For people who are sick, body aches are not a pleasant feeling. The flu, Lyme disease, mononucleosis or fever can all cause aches and pains, according to the health website Healthline (USA).
Some medications can cause muscle pain as a side effect after taking them.
In some cases, body aches are a good sign because they indicate that the body is recovering from an illness. Additionally, some body aches occur after taking medications, such as statins.
Statins are a class of drugs that includes several different types, such as Lipitor, Crestor, and Zocor. They are commonly used to control high blood pressure. Common side effects include digestive problems and brain fog. In addition, about 30% of patients report being affected by muscle pain or weakness.
A study published in The Lancet analyzed data from 23 different clinical trials. The team found that the majority of cases of body aches were not actually caused by statin use.
In fact, statins can increase the risk of muscle pain by 7% in people taking them. However, this phenomenon mainly occurs in the first year of treatment and usually in people who are treated with statins. The muscle pain is also usually mild.
Overall, the research team determined that only about 10% of cases of taking statins experienced muscle pain. The benefits of statins for patients were still considered to be greater than the side effects.
There is also another little-known cause of muscle pain after taking medication: the nocebo effect. This is a phenomenon in which a person anticipates that they will experience a certain reaction after taking a medication or treatment. In the end, they find themselves experiencing that reaction even though the medication does not actually cause such side effects.
In addition, statin drugs can also lead to another side effect called rhabdomyolysis, which causes serious muscle damage. This condition will lead to a feeling of muscle pain.
However, experts say this side effect is extremely rare and occurs when taking large doses of statins. Experts recommend that if patients suspect muscle pain is due to a side effect of the drug, they should talk to their doctor to adjust the dose, according to Healthline.
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