Can i stop cholesterol medication

As with all drugs, however, a small minority of people experience mild to severe side effects when taking statins. The adverse effects that they most commonly experience are muscle problems and a slightly increased risk of type 2 diabetes , which we cover in more detail below.

Some people who take statins report having muscle pains, tenderness, or weakness. Statins may, in rare cases, damage the muscles. If a person taking statins is having muscle aches, pains, or weakness, and they cannot link these symptoms to an obvious cause, such as exercise or physical labor, they should speak to a doctor.

A doctor can test the creatine kinase CK levels in their blood. The body releases CK when the muscles are damaged or inflamed. If a person has a high CK level, a doctor may advise stopping statin treatment. Hyperglycemia, or increased blood sugar, is a potential side effect of statins. A person may hesitate about taking statins if they have concerns about their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

A review from reported a slightly increased risk of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes among people taking this type of medication. The risk is highest among people with prediabetes. Taking statins increases type 2 diabetes risk by 0. In a person with normal baseline blood glucose levels, statins are highly unlikely to cause diabetes.

The benefits of taking statins to prevent a cardiac event usually outweigh the risk of developing diabetes. Some lifestyle changes can help people manage their cholesterol levels. Examples include exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a balanced diet. However, people who adopt these lifestyle changes should not assume that they can stop taking statins. To determine whether this is the case, a doctor can use blood tests to check that cholesterol levels are within a healthy range.

Women who are pregnant or planning for pregnancy should talk to their doctors about coming off statins. In , the American Heart Association AHA published a review that included an investigation of the safety of statins during pregnancy. None of the featured studies had identified a link between statin use and fetal developmental abnormalities.

However, the studies had examined very few cases of statin use during pregnancy, so the authors of the review were unable to rule out the risk. Some people have concerns about statins increasing their risk of cancer or dementia or other neurocognitive problems.

While some people may develop dementia or cancer while taking statins, it is often because their risk of these conditions has increased with age. Stopping statin treatment can be dangerous for certain people, especially those who have a history of stroke, heart attack, or stenting. A study investigated whether quitting or reducing statin use increased the risk of a second ischemic stroke IS in people who had previously been in the hospital for the condition.

The study included a total of 45, participants. Preventive Services Task Force recommends the drugs to people ages 40 to 75 years without a history of heart disease who have one or more risk factors and a year risk of a heart attack or stroke of at least 10 percent. Despite the overwhelming evidence in favor of statins, a quarter to a half of patients stop taking the drugs within six months to a year, Dr.

To see whether people who continue taking statins - including those who switch to a different type or a lower dose - end up with better outcomes than people who stop taking the drugs, the researchers analyzed data drawn from two Boston hospitals between and During that period, more than , adults were treated with statins.

Nearly 45, of them reported a side effect they thought might be related to the medication - usually muscle or stomach aches. From those 45, with possible side effects, the research team focused on 28, people. Most of them - 19, individuals - kept taking statins anyway, with nearly half continuing to take the same drug.

If you forget to take your dose, do not take an extra one to make up for it. Just take your next dose as usual the following day. If you accidentally take too many statin tablets more than your usual daily dose , contact a doctor or pharmacist for advice or call NHS Statins can sometimes interact with other medicines, increasing the risk of unpleasant side effects, such as muscle damage.

It's very important to read the information leaflet that comes with your medicine to check if there are any interactions you should be aware of. Find out more things to consider when taking statins. Others experience some troublesome, but usually minor, side effects, such as diarrhoea , a headache or feeling sick. Your doctor should discuss the risks and benefits of taking statins if they're offered to you. The risks of any side effects also have to be balanced against the benefits of preventing serious problems.

A review of scientific studies into the effectiveness of statins found around 1 in every 50 people who take the medicine for 5 years will avoid a serious event, such as a heart attack or stroke, as a result. Find out more about the side effects of statins.