Cholesterol is a fatty substance in your blood that can build up and cause serious health conditions, such as a heart attack or a stroke. If you are over the age of 20, you should have your cholesterol checked with a simple blood test. If your cholesterol level is high, your doctor might recommend lifestyle changes or medication. As with any drug, cholesterol medications carry risks, which you should discuss with your doctor.
Muscle Pain
Statins, a popular cholesterol-lowering medication, may cause mild to severe pain in your muscles. Taken in high doses or in combination with certain medications, they can also put you at risk for developing rhabdomyolysis, a rare but severe type of muscle damage. Rhabdomyolysis can cause severe muscle pain, liver damage, kidney failure and death. If you have severe muscle pain while taking cholesterol drugs, let your doctor know.
Liver Damage
Many cholesterol-lowering medications work by lowering the liver's production of cholesterol. In some cases, this may cause your liver to produce more enzymes, which can cause damage if left unchecked. When you are taking cholesterol drugs, your doctor will test your liver enzyme levels periodically to make sure that they are not getting too high. Symptoms of liver damage include yellow eyes or skin, upper right quadrant abdominal pain and dark-colored urine. If you experience any of these contact your doctor right away.
Other Potential Risks
If you already have risk factors for diabetes, taking cholesterol drugs may raise your risk of developing the disease. Fibrates, another type of cholesterol-lowering medication, may make it more likely that you will develop gallstones, a painful condition affecting your gallbladder. As with any drug, cholesterol drugs can cause potentially severe allergic reactions, including facial swelling, trouble breathing, hives or anaphylactic shock. If you experience these symptoms, seek emergency help.
Lifestyle Changes
In some cases, you may be able to keep your cholesterol under control without the risks of cholesterol drugs by making lifestyle changes. Avoiding foods that are high in cholesterol and exercising regularly, for example, may help. If your doctor has prescribed medication for your high cholesterol, he has weighed the risks of the drugs against the risks of having high cholesterol. For this reason, it is important that you do not stop taking cholesterol-reducing medication unless under the advice of your physician.
References
- MedlinePlus; More Evidence Ties Cholesterol Drug, Diabetes; Amy Norton; March 28, 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Statin Side Effects: Weigh the Benefits and Risks; October 28, 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Gallstones and Gallbladder Disease; June 26, 2009
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration; High Cholesterol - Medicines to Help You; August 2009
