Statins may be recommended if these measures do not help.

limiting the amount of alcohol you drink.Lifestyle changes that can reduce your cholesterol level and CVD risk include: If you're at risk of developing CVD in the near future, your doctor will usually recommend lifestyle changes to reduce this risk before they suggest that you take statins. The risks of any side effects also have to be balanced against the benefits of preventing serious problems.Ī 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.įind out more about the side effects of statins. Your doctor should discuss the risks and benefits of taking statins if they're offered to you. Others experience some troublesome, but usually minor, side effects, such as diarrhoea, a headache or feeling sick. Many people who take statins experience no or very few side effects. If in doubt, contact a GP or pharmacist for advice.įind out more things to consider when taking statins. 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. Some types of statin can also interact with grapefruit juice. Statins can sometimes interact with other medicines, increasing the risk of unpleasant side effects, such as muscle damage. If you accidentally take too many statin tablets (more than your usual daily dose), contact a doctor or pharmacist for advice or call NHS 111. Just take your next dose as usual the following day. If you forget to take your dose, do not take an extra one to make up for it. You usually have to continue taking statins for life because if you stop taking them, your cholesterol will return to a high level within a few weeks. Some types of statin should be taken in the evening.Ĭheck with your doctor whether there's a particular time of day you should take your statin.

Statins come as tablets that are taken once a day.įor some types of statin it does not matter what time of day you take it, as long as you stick to the same time.

your personal and family medical history suggests you're likely to develop CVD at some point over the next 10 years and lifestyle measures have not reduced this riskįind out more about when statins may be recommended.

you have been diagnosed with a form of CVD.

stroke – when the supply of blood to the brain becomes blockedĪ doctor may recommend taking statins if either:.heart attacks – when the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked.angina – chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscles.coronary heart disease – when the blood supply to the heart becomes restricted.It's the most common cause of death in the UK. Having a high level of LDL cholesterol is potentially dangerous, as it can lead to a hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and cardiovascular disease (CVD).ĬVD is a general term that describes a disease of the heart or blood vessels. LDL cholesterol is often referred to as 'bad cholesterol', and statins reduce the production of it inside the liver. Statins are a group of medicines that can help lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood.

Statin intensity chart