AnswersDriveWhich statin has the least amount of side effects?
In the analysis of 135 previous studies, which included nearly 250,000 people combined, researchers found that the drugs simvastatin (Zocor) and pravastatin (Pravachol) had the fewest side effects in this class of medications. They also found that lower doses produced fewer side effects in general.
A.
How do statins reduce LDL levels?
Statins have been clearly shown to reduce blood cholesterol and prevent atherosclerosis, or heart disease. They work by reducing the liver's production of cholesterol. They block an enzyme called HMG CoA Reductase that the liver uses to make cholesterol.
Are statins bad for your liver?
Very rarely, statins can cause life-threatening muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis (rab-doe-my-OL-ih-sis). Rhabdomyolysis can cause severe muscle pain, liver damage, kidney failure and death. The risk of very serious side effects is extremely low, and calculated in a few cases per million of patients taking statins.Do statins affect the thyroid?
This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.Do Statins increase HDL cholesterol?
Statin therapy has been shown to increase the level of plasma HDL-cholesterol. However, the clinical benefit of statin-induced elevation of HDL-cholesterol is unclear from trial data, perhaps as a result of the concomitant overwhelming risk benefit of statin-induced reduction of LDL-cholesterol.
B.
Do statins lower HDL cholesterol?
To heartwire , Karas said that although statins reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, event rates in statin-treated patients remain unacceptably high. It is unclear, he said, whether the cardiovascular disease risk associated with low levels of HDL cholesterol is altered by statin therapy.
Do Statins lower good cholesterol?
Statins are the best drugs to lower LDL cholesterol. We have long known that statins lower the risk of premature death, heart attack, and stroke, even among individuals with relatively normal cholesterol levels—who are not exempt from having heart attacks or stroke.What is so bad about statins?
The human body needs cholesterol in order to function. Statins reduce blood cholesterol levels, and in doing so reduce the risk of developing stroke, heart attack and angina. Statins have been linked to various adverse events (undesirable side effects), and many lay people wonder whether they are good or bad.What should your HDL level be?
A cholesterol test or lipid panel tells the level of HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol levels greater than 60 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) are high. That's good. HDL cholesterol levels less than 40 mg/dL are low.
C.
Which cholesterol drug is safest?
The Most Common Cholesterol Meds: Statins
- Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
- Fluvastatin (Lescol)
- Lovastatin.
- Pitavastatin (Livalo)
- Pravastatin (Pravachol)
- Rosuvastatin calcium (Crestor)
- Simvastatin (Zocor)
What can I take to lower cholesterol other than statins?
Unlike statins, fibrates, resins, and ezetimibe, niacin (nicotinic acid) is available without a prescription. It's a natural vitamin, vitamin B3. It also has the best effect on HDL cholesterol as well as an excellent ability to lower triglycerides and a good ability to reduce LDL levels.Which cholesterol drug is safest?
The Most Common Cholesterol Meds: Statins- Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
- Fluvastatin (Lescol)
- Lovastatin.
- Pitavastatin (Livalo)
- Pravastatin (Pravachol)
- Rosuvastatin calcium (Crestor)
- Simvastatin (Zocor)
What are the bad side effects of statin drugs?
The most common statin side effects include:- Headache.
- Difficulty sleeping.
- Flushing of the skin.
- Muscle aches, tenderness, or weakness (myalgia)
- Drowsiness.
- Dizziness.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Abdominal cramping or pain.
Updated: 17th October 2018