Statins should not be taken if you have liver disease or if blood tests suggest that your liver may not be working properly. This is because statins can affect your liver, and this is more likely to cause serious problems if you already have a damaged liver.
Fear of side effects and perceived side effects are the most common reasons for declining or discontinuing statin therapy. Willingness to take a statin is high, among both patients who have declined statin therapy and those who have never been offered one.
Statins are contraindicated for use by patients with active hepatic disease or unexplained persistent elevations in aminotransferase levels. Statins are contraindicated during pregnancy and while breastfeeding because of the effects on the cholesterol pathway.
Do not start a statin in patients ages ≥ 75 years who do not have known vascular disease or type 2 diabetes; start or continue a statin in all patients ages 75 to 84 with type 2 diabetes to prevent cardiovascular events and mortality; and start or continue a statin in patients ages > 75 years who have known vascular ...
August 23, 2022 – The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released today a final recommendation statement on statin use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults. The Task Force recommends people ages 40 to 75 at high risk for CVD take a statin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke.
Evaluate serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels before initiating, after 2–4 wk of therapy, and periodically thereafter. Monitor liver function tests prior to initiation of therapy and as clinically indicated.
Statin use has been linked to a higher risk of developing diabetes because the medication can fuel mild glucose elevations in predisposed individuals — an effect that can often be countervailed by exercise and losing as little as a few pounds.
Yes. Studies show that about 5 percent to 10 percent of people are unable to tolerate statins, largely because of muscle aches and related side effects, including potential muscle damage.
Who should consider taking a statin? People who have had a heart attack or stroke, who have diabetes or very high “bad” cholesterol levels, and who are at high risk for heart disease or stroke due to other factors like high blood pressure will live healthier and longer lives by taking a statin.
Adults age 75 and older may not need statins.
Many older adults have high cholesterol. Their doctors usually prescribe statins to prevent heart disease. But for older people, there is no clear evidence that high cholesterol leads to heart disease or death.
“Statins are recommended for people who have been diagnosed with heart disease, who have had a heart attack or stroke, have a stent, or who are known to have plaque in their body,” Dr. Jacoby explains. For a second group, statins intervene earlier, fending off potential health issues before they start.
Statins are a commonly used medication and are often prescribed for people with diabetes to help them manage their condition. This is because having diabetes increases the risk of heart diseases, such as heart attack and stroke. Using statins doesn't mean that you're failing to manage your diabetes.
The ATP III recommendations for monitoring of statin therapy are as follows: check lipid panel at baseline, 6–8 weeks after starting or adjusting the medication/dose, and then every 4–6 months; check LFTs at baseline, approximately 12 weeks after starting therapy, then annually or more frequently if indicated; and ...
All statins except pravastatin could interact with warfarin through protein-binding interactions or inhibition of warfarin metabolism. Therefore, until further definitive reports are available, the INR should be monitored closely after starting statin therapy in any patient receiving anticoagulation therapy.
Side effects can vary between different statins, but common side effects include: headache. dizziness.
Myalgia is the most common side effect of statin use, with documented rates from 1-10%. Rhabdomyolysis is the most serious adverse effect from statin use, though it occurs quite rarely (less than 0.1%). The most common risk factors for statin-related myopathy include hypothyroidism, polypharmacy and alcohol abuse.
Currently, more than 60 percent of older people in the United States who, like me, have high cholesterol take a statin to help prevent a heart attack or stroke.
Carimi says it's best to stick with the medication. He says the risk is too high, even if you're now living a better, healthier lifestyle. However, if you haven't had a stroke or heart attack and you are taking statins due to high cholesterol numbers, ending statin use might be an option. Dr.
Before you start taking statins, your doctor should carry out a blood test to ensure your liver is in a relatively good condition. You should also have a routine blood test to check the health of your liver 3 months after treatment begins, and undergo another after 12 months.
Which cholesterol-lowering drug is the safest? Overall, statins are safe as a class of drugs. Serious adverse events are very rare. Among the individual medications, studies have shown that simvastatin (Zocor®) and pravastatin (Pravachol®) seem to be safer and better tolerated than the other statins.
According to a research review people who take simvastatin (Zocor) or pravastatin (Pravachol) may experience fewer side effects.