Running on Statins

Can't speak personally, but I've heard firsthand from a few guys on my team that statins had a serious negative affect on their running. One quit the drugs and ran literally 2-3 minutes faster at 5k. I think he's around 70.

If you're having muscle or joint pain or weakness since you started the station, go see your doctor. That's a possible side effect. Otherwise I don't think a statin should hurt your running performance. If you need a statin because your cholesterol is out of whack and not controlled through diet, exercise and weight loss you should take it. Trust me your running will be much worse if you have a heart attack from not managing your cholesterol than from taking a statin .

iowakidscanrun wrote:

If you're having muscle or joint pain or weakness since you started the station, go see your doctor. That's a possible side effect. Otherwise I don't think a statin should hurt your running performance. If you need a statin because your cholesterol is out of whack and not controlled through diet, exercise and weight loss you should take it. Trust me your running will be much worse if you have a heart attack from not managing your cholesterol than from taking a statin .

Aren't there studies that show statins have no affect on mortality? And that cholesterol is not a predictor of mortality either?

I meant there are more measures than mortality, but doctors stuffing drugs into your pocket for profit and to avoid being sued doesn't make the science work.

I'd have to do some research to confirm those statemetns, but I think they are true.

Mine’s anecdotal, too, but my 48-yo husband started a statin 3 months ago, and he hasn’t seen a difference. Qualifier: he’s definitely a hobby jogger. He runs my easy runs with me plus 2-3 treadmill 5-milers per week at a 9-min pace.

I take a statin, and can't say that I've noticed an effect on my recovery or performance. But, then again, I'm just a hobby jogger.

Statins are prescribed to correct a deficiency in your doctor's bank account.

I was prescribed statins, and then changed my diet, drinking habits, and lifestyle, and no longer needed the statins. The neuropathy was the worst part. F statins.

I have been on 40mg atorvastatin for 10 years. Currently 57, I hear all the time from people that it makes their legs ache more. In my case, I can’t say for sure if that is true. I’m sure it has some effect on performance. For the people who say docs prescribe it to improve their bank accounts, $15 a month for generic isn’t going to do much for the bank balance of anyone. Think high cholesterol doesn’t matter? Better talk to some guys who ignored medical advice and had strokes or heart attacks. Pretty cheap and easy prevention in my opinion...

Might as well get an unneeded back surgery while you’re at it. Go all in.

Not really, but hey, if you are going to disregard medical advice, don’t take what is prescribed, risk having that stroke and pump $50-100k into the medical system. That will show them! Could Use steroids, start smoking and do a little meth too. Don’t worry about that lump that you noticed; just because the doc recommended a biopsy, who cares. They’re all just out for themselves. Right?