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 111.
If you forget to take your dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and take the next one at the usual time. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you.
What happens if you forget to take your cholesterol medication? If you simply forget to take a dose of your statin medication, you're not likely to have any serious effects. It could take some time for your cholesterol to build up to pre-statin levels — likely longer than a few days.
It's important to take your medication as prescribed. Your doctor may recommend you take your statin at a certain same time every day as this keeps your blood levels even. If you forget to take your medication, take your regular dose the next day. Don't take extra of your medication.
Official answer. It takes about 77 hours (3 days) for atorvastatin to be out of your system. The elimination half life of atorvastatin is approximately 14 hours. This is the time it takes for your body to reduce plasma drug levels by half.
If you quit cold turkey, your body can go into shock. It is not recommended that you stop statins suddenly if you have a history of heart attack or stroke, as it can put you at a higher risk of recurrent heart attack. You should speak with your doctor before stopping the medicine under any circumstance.
It's important to know that stopping statins cold turkey, or even gradually, can cause serious health problems and you should talk to your doctor before doing so.
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
So, why do people take statins at night? Many statins work more effectively when they are taken at night. This is because the enzyme which makes the cholesterol is more active at night. Also, the half-life, or the amount of time it takes for half the dose to leave your body, of some statins is short.
Another option is to stay on the twice-weekly schedule and raise the dose to 5 mg. “By introducing statins slowly, 70% of “statin intolerant” patients end up being able to take a statin: 60% of them can take it every day, and 10% can take it three times a week,” Dr. Cho says.
Statin use is associated with increased calorie intake and consequent weight gain. It is speculated that statin‐dependent improvements in lipid profile may undermine the perceived need to follow lipid‐lowering and other dietary recommendations leading consequently to increased calorie intake.
Background: Statins are generally well tolerated, but some patients discontinue therapy secondary to adverse effects. Dosing a statin (rosuvastatin) every other day (EOD) may provide significant lipoprotein changes while avoiding common adverse effects in this statin-intolerant population.
The cholesterol-lowering action of alternate-day statins is as effective as daily dosing in many individuals. Alternate-day statin administration seems to decrease the incidence of its adverse effects, particularly myopathy.
Your doctor may suggest that you lower your dose or change your medicine. You will not get any withdrawal symptoms. However, stopping atorvastatin may cause your cholesterol to rise. This increases your risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Grapefruit juice is the only food or drink that has a direct interaction with statins. Statins do not directly interact with any food but people taking statins should moderate their intake of saturated fats to help lower their LDL cholesterol and overall risk of cardiovascular disease.
Adjust dosage
Studies have found that intermittent dosing can achieve LDL-C reductions of about 20% to 40%, although impacts on cardiovascular outcomes have yet to be established. A large single-center study of statin intolerant patients found a trend toward mortality benefit with intermittent dosing.
5. The cholesterol-lowering action of alternate-day statins is as effective as daily dosing in many individuals.
Researchers have found that fat-soluble statins — which include Lipitor, Mevacor, Vytorin and Zocor — are more likely to cause insomnia or nightmares because they can more easily penetrate cell membranes and make their way across the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from chemicals in the blood.
Initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of the aorta suggested that statin use might result in atherosclerotic plaque regression as early as 6 months after initiation of therapy [2].
The good news for anyone who experiences cognitive decline related to starting statins? The brain fog goes away when you stop taking the drugs. Bottom line: If your brain tolerates statins, you don't need to worry about long-term cognitive decline as a possible side effect of these medications.
Joseph A. Hill, M.D., Ph. D. The controversy in the United Kingdom started in 2013 when the British Medical Journal (BMJ) claimed statins were being overprescribed to people with low risk of heart disease, and that the drugs' side effects were worse than previously thought.
Anyone who wants to stop taking a statin should talk to a doctor. In some cases, coming off these drugs can be dangerous. The doctor may suggest reducing the dosage, combining the statin with another cholesterol lowering drug, or switching to another drug entirely.