Peer Reviewed
Clinical case review

A 65-year-old on statins with muscle pain and weakness

Leon A Simons
Abstract
What is the likely cause of this patient’s muscle pain and weakness and how can these symptoms be managed?
Key Points
    Case scenario

    Yvonne is a sensible and usually compliant 65-year-old patient who has been on long term statins for her hypercholesterolaemia. She had been complaining for two years about her aching lower back and her feeling of leg weakness, but all investigations had drawn a blank.

    One day, Yvonne read on the web that statins deplete the body of coenzyme Q10 and that this in turn causes pain. She took herself off the statin and started coenzyme Q10 supplements, and her pain and weakness have now vanished. Is there any real science behind this claim?

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