Statins Side Effects
Statins are perhaps the most commonly used medication for lowering cholesterol today. They are quick and effective and many people have had great success with them. However, some people are concerned about statins side effects, and honestly they should be. Although not all are severe, they do exist and should be considered before statins are taken.
Muscle Pain
The first side effect many people will report is muscle pain, either in the form of tiredness, soreness or weakness in the muscles. Although it can be mild, in some patients it can become quite severe, curtailing their daily activities and affecting their quality of life.
Although happening in only 1 in every 15 million people, statins can cause rhabdomyolysis which can cause extreme muscle damage, liver damage, kidney failure and in some instances, death.
Liver Damage
Another of statins side effects is liver damage. In some cases, statins will increase production of enzymes in the liver, which if severe enough, could lead to permanent liver damage. Doctors know to watch for this, and once statin use is stopped or the medication is changed, enzyme production will be reversed, although if the liver itself is damaged, that cannot be reversed.
Digestion Issues
In some people statins side effects manifest themselves with diarrhea, nausea or constipation. This is not common and often occurs with people who already have digestive problems. The effects can be reduced by taking statins with meals.
Memory Loss
Some people can experience memory loss, difficulty concentrating, or even reporting that they think they are in the first stages of Alzheimer’s. The occurrence of these cases is quite low; however it does happen with some patients. With most people their cognitive issues will go away once the drug is no longer taken or changed and the time it takes for them to return to normal will often be connected to how long it took for their symptoms to appear after starting with statins.
Other
Other possible statins side effects include dizziness, cancer, depression, congestive heart failure, neuropathy, pancreatitis, and a range of other possible effects. Although some occurred only in clinical trials and the occurrence if others are quite low, they do exist and should be mentioned so the patient can be an informed user of this possibly life-changing drug.
Perhaps the best course of action for someone who is concerned about the side effects of statins is to work directly with their doctor. Let their doctor know their concerns and that they would one day like to be taken off statins. The only way to realistically do this is to change one’s lifestyle. For many people, a lifestyle of stress, smoking, lack of exercise and unhealthy eating has brought them to the point where statins are needed to save them from heart attack or stroke. The good news is that by changing their lifestyle; eating right, exercising, stopping smoking and reducing stress, they can lower their cholesterol and one day be statin free.
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