 to "be alert to new symptoms for myasthenia gravis, or worsening symptoms of pre-existing myasthenia gravis, and to seek medical advice if these occur". Those who take the once-a-day pill should look out for symptoms including droopy eyelids, double vision, difficulty making facial expressions, problems chewing and difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, weak arms, legs or neck and shortness of breath. Atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin are all sold in the UK and are among the drugs affected - which are taken by millions of people to help cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Cases have also been linked to lovastatin and pitavastatin. The number of suspected cases of myasthenia gravis were "very small", with just 10 cases reported to the MHRA in the last three decades. The people who were affected were in their 60s, on average, and no cases were fatal. Most patients started to display symptoms between a few days and three months after starting to take the statins. Most of those who developed symptoms of myasthenia gravis recovered after they stopped taking the medications, but a small number continued to suffer. And some of those who tried a different type of statin or restarted th){kind=link}
Millions of people in the UK who take the cholestrol-busting drug statins have been urged to ‘be alert’ for symptoms of a rare long-term condition which causes muscle weakness
Statins users have been urged to ‘be alert to new symptoms’ after a very small number of reports of a rare long-term condition which causes muscle weakness – and a number of other worrying symptoms.
Health chiefs have warned that seven types of statins, which are a group of medicines that can help lower cholesterol, including all five that are handed out to UK patients, have been linked to myasthenia gravis – a long-term condition which can be life-threatening if severe.
Patients who take the pills have been urged by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to “be alert to new symptoms for myasthenia gravis, or worsening symptoms of pre-existing myasthenia gravis, and to seek medical advice if these occur”.
Those who take the once-a-day pill should look out for symptoms including droopy eyelids, double vision, difficulty making facial expressions, problems chewing and difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, weak arms, legs or neck and shortness of breath. Atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin are all sold in the UK and are among the drugs affected – which are taken by millions of people to help cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Cases have also been linked to lovastatin and pitavastatin.