Side Effects of Statin Drugs

Statins are a class of drugs often prescribed by doctors to help lower cholesterol levels in the blood. In doing so, they help prevent heart attacks and stroke. Studies show that, in certain people, statins reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and even death by about 25% to 35%. Studies have also shown that statins can reduce the chances of recurrent strokes or heart attacks by about 40%.

Who should take statins?

Estimates are that in addition to the people already taking them, another 15 to 20 million people should be taking statins based on their cardiovascular risk factors. Your doctor can do a simple blood test to determine the amount of cholesterol in your blood. If you have high levels of LDL ("bad”) cholesterol, you have a greater chance of heart disease.

However, it’s good to have high levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol. HDL cholesterol prevents plaque buildup in the arteries by transporting the bad (LDL) cholesterol out of the blood to the liver. There, it is eliminated from the body.

How do statins work?

Statins work by blocking the action of the liver enzyme that is responsible for producing cholesterol. Too much cholesterol in the blood can cause a buildup of plaque on the walls of the arteries. That buildup can eventually cause the arteries to narrow or harden. Sudden blood clots in these narrowed arteries can cause a heart attack or stroke.

Statins lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and total cholesterol levels. At the same time, they lower triglycerides and raise HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels. Statins may also tend to stabilize plaques in the arteries. That makes sudden blood clots less likely.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle while taking statins can improve the effectiveness of this drug. Be sure to:

• eat a balanced, heart-healthy diet
• get regular physical activity
• limit alcohol intake
• avoid smoking

Are there statin side effects?

Most people who take statins tolerate them very well. But some people experience statin side effects.

The most common statin side effects include:

• headache
• difficulty sleeping
• flushing of the skin
• muscle aches, tenderness, or weakness
• drowsiness/ weakness
• dizziness
• nausea and/or vomiting
• abdominal cramping and/or pain
• bloating and/or gas
• diarrhea
• constipation
• rash

Which statin side effects are serious?

Myositis, which is inflammation of the muscles, can occur with statins. The risk of muscle injury increases when certain other medications are coupled with statin use. For example, if you take a combination of a statin and a fibrate -- another cholesterol-reducing drug -- the risk of muscle damage increases greatly compared to someone who takes a statin alone.

Other dangers of statins include other muscle conditions, which can be serious in rare cases. First, there can be statin muscle pain. Known as myalgia, this pain can generally be resolved quickly by discontinuing the medication. Myalgias may be uncomfortable, but, medically speaking, they’re harmless.