Table of contents:
- What are the possible side effects of statins?
- 1. Common side effects of statins
- 2.Muscle pain (myalgia)
- 3. Inflammation of the liver
- 4. Less common side effects of statins
- 5. Side effects of statins are serious, but rare
Statins have been used for more than 20 years as safe and effective cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, like any drug, statins can cause side effects. What's more, while most people can tolerate the drug well without any problems, some people do appear to be more sensitive to statins than others. The side effects of statins can also vary between types and dosages that are consumed.
What are the possible side effects of statins?
Your risk for side effects of statins can increase if you take large amounts of statins at the same time, have kidney or liver disease, or have a small stature. Women and seniors over 65 years of age also have an increased risk. The following are the possible side effects of statins, from the most common to the least common.
1. Common side effects of statins
Although side effects can vary between different statin types, common side effects include:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sleepy
- Dizzy
- Stomach cramps or upset stomach
- Bloating
- Headache
- Problems with the digestive system, such as constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, or flatulence
However, it's unclear whether most of the common problems people experience while taking statins are actually caused by the drugs themselves.
2.Muscle pain (myalgia)
Statins can sometimes cause swelling and pressure pain in the muscles. How the side effects of statins cause muscle pain is not fully understood. One theory is that statins affect protein in muscle cells, which decreases muscle growth.
Another theory is that statins lower the levels of a natural substance in your body called coenzyme Q10. This substance helps your muscles produce energy. With a little energy, your muscle cells may not be able to work properly. Either of these actions can cause muscle pain, muscle fatigue, and muscle weakness so that once simple tasks, such as climbing stairs or walking can make you uncomfortable and exhausted when using statins.
3. Inflammation of the liver
Sometimes, the side effects of statins can cause elevated levels of enzymes that signal liver inflammation. If the increase is only mild, you can continue to take the medication. Rarely, if the increase is severe, you may need to try a different statin.
Although liver problems are rare, your doctor may recommend liver enzyme tests before or shortly after you start taking statins. You shouldn't need additional liver enzyme tests unless you start to show signs or symptoms of a problem with your liver. Tell your doctor right away if you have unusual fatigue or weakness, loss of appetite, pain in your upper abdomen, dark urine, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.
4. Less common side effects of statins
Uncommon side effects of statins include:
- Feeling sick or not feeling well
- Loss of appetite or weight gain
- Difficulty sleeping (insomnia) or having nightmares
- Dizziness - if you experience this, do not drive or use tools and machines
- Loss of sensation (numbness) or tingling in the nerve endings of the hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy)
- Memory problems, difficulty thinking, or difficulty concentrating
- Blurred vision - if you experience this, do not drive or use tools and machines
- Ringing in ears
- Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), which can cause flu-like symptoms
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which can cause stomach upset
- Skin problems, such as acne or an itchy red rash
- Feeling very tired or physically weak
- Depression and irritability
The various side effects of statins above can affect 1 in 100 people.
5. Side effects of statins are serious, but rare
Statins are associated with some rare but potentially serious side effects, including:
- Bleeding or bruising easily
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Myositis (inflammation of the muscles). The risk of muscle injury increases when there are interactions with certain drugs that are taken with statins. For example, if you are taking a combination of statins and fibrates - another cholesterol-lowering drug - the risk of muscle damage is greatly increased compared to someone taking statins alone.
- Elevated levels of CPK, or creatine kinase, a muscle enzyme that when elevated can cause muscle pain, mild inflammation, and muscle weakness. This condition, although rare, can take a long time to heal
- Rhabdomyolysis, inflammation and extreme muscle damage. Rhabdomyolysis causes muscles throughout the body to feel sore and weak. Severely damaged muscles release protein into the blood which eventually collects in the kidneys. The kidneys can become damaged by trying to remove the large amount of "toxic" protein that causes muscle damage that results from taking statins. This in turn can lead to kidney failure or even death. Fortunately, rhabdomyolysis is very rare. This occurs in less than one in 10,000 people who take statins.
- Increased blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia)
- Increased risk of diabetes
If you experience any other problem outside of the list above that you think is related to the side effects of statins, it is important to report it to your doctor. Your doctor can tell you what to do to treat it. Your dose may need to be adjusted or you may need a different type of statin.
