Statins are a group of prescription medications that are used to lower total cholesterol in individuals with high cholesterol levels. MayoClinic.com notes that these potent drugs are typically prescribed for long-term use and act on the liver to decrease the production of cholesterol in the body. However, statin medications can have adverse side effects such as muscle pain, kidney damage and liver cell damage. When liver, or hepatocyte, cells become damaged or die, liver enzymes are released into the blood. Though statin medications are effective at controlling high cholesterol, certain types and dosages of these drugs are less harmful to the liver.
Low-Dose Zocor
Low-dose Zocor, which has the generic name simvastatin, is 1.6 times less likely to cause liver injury and elevated liver enzymes than regular or higher doses simvastatin drugs, advises MedicationSense.com. Zocor is activated once ingested and works to inhibit an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase, which is needed to produce cholesterol in the body, notes RxList. This results in decreased levels of unhealthy LDL cholesterol and increased levels of the healthy cholesterol HDL.
Pravachol
Pravachol is the brand name for the statin medication prevastatin. PubMed Health notes that this statin drug has lower adverse effects on liver enzymes when compared to other statins. Pravachol is prescribed along with diet and exercise lifestyle changes to treat high cholesterol levels. It also works to slow the production of cholesterol in the body by preventing the actions of the required enzymes in the liver. Like other medications, Pravachol may cause side effects such as headache pain and heartburn.
Low-Dose Lipitor
Lipitor is a popularly prescribed statin medication for high cholesterol levels that has the generic name atorvastatin. MedicationSense.com reports that low-dose Lipitor is up to four times less likely to cause elevated liver enzymes due to hepatocyte damage. This was seen in a study published in the "New England Journal of Medicine" in April 2005, involving patients with heart disease who were given Lipitor. Those prescribed the maximum dose of this statin drug developed liver damaged 5.5 times greater than those on low-dose Lipitor. Like other statin drugs, Lipitor works to reduce the production of cholesterol in the body.
