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What is a statin?
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A statin is a type of medicine that was developed to lower cholesterol. Statins act by blocking an enzyme in the liver that produces cholesterol. Statins may also aid in the reabsorption of built-up cholesterol that is deposited as plaques on the walls of the arteries. Reducing this plaque buildup may prevent leakage in blood vessels and heart attacks.
Statins are typically prescribed to people who have been diagnosed with some form of cardiovascular disease, such as heart attack, stroke, coronary artery disease or peripheral artery disease. The medications may also be given to people who are at risk for developing cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years due to their family history or individual medical history— in particular, patients with low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol higher than 190 mg/dL (4.9 mmol/L). However, the cholesterol number is not the only factor that goes into a recommendation of statins; rather, the doctor considers a patient’s overall risk.
Although statins do not cure cardiovascular disease, they can stop it from worsening or recurring and may also help prevent a first cardiovascular disease episode from occurring in patients who are at risk.
Statins are usually taken once daily in tablet form at the same time each day, often at bedtime. Statin treatment usually must continue for the rest of a patient’s life, as stopping these medications may cause cholesterol to go back to the original levels within a few weeks.
Some of the most commonly prescribed statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor, Pfizer), fluvastatin (Lescol, Novartis), lovastatin (Altoprev, Covis Pharma Sarl), pitavastatin (Livalo, Kowa Co.), pravastatin (Pravachol, Bristol-Myers Squibb), rosuvastatin (Crestor, IPR) and simvastatin (Zocor, Merck).
Most people tolerate statins very well. However, side effects may occur, such as headache, muscle/joint aches and nausea. Much less common but serious side effects may include muscle strain, liver damage, increases in blood sugar or type 2 diabetes, and memory loss or confusion.
Additional information can be found at these websites:
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/statins/art-20045772
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cholesterol-lowering-medicines-statins/Pages/Introduction.asp