If you take atorvastatin, or any statin for your cholesterol, there is a good chance someone has mentioned CoQ10 to you. Here is the whole thing in plain English: why it matters, whether it actually works, and how to pick the right one. Give it three minutes.
The simple why, in one picture
Your body has one production line that makes cholesterol. A statin works by turning that line down, which is exactly what you want for your heart. Here is the catch. That very same line also makes CoQ10. So when the statin turns it down, your natural CoQ10 quietly falls too. In studies, statins lowered the CoQ10 in people’s blood by about 40% in a matter of weeks.1,2
So what does CoQ10 actually do?
Think of CoQ10 as the spark plug inside your cells. It helps turn food into energy, and your hardest working parts, your muscles and your heart, need the most of it. It is also an antioxidant that helps protect your cells.
When CoQ10 runs low, the tell tale signs are muscle aches, cramps, weakness and feeling more tired than usual. Those also happen to be the top reasons people give up on statins. In everyday practice, muscle symptoms affect somewhere between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 people taking a statin.3 Topping your CoQ10 back up is the simple idea behind taking it alongside your statin.
Does it really work? The honest answer
The idea makes sense, and plenty of people say they feel better on it. The research, though, is genuinely split, so we will be straight with you.
- A 2018 study that pooled 12 trials found CoQ10 reduced statin related muscle pain, weakness, cramps and tiredness.4
- Other well run trials found no clear difference.5,6
The most recent review, from 2025, pooled seven trials and again found that CoQ10 reduced these muscle symptoms overall, even though a few of the trials on their own showed no change.8 So the picture keeps tilting gently in CoQ10’s favour, without ever being a slam dunk.
What nobody argues about is that CoQ10 is very safe, well tolerated and cheap. So it is a sensible thing to try if a statin is giving you aches or fatigue. Two rules never change: CoQ10 does not lower your cholesterol, and you should never stop your statin to take it.
Why do you hear about this more from America?
It is a fair thing to notice. CoQ10 is a food supplement, not a prescription medicine, in the United States just as it is here, so nobody is technically prescribed it. The difference is habit. Plenty of American doctors, especially heart specialists, will routinely suggest a daily CoQ10 to anyone starting a statin. Here in Ireland and the UK, the official guidelines (NICE) do not recommend it, mostly because the trial evidence has been mixed, so most GPs simply do not raise it.9 Neither side is really wrong. It just means that here, CoQ10 is usually something you or your pharmacist brings up, rather than your doctor.
Find your CoQ10 match. Tap the one that sounds like you.
The two forms: ubiquinone and ubiquinol
CoQ10 comes in two forms, and this is the one bit worth understanding.
- Ubiquinone is the original, raw form. Your body turns it into the active form before using it. It is reliable and the most studied. It is what sits inside Pharma Nord Bio Quinone Q10 Gold.
- Ubiquinol is the ready to use, active form. It is absorbed more easily, which counts for more as we age (roughly past 40) or when the body is under pressure, such as on a statin. It is the form in Revive Active Ubiquinol and Pharma Nord BioActive Q10 Ubiquinol.
Which strength?
- 30mg for general daily maintenance and lighter support.
- 100mg is the usual go to for anyone on a statin, or with muscle aches and low energy.
Your options at Laois Pharmacy
| Product | Form | Strength | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revive Active Ubiquinol CoQ10 | Ubiquinol (active) | 100mg | Everyday active form CoQ10, great all rounder, good absorption |
| Pharma Nord Bio Quinone Q10 Gold | Ubiquinone | 30mg and 100mg | The classic, most studied CoQ10. 100mg is the typical statin support dose |
| Pharma Nord BioActive Q10 Ubiquinol | Ubiquinol (active) | 100mg | Best absorption, ideal for older customers or anyone on a statin |
- Keep taking your statin exactly as prescribed. CoQ10 supports your muscles and energy. It does not lower cholesterol.
- On warfarin or other blood thinners? Check with the pharmacist first, because CoQ10 can affect them.7
- These are food supplements, not medicines. Pregnant, breastfeeding, or on other medication? Ask the pharmacist.
When someone asks us about CoQ10 and statins, here is exactly how we talk it through. It doubles as a quick guide for our own team.
🧩 The science in one line
Statins lower cholesterol, but the same process also lowers the body’s own CoQ10, the little molecule your muscles use to make energy. When it runs low you can feel aches and tiredness, so we top it back up.
👥 Who it suits
- Anyone just starting a statin (atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin and the rest).
- Anyone with muscle aches, cramps or extra tiredness since starting one.
- Older adults, who tend to absorb CoQ10 less easily.
💊 What we recommend
- Standard: 100mg once a day.
- Best absorption, or over 50: an ubiquinol (active form), such as Revive Active Ubiquinol or BioActive Q10 Ubiquinol 100mg.
- Classic and great value: an ubiquinone, Bio Quinone Q10 Gold (100mg, or 30mg for lighter support).
⏰ How to take it
Once a day, ideally with a meal that has a little fat in it, because that helps it absorb. Any time of day is fine. Give it a fair trial of about 4 to 8 weeks before judging it.
⚠️ Always check
- On warfarin or other blood thinners? Refer to the pharmacist.
- Keep taking the statin. CoQ10 does not replace it and does not lower cholesterol.
- Pregnant, breastfeeding, or on other medicines? Refer to the pharmacist.
💬 Quick answers to the usual questions
- Will it lower my cholesterol? No, that is the statin’s job. CoQ10 is for muscle energy and comfort.
- Is it safe with my statin? Yes, it is very well tolerated and will not affect how the statin works.
- How soon will I notice? Give it 4 to 8 weeks.
- Ubiquinone or ubiquinol? Both work. Ubiquinol absorbs a little more easily, which is handy over 50.
🎤 The 20 second pitch
“Statins lower cholesterol, but the same process can lower your body’s CoQ10, and that’s the bit your muscles use for energy. A lot of people find that topping it back up with a daily CoQ10 helps with the aches and the tiredness. It won’t affect how well your statin works, and it’s very safe.”
🧠 Quick quiz: test yourself, or your team. Tap True or False on each one.
1. Taking CoQ10 will lower my cholesterol.
2. I should stop my statin if I start taking CoQ10.
3. Statins can lower the amount of CoQ10 my body makes.
4. Ubiquinol is the active form that absorbs more easily.
The bottom line
If you are on a statin, a daily CoQ10 is a simple, safe thing to try. You top up what the statin lowers, support your muscle energy, and see how you feel over a few weeks. Not sure which one is for you? Our pharmacist will match you to the right form and strength in under a minute.
This is general information for education and staff training. It is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Always talk to your pharmacist or GP about what is right for you.
References
- Ghirlanda G, et al. Evidence of plasma CoQ10 lowering effect by HMG‑CoA reductase inhibitors: a double‑blind, placebo‑controlled study. J Clin Pharmacol. 1993;33(3):226-229.
- Rundek T, et al. Atorvastatin decreases the coenzyme Q10 level in the blood of patients at risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Arch Neurol. 2004;61(6):889-892.
- Stroes ES, et al. Statin‑associated muscle symptoms: impact on statin therapy. European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel. Eur Heart J. 2015;36(17):1012-1022.
- Qu H, et al. Effects of coenzyme Q10 on statin‑induced myopathy: an updated meta‑analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials. J Am Heart Assoc. 2018;7(19):e009835.
- Taylor BA, et al. A randomized trial of coenzyme Q10 in patients with confirmed statin myopathy. Atherosclerosis. 2015;238(2):329-335.
- Banach M, et al. Effects of coenzyme Q10 on statin‑induced myopathy: a meta‑analysis of randomized controlled trials. Mayo Clin Proc. 2015;90(1):24-34.
- Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and NHS guidance on statins and supplement interactions with anticoagulants.
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of coenzyme Q10 supplementation for myopathy in statin-treated patients (7 trials, 389 patients). J Nutr Sci. 2025.
- American College of Cardiology / American Heart Association cholesterol guidance and NICE guidance: coenzyme Q10 is not routinely recommended for statin-associated muscle symptoms.
