What is a common side effect of statins?

Statins, commonly prescribed for lowering cholesterol levels and reducing cardiovascular risk, are well-known for a side effect that manifests as muscle pain or discomfort, a condition known as myopathy. This side effect can range from mild muscle aches to more severe muscle injury (rhabdomyolysis) in rare cases. The mechanism underlying muscle pain associated with statins is not fully understood, but it may involve muscle cell damage, inflammation, or interference with energy production within muscle cells.

While hypotension, dry cough, and nausea can occur with various medications, they are not specifically associated with statins. Hypotension is more commonly linked to antihypertensive medications, dry cough is a well-known side effect of ACE inhibitors, and nausea can be attributed to numerous factors including gastrointestinal side effects from various drug classes, but these are not characteristic of statin therapy. Thus, muscle pain stands out as the primary and distinctive side effect related to statin use.