Cholesterol-lowering medications such as statins decrease your cholesterol levels by blocking a substance needed to produce cholesterol. There's little information about the dangers of overusing a cholesterol medication, although eMedTV says that overusing these medications increases your chance of developing known side effects, some of which are dangerous. Notify your medical provider if you feel you've taken too much of a cholesterol-lowering medication.
Liver Damage
When you take statins, liver enzymes increase. The risk of elevated liver enzymes from Lipitor, one statin, appears to increase with higher doses, according to Drugs.com, so taking too much medication could increase the risk of liver damage. Continuing the medication can cause permanent liver damage. Taking more than one type of cholesterol-lowering medication increases the risk of liver damage, MayoClinic.com states. In addition to elevated liver enzymes, signs of liver damage may include fatty liver, cell death in the liver, jaundice, cirrhosis and liver failure.
Muscle Problems
Muscle problems often affect people taking statins. Muscle pain can range from mild discomfort to severe muscle pain. Mild muscle pain occurs in 5 to 7 percent of people taking Lipitor, Drugs.com says. More serious muscle problems include rhabdomyolysis, a potentially life-threatening complication of statins caused by breakdown of muscle fibers. Muscle-fiber breakdown releases harmful substances from the muscle fibers called myoglobins, which can cause kidney damage. Fluid shifts from the blood to the damaged muscle, causing shock and decreased blood flow to the kidneys.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea, which occurs in 5.3 percent of people taking Lipitor, according to Drugs.com may occur more frequently at higher disease of medication, meaning that overuse of cholesterol-lowering medication might increase the risk. Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, appetite loss and gas can also occur.
Rash
Rashes and other skin reactions can occur in people taking statins. People taking niacin, a vitamin that lowers triglyceride and cholesterol levels can cause flushing, which affects up to 78 percent of people, according to Drugs. com. Increasing doses slowly, over several months, can reduce flushing. Hives, a burning sensation or dry skin can also occur in normal use and might be worse in people who take too much of the medication.
