CMT and statins

[littlenel]

I have just been prescribed statins and was concerned upon reading the enclosed leaflet that they could cause muscle wastage which may not be reversed upon ceasing the medication. Has anyone else with CMT and also taking statins encountered this side effect?

[Morllyn]

littlenel , I knew that statins could cause muscle pain and in rare cases could cause rhabdomyolysis but had not heard that it could cause muscle wastage. I looked and found very few references to it online. Interesting!

My husband is the one with CMT and he takes a statin drug but he says that he has no leg pain. He has had muscle wastage since his late teens but he was not taking statins until he was in his 50’s. CMT causes muscle wastage, itself, so how are we to know if it is the statin or the CMT?

Talk with your doctor about something other than a statin, maybe he can prescribe some other type of drug that will work well for you.

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I am 65. i had a heart scare ( unfounded ) about 12 years ago before I found out I had CMT. I was prescribed statins and beta blockers etc. Both left me incredibly weak and my muscle power never really recovered. I was generally ok before the treatment but I have never really been the same since. A couple of years later I was diagnosed with CMT ( following my sisters diagnosis ). With hindsight, the statins seemed to have caused me problems from which I cannot recover.

I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND statins to any CMT sufferer. Any damage may not be able to be fixed.

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See link cmtausa.org/resource-center...

contains a list of drugs to avoid etc.

Statins are included under "Uncertain or minor risk"

[littlenel]

Thank you all for your replies, very helpful. I will certainly point out the relevant passage to the doctor. thanks once again.