Statin Related Myopathy

[HysteryDiagnosis]

Mayo Clinic says it's not a big problem, unless of course you have this problem.

http://weeksmd.com/2009/08/the-patent-for-statin-drugs-included-co-q-10/

Low Muscle CoQ10 in Statin-Related Myopathy

While statin drugs such as Lipitor®, Zocor® and Lovastatin® are beneficial to lower high blood cholesterol, they also have the effect of blocking the body’s natural production of Coenzyme Q10. Supplementation with CoQ10 is necessary to avoid the very heart disease that Lipitor®, Zocor® and Lovastatin® seek to avoid by reducing cholesterol. In a small number of other cases, the statin drugs depletion of CoenzymeQ10 led to liver disease.

Statin Drug Overview

Statin drugs such as Zocor®, Lipitor® and Lovastatin® block cholesterol production in the body by inhibiting the enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase in the early steps of its synthesis in the mevalonate pathway. This same biosynthetic pathway is also shared by CoQ10. Therefore, one unfortunate consequence of statin drugs is the unintentional inhibition of CoQ10 synthesis. Thus, in the long run, Lovastatin®, Zocor® and Lipitor® could predispose the patients to heart disease by lowering their Coenzyme Q10 status, the very condition that these drugs are intended to prevent.

The most common statin drugs include:

Lescol Fluvastatin (FLOO-va-sta-tin)
Lipitor Atorvastatin (a-TOR-va-sta-tin)
Mevacor Lovastatin (LOE-va-sta-tin)
Pravachol Pravastatin (PRA-va-stat-in)
Zocor Simvastatin (SIM-va-stat-in)

Coenzyme Q10 Use in Conjunction with Statin Drugs

Reporting in the Italian Journal of Respiratory Science in 1999, researchers said that the reduction of CoenzymeQ10 levels is associated with myopathy, an infrequent adverse effect associated with statin drugs. This metabolic myopathy is related to Coenzyme Q10 deficiency in muscle cell mitochondria, disturbing normal cellular respiration and causing adverse effects such as rhabdomyolysis, exercise intolerance, and recurrent myoglobinuria.1


http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coenzyme-q10/AN01541
Some researchers think that taking a coenzyme Q10 supplement may reduce the risk of serious muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis). And some small reports suggest that troubling side effects — muscle and joint aches — from statins might be reduced if you take coenzyme Q10 along with a statin. However, no large studies have confirmed this theory, so current guidelines don't recommend routine use of coenzyme Q10 in people taking statins.

Coenzyme Q10 doesn't cause side effects for most people. However, as with other herbal and dietary supplements, it's not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.