Leg muscle pain is a known side effect of statins. The pain can be mild or severe. Many patients find that taking over-the-counter coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplements prevents leg pain. Statins inhibit the synthesis of ubiquinones, enzymes that play a basic role in cell functioning. Taking CoQ10 supplements may restore normal cell function and enable patients to continue taking beneficial cholesterol-lowering drugs. Pain relief, however, varies greatly among individuals and may or may not be complete. In one study, patients who took 100 mg/day of CoQ10 for 30 days experienced a 40 percent reduction in pain severity. Other patients experienced total relief with 50 mg/day. If you dont get relief with CoQ10, ask your doctor about switching to a different statin. Seven different statins are available, and one might cause less leg pain.
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