Wenesday symptoms and conditions

I would encourage every patient on statins to read the recent article (Feb. 2008) by Dr. Peter Langsjoen, MD/Cardiologist: http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2008/feb2008_Alleviating-Congestive-Heart-Failure-With-Coenzyme-Q10_01.htm

The following information from this article is pertinent to complaints of muscle pain/weakness and fatigue:

"All statin drugs block the biosynthesis of both cholesterol and CoQ10, which explains statins’ common side effects of fatigue, muscle pain and muscle weakness, and a worsening of heart failure. When CoQ10 levels are lowered by statin drug therapy, one of the first changes to occur is a weakening of heart muscle function, known as diastolic dysfunction. This has nothing to do with diastolic blood pressure, but rather represents impairment in the relaxing or filling phase of the cardiac cycle. After heart muscle contracts, it takes a great deal of cellular energy, or ATP, to re-establish the calcium gradients such that muscle fibers may relax. Thus, if diastolic dysfunction is severe, it can result in congestive heart failure. In 2004, a study published in the American Journal of Cardiology showed that diastolic dysfunction (heart muscle weakness) occurred in 70% of previously normal patients treated with 20 mg a day of Lipitor® for six months. This heart muscle dysfunction was reversible with supplemental CoQ10."

I hope this information will be of help to patients suffering adverse reactions from statins..

I'm 46 yr old female and have been taking Singulair for 5-7yrs. I have been treated for Asthma for the last 10 years. I was treated at first with pulmacort until I figured out it was causing a break out around my mouth after several years (4) of being on it. My Dr. switched me to Singulair. I never noticed any of these side effects, until after I've read some of yours. I work out 5 days a week( swim & cardio) and have noticed my ears sometimes bother me. I'm on the computer all day, but my right hand has some tingling occasionally and sometimes it's a conscious effort to open and close my hands. I went to this web site to find out the long term effects of this drug. I had my blood pressure taken today and normally it's around 100/60-70 and today it was 100/80. I know that's not terribly high, but for me it is. I only take two drugs nexium and singulair and was wondering if one could be causing a rise in my blood pressure. If anyone knows please advise. Thanks Sylvia