Genetic link to pain caused by taking statins

PATIENTS who have a certain type of gene are more likely to feel pain when they take statins, experts say.

The discovery could lead to a method of screening that could spot those most likely to react badly to the cholesterollowering drugs. Millions of Britons take the medication to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

But although the drugs are among the most successful in history, up to 29 per cent of users suffer sore muscle symptoms which can put them off the pills.

A new study of almost 12,000 statin users by the University of Dundee, reveals that statin intolerance doubled when patients carried two identical copies of a variant of the LILRB5 gene.

Lead scientist Professor Colin Palmer, said: ‘If these people are put on statins, they might discontinue their medication in the erroneous belief that it is the statin that is making their muscles ache.’