According to the Mayo Clinic, statins are drugs that may help lower cholesterol. They work by blocking a substance in the liver used to make cholesterol. Statins may also assist in the body reabsorbing cholesterol in the walls of the arteries. Common statins include atorvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin and rosuvastatin. Numerous pharmaceutical companies produce statins under different brand names.
Significance
According to ConsumerReports.org, some statins reduce the risk of initial and subsequent heart attacks, and the overall risk of heart attack death and other forms of heart disease. Statins are taken by about 20 million people in the United States, according to ConsumerReports.org. Pregnant women, those attempting to become pregnant and breasfeeding women should not take statins.
Side Effects
Statin can cause life-threatening muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis, which can lead to liver damage, kidney failure or death. Rhabdomyolysis is very rare, occurring about once in every 15 million prescriptions, according to the Mayo Clinic. A more common side effect is muscle pain. Risk factors of developing any of these side effects include taking more than one medication to lower your blood cholesterol, being female, having a smaller body frame, being 65 years of age or older, or having kidney disease, liver disease or diabetes.
Management of Side Effects
A number of suggested options are available to help relieve potential side effects from statins. The Mayo Clinic has suggested taking a break from statin therapy, switching to a different drug, changing dosage, reducing exercise intensity to decrease change of muscle soreness, or reviewing the benefits and effects of other cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Warning
According to ConsumerReports.org, potential toxicity is also increased with individuals taking medications for HIV, AIDS or prevention of organ transplant rejection. Statins can also affect the overall effect of blood thinners and interact with other medications.
Drug Interaction
Statins can interact with foods and medications, which may increase the potential of side effects, according to the Mayo Clinic. Grapefruit juice can increase the potency of statins and therefore may have an unknown effect on cholesterol levels. Caution should be taken to limit the intake of this juice. Statins such as simvastatin, by itself or with medications for irregular heart rhythms, can increase the risk of side effects. Statins and antibiotic and antifungal medications should be taken with care. A statin along with an antidepressant could increase side effects.
Benefits
According to the American Heart Association, statins are most effective at lowering LDL, or the "bad" cholesterol. They have a more modest effect on lowering triglycerides and raising HDL, the "good" cholesterol. Many of the side effects are minimal with most statins, so as a class of drugs, they are relatively safe for most people.
