Can statins cause high muscle enzymes?
A rare but worrisome side effect of taking a cholesterol-lowering statin is the breakdown of muscle tissue. To guard against it, people who take statins have often been advised to have regular blood tests to spot rising levels of creatine kinase (CK), a byproduct of muscle breakdown.
Do statins cause elevated CPK?
In general, CPK levels were highest in patients with muscle pain who were currently taking statins, but many patients with evidence of muscle injury had CPK levels in the normal range.
Can Lipitor raise CK levels?
Results: CK levels increased with atorvastatin (n = 202) from 132.3 ± 120.9 U/L (mean ± SD) at baseline to 159.7 ± 170.4 and 153.1 ± 139.4 U/L at 3 and 6 months, respectively (P ≤ 0.002 for both). Changes in CK with atorvastatin treatment were not associated with changes in muscle function or the incidence of myalgia.
Can lipitor cause muscle damage?
Very rarely, statins can cause life-threatening muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis (rab-doe-my-OL-ih-sis). Rhabdomyolysis can cause severe muscle pain, liver damage, kidney failure and death. The risk of very serious side effects is extremely low, and calculated in a few cases per million people taking statins.
Does lipitor cause muscle weakness?
The side effects most commonly associated with statin use involve muscle cramping, soreness, fatigue, weakness, and, in rare cases, rapid muscle breakdown that can lead to death. Often, these side effects can become apparent during or after strenuous bouts of exercise.
Can lipitor cause permanent muscle damage?
Do statins affect CK levels?
Statins can magnify exercise-induced marked elevation of the CK.
Can you reverse muscle damage from statins?
There is limited evidence regarding the treatment of statin-associated myopathy. While myopathy caused by statins can be mild and can be reversed when the medication is discontinued, it may present as rhabdomyolysis or severe muscle damage.
Can you take DilTIAZem and atorvastatin together?
Interactions between your drugs DilTIAZem may increase the blood levels of atorvastatin. This can increase the risk of side effects such as liver damage and a rare but serious condition called rhabdomyolysis that involves the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue.
What drugs raise CK levels?
Drugs commonly elevate CK Statins can cause myalgia, muscle weakness, and rhabdomyolysis. Up to 5% of users develop CK elevation, typically 2 to 10 times the upper limit of normal. CK usually drops after stopping statins but may require weeks to months to normalize.
What should you do if you have muscle pain while taking Lipitor?
In a written statement, a spokesperson for Lipitor manufacturer Pfizer Inc. tells WebMD that patients taking a statin should always report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness to their doctor.
How does statinsmart define myopathy?
In the study used to validate StatinSmart’s genetic test, the researchers defined myopathy as symptoms of myalgia (muscle pain) in addition to a creatine kinase (CK) level more than 10 times higher than normal. CK is an enzyme in the blood that rises in response to muscle damage.
What lab tests should be done before taking statins?
Monitoring of muscle and liver enzymes should be done before the start of treatment. In stable conditions during treatment, the focus should be on clinical symptoms that may alert muscle or liver complications. Routine measurement of CK or ALT is not necessary during treatment with statins.
How often should liver enzymes be monitored when taking statins?
Until recently, guidelines have recommended that liver enzymes should be monitored before statin treatment and regularly during treatment [3•]. In 2006, the National Lipid Association Statin Safety Task Force published an assessment of statin safety as well as conclusions and recommendations [65, 66].