Why the risks and benefits of statins are so complex?
Statins prevent heart attacks in people with diabetes, so the relevance of the mild increase in sugar values with statins observed in some people is unclear. The benefit of taking statins likely outweighs the small risk to have the blood sugar level go up.
What are the Common side effects of statins?
What are statin side effects?
- Muscle pain and damage. One of the most common complaints of people taking statins is muscle pain. ...
- Liver damage. Occasionally, statin use could cause an increase in the level of enzymes that signal liver inflammation.
- Increased blood sugar or type 2 diabetes. ...
- Neurological side effects. ...
What are the side effects of taking statin?
Uncommon side effects of statins include:
- being sick
- memory problems
- hair loss
- pins and needles
- inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), which can cause flu-like symptoms
- inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which can cause stomach pain
- skin problems, such as acne or an itchy red rash
- sexual problems, such as loss of libido (reduced sex drive) or erectile dysfunction
When do the benefits of statins outweigh the risks?
Statins: benefits and risks
- The importance of statin safety data from clinical studies and clinical practice. ...
- Muscle-related side effects of statins. ...
- Certain genetic profiles may increase the risk of statin-induced myopathy. ...
- Things to consider when prescribing statins. ...
What are the positive side effects of statins?
The benefits of statins Most statins successfully help lower LDL, or “bad” cholesterol. Lowering your cholesterol levels with statins helps decrease your risk of stroke, heart attack, and other vessel-related diseases.
What are the pros and cons of statins?
Statins are a group of drugs that can reduce high cholesterol, lowering the risk of atherosclerosis and heart problems. Statins typically cause mild side effects, if any, but these drugs can, rarely, cause significant, and even life threatening, adverse effects.
Are statins worth the risk?
Research has shown that statins are highly effective in reducing the risk of fatal heart attack and stroke.
What are the negatives of taking statins?
Side effects can vary between different statins, but common side effects include:headache.dizziness.feeling sick.feeling unusually tired or physically weak.digestive system problems, such as constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion or farting.muscle pain.sleep problems.low blood platelet count.
Do statins shorten your life?
“The study showed that taking statins for 6 years reduced death from cardiovascular disease by 24 percent, and overall mortality by 23 percent.”
Why do doctors push statins?
Statins are the go-to treatment option for lowering cholesterol levels and risk of cardiovascular complications, like heart attack and stroke. Statins work by slowing down cholesterol production and enabling the liver to remove low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or “bad cholesterol,” from the bloodstream.
Can you lower cholesterol without statins?
Exercise Cardiovascular exercise can help to keep your weight at a healthy range and can also boost your heart health. Walking, jogging, biking, and swimming are all exercises that can help lower cholesterol, especially if you do them three times per week or more.
Is there an alternative to taking statins?
There are many non-statin medications your doctor might prescribe: Bile acid-binding resins, like cholestyramine (Locholest, Prevalite, Questran), colesevelam (WelChol), and colestipol (Colestid) stick to cholesterol-rich bile acids in your intestines and lower your LDL levels.
What is the best natural alternative to statins?
Natural Alternatives to Statins: Foods That Help Lower CholesterolFoods high in soluble fiber and plant phytosterols, such as legumes, avocados, broccoli and other fruits and vegetables.Whole grains, including oatmeal, quinoa and barley.More items...•
Do statins make you gain weight?
As with many medications, statins may cause side effects, including digestive problems, muscle pain and weakness, and cognitive dysfunction. Another side effect that's been linked to statins is weight gain.
Do statins clear plaque from arteries?
A: Yes. There have been several clinical studies — many of them done here at Cleveland Clinic — that show statins can reverse plaque buildup. Two statins in particular, atorvastatin, which is sold under the brand name Lipitor, and rosuvastatin, which is sold under the brand name Crestor, are the strongest statins.
Can you stop taking statins Once you start?
Do not suddenly stop taking your prescribed medication without talking with your doctor first. If you have side effects from the medication, your doctor might adjust your dosage or recommend a different statin or other combination of medications.
Should You Be on A Statin?
Whether you need to be on a statin depends on your cholesterol levels and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Your doctor will consider...
Healthy Lifestyle Is Still Key For Preventing Heart Disease
Risk factors for heart disease and stroke are: 1. Smoking 2. High cholesterol 3. High blood pressure 4. Diabetes 5. Being overweight or obese 6. Fa...
Consider Statins A Lifelong Commitment
You may think that once your cholesterol goes down, you can stop taking statin medication. But if the drug helped lower your cholesterol, you'll li...
The Side Effects of Statins
Statins are well-tolerated by most people, but they do have side effects. Some side effects go away as the body adjusts to the medication. But alwa...
What Other Benefits Do Statins have?
Statins may have benefits other than just lowering your cholesterol. One promising benefit seems to be their anti-inflammatory properties, which he...
Weighing The Risks and Benefits of Statins
You should not take statins if you are pregnant or have some forms of advanced liver disease.When thinking about whether you should take statins fo...
How to prevent statin side effects?
Try coenzyme Q10 supplements. Coenzyme Q10 supplements may help prevent statin side effects in some people, though more studies are needed to determine any benefits of taking it. Talk to your doctor first to make sure the supplement won't interact with any of your other medications.
What drugs interact with statins?
Some drugs that may interact with statins and increase your risk of side effects include: Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), a medication for irregular heart rhythms. Gemfibrozil (Lopid), another variety of cholesterol drug.
Can statins cause heart attacks?
Having too much cholesterol in your blood increases your risk of heart attacks and strokes. Statins block a substance your liver needs to make cholesterol. This causes your liver to remove cholesterol from your blood. If you think you're experiencing side effects from statins, don't just stop taking the pills.
What is the name of the medication that is used to treat irregular heartbeats?
Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), a medication for irregular heart rhythms
Does statin help with heart attack?
Sign up now. Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks. Statins are effective at lowering cholesterol and protecting against a heart attack and stroke, although they may lead to side effects for some people. By Mayo Clinic Staff.
Can statins cause liver damage?
While statins are highly effective and safe for most people, they have been linked to muscle pain, digestive problems and mental fuzziness in some people who take them and may rarely cause liver damage.
Do statins increase blood sugar?
Statins prevent heart attacks in people with diabetes, so the relevance of the mild increase in sugar values with statins observed in some people is unclear. The benefit of taking statins likely outweighs the small risk to have the blood sugar level go up. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.
How do statins work?
By Mayo Clinic Staff. Statins are drugs that can lower your cholesterol. They work by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol. Lowering cholesterol isn't the only benefit associated with statins.
How old do you have to be to take statins?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends low- to moderate-dose statins in adults ages 40 to 75 who have one or more risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease and at least a 1 in 10 chance of having a cardiosvascular disease event in the next 10 years.
What is a high LDL?
People who have very high LDL ("bad") cholesterol. This group includes adults who have LDL cholesterol levels of 190 mg/dL (4.92 mmol/L) or higher.
What is the best cholesterol level for a heart attack?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Aim to keep this "bad" cholesterol under 100 mg/dL, or 2.6 mmol/L. If you have a history of heart attacks or you're at a very high risk of a heart attack or stroke, you may need to aim even lower (below 70 mg/dL, or 1.8 mmol/L).
How to reduce risk of heart disease?
To reduce your risk: Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. Eat a healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits, fish and whole grains and low in saturated fat, trans fat, refined carbohydrates and salt.
Can you take statins if your cholesterol is high?
If your cholesterol — particularly the LDL ("bad") type — stays high after you make healthy lifestyle changes, statins might be an option for you.
Do statins lower cholesterol?
Lowering cholesterol isn't the only benefit associated with statins. These medications have also been linked to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. These drugs may help stabilize the plaques on blood vessel walls and reduce the risk of certain blood clots. A number of statins are available for use in the United States.
What is statin used for?
Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) are widely used medicines for patients with lipid disorders and in the primary and secondary prevention of heart attack and stroke. From:
What is the prescribing information for statins?
The prescribing information and patient leaflets for each statin advises on how to minimise the risk of side effects, including: which medicines to avoid taking with statins. when to use a lower statin dose. when to interrupt or stop statin treatment.
What statins are available in the UK?
The statins currently available in the UK are simvastatin, atorvastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin, and rosuvastatin. Evidence from large clinical trials [footnote 1] [footnote 2] [footnote 3] [footnote 4] shows that statins can reduce heart attacks and the need for bypass surgery, and can save lives in certain patient groups.
Which transporter is used to take up simvastatin?
Simvastatin is primarily taken up via the OATP1B1 transporter. Other statins are taken up by additional or different transporters, so the blood plasma concentration of those statins is less susceptible to changes in OATP1B1 function than that of simvastatin (see table).
Why do some side effects only appear when medicines are used in the community?
Some side effects only become apparent when medicines are used in the community: by many people (because of the rarity of some side effects) for a long time ( because of the slow onset of some side effects) when high doses are used more frequently than in clinical trials.
Can statins cause myopathy?
Myopathy risk also increases when certain medicines are used together with statins, either because both medicines can cause myopathy or because the second medicine increases the blood plasma concentration of the statin (mimicking the effects of a higher statin dose).
Can statins cause side effects?
All effective medicines can cause side effects in some patients and a small proportion of patients taking statins will inevitably experience side effects. Although they may be distressing to the individual concerned and limit that individual’s willingness or ability to tolerate statin use, statin-related side effects are generally mild and not medically serious.
What is statins used for?
What are statins? Statins are a class of prescription drugs that help to lower cholesterol. They block the enzyme that the body uses to make cholesterol in the liver. The liver, along with other cells in the body, makes about 75 percent of the body’s blood cholesterol. Trusted Source.
What are the side effects of statins?
The side effects of statins. The most common side effects of statins include nausea, vomiting, and aches and pains in the muscles and joints. You may also have constipation, gas, or diarrhea. As your body adjusts to the medication, the side effects often go away . Some more serious side effects include: type 2 diabetes or higher blood sugar.
What is the best way to reduce cholesterol in the bloodstream?
Cholesterol absorption inhibitor . The small intestine absorbs your diet’s cholesterol and releases it into the bloodstream. A cholesterol absorption inhibitor helps to limit this absorption of the cholesterol you consume. Ezetimibe is one type of cholesterol absorption inhibitor.
What is ezetimibe cholesterol?
Ezetimibe is one type of cholesterol absorption inhibitor.
How to lower cholesterol?
take multiple medications to lower your cholesterol. have a smaller body frame. have liver or kidney disease. consume too much alcohol. If you’re experiencing side effects, your doctor may want you to try another statin or change your dose, or try a different medication.
Can statins cause heart attacks?
It can cause a buildup of plaque in the artery walls, which affects blood flow and can raise your risk for a heart attack. Medications called statins can help to regulate cholesterol levels and may help address other health issues, too, although they’re not without risk.
Do statins help with blood pressure?
This also makes plaque less likely to rupture in the heart, lowering the risk of a heart attack. Statins also help to relax the blood vessels, which leads to a decrease in blood pressure.
How does statin affect blood flow?
Statins may impair blood clot formation by reducing the expression of tissue factor and platelet aggregation, diminishing the creation of thrombin and the expression of its receptor on the platelet surface. Furthermore, the levels and activity of procoagulant factors, including fibrinogen, and factors V, VII and XIII, decrease as well during statin treatment.
What is the role of statins in atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is a complex pathogenic process in which endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and clot formation all play a role. As mentioned before, in addition to lowering cholesterol levels, statins inhibit other downstream products of the mevalonate pathway, causing the so-called pleiotropic effects.
What is the role of statins in cholesterol biosynthesis?
Statins block the rate limiting step of cholesterol synthesis in which 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMGC) is transformed to mevalonate by the enzyme HMGCR. However, the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway is also involved in the synthesis of dolichols, the production of ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10), and in the process of prenylation, an important post-transcriptional protein modification. Of note, dolichols are required for glycoprotein synthesis3and ubiquinone plays an important role in muscle cell energy production.4Furthermore, prenylation is required for activation of numerous proteins, including members of the GTPase family of molecular switches (e.g. CDC42, RAC or RHO), which have crucial roles in controlling multiple signaling pathways.5
How much do statins reduce atrial fibrillation?
For example, small randomized trials have suggested that statins may reduce the rate of postoperative atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery by as much as 50% .
Which statins have the lowest LDL?
Different statins have distinct properties, with pravastatin and simvastatin providing less LDL-lowering power (25–35% reduction at 20 mg dosing) than newer statins, like atorvastatin and rosuvastatin (40–50% reduction at 20 mg dosing).14
What enzyme is used to reduce cholesterol?
Statins inhibit the critical step of cholesterol synthesis in which 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMGC) is transformed to mevalonate by the enzyme HMGC reductase. By doing so, they have a potent lipid-lowering effect that reduces cardiovascular risk and decreases mortality.
When was the first statin invented?
In 1976, the Japanese microbiologist Akira Endo discovered the first statin as a product of the fungus Penicillium citrinumthat inhibited the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR); this first molecule was named compactin.1Subsequently, researchers at Merck Research Laboratory discovered another HMGCR inhibitor derived from Aspergillus terrusthat was originally named mevinolin and later known as lovastatin.2This molecule was the first statin to be approved by the FDA. Since then, other drugs from the same family have been synthesized, revolutionizing the management of cardiovascular diseases.
Overview
Statins (HMG CoA reductase inhibitors) are prescription medicines that people take to bring their cholesterol down to normal levels. Some statins can decrease your LDL (bad) cholesterol by 50% or more. Different brands of statins are on the market, as well as generic statins, which cost less.
Recovery and Outlook
Your cholesterol level will go back up if you stop taking statins. You’ll probably need to keep taking them for years to come.
When to Call the Doctor
While you’re taking statins, you should contact your provider if your muscles or joints hurt or if you feel weak, have a fever or your urine is dark.
What is the purpose of statins?
Statins help lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, in the blood. They draw cholesterol out of plaque and stabilize plaque, Blaha says.
Who gets statins?
Being prescribed statins is no longer simply a result of having poor cholesterol numbers. Instead, doctors use a variety of ways to identify high-risk patients. These include examining all of your heart-health measures (including blood pressure, blood glucose and body-mass index) as well as the results of tests that assess plaque build-up, such as a coronary calcium scan.
How many people take statins?
More than 200 million people around the world take statin drugs for their heart health. Shifting ideas about the risks and benefits of statins over the years, however, have left some new patients confused about whether these drugs are right—or safe—for them.
Is cholesterol normal with statins?
Because many factors are involved, your cholesterol numbers may be considered normal and yet you may still be found to be at an elevated risk for heart problems. As a result, statin medications are now used to lower the risk of heart disease and heart events in most anyone found to be at high risk.
Can statins cause memory loss?
Statins don’t cause memory loss or cataracts, as has been claimed in the past. For most at-risk patients, the benefits far exceed the risks, the researchers concluded. Of course, if you notice any unusual effects after beginning statin therapy, tell your doctor.
Is it safe to take statins?
Are statins safe? For most people, the answer is a resounding yes, according to a 2014 Johns Hopkins meta-analysis of 20 years worth of published research. It showed that the risks of long-term use of statin drugs are low and the potential benefits are very high.
Can statins be used for high cholesterol?
So it made sense just to use them for people with high cholesterol,” explains Johns Hopkins cardiologist Michael Blaha, M.D. “But we’ve learned that they also benefit people with lower levels of cholesterol who are at a high risk of heart disease. So we now think of statins as risk-reducing drugs.”. This dramatic change in thinking means that ...
How do statins help your body?
Statins work in your liver. They block an enzyme that helps your body make cholesterol. They also lower inflammation in the arteries and stabilize plaque (cholesterol, other fatty substances, and clotting agents) that may have built up inside your arteries, says cardiologist Suzanne Steinbaum, DO, director of women and heart disease at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. "That's more important than anything, because if plaque bursts it can cause a heart attack or stroke," she says.
What Can Statins Do for Me?
And that could cut your chance of a heart attack or stroke.
How much does statin cost?
Cost may also be another issue for some people, though Nissen points out that you can now get some generic statins for as little as $10 per month.
Can statins cause muscle pain?
All medicines can have side effects. With statins, the most common one is muscle pain. Anywhere from 5% to 20% of people who take statins report having it. And it's more common among people taking high doses. But it's not clear if those muscle symptoms are actually related to statins, or if something else is to blame.
Do statins lower the risk of heart disease?
She notes that several major studies -- including a review of 18 trials based on data on nearly 57,000 people -- have shown that statins lower the chances of developing both fatal and non-fatal heart disease, as well as cut the risk of dying from any cause during those trials.
Can you take statin every other day?
If that happens, switching to a different statin, lowering your dose, or taking your pill every other day instead of daily might help. (Talk to your doctor before you change how you take any medicine.) In very rare cases, statins can cause severe muscle damage that can be life-threatening.
Can statins help prevent a heart attack?
Cardiologists generally agree that statins are a no-brainer for people who've already had a heart attack or stroke, because there’s strong evidence that they can help prevent a second one. There's been some debate as to whether statins are as helpful in preventing a first heart attack or stroke. But most experts say there's plenty ...
