Statins and Risk of Muscle Damage

10% of the people who take statins, the most commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering drug, experience myopathy, a painful and dibilitating breakdown of muscle. A recent article published online in US Pharmacistconcludes that those at increased risk are females, elderly, thin people, those with diabetes, hypertension, untreated hypothyroidism, and those with kidney or liver disease. Also, increased exercise, heavy alcohol use, crack cocaine, and grapefruit juice also predispose patients to muscle break-down. Certain drugs may also increase one's risk of problems.