3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, commonly referred to as "statins"
Medications and Their Commonly Used Brand Names
Generic name
Brand name
atorvastatin
Lipitor
fluvastatin
Lescol
lovastatin
Mevacor
pravastatin
Pravachol
simvastatin
Zocor
rosuvastatin
Crestor
What They Are Prescribed For
Hypercholesterolemia or dyslipidemia—high levels of LDL-cholesterol in the blood. May be accompanied by low levels of HDL-cholesterol and/or high levels of triglyceride.
Before prescribing medication to lower your cholesterol, your doctor will probably suggest that you try to control the levels of cholesterol in your blood through diet and exercise. This typically involves reducing your intake of total fat, saturated fat, and, if you are overweight, total calories. Some, but not all, people are able to lower their cholesterol through such changes. Medicine is prescribed only when additional help is needed. It is most effective in combination with dietary changes and regular exercise.
How Statins Work
Statins block an enzyme in the liver (HMG-CoA reductase) that produces cholesterol. They are particularly effective at reducing LDL-cholesterol.
It is important that your doctor check your progress. Regular visits will allow for dosage adjustments and to help monitor for any side effects.
Avoid Pregnancy
Statins should not be taken during pregnancy. Cholesterol production is essential for normal fetal development. Statins decrease cholesterol production and therefore may cause birth defects. Use birth control while taking a statin drug. Tell your doctor if you think you might be pregnant or you are considering becoming pregnant. Also tell your doctor if you are breast feeding, as statins may cause problems for a nursing baby.
Control Your Weight
If you are overweight or obese, losing weight may help decrease the need for or amount of medication. Check with your doctor about this.
Manage Your Medications
Tell your doctor about all the medications you take. Some medications should not be taken with statins, while others may require a different dosage level. These include:
Niacin
or nicotinic acid ( eg Endur-Acin, Nia-Bid, Niac, Niacels, Niacor, Nico-400, Nicobid Tempules, Nicolar, Nicotinex Elixir, Slo-Niacin)—Use of this type of medicine with a statin may increase the risk of developing muscle problems and kidney failure.
Oral contraceptives/birth control pills (estrogens and progestins)—Some statin drugs may increase the blood levels of the hormones in birth control pills, increasing the risk of side effects.
Recent major surgery or trauma, which may increase the risk of problems that may lead to kidney failure
Impending surgery, including dental surgery or emergency treatment—be sure to tell the doctor or dentist treating you that you are taking a statin drug
Avoid Excessive Alcohol
Excessive amounts of alcohol combined with statin drugs can have bad affects on the liver. Moderation in alcohol consumption is generally defined as one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
Avoid Grapefruit Juice
Grapefruit juice appears to interfere with the metabolism of most statin drugs. It is best to avoid it during treatment.
Don't Stop On Your Own
Do not stop taking your statin medication without first checking with your doctor. When you stop, your cholesterol levels may increase, and your doctor may want to implement other means to keep cholesterol levels within a more desirable range.
Mind Your Meals with Lovastatin
Lovastatin works better when it is taken with food. If you are taking lovastatin once a day, take it with the evening meal. If you are taking more than one dose a day, take each dose with a meal or snack.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of your statin drug, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Avoid double doses.
Possible Side Effects
Statin drugs are generally considered safe and few patients need to discontinue them due to adverse effects. The side effects listed here have been reported for at least one of the statins, not necessarily all of them. However, since many of the effects of statins are similar, it is possible that these side affects may occur with any one of these medicines, although they may be more common with some than with others.
Adverse Effects
The most significant adverse effects, though rare, involve the liver (elevated liver enzymes) and the muscles (different conditions called myopathy and rhabdomyolysis). Following up regularly with your doctor will allow him or her to detect these problems through your medical history and blood tests.
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
