From U.S. Pharmacist

Statin-associated Myopathy

Jennifer Shannon, PharmD; Samuel John, PharmD; Jenna Ferrara, PharmD, BCPS; Sylvia Best, PharmD, BCPS; Shari N. Allen, PharmD

Authors and Disclosures

Posted: 03/20/2012; US Pharmacist © 2012 Jobson Publishing

Abstract and Introduction

Introduction

From 2006 to 2010, the number of dispensed prescriptions for lipid regulators, which primarily include statins, has continuously increased from 210.4 million to 255 million.^[1] The 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA(HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, more commonly known as statins, are the most widely used medications for decreasing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Statin use has been shown to decrease cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality, but despite its advantages, over 40% of patients who have an indication for statin use are not receiving therapy. This may be secondary to a rare but major adverse event that is associated with the use of statins—myopathy.^[2,3]

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