Statins are drugs used for the treatment of high cholesterol. These medications are prescribed to reduce your risk of heart attack, vascular disease and stroke. Statin drugs may be used in conjunction with diet modification and exercise. Most people who are prescribed statins will take them for the rest of their lives, which can make statin side effects difficult to manage, reports Mayo Clinic. Users should be aware of some common side effects of statins.
Nausea, Diarrhea and Constipation
You may experience gastrointestinal side effects while taking a statin, which may include nausea, diarrhea and constipation. Those who already suffer from gastrointestinal irregularity and discomfort may be more prone to developing these side effects. The side effects may lessen with time as your body adjusts to taking a daily statin medication. Taking your medication in the evening with a meal may help lessen side effects, while eating smaller meals more frequently, and avoiding foods that are spicy and high in fat may help alleviate discomfort. Consult your physician if gastrointestinal side effects persist or worsen.
Muscle Pain
A common side effect of statin medications is muscle pain. According to Mayo Clinic, you may feel this pain as a soreness, tiredness or weakness in your muscles. Muscle pain may be faint and sporadic, or severe and frequent enough to limit your daily activities. Muscle pain may lead to a serious muscle condition known as rhabdomyolosis. Signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolisis can include severe muscle pain, weakness, tenderness, fever, flu-like symptoms, and dark cola-colored urine. You should report any muscle pain or discomfort to your health care practitioner.
Liver Damage
In some patients, liver damage may ensue while taking a statin drug. Your physician should test your liver function before starting you on a statin drug. This is done with a simple blood test. Because liver problems may develop without symptoms, people who take statins should have their liver function tested about six weeks after they start taking a statin, and then again every three to six months for the first year of treatment, particularly if their statin dose is increased, reports Mayo Clinic. Signs and symptoms of liver damage may include fatigue, loss of appetite, bruising, and a yellowing of the skin or sclera, the white part of your eyes.
About this Author
Laura Candelaria is a family nurse practitioner and assistant professor of nursing and nutritional science. Her experience includes neonatal and pediatric intensive-care, women’s oncology, gynecology, obstetrics, lactation, nutrition, and infertility. She has been published in “Nursing Spectrum,” “Newsday,” and LIVESTRONG Health.
