Study: Physicians dismiss complaints about statins

A recent study suggests physicians may be dismissing or minimizing patient complaints about possible side effects from statin drugs like Lipitor, Zocor and Crestor. University of California-San Diego researchers found physicians tended to attribute potential statin side-effects like muscle pain, memory loss and numbness in hands and feet to aging, or said the side effects could not have come from the drug. To draw this conclusion, researchers surveyed 650 patients, largely U.S. residents in their early 60s.

Researchers, who published the study results in the journal Drug Safety, said the study raises questions about drug safety, given that doctors are unlikely to file adverse event reports with the FDA if they don't attribute side effects to medications.

To learn more about the study:
- read this Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report article

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