“Statins” is a class of drugs that lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver. (The other source of cholesterol in the blood is dietary cholesterol.) Statins block the enzyme in the liver that is responsible for making cholesterol.
Similarly, it is asked, what kind of drugs are statins?
Commonly prescribed statins include:
- atorvastatin (Lipitor)
- fluvastatin (Lescol)
- lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor)
- pravastatin (Pravachol)
- pitavastatin (Livalo)
- simvastatin (Zocor)
- rosuvastatin (Crestor)
Similarly, which 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.
Beside above, what is a statin drug made of?
Lovastatin, a compound isolated from Aspergillus terreus, was the first statin to be marketed. Statins, also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, are a class of lipid-lowering medications that reduce illness and mortality in those who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease.
What foods are high in statins?
The statin diet: A very low-saturated-fat diet plus 20 milligrams of Mevacor. The portfolio diet: A diet high in vegetables, soy protein foods (soy milk and soy burgers), almonds, and high-fiber foods (from oats, barley psyllium, okra, and eggplant).
17 Related Question Answers Found
What foods should be avoided when taking statins?
With some statins, drinking grapefruit juice, or eating grapefruit, is a bad idea. Grapefruit juice can cause that statin to stay in your body much longer, and the drug can build up. This can increase the risk of muscle breakdown, liver damage, and even kidney failure.
Which statin is safest for liver?
Large randomized trials have proven the safety of low to moderate doses of lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin, and rosuvastatin, showing no significantly increased risk of liver biochemistry abnormalities.
What is so bad about statins?
Debate Over Statins Heating Up Their review found statins decrease energy and fitness, and increase fatigue and sleep problems. They also found that statins may increase the risk of muscle aches and pains, kidney and liver problems, bleeding in the brain, and type 2 diabetes.
Do statins clear the arteries of plaque?
Statins May Reverse Plaque Buildup. March 13, 2006 (Atlanta) — For the first time, a popular cholesterol-lowering statin drug has been shown to actually clear plaque out of fat-clogged heart arteries. “Ridding the heart arteries of plaque was previously thought to be unattainable,” says researcher Steven Nissen, MD.
What medications should not be taken with statins?
But there are some drug combinations that should be avoided, the heart association warns. Lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor) and pravastatin (Pravachol) should not be used with the fibrate cholesterol drug gemfibrozil, for example, because of the risk of muscle injury.
Can you stop taking statins Once you start?
It’s possible for some people to stop taking statins safely, but it can be especially risky for others. For instance, if you have a history of heart attack or stroke, it’s not recommended that you stop taking these drugs. This plan may involve stopping statins entirely, or it may involve reducing your statin usage.
Can statins cause depression?
Depression is not a commonly seen side effect with statins or any other cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, other drugs used to treat cardiac conditions, such as beta blockers, can aggravate depression.
Can I refuse to take statins?
Before you refuse to take a statin or stop taking a statin, consult your doctor. He or she can explain why you may benefit from the drug or help you find a different statin if you experience side effects.
What is the most popular medication for high blood pressure?
Diuretics are some of the most commonly used drugs for treating high blood pressure. They help the kidneys get rid of excess water and sodium, or salt. Diuretics chlorthalidone (Hygroton) chlorothiazide (Diuril) hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril, Microzide) indapamide (Lozol) metolazone (Zaroxolyn)
What is a natural replacement for statins?
For patients who can’t tolerate cholesterol-lowering statins, natural remedies like bergamot, garlic and green tea may be a useful alternative, based on a recent statement published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Do statins cause more harm than good?
Researchers warn that unless a patient is at high risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke, statins may cause more harm than good’. Statin treatment reduced blood cholesterol. Taking statins did not increase the risk of adverse effects such as cancer and few trials reported on costs or quality of life.
What is the most efficacious statin?
[8] In the current study, rosuvastatin (10 and 20 mg) was found to be the most effective statin at reducing LDL-C when compared with atorvastatin (10, 20, and 40 mg), pravastatin (20 and 40 mg), and simvastatin (20 mg).
Can statins cause dementia?
The researchers found no evidence that using statins caused memory loss or dementia. In fact, there was some evidence that long-term statin use may protect against dementia. A 2015 study found that a small group of patients taking statins experienced amnesia.
What are the long term side effects of simvastatin?
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.
Does lipitor cause hair loss?
Atorvastatin (Lipitor) and simvastatin (Zocor) belong to a group of cholesterol-lowering medications known as “statins”. Have hair loss is a reported side effect of both drugs. The newer statin, rosuvastatin (Crestor), luckily does not have this risk.
Do statins cause brain fog?
Simvastatin and atorvastatin are the most lipophilic while pravastatin and Crestor are the least. The statins that cross the blood-brain barrier have more reported memory and “fuzzy head” problems. While patients have reported these symptoms, further research does not show that statins cause memory loss.
How long does it take to get a statin drug out of your system?
It takes about 77 hours (3 days) for atorvastatin to be out of your system. The elimination half life of atorvastatin is approximately 14 hours. This is the time it takes for your body to reduce plasma drug levels by half. It takes approximately 5.5 x elimination half lives for a medicine to be out of ones system.