Peter H. Gott, M.D.: Quit statins to end pain

Dear Dr. Gott: In the recent past, I read a letter sent to you concerning pain in limbs of persons on statins.

I have been on Lipitor for a considerable number of years. At the onset I, too, experienced muscular pain in my upper arms. I mentioned this to a friend, who researched this on the Internet. She shared with me that statins draw a certain enzyme from the liver, this being the cause of the pain. She learned that by taking Coenzyme Q10, the pain would be relieved and the enzymes restored.

I take the Lipitor at night and the Coenzyme Q10 in the morning and find that within an hour, I am relieved of my muscular pain.

Dear Reader: I don’t have a problem with your use of Coenzyme Q10. But, for heaven’s sake, get off the statin drug. Once you stop stressing the muscles and liver with a prescription drug, your discomfort should disappear unless permanent damage has occurred to your muscles because of the extended use. There are several other nonstatin cholesterol-lowering medications you can use.

If the pain isn’t from the statin, you’ll need some testing by your primary-care physician to check out other potential causes of your complaint.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Understanding Cholesterol.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.