accompanied by elevation of creatinkinase.

Their occurrence differs depending on the type of performed study with statins. Older patients, females, patients with concomitant

medication, comorbidities, higher physical activity, alcohol intake and genetically predisposed patients are in higher risk

in developing SAMS. Although concrete mechanism leading to development of SAMS is not clear, consequences of SAMS are

clearly negative – lower compliance resulting in higher cardiovascular risk. We recommend to try various dosing and switching

from one statin to another one. Using coenzyme Q and vitamin D lacks serous data by now. In the end, we describe a short case

of a patient with SAMS after using several statins.

Keywords: statin, statin associated muscle symptoms, adherence

Published: May 1, 2016  Show citation