Cholesterol Medications May Cause Fibromyalgia

Cholesterol-lowering "statin" drugs often cause severe side effects—including CFS & fibromyalgia! Unless you have had a heart attack, these medications are usually not necessary (see Lower Your Cholesterol—Naturally). We have found they can often cause or worsen fibromyalgia, and I recommend that those with CFS/FMS speak with their physician about stopping these medications for 3 months to see if the pain and fatigue decrease.

The most frequently reported side effect of these medications is fatigue, and about 9% of patients report statin-related pain. Earlier research showed that statins cause Coenzyme Q10 deficiency.

The results of a new study show that statins may also block the ability of the muscles torepair and regenerate themselves. This may then also contribute to pain.

References

Cholesterol-lowering drugs and the effect on muscle repair and regeneration, American Physiological Society