Do you also experience side effects when taking cholesterol medication (statins)? Let's find out exactly what this means!

Your mother, father, or even yourself are probably taking medication for cholesterol, right? Statins are a type of medication that doctors recommend to many people in our country. Most people who use these drugs can live well without any problems. However, some people may experience minor side effects. So today, we will talk about the benefits of this medication as well as the possible side effects.

Simply put, what is a statin?

Statins are a group of drugs that are often prescribed by doctors to help lower the level of cholesterol in our blood. The main function of these drugs is to lower this level of cholesterol and protect us from serious diseases such as heart attacks and strokes. Studies have shown that using statins can reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and even deaths from heart disease by about 25%.

Now, your doctor will check your cholesterol levels with a simple blood test. If your "bad" cholesterol, or LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol , is high, you are at a higher risk of heart disease. Your doctor may prescribe a statin, especially if you have other risk factors, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

How does this medicine work?

Simply put, these drugs block the action of an enzyme that helps our liver make cholesterol. When cholesterol levels in our blood increase, it starts to build up on the walls of our blood vessels. It's like rust building up inside an old water pipe. Over time, these blood vessels become blocked, and a blood clot can get stuck in the blocked area, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Statins help lower bad (LDL) cholesterol while also increasing the levels of good (HDL) cholesterol , which is good for our body.

What are the side effects of statins?

Although most people have no problems, some people may experience some side effects. Don't worry, most of these are not serious.

There are also warnings that statins can cause a very small risk of conditions such as memory loss, mental confusion, high blood sugar levels, and Type 2 Diabetes. We'll talk about this further.

Serious, but very rare side effects

It's important to be aware of these things, but you also need to remember that these things happen very, very rarely .

• Myositis: This is an inflammation of the muscle fibers, which can cause swelling. This risk may be slightly increased when statins are taken with certain other medications.
• Rhabdomyolysis: This is the most serious and extremely rare side effect. This is when the muscle cells are severely damaged and proteins released from them accumulate in the blood and damage the kidneys. This can lead to kidney failure. But don't worry, this condition is very rare, affecting only one in ten thousand people taking statins.

Common fears and myths about statins

1. Do statins cause memory loss? Do they cause dementia?

There was a rumor a while back that statins could cause dementia. But research over the past 20 years has shown that this is completely false. In fact, some studies show that taking statins may actually reduce the risk of dementia in some people.

2. Is there a link between statins and diabetes?

This is a bit complicated. People with diabetes are at higher risk of heart disease, so doctors often prescribe statins for them. However, statins do carry a small risk of slightly increasing blood sugar levels. This is most common in people with prediabetes. Since this risk is very small, the benefits of statins for people with diabetes are much greater. But it's best to talk to your doctor about this before making a decision.

Foods and other medicines that are incompatible with this medicine

Statins can interact with certain foods and other medications, which can increase the risk of side effects.

• Grapefruit: This is something that many people don't know. A chemical in grapefruit juice can change the way some statins are broken down in the body. This can make the medication more effective and cause side effects. If you're a fan of eating or drinking grapefruit, talk to your doctor about whether it might affect the type of statin you're taking.
• Other medications: Statins can interact with medications for heart rhythm disorders, other cholesterol-lowering medications, some antibiotics, and HIV medications.

What to do if side effects occur?

If you experience any side effects, do not stop taking the medicine suddenly. Instead, talk to your doctor. He or she may be able to offer you solutions such as:

• Stop taking the medication for a few days and see if these symptoms are really caused by the medication.
• Change the type of statin you are given.
• Reduce the dose of the medicine.
• Consider another type of cholesterol-lowering medication.

Some people take a supplement called Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) for muscle pain. While some believe this can help reduce pain, it has not been scientifically proven to be 100% effective. If you are considering using something like this, be sure to talk to your doctor about it.