Discussion Board

There previously was an enzyme test that doctors would rely on to tell if you were suffering muscle damage through statin use. Recent studies indicate that muscle damage is not only more widespread but that the test is not detecting this damage. I am completely biased on this issue as I believe I have suffered from permanent muscle damage through statin usage. I would not recommend statins to anyone unless they refuse to attempt dietary changes. Even then, I have family members ranging from their 20's to 80's all on statins and even taking them hasn't slowed the incidence of MI's, strokes, or clogging of bypasses or stents. Statins haven't stopped us from being the number one contender as the poster family for heart disease. They should be giving my folks a family discount on statins. We take them like breath mints! All this with myself and a sister that have completely turned their health around with diet. I don't know, maybe the drug companies are giving rebates these days!
f1jim

After more than ten years with hundreds of reports of this side effect of statins, (all the while the medical community claiming statins could not cause this) the FDA announced in February of this year that they have "approved" of a new safety warning for statins:

"cognitive side effects - memory loss, confusion, etc."

Add this to the list of negative side effects of statins.

I agree Jim. My mom, who has TERRIBLE back problems, is 79 and trying to build muscle to support her poor back (back is the result of untreated scoliosis in childhood exacerbated by osteoporosis thanks to years of downing the dairy and calcium supplements at doctors' behest!). She makes no progress at all and wonders why. I have repeatedly pointed out to her that all these years on a statin have permanently damaged her muscles, but of course she doesn't believe it. If there were a problem with a drug, her doctor would have told her about it. <sigh>