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Statin muscle symptoms — GPhC CRA MCQ

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ModerateCardiovascular TherapeuticsStatin muscle symptomsGPhC CRA

A 64-year-old woman taking atorvastatin 40 mg nightly reports new proximal muscle pain and dark urine after a viral illness. She asks whether this is expected. What monitoring is required?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: B — Check creatine kinase urgently and advise medical review

Muscle symptoms with dark urine raise concern about myopathy or rhabdomyolysis. Creatine kinase and renal function should be assessed and the prescriber contacted urgently. Grapefruit juice can increase exposure to some statins and increasing the dose would be unsafe.

Reference: BNF; NICE CKS