Concerns about Statins
If your doctor has recommended that you start taking a statin, you may have some concerns. Below are 3 common issues people have when taking statin medication.
Statins only work as long as one is taking them
Like many medications, statins only work if you take them regularly as prescribed by your doctor. If you stop taking your statin, your cholesterol levels will likely rise back to the levels they were before. Therefore, it's important to discuss with your healthcare team how you should take your statin medication. If you feel like you no longer need to take a statin, please consult your doctor before making that decision.
Did you know... 40-75% of patients will stop taking their statin within the first year?2,3,4
Statins can result in side effects, like muscle pain
Statins, like all medications, can cause certain side effects. Muscle pain, or myalgia, is the most common side effect reported with statin therapy and increases in frequency with the dose of statin one takes.
Side effects are the number one reason why patients stop taking their statin medications.5 If you experience side effects from your statin medication, please speak with your doctor.
It's important to remember that there are other statin options available. While you may experience a side effect with one statin, that may not be the case if you try another statin dose or another statin type.
Some statins cannot be taken with grapefruit juice
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice are rich in vitamin C and K and are incredibly delicious and healthy options to include in your everyday diet.
Unfortunately, grapefruit juice is one beverage that can interact with various types of medications, including certain statins.
If we consume grapefruit juice with certain statins, this can impact the way our body metabolizes the statin. This may result in too much drug in your body, which can lead to an increase in the potential risk of side effects.2 This is the case for some commonly prescribed statins, including atorvastatin, simvastatin, and lovastatin.