Should i take cholesterol lowering medication

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. Talk to your doctor to see if a change of dosage or even a different type of medication might be helpful.

One of the most common complaints of people taking statins is muscle pain. You may feel this pain as a soreness, tiredness or weakness in your muscles. The pain can be a mild discomfort, or it can be severe enough to make your daily activities difficult. However, researchers have found a "nocebo" effect when it comes to perceived muscle pain and statins.

A "nocebo" effect means people who have negative expectations about a medication report experiencing the potential side effect at higher rates than the drug should cause. The actual risk of developing muscle pain as a result of taking statins is about 5 percent or less compared with taking a pill that doesn't contain medication placebo. However, studies have found that nearly 30 percent of people stopped taking the pills because of muscle aches even when they were taking a placebo.

A strong predictor you'll experience muscle aches when taking statins could be whether or not you read about the potential side effect. Very rarely, statins can cause life-threatening muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis rab-doe-my-OL-ih-sis. Rhabdomyolysis can cause severe muscle pain, liver damage, kidney failure and death.

The risk of very serious side effects is extremely low, and calculated in a few cases per million people taking statins. Rhabdomyolysis can occur when you take statins in combination with certain drugs or if you take a high dose of statins. Occasionally, statin use could cause an increase in the level of enzymes that signal liver inflammation.

If the increase is only mild, you can continue to take the drug. Rarely, if the increase is severe, you may need to try a different statin.

Although liver problems are rare, your doctor may order a liver enzyme test before or shortly after you begin to take a statin. You wouldn't need any additional liver enzyme tests unless you begin to have signs or symptoms of trouble with your liver. Contact your doctor immediately if you have unusual fatigue or weakness, loss of appetite, pain in your upper abdomen, dark-colored urine, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.

It's possible your blood sugar blood glucose level may increase when you take a statin, which may lead to developing type 2 diabetes. The risk is small but important enough that the Food and Drug Administration FDA has issued a warning on statin labels regarding blood glucose levels and diabetes. The increase generally occurs when blood sugar levels are already higher than normal and fall in the prediabetes or diabetes range when you begin taking a statin.

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. The FDA warns on statin labels that some people have developed memory loss or confusion while taking statins.

These side effects reverse once you stop taking the medication. There is limited evidence to prove a cause-effect relationship, but talk to your doctor if you experience memory loss or confusion while taking statins. There has also been evidence that statins may help with brain function — in people with dementia, for example. This is still being studied. Don't stop taking your statin medication before talking to your doctor.

Not everyone who takes a statin will have side effects, but some people may be at a greater risk than are others. Risk factors include:. Grapefruit juice contains a chemical that can interfere with the enzymes that break down metabolize the statins in your digestive system. While you won't need to eliminate grapefruit entirely from your diet, ask your doctor about how much grapefruit you can have. There are many drugs that may interact with statins, so be sure your doctor is aware of all the medicines you take when being prescribed with statins.

To relieve side effects believed to be caused by statins, your doctor may recommend several options. Discuss these steps with your doctor before trying them:.

Although side effects believed to be caused by statins can be annoying, consider the benefits of taking a statin before you decide to stop taking your medication. Remember that statin medications can reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke, and the risk of life-threatening side effects from statins is very low. If you have read about the potential side effects of statins, you may be more likely to blame your symptoms on the medication, whether or not they're truly caused by the drug.

Statins may also interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice. Therefore, it is important to avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking statins unless a doctor says it is safe.

People who have a higher risk of heart disease can work with a doctor or nutritionist to modify their diet. In many cases, a medical professional is likely to advise the person to eat a diet that is low in cholesterol and saturated fat, free of trans fats, and rich in fruits and vegetables.

In addition, a person may need to increase their weekly exercise and work toward a healthy weight. In this way, they can further lower their risk of heart disease. Smoking is a significant risk factor for heart disease. A doctor may advise a person to get help with quitting if they do smoke. Whether or not they are taking statins, people can help keep their cholesterol in check by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and eating a healthful diet that contains plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Doctors have been prescribing statins for more than 30 years, and these medications are generally safe and effective with a low risk of serious side effects. Short-acting statins are most effective when a person takes them at night, but a person can take long-acting statins at any time of the day.

The most important point to remember is to take them every day, ideally at the same time. As with any medication, a person should take it according to their prescription. They should also tell a doctor if they notice any side effects. Fasting before taking a cholesterol test used to be standard practice. Now, some doctors recommend that people do not fast before taking the test…. Statins are drugs that can reduce levels of cholesterol in the blood.

Learn about the types, their uses, and the risks of taking statins here. In this article, learn about the different kinds of cholesterol, what different factors affect cholesterol levels, and when to contact a doctor. In this article, we look at a variety of lifestyle changes and natural supplements that help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart….

Most types of cheese are high in cholesterol and saturated fat. Studies provide conflicting information about the relationship between cheese and….

What is the best time to take statins and why? Medically reviewed by Dena Westphalen, Pharm. What statins do Best times to take Which statin is right for me? Side effects Staying healthy Summary Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs. What do statins do? Share on Pinterest Statins can help manage cholesterol levels. Best time to take different statins. Which statin is right for me?

Share on Pinterest A person can discuss the different types of statins with a doctor. Read more about treating high cholesterol and preventing CVD. Page last reviewed: 19 November Next review due: 19 November Why have I been offered statins?

The main types of CVD are: coronary heart disease — when the blood supply to the heart becomes restricted angina — chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscles heart attacks — when the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked stroke — when the supply of blood to the brain becomes blocked A doctor may recommend taking statins if either: you have been diagnosed with a form of CVD your personal and family medical history suggests you're likely to develop CVD at some point over the next 10 years and lifestyle measures have not reduced this risk Find out more about when statins may be recommended.

Taking statins Statins come as tablets that are taken once a day. Some types of statin should be taken in the evening. Cautions and interactions Statins can sometimes interact with other medicines, increasing the risk of unpleasant side effects, such as muscle damage.

Some types of statin can also interact with grapefruit juice. If in doubt, contact a GP or pharmacist for advice. Side effects of statins Many people who take statins experience no or very few side effects.

Alternatives to statins If you're at risk of developing CVD in the near future, your doctor will usually recommend lifestyle changes to reduce this risk before they suggest that you take statins.