Statins side effects: Positives outweigh the negatives? When to do a ‘statin rechallenge’

Statins are a group of medicines that lower the amount of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol in the body, according to the NHS. There are five different types of statin available on prescription in the UK, including atorvastatin, fluvastatin, and pravastatin. If you’re worried about statins side effects, you should consider speaking to a doctor about a ‘statin rechallenge’.

Statins are a vital treatment for patients with high cholesterol levels.

Having high cholesterol can be very dangerous, as it causes the arteries to become increasingly narrow.

Blood circulation will subsequently be impacted by having narrows arteries, and it increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and heart disease.

While the medication is extremely valuable to patients, it can lead to a number of unwanted side effects.

READ MORE: Statins side effects – three signs found in your muscles

Do the positives of statins outweigh the negatives?

Combined with a healthy diet and exercise, statins could lower your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and heart-related deaths by between 25 and 30 percent.

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Harvard Medical School said: “You are unlikely to experience side effects from these drugs. If you do, there are ways to reverse them.

“Despite all the bad publicity about statin side effects, most men are unlikely to experience them. And if you do notice a problem, don’t jump to conclusions: It may not be the statin causing it.

“Even when muscle symptoms can be tied to taking a statin, your doctor can offer some options for how to continue getting the benefits of these drugs.”