Studies have shown that hydrophilic statins may be less toxic than lipophilic statins because of less predilection for the myocyte lipid membrane. This statement is a worthwhile addition to the literature on adverse effects of statins. Cessation of statin treatment is associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes. Aug 30, 2018 statins also called hmgcoa reductase inhibitors block an enzyme called hmgcoa reductase that is involved in the synthesis of mevalonate, a precursor to sterols such as cholesterol. Drug and food interactions, effectiveness, and the safety of statins are provided. Medication side effects and fibrates, statins, itching. At an increased risk of side effects from a high dose statinthis includes. Muscle problems, including muscle breakdown, can be serious in some people and rarely cause kidney damage that can lead to death. Common side effects are muscle pain, leg pain, vomiting, and stomach cramps. All statin drugs avilable at the time were shown to have associated cases of e. Uses, side effects, interactions, dosage, and warning. Generally, muscle symptoms are mild, and temporary. Your doctor might also decrease the dose of your statin, try a different statin or switch you to a different type of cholesterol lowering medication entirely. The most common risk factors for statinrelated myopathy include hypothyroidism, polypharmacy and alcohol abuse.
Rhabdomyolysis, or the breakdown of muscle tissue, is a rare side effect of statins that can also cause muscle pain. Dosing, side effects, drug interactions of lipidlowering drugs effects of lipid lowering drugs on serum lipids properties of statins drug ratings in pregnancy us food and drug administration cytochrome p450 3a inhibitors and inducers related topics. Adverse side effects of statins while statins may seem like a dream class of drug, it is important to consider their negative side effects. However, there is no evidence that they decrease heart attacks and strokes the way statins do. Some side effects of lovastatin may occur that usually do not need medical attention.
Although side effects believed to be caused by statins can be annoying, consider the benefits of taking a statin before you decide to stop taking your medication. Frequently asked questions faqs about lipitor and cholesterol. Hmgcoa reductase inhibitors statins are a widely used class of drug, and like all medications, have potential for adverse effects aes. Its possible that your blood sugar blood glucose level may slightly increase when you take a statin, which can lead to type 2 diabetes. Because either drug can cause muscle problems on its own, the combined use of the drugs exponentially increases the risks of such adverse effects. The concern over statin safety was first raised with the revelation of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis.
Statins are a class of drugs prescribed to lower ldl bad cholesterol. Learn more about selenium uses, effectiveness, possible side effects, interactions, dosage, user ratings and products that contain selenium. In addition, other more serious adverse effects of statins may also occur. Evidence supports the proposition that antioxidant effects of statins underlie or contribute to many fundamental statin benefits including benefits to flow and oxygen delivery 4648 and inflammation. In the setting of statin rhabdomyolysis, other organs may also be severely affected. Statin dose intensity and equivalency chart statin intensity %ldlc reduction hmgcoa reductase inhibitor rosuvastatin atorvastatin pitavastatin simvastatin lovastatin pravastatin fluvastatin highintensity lowers ldlc. Actions, side effects, and administration uptodate. Cognitive and memory side effects of lipitor atorvastatin. One harvard study, for example, found that the combination of a statin and a fibrate increases the risk of muscle damage more than sixfold. Jan 14, 2020 statins have been found to reduce the amount of naturally occurring coenzyme q10 in the body. Side effects of cholesterollowering statin drugs webmd. Statin associated side effects article pdf available in journal of the american college of cardiology 6720. Not everybody who takes a statin has side effects, but they tend to be more common in women, seniors, and people with liver or kidney disease. Knowing the side effects of statins will help you make better choices about your health.
Nov 23, 2015 overall, the rates of severe musculoskeletal side effects from the current statin drugs are low. I was surprised to see a study im a coauthor on getting some front page media play on thursday, under the headline statins have no side effects. Statins have cholesterol and noncholesterol pleiotropic effects. Oct 10, 2019 the large benefit of taking statins to prevent heart attacks and strokes likely outweighs the small risk associated with an elevated blood sugar level.
Atorvastatin comes as a generic drug and as the brandname drug lipitor. Pcks9 inhibitors lower cholesterol and dont have the same types of side effects as statins. Common side effects of statins are headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea. The most common side effects reported with statins include. The fact that this vital information was not revealed until more than a decade after statins were. We learned to expect liver inflammation and occasional muscle aches and pains. To reveal new insights into statin cognitive effects, we performed an observational study on a populationbased sample of 245,731 control and 55,114 statin taking individuals from the uk biobank. Statin side effects are more dangerous and pervasive than. Arguably the most common of the statin side effects is the occurrence of statin drugs muscle weakness. Oct 28, 2016 however, like all medicine, statin drugs have side effects. What happens to patients who stop taking them after. Some of the more common side effects of statins include. By inhibiting this enzyme, cholesterol and ldlcholesterol production is decreased.
The statins differ in their ability to cause side effects. As mevalonate pathway inhibitors, they block cholesterol synthesis, with collateral damage to both coenzyme q10 coq10 or ubiquinone and dolichols, the cause of most side effects. The label on most statins will mention possible side effects like memory loss, confusion, or dizziness, but the actual evidence for this is muddled at best when compared to the other side effects listed above. Side effects of statin drugs can be mistaken for tendonitis symptoms, and lead to real tendonitis. In an internet survey of former statin users, 60% reported sams and 62% reported stopping statin therapy because of side effects. Its hard to know what to think about all the anecdotal reports of devastating side effects. Metaanalyses of cognitive side effects, including 16 and 25 studies have found almost no evidence of adverse cognitive side effects with statin therapy.
A basic science for clinical medicine most would say that the strength of the relationship is. Dosing, side effects, drug interactions of lipidlowering drugs effects of lipid lowering drugs on serum lipids properties of statins drug ratings in pregnancy us food and drug administration. Jul 17, 2017 statins are a type of medications used to reduce levels of cholesterol in the blood. Aug 15, 2014 pdf many patients either do not adhere to, or fail to persist with, longterm lipidlowering therapy. More serious musclerelated side effects like muscle inflammation and muscle breakdown occur very rarely. For this reason, there is increased interest to identify alternatives to the use of. Pdf hmgcoa reductase inhibitors statins are a widely used class of drug, and like all medications, have potential for adverse effects aes. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Myalgia is one of the most prevalent adverse effects, seen in approximately 10% of patients. As inhibitors of nuclear factor kappa b nfkb, statins have. Since the known side effects of statins can be felt much more acutely than the effects of cholesterol and in some cases can be crippling, it is natural to wonder if it is worth taking these drugs and suffering under potential complications. Besides the fact that statins completely ignore the root of the issue what caused the high cholesterol in the first place, there are also a slew of statin drug side effects. These side effects, however, resolve with stopping statin therapy. With the dosages used at that time and with a relatively. For details of the side effects of a particular statin, check the information leaflet that comes with your medicine. Statins may affect liver function, manifesting as changes in liver function tests or jaundice yellowing of the skin requiring dosage reduction or discontinuation. Applying the criteria suggested by sackett and colleagues in their book, clinical epidemiology. Nevertheless, it has been reported that the prolonged use of statins is strongly associated with side effects 11.
To avoid this, consulting a physician before taking any form of drugs or medication is advisable. Jan 25, 2016 potential side effects caused by statins. Side effects of statins, tendonitis and statins side effects. Over the years many studies have reported on a very wide range of negative side effects caused by taking statins. Rarely, statins can cause moreserious side effects such as. There could conceivably be small subsets of the population that are uniquely susceptible. The risk of very serious side effects is extremely low, and calculated in a few cases per million people taking statins. Learn about side effects, warnings, dosage, and more. Additionally, statins block nfkb,15 giving a modest antiinflammatory benefit to highrisk heart patients but decreasing immune status, raising the specter of increasing cancer risk. Four categories of statin side effects when to call the doctor how to cope with statin side effects. Adverse effects statins are responsible for a wide range of adverse effects, ranging from mild gastrointestinal disturbances to lifethreatening conditions such as rhabdomyolysis. This discussion should include how to recognise any side effects, how to manage any side effects and when to seek further medical help.
These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. The document also includes useful information on drug interactions, pharmacokinetics of various statins, and additional considerations in elders, children, and patients with kidney or liver disease. Find out the most common types, the most important uses, and the risks of statins here. Muscle aches, tenderness, or weakness myalgia drowsiness. If you think you are experiencing side effects or are concerned about your statin, speak with your. High cholesterol and lipid treatment options beyond the basics. Pcsk9 inhibitors come with a very high price tag about.
The following are but a small sample of the hundreds of reports i have received from distraught people having experienced the cognitive side effects of lipitor atorvastatin. An increased risk of developing cataract is one of the side effects of statins. Side effects from statins can frequently be managed by adjustments in the dose or by choosing a different statin drug. Before stopping or changing your medication, please discuss your concerns with your clinician, who can help determine the likelihood that symptoms are related to the statin. Rhabdomyolysis can cause severe muscle pain, liver damage, kidney failure and death. Very rarely, statins can cause lifethreatening muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis rabdoemyolihsis. Lipitor can cause serious side effects, which only a small number of people have experienced. Some side effects of atorvastatin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. Lowering of total and ldl cholesterol and triglycerides.
For information on non statins, see our chart, nonstatin lipidlowering agents. Be sure to read the warnings that come with your medications. Remember that statin medications can reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke, and the risk of lifethreatening side effects from statins is very low. The dark side of statins by duane graveline md, mph my studies, for more than the past decade, have slowly revealed the various mechanisms of action of statin drugs in the production of side effects. In an internet survey of former statin users, 60% reported sams 2 and 62% reported stopping statin therapy because of side effects 2. Side effects can vary between different statins, but common side effects include. Read about statins, cholesterol lowering medications like levacor, zocor, pravachol, lipitor, crestor, and more. So slow in fact, we usually assume the problem is from something else. People who drink large amounts of alcohol or who take other medicines that may interact are also at a higher risk. How can side effects be managed when taking a statin. Thompson, md, agregory panza, ms,b amanda zaleski, ms, a,bbeth taylor, phd abstract hydroxymethylglutarylcoenzyme a hmgcoa reductase inhibitors or statins. Many side effects go away as your body adapts to the medication. Elevations in liver enzymes, specifically ast and alt, to greater than three times the upper normal limit, are a doserelated effect of statins occurring in less than 1% of patients receiving initial treatment, and in % of those on higher doses eg.
This disease can cause lifethreatening muscle damage. According to the mayo clinic, the most common side effect of statins is muscle and joint aches and pains. Many people have high blood cholesterol that may lead to coronary heart disease chd. Nonetheless, concern has been expressed regarding the adverse effects of long term statin use. The long term use of statins, however, have been shown to be associated with undesirable side effects 6.
So, what is the problem with these cholesterol lowering drugs. Slows the progression of coronary atherosclerosis with. Jul 24, 2017 some patients decide to stop taking statins, a cholesterollowering drug, if they experience side effects. Lets look at the top 5 ways that statins can wreak havoc on your health. Statins also increase the number of ldl receptors on liver cells, which enhances. Statinassociated muscle symptoms sams, the most common statin side effect, are reported by 10% 1 to 25% 2 of patients receiving statin. Statinassociated muscle symptoms sams, the most common statin side effect, are reported by 10% to 25% of patients receiving statin therapy. Side effects of statins drugs that cause tendonitis symptoms. And some of those side effects can have some deadly consequences. I was still in practice, over twenty years ago, when lovastatin, the first statin drug, became available for use by primary care physicians. This is especially true with lovastatin and simvastatin. When considering the riskbenefit profile of statin therapy, it is best to discuss side effects in terms of events per person year of treatment, as described by the nla. The most frequent side effect of statins is myopathy and in some cases may have a form of severe rhabdomyolysis.
Side effects of crestor what are the possible side effects of crestor. Statins are cholesterollowering drugs, but like every drug, there are some side effects too. Rhabdomyolysis is the most serious adverse effect from statin use, though it occurs quite rarely less than 0. Statins are effective at lowering cholesterol and protecting against a heart attack and stroke, although they may lead to side effects for some people. Clinical manifestations of adverse effects of statins, oxidative stress. Because coenzyme q10 doesnt cause side effects for most people, your doctor might suggest a trial of it to see if it helps. In rare cases, longterm side effects of statins include neurological problems like memory loss and confusion. Statins also are prescribed for preventing and treating atherosclerosis. High cholesterol and heart disease consumer reports best buy drugs 3 older than 75 with a history of heart disease or heart problems.
Gradually, the two faces of statins were recognized. Statins are an established class of drugs with proven efficacy in cardiovascular risk reduction. Mild muscle pain is a common side effect of statins. Statins are a type of medications used to reduce levels of cholesterol in the blood. Skeletal muscle toxicity such as rhabdomyolysis may occur when certain drugs are given with statins which causes an increase in the concentration of statins. Topics az slideshows images quizzes supplements medications. Consequently, the 2014 assessment by the statin cognitive safety taskforce of the nla concluded that statins are not associated with adverse effects on memory and cognition 1. This is merely annoying to some, but to others these statin side effects not only devastate the ability to perform daytoday activities, but can lead to such severe muscle deterioration that it leads to a dangerous medical emergency called rhabdomyolysis and statins, a condition which can be. I suspect that some people are quick to blame statins for any new symptom they have, and that statins arent always responsible.
Common side effects of all statins side effects reported by some people include muscle pain and digestive problems. Hmgcoa reductase inhibitors statins are a widely used class of drug, and like all medications have potential for adverse effects aes. Review side effects, drug interactions, dosing, storage, and pregnancy safety information prior to. Cataract is an eye condition in which the lens is clouded. Statin, adverse effects, glucose homeostasis, metabolic syndrome. Statins also carry warnings that memory loss, mental confusion, neuropathy, high blood sugar, and type 2 diabetes are possible side effects. Muscle pain is the most common side effect caused by statin use. Thus, the discovery of novel drugs that regulate the cholesterol synthesis. One of the most common complaints of people taking statins is muscle pain.
Some patients decide to stop taking statins, a cholesterol lowering drug, if they experience side effects. The cognitive effects of statins are modified by age. Renal failure is well recognized and is a consequence of the rhabdomyolysis, but concurrent heart, 96, 109, 110 pancreas, 96, 105 liver, 96, 106108, 172 bone marrow, 96, 173, 174 respiratory, 96, 98 and cns toxicity 96. The side effects of statins generally start out as subtle and then slowly creep up on a person, getting worse and worse. Because coenzyme q10 plays a role in muscle cell energy production, some researchers have proposed that taking a coenzyme q10 supplement might reduce the risk of musclerelated side effects. Some of these will not necessarily apply to the specific statin youre taking.
1003 281 761 104 1271 209 1268 1438 164 897 1155 606 574 1010 1602 908 23 848 518 487 1527 739 1249 695 1503 533 1242 184 899 602 584 752 711 1137 285 1400 1141 1485 338 1090 1108 351 611 19 603