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About Statins

You may read a lot about them in news but what exactly are 'statins', what do they treat, how do they work and who should take them

Listed below are questions and answers designed to provide first time guidance regarding Statins. If there is a question you would like to put to our doctor that is not covered below, please feel free to email him at consultations@firstmed.co.uk.

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What are statins?
For what conditions are statins used?
What are some examples of statins?
Are there differences among statins?
What are the side effects of statins?
Can I buy a statin?

 

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What are statins?

Statins are a class of drugs that lower the level of cholesterol in the blood by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver. Scientifically, statins are referred to as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors

Statins can prevent the complications of atherosclerosis (angina, heart attacks, stroke, intermittent claudication, and death).

Most individuals are placed on statins because of high levels of cholesterol. However, high levels of cholesterol are not always necessary for atherosclerosis to occur. Other risk factors include family history, diabetes, smoking and obesity. Individuals who have or are at risk for atherosclerosis, but do not have high levels of cholesterol, can also be considered for treatment with statins. Read about the New Crestor Trial Report...

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For what conditions are statins used?

Statins may be used to treat:

• Primary hypercholesterolaemia: a high level of cholesterol in the blood, usually due to lifestyle factors such as a diet high in fat or not doing enough exercise.
• Familial hypercholesterolaemia: a high blood cholesterol level due to inheriting a gene which means your liver makes lots of cholesterol.

They may also be used to reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke if you have:

• angina (chest pain) or have previously had a heart attack
• transient ischaemic attacks (mini strokes) or have previously had a stroke
• peripheral vascular disease (narrowing of blood vessels, usually in the legs)
• diabetes and are over 40, or
• diabetes and are under 40 but have other risk factors for heart disease such as poor blood sugar control, high blood pressure or a family history of heart disease in a relative younger than 40.

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What are some examples of statins?

Statins that are approved for use in the U.K. include:

• atorvastatin (Lipitor)
• fluvastatin (Lescol)
• pravastatin (Pravachol)
• rosuvastatin (Crestor)
• simvastatin (Zocor)

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Are there differences among statins?

Statins differ in several ways. The most obvious difference is in their ability to reduce cholesterol. Currently, atorvastatin (Lipitor) and rosuvastatin (Crestor) are the most potent, and fluvastatin (Lescol) is the least potent.

The statins also differ in how strongly they interact with other drugs. Specifically, pravastatin (Pravachol) and rosuvastatin (Crestor) levels in the body are less likely to be elevated by other drugs that may be taken at the same time as the statins.

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What are the side effects of statins?

Statins are generally very well tolerated and most people will not experience any side effects.

Common side effects (one in 10 people) include:

• Constipation, diarrhoea, dyspepsia (acid in the stomach), flatulence
• headache
• insomnia
• myalgia (pain in the muscles) and arthralgia (pain in the joints)
• nausea.

Uncommon side effects (one in 100 people) include:

• losing your appetite
• myopathy (muscle damage
• peripheral neuropathy (loss of sensation or pain in the nerve endings of the hands and feet)
• skin rash
• vomiting.

Rare side effects (one in 1,000 people) and very rare side effects (one in 10,000 people) include:

• dizziness
• hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
• rhabdomyolosis (kidney damage caused by a substance caused myoglobin which is released into the blood when a muscle is severely inflamed and damaged).

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Can I buy a statin?

Statin drugs are available on prescription and funded by the NHS if your risk of developing an atheroma-related disease is high. However, if you are not in the high risk category, it does not mean you have no risk - just a lesser risk. Drug treatment is not usually prescribed.

Crestor can be prescribed online with Firstmed irrespective of high cholesterol levels as a preventive measure.

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Further Reading

Crestor FAQ's

New Crestor Trial Results

Heart Problems

Diabetes