Which statins have the least side effects

A little statin is better than none, so try taking the lowest dose of a hydrophilic statin once a week. For example, start with rosuvastatin 2. If you can tolerate it, add 2. Another option is to stay on the twice-weekly schedule and raise the dose to 5 mg. Cho says. These powerful drugs can lower LDL to rock-bottom levels without triggering muscle pain.

The only disadvantage is price. PCSK9 inhibitors are expensive, and some patients have difficulty getting their prescription approved. Statins are effective for preventing heart attacks and strokes, but some people stop taking them because of side effects. Learn more about vaccine availability. Rhabdomyolysis is most often seen when people have other risk factors for the disorder, which could include reduced thyroid function, liver disease, and slower kidney function.

Statins can also cause fatigue, especially in women. Fatigue seems to be related to exercise, unfortunately. In one study , researchers found that four in 10 women experienced a decrease in energy and increased fatigue from exercise when they took 20 mg of simvastatin daily. Your doctor should always check out any unexplained fatigue when you take a statin.

Some people may experience problems with their memory and concentration. These symptoms are not serious and can be reversed when discontinuing statins or switching to a different statin.

Statins may cause an increase in blood sugar levels for some people. This could increase your risk for diabetes. If you have kidney disease, you should know that you might need a different dose of statins. Some high-intensity statin doses are too high for those with kidney disease.

A report by the National Lipid Association Task Force on Statin Safety states that the benefit you gain from statins depends on the level of risk you have for cardiovascular disease. The task force also says that the risk of adverse events from statins may outweigh the benefits only in people who have very low risk for cardiovascular disease.

Talk with your doctor about reducing cholesterol with diet and exercise. That is always your best option. Having too much LDL cholesterol can put you at greater risk of heart attack or stroke. Read on to…. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and digestive fluids. But high LDL cholesterol levels in…. CVD is a general term that describes a disease of the heart or blood vessels.

It's the most common cause of death in the UK. Find out more about when statins may be recommended. For some types of statin it does not matter what time of day you take it, as long as you stick to the same time. Check with your doctor whether there's a particular time of day you should take your statin. You usually have to continue taking statins for life because if you stop taking them, your cholesterol will return to a high level within a few weeks.

If you forget to take your dose, do not take an extra one to make up for it. Just take your next dose as usual the following day. If you accidentally take too many statin tablets more than your usual daily dose , contact a doctor or pharmacist for advice or call NHS Statins can sometimes interact with other medicines, increasing the risk of unpleasant side effects, such as muscle damage.

It's very important to read the information leaflet that comes with your medicine to check if there are any interactions you should be aware of.