Risk factors include:. Grapefruit juice contains a chemical that can interfere with the enzymes that break down metabolize the statins in your digestive system. While you won't need to eliminate grapefruit entirely from your diet, ask your doctor about how much grapefruit you can have. There are many drugs that may interact with statins, so be sure your doctor is aware of all the medicines you take when being prescribed with statins.
To relieve side effects believed to be caused by statins, your doctor may recommend several options. Discuss these steps with your doctor before trying them:. 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.
Remember that statin medications can reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke, and the risk of life-threatening side effects from statins is very low. If you have read about the potential side effects of statins, you may be more likely to blame your symptoms on the medication, whether or not they're truly caused by the drug.
Even if your side effects are frustrating, don't stop taking your statin medication for any period of time without talking to your doctor first. Your doctor may be able to come up with an alternative treatment plan that can help you lower your cholesterol without uncomfortable side effects.
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Mayo Clinic does not endorse any of the third party products and services advertised. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks. Products and services. Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks Statins are effective at lowering cholesterol and protecting against a heart attack and stroke, although they may lead to side effects for some people.
By Mayo Clinic Staff. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Controlling cholesterol with statins. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed Jan. Rosenson RS. Statins: Actions, side effects and administration. Rosenson RS, et al. Statin muscle-related adverse events.
Ferri FF. Statin-induced muscle syndromes. LDL deposits restrict blood flow through the arteries and cause inflammation , which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Second, they help the liver reabsorb and break down cholesterol that is already in the walls of the arteries. Statins also have anti-inflammatory effects. As with all drugs, however, a small minority of people experience mild to severe side effects when taking statins.
The adverse effects that they most commonly experience are muscle problems and a slightly increased risk of type 2 diabetes , which we cover in more detail below. Some people who take statins report having muscle pains, tenderness, or weakness. Statins may, in rare cases, damage the muscles. If a person taking statins is having muscle aches, pains, or weakness, and they cannot link these symptoms to an obvious cause, such as exercise or physical labor, they should speak to a doctor.
A doctor can test the creatine kinase CK levels in their blood. The body releases CK when the muscles are damaged or inflamed. If a person has a high CK level, a doctor may advise stopping statin treatment. Hyperglycemia, or increased blood sugar, is a potential side effect of statins. A person may hesitate about taking statins if they have concerns about their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A review from reported a slightly increased risk of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes among people taking this type of medication.
The risk is highest among people with prediabetes. Taking statins increases type 2 diabetes risk by 0. In a person with normal baseline blood glucose levels, statins are highly unlikely to cause diabetes. The benefits of taking statins to prevent a cardiac event usually outweigh the risk of developing diabetes. Some lifestyle changes can help people manage their cholesterol levels.
Examples include exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a balanced diet. However, people who adopt these lifestyle changes should not assume that they can stop taking statins.
To determine whether this is the case, a doctor can use blood tests to check that cholesterol levels are within a healthy range.
Women who are pregnant or planning for pregnancy should talk to their doctors about coming off statins. In , the American Heart Association AHA published a review that included an investigation of the safety of statins during pregnancy. None of the featured studies had identified a link between statin use and fetal developmental abnormalities.
However, the studies had examined very few cases of statin use during pregnancy, so the authors of the review were unable to rule out the risk. Some people have concerns about statins increasing their risk of cancer or dementia or other neurocognitive problems.
While some people may develop dementia or cancer while taking statins, it is often because their risk of these conditions has increased with age. Most of them - 19, individuals - kept taking statins anyway, with nearly half continuing to take the same drug. Roughly four years after the side effects were reported, 3, patients had died or suffered a heart attack or stroke.
Among those who continued to take their statins, Overall, the researchers found that people who stopped taking statins after a possible side effect were 13 percent more likely to die or have heart attack or stroke during the study period than people who kept taking their medicine.
The new findings expand on previous studies showing people benefit when they continue to take their statins, said Dr. Alternatively, he said, doctors may try giving a smaller dose of the drug.
In an editorial accompanying the new study, Dr.
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