What are statins?
Statins are a group of medications used to treat high cholesterol. They work by decreasing the levels of cholesterol in your blood, especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol.
People with high LDL cholesterol are at an increased risk of developingcardiovascular disease。这个条件,胆固醇积聚在哟ur arteries and can lead to angina,heart attack, orstroke。So, statins can be important in reducing these risks.
The
- have anLDL cholesterollevel of 190 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher
- already have cardiovascular disease
- are 40 to 75 years old and have diabetes
- are 40 to 75 years old, have an LDL level between 70 and 189 mg/dL, and have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years
Keep reading: Guidelines on statins for high cholesterol.
Your body actually needs some cholesterol to function well. Your body gets cholesterol by eating certain foods and by making it in your liver. However, dangers arise when your cholesterol levels gettoo high。Statins work to decrease cholesterol levels in your body.
Statins do this by blocking your body’s production of an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase. This is the enzyme your liver needs to make cholesterol. Blocking this enzyme causes your liver to make less cholesterol, which makes it easier for your body to remove cholesterol that’s already in your blood. This lowers your cholesterol levels.
There are several real benefits to taking statins, and for many people, these benefits outweigh the drugs’ risks.
Statins for cholesterol
Who can benefit from taking a statin?
TheCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)reports that people with the following conditions are likely to benefit most from statins:
- high risk of heart attack or stroke, for example due to high blood pressure
- previous heart attack or stroke
- high LDL cholesterol
- diabetes
Statins can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. The higher your risk, the more likely you are to benefit from statins. They can lower LDL cholesterol levels by as much as
Other benefits of statins
Organ transplant recipients may be prescribed statins because statins reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems after transplant. These drugs may also help lower the chance of rejection after an organ transplant, according to a2013 study。However, more research is needed in this area.
Statins have anti-inflammatory properties that affect blood vessels, the heart, and the brain. This effect could also contribute to lowering the risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke.
Statins are available under a variety of generic and brand names, including:
- fluvastatin (Lescol)
- lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev)
Some combination medications also contain statins. Among them are:
- amlodipine/atorvastatin (Caduet)
- ezetimibe/simvastatin (Vytorin)
People who take statins should avoid grapefruit. Grapefruit can interact with certain statins, increasing the concentration of statins in your blood. This can make side effects worse.
This is especially true with lovastatin and simvastatin. Be sure to read the warnings that come with your medications. If you have questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.Read more about grapefruit and statins.
Most people can take statins without too many side effects, but side effects can occur. It‘s hard to say if one type of statin will cause more side effects for you than another. If you have lasting side effects, your doctor may be able to adjust your dosage or recommend a different statin.
According to the
- muscle pain
- constipation
- diarrhea
- nausea
- headache
Other side effects reported by people taking statins include:
- weakness
- stomach pain or gas
- dizziness
- fatigue
Some people reportsleep problemswhile taking statins, butresearchhasn‘t shown a clear connection.
These side effects are generally mild. However, statins can also cause more serious side effects. These include:
Muscle damage
Statins can cause muscle pains, especially in high doses. In rare cases, they can even cause muscle cells to break down. When that happens, your muscle cells release a protein called myoglobin into your bloodstream. This condition is calledrhabdomyolysis。It can cause serious damage to your kidneys.
The risk of rhabdomyolysis is greater if you take certain other medications with statins, especially lovastatin or simvastatin. These other medications include:
- itraconazole, ketoconazole,and other氮杂茂antifungal medications
- atazanavir, ritonavir,and otherprotease inhibitormedications used to treatHIV
- cyclosporine (Restasis, Sandimmune),used after organ transplant and to treat some autoimmune conditions
- erythromycin,an antibiotic
- gemfibrozil (Lopid)and other fibrate drugs, used to improve cholesterol levels
- diltiazem and verapamil,used to lower blood pressure
- amiodarone,used to regulate heartbeat
- colchicine,used to treatgout
- nefazodone (Serzone), an antidepressant
- niacin (Niacor, Niaspan), used to improve cholesterol levels
Your doctor may adjust dosages or change medications in order to manage these potential side effects.
Liver damage
Liver damage is another potential side effect of statin therapy. Although it’s rare, effects on your liver can be serious.
Before you start taking a statin, your doctor will likely orderliver function teststo check your liver enzymes. They may repeat the tests if you show symptoms of liver problems while taking the drug. These symptoms can include:
- jaundice(yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
- dark urine
- pain in the upper right part of your abdomen
Increased risk of diabetes
In rare cases, statins may change how the body processesglucose(blood sugar). For this reason, statins can cause a small increase in your risk of developingtype 2 diabetes。If you’re concerned about this risk, talk with your doctor.
Confusion or memory problems
According to the
If you have these side effects, talk with your doctor. They may switch you to a different medication. These effects typically clear up within a few weeks after you stop taking the statin.
Not everyone who takes statins will experience side effects. But some people may be at higher risk of side effects than others, according to
肌肉是最常见的症状statin side effect. Risk factors for statin-related muscle pain may include:
- hypothyroidism
- high levels ofcreatine phosphokinase (CPK), an enzyme in your body that supports muscle function
- over age 80
- being of East Asian descent
- being assigned female at birth
- small body size
- alcohol use disorder
- conditions that affect the liver and kidneys
If you have one or morediabetes risk factors, you may be at increased risk of developing diabetes while taking statins.
Demographic factors and statin side effects
Because most research on statins has involved middle-aged, white participants, there is less information available about side effects in people of color and older adult groups.
Some
But a large2016 studywith racially and ethnically diverse participants found that Asian people and Hispanic people experienced the same cholesterol-lowering benefits as white participants, as well as no increase in side effects.
The same study also grouped participants into categories of male and female, finding that the statin lowered LDL cholesterol equally well for both categories.
If you’re over age 75, some research suggests you may be at
One study found that 75-year-olds who stopped taking statins had a
It’s best to discuss potential benefits and side effects with your doctor to find out whether statins are right for you.
Taking a statin while following a balanced diet and getting regular exercise is a good way for many people to lower their cholesterol levels. If you have high cholesterol, ask your doctor if a statin would be a good choice for you.
你可能会问医生的问题包括:
- Am I taking any medications that might interact with a statin?
- What other benefits do you think a statin might provide for me?
- Do you have diet and exercise suggestions that might help me lower my cholesterol?
