Clinical Approach to Statin-Induced Adverse Muscle Events: Challenges and Solutions | Insight Medical Publishing

Statin-associated adverse muscle events play an important role in statin non adherence and discontinuation. Aspects of this clinical challenge including a lack of a uniform definition of statin-induced myalgia, the “nocebo” effect and its’ role in statin-induced adverse muscle events, pre-existing medical and lifestyle factors that can affect statin therapy, and restarting statin use in patients after prior discontinuation of statin therapy due to adverse muscle effects. This paper applies the recommendations of the National Lipid Association’s Statin Muscle Safety Task Force along with other studies to propose solutions for these challenges that statin-induced adverse muscle events present. Future large randomized controlled trials will be necessary for validation of these clinical interventions.