Statinsare a class of drugs used to treat high cholesterol.
The drugs can be prescribed at different strengths, categorized as low-dose, moderate-dose, or high-dose.
More is not always better when it comes to statins.
Bloomberg / Getty Images
Bloomberg / Getty Images
What Are Statins?
Hypercholesterolemiais defined as having total cholesterol greater than 200 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL).
Statins work by slowing cholesterol production in the liver, thereby lowering LDL levels.
This, in turn, reduces the risk ofatherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke.
Statins are categorized as being either low-, medium-, or high-intensity.
Even at lower doses, statins may be just as effective in lowering LDL levels.
Doing so reduces the amount of fat buildup in the arteries.
Recommendations for Use
Clinical studies support the benefits of low-dose statins, particularly for older adults.
Statins are currently only approved to treat cholesterol and prevent heart disease.
Nonetheless, more research is needed to determine if other conditions can be treated with low-dose statins.
Some healthcare providers may use low-dose statins off-label to treat some inflammatory and neurologic conditions.
Your healthcare provider, however, can check your cholesterol levels through a blood test called alipid panel.
Your health history will determine whether you should check your cholesterol more frequently.
Adding heart-healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and seafood is recommended.
This requires the immediate discontinuation of statin drugs.
If rhabdomyolysis is involved, a blood test will show increases of a substance calledcreatinine kinasein your blood.
Moreover,liverandkidney dysfunctioncan occur long-term on high statin doses.
Safety for At-Risk Populations
Statins should not be used in pregnant or nursing people.
Statins are pregnancy Category X, meaning they have shown evidence of human risk in clinical trials.
This warning also applies to people who are breastfeeding.
Low-dose statins are safe and approved for use in children.
However, lifestyle management should typically be considered first before prescription.
Summary
Low-dose statins are commonly used as the starting dose for people with high cholesterol.
If they are able to bring your cholesterol to normal levels, you might stay at that dose.
If not, the dosage can be increased to a moderate-intensity statin and then a high-intensity statin.
The aim of statin therapy is to achieve the optimal control of your cholesterol with minimal side effects.
If intolerable side effects occur, the dosage may be reduced or the medication switched.
Finally, if applicable, keep all medications out of reach of children and pets.
There is no clear evidence to support the claim that statins causememory loss.
As such, the benefits of low-dose statin therapy far outweigh the perceived risks in people with diabetes.
Cholesterol levels should improve within two months of starting a statin or increasing the dose.
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