Statin drugs and tinnitus the coq10 connection

Hi, I am 69 and just started taking statins two months ago for cholesterol and I am now noticing dents in my calves and near my knees. I am concerned and worried about taking statins and wondering if anyone has these type of permanent like dents whether taking statins or not. Just don’t know if it is a typical thing that happens with aging or if there is something seriously wrong. I do not have pain but suddenly noticing these dents has me a bit scared! Any feed back would be great!! Thank you!

I’m sorry to say that tinnitus is listed as a side effect , in my own case it wrecked my system the tinnitus was the worst but it was accompanied with severe headaches , memory loss, tingling feelings in my fingers and weakness in my legs,and difficulty talking , like you I stopped straight away and took coq10 but stopped that after a few weeks as it was causing stabbing pains around the heart area, my GP was next to useless he said he believed I was having a mini strokes and sent me for an MRI, he wouldn’t have it that I thought it was linked to the statins, I went from a pretty fit four times a week gym goer to a bumbling wreck within in a month, the tinnitus bought on panic attacks which looking on this forum is pretty common amongst us T sufferers, I was eventually told by a consultant that I had suffered toxification of the nervous system caused by the statins and as a result will never be able to take them again, he said there is a small percentage of the population that can’t tolerate statins but they are not sure why, over three years later most of my symptoms have gone, I’m back down the gym ( forced myself down after 6 months ) but the tinnitus persists, the only comfort I can offer is that mine has faded to a point where I don’t hear it most of the time so in the main it doesn’t bother me as much . As you say ive not met many people that have had T brought on by taking Lipitor , we seem to be a small select group , lucky us eh good luck with your T journey .

Vespino said: ↑

I’m sorry to say that tinnitus is listed as a side effect , in my own case it wrecked my system the tinnitus was the worst but it was accompanied with severe headaches , memory loss, tingling feelings in my fingers and weakness in my legs,and difficulty talking , like you I stopped straight away and took coq10 but stopped that after a few weeks as it was causing stabbing pains around the heart area, my GP was next to useless he said he believed I was having a mini strokes and sent me for an MRI, he wouldn’t have it that I thought it was linked to the statins, I went from a pretty fit four times a week gym goer to a bumbling wreck within in a month, the tinnitus bought on panic attacks which looking on this forum is pretty common amongst us T sufferers, I was eventually told by a consultant that I had suffered toxification of the nervous system caused by the statins and as a result will never be able to take them again, he said there is a small percentage of the population that can’t tolerate statins but they are not sure why, over three years later most of my symptoms have gone, I’m back down the gym ( forced myself down after 6 months ) but the tinnitus persists, the only comfort I can offer is that mine has faded to a point where I don’t hear it most of the time so in the main it doesn’t bother me as much . As you say ive not met many people that have had T brought on by taking Lipitor , we seem to be a small select group , lucky us eh good luck with your T journey .

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Thanks for posting your story. After reading it, I realize how lucky I am. I only suffer with the t. I wish you the very best and I truly appreciate learning about your experience.

 

JohnFox said: ↑

My wife’s cholesterol skyrocketed and she was told they were going to put her on Statins. I forget the number but they said her cholesterol was dangerously high. She is not overweight and gets plenty of exercise. She is 60. We think it runs in the family. She told them that she did not want to go on statins and that she would bring it down thru diet and exercise. They made her sign a form to release the doctors from liability. That’s how concerned they were. She cut out all red meat including chicken and also cut out all dairy. Pretty much a vegan diet. She also fasts one day a week. No sugar, and also red yeast rice capsules. Regular exercise. It’s been 7 months now and her cholesterol has come down dramatically. It looks like this way eating will remain permanent. I had heard that if you go on Statins, you have to stay on them.

Dear Doctor: Many doctors in my area recommend CoQ10 in conjunction with statin drugs to reduce or eliminate muscle pain. It has worked for my wife, and we have heard lots of anecdotal evidence from friends who use it. What's the evidence behind the use of CoQ10 with statins?

Dr. Robert Ashley

Dear Reader: First, let's take a look at statins. These drugs have been repeatedly shown to lower cholesterol levels -- leading to decreased rates of atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes -- but they can have side effects. The most common side effect I've seen among my patients is muscle pain, which is the reason that most people stop these very beneficial drugs.

Now let's look at CoQ10. This coenzyme is needed for energy production within muscle cells. Some studies have shown that statins decrease the concentration of CoQ10 in both muscle tissue and in the bloodstream. The hypothesis is that, if you decrease the CoQ10 levels, you reduce the production of energy in muscle cells and they won't function as well, leading to muscle aches, weakness or inflammation.

In extremely severe cases -- I've seen this in very few of my patients -- statins can lead to the death of muscle cells, and a decrease in muscular CoQ10 may be one of the reasons. Massive cell death can also lead to acute kidney failure, but fortunately, in most cases, after stopping the statin and getting intravenous fluids, the patient's symptoms will quickly improve.

As for whether taking CoQ10 can prevent the side effects of statins, the studies of CoQ10 supplementation with statins are small and not conclusive. A 2007 study in the American Journal of Cardiology showed a 40 percent decrease in pain among statin users who took 100 milligrams of CoQ10 daily versus those who took 400 international units (IU) of vitamin E daily. However, there were only 18 people in the group that took CoQ10, so it's difficult to make an overarching conclusion about CoQ10's benefits. Other small studies have not shown any benefit from supplementation.

A combined analysis of six studies published in 2015 in Mayo Clinical Proceedings found a slight decrease in pain among statin users who took CoQ10, but the decrease was not clinically significant. The authors concluded that a larger study was needed.

Based on these studies, and the lack of a large study to evaluate CoQ10, it would be difficult to recommend CoQ10 to prevent muscle pain. However, judging by some of my patients' experiences and by your wife, some statin users have found significant pain relief with CoQ10.

My general thought on the matter is, if you have muscle symptoms with a statin, you should probably change the type of statin you're getting. Some types, such as rosuvastatin and pravastatin, don't concentrate in the muscles as much as others, causing fewer muscle problems. Switching to them may have benefit. Taking 100 milligrams of CoQ10 may also have benefit, but again, a large trial will be necessary to further evaluate this.

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Robert Ashley, MD, is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Ask the Doctors is a syndicated column first published by UExpress syndicate.

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Can statins cause ringing in ears?

Abstract. Drug-associated ototoxicity is a potentially irreversible adverse event. Among the several 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) available in the United States, only atorvastatin is associated with tinnitus, but none are associated with any forms of hearing loss.

What happens if you don't take CoQ10 with statins?

Some studies have shown that statins decrease the concentration of CoQ10 in both muscle tissue and in the bloodstream. The hypothesis is that, if you decrease the CoQ10 levels, you reduce the production of energy in muscle cells and they won't function as well, leading to muscle aches, weakness or inflammation.

Can CoQ10 help tinnitus?

For people who are deficient in CoQ10, supplementing with the nutrient may improve tinnitus. In a preliminary trial, supplementation with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in the amount of 100 mg three times per day for 16 weeks significantly improved tinnitus in people who had initially low blood levels of CoQ10.

Can CoQ10 make tinnitus worse?

Conclusion: In patients with a low plasma CoQ10 concentration, CoQ10 supply may decrease the tinnitus expression.