STATIN INDUCED MYOTOXICITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES – AN OVERVIEW

Statins, 3-hydroxymethyl-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, are considered safe in lowering hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease. Statin attempt to reduce cholesterol production in liver in dose dependent manner not only cause the muscle related problem but also leads to other untoward consequence like arthritis, diabetes, neurological disorders which arise as a result of scarcity in cholesterol production. Discontinuation or reduction in the dose of the statin usually leads to resolution of these side effects but the efficacy is questionable. Though the statin had come to market several decades ago, their harmful effects have been well understood very recently only after several randomized trials. The pleiotropic effects of statin have reported many benefits, but lack of randomized clinical trials make it limit to extend its indication beyond lipid lowering effects. There is still a controversy between their benefits and adverse effects of statin. The upcoming research should focus to resolve the above said confliction that could overcome its most adverse events- myopathy. If it so the statin with pleiotropic effect without any myopathic symptoms would be an excellent candidate among all other drugs. In this review, we discussed the myotoxicity, mechanism of myopathy, consequences as a result of statin’s attempt to reduce cholesterol production, risk factors for myopathy.