Which cholesterol-lowering drug is the safest? 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.
It's possible, although unlikely, that one particular statin may cause side effects for you while another statin won't. It's thought that simvastatin (Zocor) may be more likely to cause muscle pain as a side effect than other statins when it's taken at high doses.
Atorvastatin or fluvastatin are usually recommended because there is no need to adjust the dose according to the glomerular filtration rate [28]. In patients without diagnosed atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, it is indicated a moderate dose of statin, such as atorvastatin 20 mg daily [28].
March 6, 2023 – For people who don't take common cholesterol medications due to side effects such as muscle aches, a new study suggests taking a drug called bempedoic acid may be more tolerable and still offer sizable protection for their hearts.
Among the individual medications, studies have shown that simvastatin (Zocor®) and pravastatin (Pravachol®) seem to be safer and better tolerated than the other statins.
Both Lipitor and Crestor are excellent medications to help improve high cholesterol and to decrease your risk of heart attacks and strokes. In studies, Crestor was more effective at lowering total cholesterol levels and raising HDL levels (Jones, 2003).
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.
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.
Regardless of age, those who have suffered a heart attack or stroke will benefit from taking a statin.
Even though all statins are similar chemically, they have some minor differences that could impact how likely they are to cause muscle pain. Simvastatin is the most likely to cause muscle pain, and fluvastatin is the least likely.
We showed that fluvastatin 20 mg/ezetimibe 10 mg was the most efficacious treatment regarding both renal outcomes.
Of all statins, simvastatin and atorvastatin are responsible for most reported incidents of liver damage, but this is likely just due to the fact that they are prescribed the most.
Specifically, lipophilic statins (those that dissolve more readily in lipids such as oils and fats) may be more effective for preventing liver cancer than hydrophilic statins (those that dissolve more readily in water).
Side effects can vary between different statins, but common side effects include: headache. dizziness. feeling sick.
By Lauran Neergaard • Published March 6, 2023
shows the cholesterol-lowering drug Nexletol made by Esperion Therapeutics Inc. Drugs known as statins are the first-choice treatment for high cholesterol but millions of people who can't or won't take those pills because of side effects may have another option.
Statins are the most common medicine for high cholesterol. They reduce the amount of cholesterol your body makes.
A systematic review of 75 clinical trials found that rosuvastatin and atorvastatin were the only statins that lowered LDL cholesterol by more than 40% (hence, they're the only “high-intensity” statins).
A person is considered at high risk for developing heart disease if their total cholesterol level is higher than 240 mg/dL, LDL levels are higher than 160 mg/dL (190 mg/dL is even higher risk), and if the HDL level is below 40 mg/dL.
After having their cholesterol tested, seniors should be given a number between 190 and 260. Healthy seniors should keep their total cholesterol below 200 and their LDL cholesterol around 100. If your elderly loved one's LDL cholesterol level is above 160, he or she must start making sweeping lifestyle changes.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that adults with a total cholesterol level of above 7.5mmol/l before treatment should be assessed for familial hypercholesterolaemia.
Public Citizen petitioned the FDA in 2004 and 2005 to recall Crestor. The advocacy organization's health research group documented cases of patients who developed rhabdomyolysis after taking the drug. Rhabdomyolysis is a severe form of muscle damage that can lead to permanent kidney damage, coma and sometimes death.
Along with a healthy diet and exercise, statin alternatives like ezetimibe (Zetia) can be taken with or without statins to help you meet your cholesterol goals. Natural and over-the-counter medications, like fish oil supplements, may also help manage your cholesterol levels.
A Statin Alternative Lowers Heart Attack Risk by 23 Percent, Drug Trial Shows. People who can't or won't take statin medications to reduce LDL cholesterol may want to talk to their doctor about bempedoic acid (Nexletol).