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All medications from licensed pharmacies
GPhC reg. no. 1120610
All medications from licensed pharmacies
GPhC reg. no. 1120610
Statins is the name of a medication, which is prescribed to lower the levels of cholesterol in the human body. They are available to people in good health but who are deemed as having an elevated risk of developing heart disease. Statins are also prescribed to people who have already had a heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular disease in order to reduce their risk in the future.
Medical trials have also shown that taking statins can reduce the risk of future heart problems for people who are deemed to have no risk.
Statins block the action of an enzyme in the liver that is responsible for making LDL cholesterol, known as ‘bad cholesterol’. It has also shown to increase the levels of HDL cholesterol, known as ‘good cholesterol’, though how this happens is not demonstrated.
As is the case with all medicines, statins can cause side effects but these are usually mild and are easily reversible. Side effects can include muscle pain, but this goes away when the medication is stopped. The most common side effects from statins are headaches, nausea, constipation, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes and weakness. Very rarely taking statins can result in liver failure or a condition called rhabdomyolysis.
Statins should not be taken by women who are pregnant or who are trying to get pregnant as the medication can affect the unborn baby.
Statins should also not be taken by people with liver problems.
Statins can interact with certain medications, such as protease inhibitors, which are used to treat HIV infection, itraconazole, erythromycin, clarithromycin, verapamil, dilitazem, fibric acid and niacin.
People who are taking niacin or fibric acid will sometimes be prescribed statins but they will be prescribed with caution.
