Do you also feel like you have 'brain fog' when taking statins? Let's talk about this!

Are you taking medication to lower your cholesterol? If so, you're probably taking a class of drugs called 'statins'. After starting this medication, do you sometimes feel dizzy, forget things, or have what we call 'brain fog'? This is a problem that many people have. So today, let's find out exactly what it is.

First, let's see, what is this statin?

Simply put, cholesterol is a waxy, oily substance in our blood. Our bodies need this cholesterol to build cells and produce hormones, but too much of it is not good. Especially when the "bad" cholesterol, or LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol , is high, it can build up on the walls of our blood vessels and clog them. This is a major cause of dangerous conditions like heart attacks and strokes.

Statin drugs work by reducing the amount of bad LDL cholesterol produced by the liver. Therefore, it would not be wrong to call these drugs indispensable and life-saving drugs for those at risk of heart disease.

So is this 'brain fog' story true?

Although statins are considered very safe for most people, like any medication, they can cause minor side effects. For example, muscle pain, liver damage, and 'brain fog', or problems with memory and attention, are among them.

'Brain Fog' is a state of extreme confusion and confusion. Imagine, you forget where you put your keys, maybe you open the fridge and leave the key in it and then look for it later. These are the kinds of things that happen in this condition.

Even the FDA in the US has included memory loss and confusion as "non-serious and reversible" side effects on statin labels. Cholesterol is essential for our brain function. In fact, 25% of our total cholesterol is in the brain. So it's reasonable to think that lowering cholesterol with statins could have some effect on the brain.

Often, these symptoms can be a sign of another underlying medical condition. Especially when memory problems like this occur in middle-aged or older people, it may be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease.

So the first thing a doctor thinks is, "Is this really because of the medication? Or is there some other problem?" For that, they may refer you to a neuropsychiatric specialist for an examination.

Amazing!

On the other hand, some research suggests that statin use may reduce the risk of dementia, or the decline in intelligence and memory that occurs with age. One study conducted over a 12-year period found that people taking high doses of statins had a lower risk of dementia. So more research is being done on this.

What should you do if you experience these side effects?

If you are taking a statin and you experience 'brain fog', muscle pain, or any other unusual symptoms, the most important and only thing you should do is inform your doctor.

Your doctor will evaluate your condition and change your treatment plan if necessary. He or she may do the following:

• Temporarily stopping the statin medication you are currently taking.
• Switching to a different type of statin.
• Reducing the dosage of medication.

What are the alternatives to statins?

In some cases, if statins continue to cause side effects, your doctor may recommend alternative medications. Some of these are listed below.

These medications can be more expensive than statins and may not be suitable for everyone, so this is a decision that your doctor will make.

What else do you need to be aware of when taking statins?

To minimize side effects, also take care of these points:

• Be careful with grapefruit: Some chemicals in grapefruit juice can interfere with the body's ability to break down statin drugs. You don't need to stop grapefruit altogether, but ask your doctor how much you can eat/drink.
• Tell your doctor about all other medications you take: Some medications can interact with statins and cause side effects. Examples:
• Medicines for heart rhythm disorders (e.g. Amiodarone)
• Other cholesterol medications (e.g., Gemfibrozil)
• Drugs used to treat HIV
• Some antibiotics and antifungals (e.g. Clarithromycin, Itraconazole)
• Immune-suppressing drugs (e.g. Cyclosporine)
• Exercise caution: A common side effect of statins is muscle pain. If you suddenly start doing strenuous exercise while on them, you may increase your risk of muscle damage. If you're new to exercise, build up the intensity gradually.