A trial published by the BMJ today finds no overall effect of statins on the frequency or severity of muscle symptoms compared with placebo in people who had previously reported severe muscle symptoms when taking statins.
A team of UK researchers carried out a series of randomised, placebo controlled n-of-1 trials using data from 200 patients from 50 GP practices in England and Wales who had recently stopped or were considering stopping treatment with statins because of muscle symptoms.
Patients who participated were randomly assigned to a sequence of six two-month treatment periods during each of which they received either statins or a placebo.
Adherence to the study drug was high, with at least 80 per cent of participants reporting taking the drug treatment “every day” or “most days” during each period.
At the end of each treatment period, participants rated their muscle symptoms, defined as pain, weakness, tenderness, stiffness or cramp of any intensity, on a 0-10-point scale.
Overall, the researchers found no difference in muscle symptom scores between the statin and placebo periods.
They also found no differences for the effect of muscle symptoms on aspects of daily life (general activity, mood, ability to walk, normal work, relationships with other people, sleep and enjoyment of life) between the statin and placebo periods.
The number of withdrawals was 9 per cent during the statin period and 7 per cent during the placebo period.
Two-thirds of those completing the trial said they planned to restart long-term treatment with statins.
The study authors point out that study only assessed the effect of one type of statin on muscle symptoms, and that for some patients, pain scores may have been affected by treatment from the previous period.
