Scientists finally uncover why statins cause muscle pain

Columbia University researchers discovered why statins cause muscle pain in some patients by using advanced imaging to observe how the drugs interact with muscle cells. They found that simvastatin binds to specific sites on a muscle protein called the ryanodine receptor, creating calcium leaks that weaken muscle fibers and cause pain. This breakthrough could lead to redesigned statins that avoid this interaction or new drugs that prevent the calcium leaks, potentially helping millions of patients who abandon statin therapy due to muscle-related side effects.