Coenzyme Q10 be measured in blood plasma, these measurements reflect dietary intake rather than tissue status. Currently, most clinical centers measure CoQ levels in cultured skin fibroblasts, muscle biopsies, and blood mononuclear cells. Culture fibroblasts can be used also to evaluate the rate of endogenous CoQ biosynthesis, by measuring the uptake of C-labelled "p"-hydroxybenzoate. CoQ shares a biosynthetic pathway with cholesterol. The synthesis of an intermediary precursor of CoQ, mevalonate, is inhibited by some beta blockers, blood pressure-lowering medication, and statins, a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs. Statins can reduce serum levels of CoQ by up to 40%. CoQ is not approved by
We Are Drugs to finish them after the band finished touring to support "Dopamine"—he would want to release. Several months later, Jenkins began discussing plans for a new EP release in mid-2016. Contrary to the band's previous few albums—"Out of the Vein" (2003), "Ursa Major" (2009), and "Dopamine" (2015), which were recorded over the course of four to six years—the band was limited to only one week in a studio in Texas in early 2016 to record "We Are Drugs". Jenkins stated that the success of "Dopamine" finally allowed him to stop obsessing over perfecting lyrics, something he had done in the past.