Do statins increase belly fat?

People who did take statins consumed more calories and fat over time, and gained more weight. The study also showed that statin users had a faster increase in body mass index (BMI) than those who didn't use statins.

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Do statins make your stomach swell?

In the short term, the most common side effects are related to your digestive system - bloating, diarrhoea, tummy pain, etc. These usually settle within a few weeks and can often be reduced by starting on a lower dose and increasing as the side effects settle.

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Why am I gaining weight on statins?

Statin use is associated with increased calorie intake and consequent weight gain. It is speculated that statin‐dependent improvements in lipid profile may undermine the perceived need to follow lipid‐lowering and other dietary recommendations leading consequently to increased calorie intake.

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Which statin does not cause weight gain?

Atorvastatin does not cause weight gain as a side effect.

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Does Lipitor cause belly fat?

Overall, there isn't enough evidence to suggest that statin drugs such as Lipitor cause weight gain. It's important to remember that Lipitor and other statin drugs shouldn't replace a healthy diet and exercise. In addition to taking your Lipitor as prescribed, remember to follow your doctor's diet and exercise advice.

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On a Statin? WATCH THIS…

26 related questions found

What is the number one side effect of Lipitor?

Muscle pain and damage

One of the most common complaints of people taking statins is muscle pain. You may feel this pain as a soreness, tiredness or weakness in your muscles. The pain can be a mild discomfort, or it can be serious enough to make it hard to do your daily activities.

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What can I take instead of statins to lower cholesterol?

7 cholesterol-lowering alternatives to statins
  • Fibrates. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis. ...
  • Plant stanols and sterols. ...
  • Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins. ...
  • Niacin. ...
  • Policosanol. ...
  • Red yeast rice extract (RYRE) ...
  • Natural products.

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What is the negative side of statins?

dizziness. feeling sick. feeling unusually tired or physically weak. digestive system problems, such as constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion or farting.

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Can you get off statins once you start?

If you've made lifestyle changes through diet and exercise that have lowered your cholesterol levels, you may not need to continue taking a statin. These changes can help reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, or blocked arteries while allowing you to take one less medication.

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Do statins affect your metabolism?

Alternatively, statins may interfere with fatty acid metabolism through different molecular pathways. Simvastatin treatment increases metabolic indices indicating elevated activity of elongases and desaturases,17 2 enzymes that catalyze the formation of highly unsaturated long-chain fatty acids.

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Why do people not want to take statins?

Fear of side effects and perceived side effects are the most common reasons for declining or discontinuing statin therapy. Willingness to take a statin is high, among both patients who have declined statin therapy and those who have never been offered one.

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Why are statins banned in Europe?

Joseph A. Hill, M.D., Ph. D. The controversy in the United Kingdom started in 2013 when the British Medical Journal (BMJ) claimed statins were being overprescribed to people with low risk of heart disease, and that the drugs' side effects were worse than previously thought.

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What happens when you go off statins?

If you stop taking your statin medication, like atorvastatin (Lipitor), you could have a higher risk of heart problems, including heart attack and stroke. Your healthcare provider may recommend stopping your statin if you have serious side effects.

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What is the best statin with the least side effects?

Overall, statins are safe as a class of drugs. Serious adverse events are very rare. Among the individual medications, studies have shown that simvastatin (Zocor®) and pravastatin (Pravachol®) seem to be safer and better tolerated than the other statins.

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Which muscles are most affected by statins?

Within a month of starting statin therapy, they may feel aches or weakness in the large muscles of their arms, shoulders, thighs or buttocks on both sides of the body. About 5 to 10% of people who try statins are affected. It's more common in the elderly, in women and in those taking the more potent statins.

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How quickly does cholesterol rise after stopping statin?

How long does it take for statins to get out of your system? It can take a few months for your cholesterol levels to return to what they were prior to the medication. Side effects will generally disappear a few weeks after your last dose.

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How many years can you take statins for?

In most cases, treatment with statins continues for life, as stopping the medication causes your cholesterol to return to a high level within a few weeks. If you ever forget to take your dose, don't take an extra one to make up for it.

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Is there an alternative to taking statins?

Ezetimibe is a tablet that lowers cholesterol. It may be prescribed if statins cannot be taken, or alongside a statin for extra cholesterol-lowering. It's a 'cholesterol absorption inhibitor' that limits the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine.

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What are the two most common adverse effects of statins?

The most commonly reported side effects of statins are muscle-related symptoms, including muscle pain, cramps, and weakness. But for many people, their statin may not actually be the cause of these symptoms. Serious statin side effects, like muscle, liver, and kidney damage, are extremely rare.

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Is it best to avoid statins?

The most important thing your doctor will keep in mind when thinking about statin treatment is your long-term risk of a heart attack or stroke. If your risk is very low, you probably won't need a statin, unless your LDL is above 190 mg/dL (4.92 mmol/L).

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Are statins worth the risk?

We have data now from over 20 statin trials of over 135,000 patients that show statins compared with placebo or no medication result in a 23 percent reduction in heart attacks, 17 percent reduction in fatal or non-fatal stroke and 19 percent reduction in death from cardiovascular causes. So, they definitely work.

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Is 7.1 high cholesterol?

High cholesterol levels are considered: too high: between 5 and 6.4mmol/l. very high: between 6.5 and 7.8mmol/l. extremely high: above 7.8mmol/l.

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What drink lowers cholesterol?

Best drinks to improve cholesterol
  • Green tea. Green tea contains catechins and other antioxidant compounds that seem to help lower “bad” LDL and total cholesterol levels. ...
  • Soy milk. Soy is low in saturated fat. ...
  • Oat drinks. ...
  • Tomato juice. ...
  • Berry smoothies. ...
  • Drinks containing sterols and stanols. ...
  • Cocoa drinks. ...
  • Plant milk smoothies.

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Can a person with high cholesterol reverse it without statins?

Most people can lower high cholesterol with lifestyle changes, like prioritizing heart-healthy foods, quitting tobacco products, exercising regularly, and sleeping enough. Making changes to lower your cholesterol might mean you don't need to take cholesterol medication anymore (or deal with the side effects).

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