![]() My goal is to avoid statin discontinuation so if it works, great. “It is absolutely anecdotal, but I have patients who swear by it and I have patients who did not think it was helpful at all. “Given that CoQ10 is generally safe and well-tolerated, many physicians, including myself, will recommend a trial of CoQ10 in an effort to keep our patients on much-needed statin therapy,” says Radford. Vitamin D3 form of Vitamin D Supplement for better absorption. Many individuals don't get enough vitamin D from sunlight or through diet. For example, in patients with congestive heart failure, CoQ10 in the heart decreases as the degree of heart failure worsens. Several studies regarding supplementation in patients with heart failure have shown clinical benefit. This means supplements are the most effective way to raise levels of CoQ10.ĬoQ10 levels decrease as we age and with certain health issues. ![]() Overall, CoQ10 is present in very small amounts in food sources available today. It revealed CoQ10 supplements eased statin-related muscle pain better than a placebo. In fact, the Journal of the American Heart Association in October of 2018 published results from a meta-analysis of 12 trials on this topic. The first supplement widely publicized to reduce muscle soreness caused by taking statins was coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). So, what about using coenzyme Q10 and vitamin D supplements to help alleviate statin side effects? Supplements to Reduce Statin Side Effects – CoQ10 for Reducing Muscle Soreness The two supplements largely used in this setting are CoQ10 and vitamin D Radford says her second step is to discuss the pros and cons of adding supplements to statin therapy. “In some patients, not all statin formulations will cause muscle soreness.” “My first step in treating statin intolerance is to change the statin medication from one formulation to another,” explains Radford. KanekaQH®, the reduced form of coenzyme CoQ-10, provides advanced antioxidant support and promotes optimal heart and immune function.† $37.98 Add to cart Minimizing Statin Side Effects It is imperative that patients discuss medication side effects with their doctors before stopping their medication. Studies show that early discontinuation is associated with an increased risk of heart attack and death. Avoiding Statin Discontinuationįurthermore, patients who develop muscle soreness from one statin may not develop it when changed to a different statin. A point suggesting that the development of muscle soreness is not just due to an expectation of side effects.Īvoiding early statin discontinuation in patients who need statin therapy is the important goal. In observational studies (reflecting real-world experience), statin-treated patients who develop muscle soreness may be as high as 20 percent. However, these clinical trials often do not enroll patients who are older, female or have multiple medical conditions. “This has led some doctors to believe that patients develop muscle soreness from statins to some degree simply because they expect that they will,” explains Radford. The smaller risk of actual muscle weakness is also similar in the two groups. However, 13 percent of patients taking the placebo also stopped for the same reason. About 13 percent of statin-treated patients stopped their medication due to muscle soreness. The summary involves more than 125,000 patients and evaluates statin drug treatment versus placebo (sugar pill) on various health outcomes. Placebo Effect vs Muscle SorenessĪ recent medical article summarized the frequency of muscle soreness in 22 clinical trials. Why? Because the clinical trial experience for statin side effects is different from our real-world experience. Radford says that in traditional medical literature, the link of statin treatment to the development of muscle soreness is somewhat controversial. In its severest form, statins can cause actual muscle weakness, but this is rare. Radford says most patients hear about statin side effects from friends or stories in the news. ![]() “When discussing the possible use of statins with my patients, the development of side effects is a common concern for them, especially muscle soreness,” says Nina Radford, MD, Cardiologist and Director of Clinical Research at Cooper Clinic. However, many patients stop statin use after experiencing statin side effects. According to the CDC, approximately 28 percent of American men and women over age 40 take a statin. Statins are a family of prescription drugs used to help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and have been shown to reduce cardiovascular events in at-risk patients. Reducing Statin Side Effects: Can Supplements Help? (7 min.)
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