Bempedoic acid is a new type of cholesterol-fighting drug that doesn't come with muscle-related side effects common with statins and could be an alternative. And that is when to take statin is not the right choice. Approximately 10 per cent of people have muscle pain. For some patients, however, that’s not the case: Their LDL levels remain stubbornly high or they develop intolerable side effects, such as persistent muscle pain. They do this by blocking the enzyme that enables the liver to produce cholesterol. For example, a client of mine, who started the popular statin, Lipitor, started to suffer immense joint and muscle pain immediately after she started taking it. When patients have muscle pain: Symptoms are often resolved by adjusting the dose of the drug or switching to a different statin. The most common adverse reaction is muscle pain or cramps (myalgias). This is the most common side effect of statins, but another way of looking at it is that nine out of 10 patients do not experience it at all. Participants were 511 patients with very high levels of LDL cholesterol—averaging more than 210 mg/dL—as well as a history of muscle-related statin intolerance, with more than 80% of participants previously reporting intolerance to three or more statins. Other medicines may reduce LDL cholesterol while increasing the HDL level. Understanding The Concept Of Statin: This type of medication is a prescribed drug that is designed for lessening down the cholesterol level. Both of these tests are important to determine if the statin medication is causing the problem. Do statins cause muscle pain and weakness? If you experience muscle pain while taking a statin, contact your health care provider. He or she will likely do a physical exam and check your bloodwork. The risks of taking these prescription statins includes rashes, digestion problems, memory loss, muscle and joint pain, and even liver damage because they are trying to force more straining of the LDL bad cholesterol. Before abandoning statin therapy, it is important to determine if muscle complaints are due to the statin medication. While statins generally work well, some people can’t tolerate them. The Most Powerful Natural Alternatives. Although statin medications are often prescribed for lowering cholesterol, it may carry certain side effects that could make living nearly impossible. Since the 1980s, statins have been the medication of choice for lowering elevated levels of LDL cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart attack. Statin drugs are used to help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and protect against heart disease and heart attack. But they are all still under the research phase. Generally the drugs are safe and effective. 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