Side Effect Patterns in a Crossover Trial of Statin, Placebo, and No Treatment
The full SAMSON report, led by James Howard. Sixty participants who had stopped statins were randomised and 49 completed the year. Average daily symptom scores were 8.0 with no tablet, 15.4 on placebo and 16.3 on atorvastatin 20 mg, a nocebo ratio of 0.90: about 90 per cent of the symptom burden on the statin was also present on placebo. Half of the sixty later restarted statins. A small trial in a specific group, with one drug and dose; it does not show that nobody has genuine side effects. This is general information, not medical advice.
The full SAMSON report, led by James Howard. Sixty participants who had stopped statins were randomised and 49 completed the year. Average daily symptom scores were 8.0 with no tablet, 15.4 on placebo and 16.3 on atorvastatin 20 mg, a nocebo ratio of 0.90: about 90 per cent of the symptom burden on the statin was also present on placebo. Half of the sixty later restarted statins. A small trial in a specific group, with one drug and dose; it does not show that nobody has genuine side effects. This is general information, not medical advice.
Written from the crossref record read on 8 October 2026 and the verified research record.
What our sources record
Reproduced as it was written when this source was checked, figures and all.
Howard, J. P., Wood, F. A., Finegold, J. A., Nowbar, A. N., and colleagues, with Francis, D. P. (2021). 'Side effect patterns in a crossover trial of statin, placebo, and no treatment.' Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 78(12), 1210-1222. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.07.022. PMC8453640. 60 randomised, 49 completed; atorvastatin 20 mg; mean symptom scores no tablet 8.0, placebo 15.4, statin 16.3; nocebo ratio 0.90; 30 of 60 restarted statins.