In the article, we will consider the possible side effects of statins.
They belong to a group of drugs, the effect of which is aimed at lowering cholesterol levels. They are used for the treatment, and, in addition, for the prevention of atherosclerosis, which is a dangerous vascular disease and is the main culprit in violations in the blood supply to tissues and organs.
What is the effect of statins on plaque? They inhibit the production of mevalonate - this is a substance that takes part in the production of cholesterol. Thanks to the drug, the condition of the internal vascular walls at the initial stage of the development of atherosclerosis improves, the blood thins, and, in addition, the risk of blood clots in the vessels is significantly reduced.
Before you start taking, you need to consider the side effects of statins on the human body.
What is this?
Statins can block worka special enzyme in the liver that is essential for the production of cholesterol.
Despite the fact that cholesterol is required for the he althy functioning of cells and the body, its excessively high levels can lead to atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque forms in the arteries, blocking the flow of blood. By lowering cholesterol levels, statins reduce the risk of chest pain, heart attack, and stroke.
There are a variety of statins, such as Atorvastatin along with Cerivastatin, Fluvastatin, Lovastatin, Mevastatin, Pitavastatin, Pravastatin, Rosuvastatin and Simvastatin. Preparations "Atorvastatin" with "Rozuvastatin" are the most powerful. But "Fluvastatin", on the contrary, is considered not the most effective.
New Generation Statins
New generation statins, which are highly effective in the fight against bad cholesterol, include Atorvastatin along with Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin, Lovastatin and so on. There is also a natural statin, which is extracted from red rice - this is monacolin. Statins are highly selective in regulating the production of mevalonate. Conventionally, cholesterol is divided into two types:
- Good, i.e. high density lipoproteins.
- Bad, characterized by low density lipoproteins.
What is the mechanism of action of statins?
They reduce the level of exactly the bad type of cholesterol, while increasing the level of harmless cholesterol, without which it is simply impossible to perform a number of usefulfunctions in the human body.
In the modern world, statins are the main drugs that effectively reduce cholesterol levels. The results of therapy, as a rule, are visible already in the second month of using the tablets and are manifested in the expansion of the arterial reserve, and, in addition, in increasing blood flow to the heart muscle, reducing the risk of blood clots, restoring the heart rhythm and maintaining atherosclerotic plaques in a stable state. True, side effects of statins on the human body are not excluded.
Composition and format of release
Statins are produced and released in the form of coated tablets. They are intended for oral use. The active ingredient is a statin. In the role of auxiliary ingredients, as a rule, lactose is used along with starch, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium hydrosilicate, stearic acid, and so on. Next, let's talk about the indications and find out when statins are necessary for use.
Indications for use
Statins are prescribed to patients if they have the following pathological factors:
- In case of atherosclerosis.
- Due to diabetes. This is considered a factor that causes heart and vascular disease.
- If you have heart disease.
- In the case of a hereditary tendency to form blood clots, when the risks of heart attacks are high.
- When patients have ACS, that is, acute coronary syndrome.
- In case of myocardial infarction (regardless of whether it is primary or secondary).
- At the background of cardiac ischemia (that is, in case of a high risk of heart attack or stroke).
- For high cholesterol in adolescents and adults.
- For heart surgery and obesity.
Use this drug with caution in women of reproductive age.
Contraindications and side effects of statins must be taken into account when prescribing.
Contraindications
The main contraindications for statin use include:
- Severe liver problems in patients.
- Occurrence of disorders in the kidneys.
- In case of allergic reactions after previous courses of medications.
- During childbearing and lactation.
- During reproductive age in women if reliable contraceptives are not used.
- If there is hypersensitivity to the drug and its ingredients.
Immediately before using the drug, it is imperative to stop the use of antibiotics, and, in addition, immune agents, along with contraceptives and blood thinners, since under such circumstances, the development of an undesirable complication in the functioning of the kidneys and liver is quite likely. It is worth noting that statins are strictly contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation.
How to use
Statins are usually taken orally and only on prescription. These drugs, by their action, should lower the level of bad cholesterol by sixty percent. The amount of harmless cholesterol is reduced by about thirty percent.
Basic dosages for statins are usually 10, 40, or 80 milligrams per day. But at the same time, a dosage of 80 milligrams is the maximum. Only a doctor can determine the required dosage based on the general condition and he alth of the patient. The recommended starting dose is 10 or 20 milligrams once a day. It is advisable to take it in the evening, that is, when the synthesis of cholesterol in the body is activated as much as possible.
Also, the side effects of statins will be less pronounced.
Overdose
With an increase in the allowable dosages of such drugs, a person may develop a very dangerous condition called rhabdomyolism, that is, the destruction of muscle tissue. Among other things, serious violations in the liver are not ruled out. In the event of an overdose in a patient, it is recommended to take measures for immediate gastric lavage, and, in addition, to take absorbents and perform symptomatic therapy if necessary.
Statins and side effects
When using statins, patients may develop many adverse events in the form of nausea, asthenia, sleep disturbances, stool disorders, intestinal pain, dizziness, memory impairment, numbness, excessive sweating and hearing loss. Among other things, the acceptance of suchdrugs can lead to the development of hepatitis, pancreatitis, seizures, arthritis, itching, skin rashes and Lyell's syndrome. It is also possible the development of diabetes, impotence, swelling and obesity.
Despite the fact that most people experience only minor side effects of statins on the body, some sometimes suffer from severe headaches, as well as tingling, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, flatulence, nausea, as well as from a rash. Very rarely, patients may develop severe muscle inflammation.
But there are two most serious side effects of statins that are relatively rare. We are talking about liver failure and damage to skeletal muscles. Such muscle damage is an extremely serious type of myopathy, it is called, as noted earlier, rhabdomyolysis. This disease in humans usually begins with muscle pain and will worsen until the patient develops kidney failure, after which death occurs. This condition mainly occurs when statins are used in combination with other drugs that carry a high risk of rhabdomyolysis or other drugs that increase statin blood levels.
Influence on the liver
People with active liver disease should not use statins. In the event that liver disease still develops, then taking these medications must be stopped without fail. In addition, women who are breastfeeding and carrying a child or those ladies whowho are about to become pregnant should not be used for treatment. The effect of statins on the liver is detrimental.
Usually, patients taking drugs of this group are not recommended to combine them with various drugs, in particular with protease inhibitors (these are prescribed as part of the treatment of AIDS), Erythromycin, Itraconazole, Clarithromycin, Diltiazem, "Verapamil" or fibrates, which reduce the level of good cholesterol. Such combinations are extremely detrimental to liver he alth.
People taking statins should also avoid grapefruit juice and grapefruit due to the rather dangerous side effects of this interaction.
Storage conditions
All statins should first of all be stored away from children, at a temperature of twenty to thirty degrees. Under proper storage conditions, these drugs have a shelf life of two years from the date of manufacture.
Which statin drug has fewer side effects?
Referring to various studies, scientists have found the answer to the question of which statins are the safest and most effective. First of all, specialists highlight a medical drug called Atorvastatin. This is perhaps the most used drug, and at the same time showing the best research results.
Rozuvastatin is used a little less often, which is also considered one of the safest statins. In third place in terms of safety, experts put the medicine "Simvastatin", which is also reliable.a drug that causes only minor side effects in patients, but with an excellent effect on the vessels. Statins should be prescribed by a doctor.
Atorvastatin
So, the drug "Atorvastatin" is at the forefront of the list of prescribed drugs in the presence of problems in the cardiac and vascular system, as well as against the background of the accumulation of cholesterol in the blood. Its effectiveness, first of all, is confirmed by the high results of many clinical studies that were conducted on subjects of different age groups, and, in addition, on patients with various pathologies of the cardiac and vascular system.
Variability in dosages of this medication ranges, as a rule, from 40 to 80 milligrams, which ensures safe use and adjustment, depending on the severity of the pathology. The effect of statins on the body is unique.
According to trials that have been conducted, Atorvastatin can reduce the chance of having a stroke by up to fifty percent.
Rozuvastatin
The drug Rosuvastatin is a synthetically created drug from the group of statins. It has a pronounced hydrophilicity, due to which its harmful effect on the liver decreases, and, in addition, the effectiveness of preventing the formation of low-density lipoproteins, which are the main link in the synthesis of cholesterol, increases. The drug "Rosuvastatin", as a rule, does not cause a detrimental effect on muscle tissue, that is, it can be used without worrying about the occurrence of myopathy andmuscle cramps.
The use of dosages of 40 milligrams reduces the level of bad cholesterol by up to forty percent, which significantly reduces the risk of atherosclerosis. It is worth noting that the drug "Rozuvastatin" is the most effective compared to other drugs. For example, the use of a dosage of 40 milligrams produces a stronger effect than taking 80 milligrams of Atorvastatin. And a dosage of 20 milligrams reduces the amount of bad cholesterol, as when using 80 milligrams of the same Atorvastatin.
Proper effect, as a rule, appears already during the first week of application. Until the beginning of the second week, it can already be ninety-five percent, and on the fourth it is able to reach an absolute maximum and is kept constant under the condition of regular therapy.
Drug "Simvastatin"
According to research, taking this drug for five years reduces the risk of heart and vascular diseases in the post-infarction period by ten percent. And, in addition, a similar percentage is recorded for patients with heart and vascular pathologies, diabetes and those who have had a stroke.
It has been repeatedly proven that over the course of two years of taking, the ratio of lipoproteins, which are responsible for the synthesis and utilization of cholesterol, is significantly improved, and the risk of blood clots in the arteries is reduced.
Everyone wants to pick up statins without side effects for the elderly.
BIn general, it must be said that statins are quite safe in their use. Of course, there are risks of side effects, but they are quite small. Everything directly depends on caution, and, in addition, on the consciousness of the patient. As part of the analysis of the individual characteristics of patients, their age data and heredity, it is always possible to determine which statin is required to provide the most favorable effect.
What are the benefits of statins for older people?
Statins are drugs that reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, as they inhibit the development of atherosclerosis in patients. They also increase the stability of atherosclerotic plaques. The fact is that the more stable the plaques, the less will be the risk of their rupture. In the event of a sudden rupture of atherosclerotic plaques, blood clots form, which completely clog the artery. This can lead to a heart attack or ischemic stroke. Statins reduce the risks of such a development of events. This is very useful for the elderly, as their vessels are often significantly damaged by atherosclerosis.
To the frequently used, and at the same time popular statins today include Rosuvastatin, along with Crestor, Mertenil, Roxer and Rosucard. A number of studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of statins for elderly patients who suffer from ischemic heart disease or have had a heart attack. Taking these medications significantly reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke in the elderly, as well aseliminates the need for coronary artery bypass surgery and stenting.
The effect of statins on the human body is more positive.
People who suffer from ischemic disease are, first of all, patients at risk for heart and vascular diseases. Those who have had a heart attack may relapse. In this regard, this category of patients should take such drugs, even despite the possible side effects of statins. In older people, the risks of heart and vascular disease increase, so these medicines are even more important drugs. No other drugs can reduce the risk of a first and subsequent heart attack or stroke in the same way.
So, we have considered contraindications and side effects of statins.
Statin Reviews
In the modern world, statins have firmly established themselves on pharmacy shelves. The high demand for these drugs is due to the high susceptibility of modern society to such a disease as atherosclerosis. Moreover, high cholesterol is observed in people not only in retirement age, but also in young patients.
In reviews, people say that due to high cholesterol, they are forced to take statins regularly to maintain vascular he alth and prevent atherosclerosis. Despite a number of side effects that statins can provoke, doctors nevertheless insist on the importance of taking them.
As patients say in their reviews, most often doctors try to prescribe them as much as possiblesafe statins in the form of Atorvastatin and Rosuvastatin. It is reported that while taking these drugs, cholesterol is kept within the normal range, and, in addition, patients do not have any serious side effects. Reviews of statins should be read in advance.
Simvastatin is sometimes preferred because consumers claim it is the safest.
The article described the side effects of statins on the body.
