The one people ask about most. Soreness, tenderness or weakness, often in the thighs, calves, back or shoulders. This side effect may even lead to a reduction in exercise - the exact opposite of what is desirable in someone managing or trying to prevent heart disease. There is still debate about how much of this is actually caused by the drug, but the discomfort is real regardless, and it tends to track with dose. The usual fix is a lower dose or a different statin, which is far easier to do when something else is lowering your cholesterol at the same time.
Tracks with dose
Very rarely (less than 1 in 20,000 people) statins cause a serious form of muscle breakdown. The warning sign is significant muscle pain or weakness together with dark, cola-colored urine. Uncommon, but do not wait. Seek care promptly if both occur together.
Statins can modestly raise blood sugar and slightly increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, and this too is dose-related. The less medication it takes to reach your goal, the smaller this effect. The people at highest risk are those that already have borderline high blood sugars.
Also dose-related
The most dangerous outcome on this list is quitting. Stopping your statin because of a side effect leaves your heart unprotected. If atorvastatin is making you feel bad, the answer is to lower the drug burden rather than abandon this class of medications altogether. And the most effective way to lower the burden is to lower the dose you need.
In a double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted at Mayo Clinic and the University of Manitoba, Step One's precisely formulated foods lowered cholesterol by reducing intestinal cholesterol absorption. That is a mechanism entirely separate from the production pathway your statin blocks. Because the two are additive, adding two servings a day can get you to your LDL goal at a lower statin dose than you would otherwise need. A lower dose means fewer and milder side effects. This is real food, tested in the same kind of trial used to evaluate medications, with a money-back guarantee if your numbers do not budge. Keep taking your statin as prescribed, add Step One for 30 days, and recheck your lipid profile. Then review the result with your provider.
A separate mechanism
Kopecky SL, Alias S, Klodas E, Jones PJH. The Journal of Nutrition, 2022. Double-blind randomized crossover trial at Mayo Clinic and the University of Manitoba, 54 adults with hyperlipidemia, two servings daily.
Keep taking what your doctor prescribed. Add two servings a day for 30 days, then recheck your lipid profile and review with your provider.
“He changed the dose down to 10mg daily. That is a win, win, for me, less statins, equals much less muscle ache/pain.”
The absorption side of the equation, in real food, designed to run alongside your medication.
When I started Step One foods a few months ago, I was taking 40 mg. of Atorvastatin daily. Saw the Cardiologist last week, and my cholesterol levels were much improved. He changed the dose down to 10mg. daily. That is a win, win, for me, less statins, equals much less muscle ache/pain.
I was on statins for years and had terrible muscle problems and fatigue. Doctors wouldn’t listen to me and blamed it on other things. Finally I had to get a new doctor and she listened and took me off. My cholesterol started to climb a little and I was getting concerned. I found Step One and decided to try it. To be very honest, I was skeptical. I just got my numbers after a little over 5 weeks. Total went from 250 to 200 and ldl from 186 to 141! Triglycerides are normal! I’m a believer and can’t wait to see my next set of numbers. Thank you so much! I’m telling family and friends about it!
For those of you with FH and have been told that changing eating habits won't make change, don't lose heart. Have had terrible side effects to statins so the cardiologist recommended injectables. Told him I wanted to stick with 10 mg Zetia, change my diet and step up my use of Step One Foods. One year later that same dear cardiologist reads my lipid panel and says, what have you been doing?