Tiny (n-of-1) Trials to Overcome Statin-Associated Muscle Pain

In blinded clinical trials the percentage of patients who experience muscle symptoms while taking a statin is typically in the 3-5% range.  In practice, the percentage of patients who report muscle symptoms is 10-25%.  This disparity between what has been observed in blinded trials and what patients experience when treated with a statin is due, in part, to the nocebo effect — a belief that a medication may cause harm.  How many lives could be saved if we routinely used tiny randomized, controlled, blinded trials to determine when statin therapy can be safely continued?

Guest Panelists: Elizabeth Hearn, PharmD; Stuart T Haines PharmD, BCPS, BCACP; and Kathryn (Katie) Kiser, PharmD, BCACP

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