Although cholesterol-lowering medications can be effective for lowering your cholesterol, unpleasant side effects can accompany them, some more serious than others. One of the more serious is liver damage, a side effect most commonly seen with statins. Educating yourself about these drugs before taking them is the best defense you have.
Statins
Statins are the most commonly prescribed medications for lowering your LDL, or bad cholesterol. They have the greatest effect on your liver because of their function. Taken in the evening, these drugs block the liver enzyme necessary for cholesterol production, thus reducing the amount of cholesterol in your blood. They also increase the ability of your liver to remove cholesterol from your body.
Liver Function Test
Approximately six weeks after beginning a statin, and once every year following, your doctor should perform a blood test to check your liver function, explains the Mayo Clinic's website. This medication can cause an increase in liver enzymes in some people, which might indicate liver cell damage. If mild, your doctor may allow you to continue using the drug. If the elevation is too high, your physician will usually discontinue the medication to prevent permanent liver damage from occurring.
Medication Combination
You may require a combination of cholesterol-lowering medications to lower more than one type of cholesterol. Fibrates are most effective for reducing triglycerides, however, when combined with statins, your risk of liver problems increase. Gemfibrozil interferes with the body's ability to break down the statin, increasing its blood level and risk of side effects such as liver problems. Fenofibrate, however, does not have this effect, making it a safe statin-fibrate combination option.
Considerations
Before taking any medication, discuss any possible side effects with your doctor, especially if he is placing you on more than one medication simultaneously. Although he is your health care provider, you have the right to ask as many questions as necessary until you feel comfortable with your treatment plan. It is your body; it is up to you to protect it.
