What are Statins?
Statin drugs work by blocking the enzyme that causes high cholesterol in the body. It is possible for Statin drugs to lower LDL levels from 18% to 55%. Statin drugs can also help absorb any cholesterol that has built up on the artery walls over time. Statins have the capability of helping a patient possibly avoid having their first heart attack and can even help prevent a second one. These drugs also help prevent a build of plaque on the blood vessel walls and reduce inflammation in the body.
Interestingly people who take statins have less of a risk of getting the flu or respiratory illnesses. Statins could also help you prevent cancer. Although there are contradictory theories that say statins don’t help fight cancer at all. This whole theory is still up in the air.
Common Side Effects
The use of statins has increased more and more over time so therefore there are more people experiencing the side effects of these drugs. Some of the most common statin side effects are:
- Muscle pain and weakness is the most serious side effect of statin drugs. Patients should take this very seriously and report any muscle pain immediately to their doctor. In some cases these side effects have led to death. Many patients have reported pain in their shoulders, their jaws and leg pain. It can be very uncomfortable to people taking statins. Report these muscle discomforts immediately as well.
- Memory loss is another side effect that causes concern in the medical community and with patients. Many people who report symptoms of memory loss while taking statins also report that they feel as though they have Alzheimer’s. There have been extreme cases reported where people have actually suffered amnesia for as long as 12 hours. Of course if you suffer any symptoms of memory loss you should contact your doctor right away.
- Some people have had mood swings while taking statin drugs. They have had behavioral changes as well. As with the other symptoms, your doctor should be told about these symptoms immediately. He may want to change your dosage or he may even change the particular statin medication that you are on.
Statins are the most widely prescribed drugs and top selling drugs in the US in the 21st century. It has been reported that many people have actually stopped taking these drugs as soon as 6 months after they started taking them. The main reason is more than likely the high cost of statins, and the other is the fact that patients don’t see immediate results from taking these drugs.
Statins are also sometimes prescribed for congestive heart failure. Statins are known to reduce the inflammation of blood vessels. Many people have the opinion that statins may increase the chance for infection in patients with heart failure. This is something that remains to actually have a definitive answer.
How Statin Drugs are Taken
When people are first given statin drugs they are usually put on a low dose to start out with. But if a patient has suffered a heart attack their dosage levels are usually increased gradually. Since the liver produces more cholesterol in the evening, a single dose of a statin is usually taken in the evening. Since these drugs can be quite pricey, sometimes a patient may have the option of splitting the dose, but of course your physician should be contacted before doing this. One common ingredient that does seem to interact and cause side effects in statins is grapefruit. It also causes changes in the way that statins react in your body. So before taking any statin drug with grapefruit you should consult your doctor first.
It may take up to two weeks for a patient to start seeing results from the statins. Before starting a statin regimen there are some other things that you and your physician will have to take into consideration.
- Smoking can have a major effect on how statins work in your body
- Your family history is an important factor
- Eating and your exercise habits effect statin as well
- Your age
- Your health in general determines how statin will act in your body and your dosage level that will be prescribed to you.
- Whether or not you have diabetes is also a very important aspect in the effectiveness of this drug.
- Patients with a risk of or a history of heart attack will be administered statins in a higher level.
If you are a high risk for heart attack or stroke it is very likely that your physician will also prescribe a healthy exercise routine for you as well. Exercise is truly beneficial in helping to lower blood cholesterol levels. You will also be required eat a low fat and low cholesterol diet to help you lower cholesterol levels.
Statin Brands
There are a few statins that are more widely prescribed than others. These include:
- Rosuvastatin or Crestor – It is recognized as a very powerful statin but also has been criticized for not being thoroughly checked out before entering the drug market.
- Another commonly used statin by doctors is Atorvastatin or Lipitor. This drug is manufactured by the very well- known drug company, Pfizer. Lipitor is also sometimes prescribed to lower triglycerides. Many statins are developed from funguses, but Lipitor is completely synthetic.
- Pravastatin –this is a statin that is also known as Pravachol. This drug is derived from a mold that is known by the name of Nocardia autotrophica.
Generics of these drugs are very widely prescribed by doctors and more commonly taken by patients. The main reason for this is because the generics are considerably cheaper.
Statin drugs are known to be extremely beneficial in lowering cholesterol levels and in turn reducing a patient’s risk of heart attack. It is wise to consult with your physician thoroughly before deciding to start a statin drug regimen. You and your doctor should weigh the benefits against the side effects and make an informed and medically beneficial decision about whether or not you should take these drugs.
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