| Facts About Statin Drugs | | | | variety of other benefits, especially for individuals |
| Statin drugs, also known as HMG-CoA reductase | | | | that have heart disease. These benefits include: |
| inhibitors, are one of the most common | | | | improving overall function of the vascular system, |
| pharmaceutical drugs prescribed to patients. They | | | | decreasing blood clot formation, reducing |
| are a class of drugs that are used to reduce the | | | | C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, reducing the size |
| levels of plasma cholesterol. Results from clinical | | | | of plaques in the arteries, reducing inflammation, |
| research has shown that these drugs have a | | | | and stabilizing plaques. Recent research has also |
| variety of benefits such as lowering cholesterol | | | | shown that these type of drugs help prevent |
| and reducing heart attack risks of patients with | | | | Alzheimer's disease, reduce the risk of stroke, |
| diagnosed heart disease. | | | | reduce blood pressure, reduce the incidence of |
| | | | | certain cancers, and prevent cataracts. |
| Types of Statin Drugs | | | | |
| Statin drugs are typically separated into two | | | | Side Effects |
| groups: synthetic and fermentation-derived. The | | | | These drugs are usually regarded as well-tolerated |
| synthetic drugs include: atorvastin (commonly | | | | drugs. The most common side effects of these |
| known as Lipitor and Torvast), fluvastatin | | | | drugs are gastrointestinal issues such as upset |
| (commonly known as Lescol), Cerivastatin | | | | stomach, gas, and nausea. Less common effects |
| (commonly known as Lipobay), pitavastatin | | | | include rash, dizziness, headache, and disturbances |
| (commonly known as Pitava and Livalo), and | | | | in sleep. Reports have indicated that these drugs |
| rosuvastatin (commonly known as Crestor. The | | | | also cause liver enzyme increases in |
| fermentation-derived include: lovastatin (commonly | | | | approximately 1 out of 100 patients. There is not |
| known as Mevacor, Altoprev, and Altocor), | | | | much evidence to indicate statin drugs cause |
| pravastatin (commonly known as Lipostat, | | | | serious or permanent damage to the liver. These |
| Selektine, and Pravachol), and simvastain | | | | drugs can also cause a muscle disorder in about 1 |
| (commonly known as Zocor and Lipex). Many of | | | | in 1,000 patients that results in occasional pain and |
| these drugs are often available in generic forms. | | | | weakness in the muscles. A more serious, but |
| | | | | rare reaction includes myopathy and myositis. |
| How the Drugs Work | | | | Some reports have shown that these type of |
| These drugs work to improve the levels of | | | | drugs can occasionally cause cognitive issues such |
| cholesterol in the blood by inhibiting HMG-CoA | | | | as difficulty concentrating and some reports |
| reductase, which is a liver enzyme that aids in | | | | indicate a slight increase risk in developing cancer. |
| making cholesterol. By inhibiting the HMG-CoA | | | | Experts do not widely accept these indications. |
| reductase, these drugs block the pathway that is | | | | |
| needed to synthesize the cholesterol in the liver. | | | | Drug Interactions |
| The drugs assist in significantly reducing the "bad" | | | | Statin drugs should not be taken with a fibrate, |
| cholesterol, known as LDL. They also help increase | | | | which is another type of drug that lowers lipids. A |
| "good" cholesterol called HDL, and moderately | | | | combination of these drugs can increase the risk |
| reduce the levels of triglycerides. | | | | of rhabdomyolysis and decreased renal function. |
| | | | | Patients taking these drugs should also not |
| Drug Benefits | | | | consume grapefruits of grapefruit juice because it |
| Besides lowering cholesterol, statin drugs have a | | | | inhibits the metabolism of the drugs. |