For many people, lifestyle changes on their own are not enough to bring their high cholesterol down to a healthier level to lower the risk of heart disease. Many people will need to take statins, the main type of cholesterol-lowering drug. Show
What are statins?Statins are a type of medicine that are used to lower the cholesterol in your blood, helping to prevent heart disease and stroke. Statins often work very well. They can reduce your LDL cholesterol by around 30%, sometimes even 50% with high doses. You might be offered a statin if you have too much LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) in your blood - whether it’s caused by your lifestyle or by genetic conditions which are passed down through families. Like all medicines, statins can sometimes cause side effects. They usually don’t cause any, but if you do have side effects, it should be possible to switch to another statin or a lower dose, or try a different medicine. Statins have been around for a long time and they have been changed and improved over the years. Are you a healthcare professional? Visit our HCP section. Find Out More How do statins work?Statins work by slowing down the production of LDL-cholesterol in the liver, where it’s made. Because the liver isn't making so much cholesterol, it then takes cholesterol out of your blood to make bile with, so your blood cholesterol levels fall. Statins slow down LDL-cholesterol production by blocking an enzyme called HMG-CoA-Reductase – the medical name for statins is HMG-CoA Reductase inhibitors. Enzymes are proteins in the body which speed up normal processes. In this case, LDL production. Statins can lower your triglyceridesAs well as lowering your LDL-cholesterol, statins can lower your triglycerides too, and high triglycerides are linked to liver disease, heart disease and diabetes. Statins can raise HDL cholesterolStatins can sometimes raise your HDL-cholesterol – the type of cholesterol which helps to clear the fat from of your arteries. Who can take statins?You might be prescribed a statin if you have heart disease or another disease of the heart and blood vessels, or if you are at risk of developing them in the next 10 years. If you have high cholesterolYou should be offered a statin if you have high cholesterol and lifestyle changes haven’t been enough to bring it under control. Depending on your cholesterol levels and how healthy you are otherwise, you and your doctor or nurse might want you to try to bring your cholesterol levels down with a healthy diet and lifestyle first, before starting statins. If you are at risk of developing heart diseaseYou will probably be prescribed a statin if you are at high risk of developing heart disease or a disease of the blood vessels. For example, if you have:
You doctor will take lots of things into account to get an idea of your risk of developing diseases. If you have been diagnosed with heart diseaseYou will probably be offered a statin if you already have a disease of the blood vessels, for example:
Statins can stop your illness from getting worse. And if you have already had a heart attack or stroke, they can help prevent another one. If you have a genetic conditionYou might be offered a statin if you have high cholesterol caused by a genetic problem such as familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH).
Statins can help to prevent blood clotsStatins help to stabilize the fatty, hardened parts of the arteries, known as plaques. Plaques can form when you have high cholesterol or other problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes. These hardened areas are usually unstable, meaning that they can burst. When they do, they release chemicals that cause blood clots to form. The blood clots can block the artery or bits can break off and block a blood vessel in another part of the body, cutting off the blood supply. This is why you might be prescribed a statin if you have health problems that mean you’re at risk of a heart attack or stroke, even if you don’t have high cholesterol. There are five types of statins in the UK.
Taking statinsIf you start taking statins, you’ll need to keep taking them in the long term – as your cholesterol levels will rise again if you stop taking them. They come as a tablet which you will need to take once a day. They should start to work within two to three months. You should have check-ups with your doctor or nurse and have blood tests to see how well your statins are working. This is usually after three months. You will have a cholesterol check to see if your cholesterol level has changed, and a liver function test to see if your liver is healthy. It is recommended that you have these tests again a year later to keep any eye on your cholesterol and liver. Statins can sometimes interact with other medicines and cause side effects. Talk to your doctor about any other medicines you’re taking before you start taking statins to make sure they’re suitable for you. Getting the most from your statins
Are statins safe?It is quite understandable to have questions if you need to take a new medicine. Statins are the most widely used medicine to lower cholesterol and they have been around for a long time. There have been a lot of news stories about them which sometimes puts people off taking them. We are often asked if statins are safe and if there are any side effects. It's up to you whether you start taking them or not, so we've put together some answers to common questions to help you decide. Questions and answers about statins Can I stop statins if your cholesterol is normal?If you're taking a statin medication to lower your cholesterol, you will need to keep taking your prescription, or your cholesterol will likely go back up. Stopping your statin can put you at risk of having heart disease and other preventable health problems like stroke and heart attack from high cholesterol.
Why did my doctor prescribe statins if my cholesterol is normal?You'll also be advised to take a statin if you're considered to be at significant risk of developing cardiovascular disease, or of having a heart attack or stroke. Even if your cholesterol level isn't high, you may be prescribed statins to help protect you.
Should healthy people take statin?The current guidance is that people should be recommended statins if they are considered to have a 10 per cent or greater risk of developing heart or circulatory disease within the next 10 years (or for anyone with type 1 or 2 diabetes).
When should you not use statins?Statins should be taken with caution if you're at an increased risk of developing a rare side effect called myopathy, which is where the tissues of your muscles become damaged and painful. Severe myopathy (rhabdomyolysis) can lead to kidney damage. Things that can increase this risk include: being over 70 years old.
|