What is bad about statins

Contact your doctor immediately if you have unusual fatigue or weakness, loss of appetite, pain in your upper abdomen, dark-colored urine, or yellowing of your skin or eyes. It's possible your blood sugar blood glucose level may increase when you take a statin, which may lead to developing type 2 diabetes. The risk is small but important enough that the Food and Drug Administration FDA has issued a warning on statin labels regarding blood glucose levels and diabetes.

The increase generally occurs when blood sugar levels are already higher than normal and fall in the prediabetes or diabetes range when you begin taking a statin. Statins prevent heart attacks in people with diabetes, so the relevance of the mild increase in sugar values with statins observed in some people is unclear. The benefit of taking statins likely outweighs the small risk to have the blood sugar level go up. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

The FDA warns on statin labels that some people have developed memory loss or confusion while taking statins. These side effects reverse once you stop taking the medication. There is limited evidence to prove a cause-effect relationship, but talk to your doctor if you experience memory loss or confusion while taking statins. There has also been evidence that statins may help with brain function — in people with dementia, for example.

This is still being studied. Don't stop taking your statin medication before talking to your doctor. Not everyone who takes a statin will have side effects, but some people may be at a greater risk than are others. Risk factors include:. Grapefruit juice contains a chemical that can interfere with the enzymes that break down metabolize the statins in your digestive system.

While you won't need to eliminate grapefruit entirely from your diet, ask your doctor about how much grapefruit you can have. There are many drugs that may interact with statins, so be sure your doctor is aware of all the medicines you take when being prescribed with statins. To relieve side effects believed to be caused by statins, your doctor may recommend several options.

Discuss these steps with your doctor before trying them:. Although side effects believed to be caused by statins can be annoying, consider the benefits of taking a statin before you decide to stop taking your medication.

Remember that statin medications can reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke, and the risk of life-threatening side effects from statins is very low. If you have read about the potential side effects of statins, you may be more likely to blame your symptoms on the medication, whether or not they're truly caused by the drug. Even if your side effects are frustrating, don't stop taking your statin medication for any period of time without talking to your doctor first.

Your doctor may be able to come up with an alternative treatment plan that can help you lower your cholesterol without uncomfortable side effects. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.

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A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks. Products and services.

It also found that the benefits of statins outweighed the risks for most people. Are statins good or bad for you? Ultimately, it depends on your risk factors and your health status. Having high cholesterol puts you at risk for a heart attack or stroke.

Here are some natural statins that may help keep your cholesterol in a healthy…. Statins are a class of prescription drugs that help to lower high cholesterol. While they can be effective, there are also side effects and other…. Grapefruit can affect how fast some drugs — like statins — are absorbed into the bloodstream. These include many drugs used to treat blood vessel and…. Taking your statin medication at a certain time of day can make the medication more effective.

Learn why you should take some statins at night. Statins are prescription drugs used to lower cholesterol. However, they can have side effects and might not be right for everyone. Learn about…. High triglycerides can have many causes, including genetics. When it's an inherited condition, it's known as familial hypertriglyceridemia.

HDL cholesterol removes extra cholesterol and plaque buildup in your arteries. High cholesterol often has no symptoms, but can lead to serious health issues. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Often the first line of therapy after lifestyle changes, statins can reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack and even death from cardiovascular disease by 25 percent or more. Although statins benefit those most at risk for cardiovascular disease, many people have concerns about taking this class of drug.

But still, these misconceptions persist. Truth: In clinical trials, statins appear to accelerate a diagnosis of adult-onset diabetes because they cause a slight elevation in blood sugar. However, people experiencing this side effect already have higher than normal blood sugar, or prediabetes, explains Martin. For those who are borderline diabetic, the mild increase in blood sugar can lead to a diabetes diagnosis about five weeks earlier than it would be otherwise.