Muscle Pain from Statins?  2009 study shows Red Yeast Rice lowers lipids better

Tolerability of Red Yeast Rice (2,400 mg Twice Daily) Versus Pravastatin (20 mg Twice Daily) in Patients With Previous Statin Intolerance, Steven C. etal.American Journal of Cardiology,  November 30 2009.   http://www.ajconline.org/article/S0002-9149%2809%2902325-X/abstract

Posture Practice Tip: Ask patients/clients if they take medication to control their lipids.  Statins have different names ( pravastatin, Levacor, Zocor, Pravachol, Lipitor, Crestor and more), and can cause sudden or progressively worsening muscle and joint pain. Suggest they check with the prescribing physician about a trial of red yeast rice instead of Lipitor.

The irony: Taking medication to reduce lipids for cardiac health, but causing musculo-skeletal pain which causes them to stop exercising, worsening cardiac and general health.

((Political comment- if Medicare/ObamaCare pays for Levacor and not a red yeast rice,-how many people then also get prescribed and pay for muscle and joint pain medications—regardless of which works better!))

From the study:

“Conclusion- red yeast rice was tolerated as well as pravastatin and achieved a comparable reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in a population previously intolerant to statins.”

“The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level decreased 30% in the red yeast rice group and 27% in the pravastatin group.”