New fears over heart pill taken by millions

Statins have been hailed as a “wonder drug” for reducing cholesterol and preventing tens of thousands of heart attacks and strokes.

But experts are becoming worried by the unpleasant reactions that some patients are experiencing.

Scientists at Nottingham University have been given £250,000 to investigate the problem. They want patients over 65 who suffer from muscle aches – a common side-effect – to help them with their work.

Statins are already known to cause tummy upsets, liver problems and muscle pains in some users as well as a rare but serious lung disorder.

Packets warn patients of these side-effects but last year manufacturers were forced to add new cautions, telling patients that statins can sometimes cause memory loss, sexual problems, depression and disturbed sleep.

The research team wants to discover why people are suffering such unpleasant reactions to the drugs and how widespread the problem is.

The side-effects have not deterred the use of statins by the National Health Service.

Later this year, family doctors will be asked to screen everyone over the age of 40 for their risk of cardiovascular disease and prescribe statins to those most at risk – an estimated 1.4 million more Britons.

A Government adviser has claimed that the cholesterol-lowering drugs should be offered to all men over 50 and women over 60 as a “short cut” to prevent heart disease.

Roger Boyle, the national director for heart disease and stroke, said a blanket approach that would give everyone above a certain age a daily dose of statins would save lives, money and doctors’ time.

Figures show that, with fewer people smoking, the recent surge in the use of statins has led to a 40 per cent drop in deaths from heart disease. But, as their use increases, so does the number of patients complaining of side-effects.

Professor Paul Greenhaff, of Nottingham University, who is leading the trial, said there is evidence that statins can damage muscles in animals and, although they cut the risk of heart disease, it is important to understand the side-effects.

“There’s no doubt statins reduce incidences of cardiac events and stroke attributable to high blood cholesterol levels,” he said.

“However, we have found one, simvastatin – the version most frequently prescribed in the UK and the main one given to many elderly patients – can cause impairment of pathways regulating muscle mass and metabolism. In the general population, the incidence of adverse effects associated with taking statins is low.

“However in the elderly, to whom simvastatin is most often prescribed, the incidence of muscle impairment increases by as much as 10 per cent.”

Usually a GP will simply prescribe another type of statin to see if it works better but researchers say it is important to understand the physiological reasons for side-effects.

Last week, a report by the NHS watchdog found that 400,000 patients with heart disease still have cholesterol levels that are too high. Some of them have been prescribed statins, but stop taking them because of the unpleasant side-effects.

Dr Rosemary Leonard, a GP and the Daily Express doctor, said: “This research is a good idea.

“Statins are wonderful for patients who tolerate them well, but a lot of people can’t. The more we prescribe them the more we realise they are not the benign drugs we thought.”

The research team is recruiting healthy men 65 years and over who are taking simvastatin or zocor and experience muscle pains.

They are also recruiting healthy men aged 65 and over who do not take statins. Those interested in taking part should contact Joanne on 0115 823 0578 or 0115 823 0248.