{"id":3324,"date":"2019-01-11T06:42:44","date_gmt":"2019-01-11T06:42:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/veryhealthy.life\/?p=3324"},"modified":"2021-08-10T03:18:50","modified_gmt":"2021-08-10T03:18:50","slug":"9-statin-side-effects-and-why-should-stop-taking-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/veryhealthy.life\/9-statin-side-effects-and-why-should-stop-taking-them\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Statin Side Effects and Why Should Stop Taking Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, your doctor may have prescribed statin. If the levels of cholesterol in your blood are too high, you are at an increased risk of suffering serious complications, including a heart attack, stroke, and even death. Statin is formulated to block a specific substance that the liver needs in order to produce cholesterol. As a result, taking this medication can allow your liver to actually remove cholesterol from the blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While statin can be an extremely effective medication for reducing blood cholesterol levels, a number of adverse side effects are associated with it that could be detrimental to your health. There are various types of statin medications, including fluvastatin, atorvastatin, pitavastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin, and rosuvastatin. If you are concerned about the side effects of this medication, or you are experiencing any side effects, you might want to talk to your doctor and stop taking it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below, we highlight 9 side effects that are associated with a statin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Pain in the Muscles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Muscle pain is one of the most common side effects reported by people who take a statin. This pain <\/a>can include soreness and\/or weakness in the muscles. The pain can range in severity from a mild nuisance to severe and debilitating. In fact, many people who experience muscle pain as a result of taking statin report that they are unable to participate in regular, non-strenuous activities. Furthermore, the muscle pain caused by this medication can be lasting; meaning that even if you stop taking it, you can continue to experience pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In rare cases, statin medications can cause rhabdomyolysis, damage to the muscles that can be life-threatening. Rhabdomyolysis not only causes intense muscle pain, but it can also damage the liver and cause kidney failure, which can result in death; however, the risk of developing this condition is rare, as only a handful of cases per million patients have been reported. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Type 2 Diabetes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Taking statin could also cause type 2 diabetes<\/a>. That\u2019s because this prescription cholesterol medicine can cause an increase in blood sugar levels, which, if left untreated or if it persists long enough, could lead to the development of type 2 diabetes. A team of researchers found that while statins can effectively lower bad cholesterol levels and increase good cholesterol levels, they can also activate an immune response that prevents insulin from doing its job effectively. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and helps to control blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Type 2 diabetes occurs in people who are either not producing enough insulin, or who are producing insulin, but the substance isn\u2019t effectively controlling blood sugar. As a result, statins can certainly increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, a chronic condition that could become life-threatening if it isn\u2019t properly managed. The risk is low, but it is still a cause for concern. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Damage to the Liver<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another side effect of taking statins to reduce blood cholesterol levels that has the potential to be fatal is liver<\/a> damage. These medications can increase the number of enzymes that trigger inflammation in the liver. If the increase of these enzymes is mild, patients can continue taking statin medications; however, if the level of these enzymes increases to severe levels, your health could be in serious danger. Of all of the negative effects of statins, liver damage has been reported the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A large percentage of the liver damage that has been reported as a result of statins has been severe, and in some cases, it has been deadly. Reports relate to liver damage and statins include jaundice, the need for liver transplantation, and death as a result of acute liver failure. Researchers have found that the link between statins and liver damage is very high. In many cases, liver damage was reversed when patients stopped taking a statin, but it returned when they started taking it again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Neurological Damage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another adverse side effect that has been linked to taking statins is neurological damage. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration requires that warnings of this side effect be clearly labeled on statin medications<\/a>. Neurological damage can include confusion and memory loss; however, it appears that people who do experience neurological damage as a result of taking this cholesterol medication show signs of improvement when they stop taking it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, it has been touted that statin medications may be able to help improve memory loss for those who are suffering from dementia, as it is an anti-inflammatory medication; however, to date, no evidence has been found to support this claim. Therefore, if you have been prescribed a statin medication and you are experiencing impairment in your memory or you find that you are confused, it could be related to the medication. Speak to your doctor about this possible side effect before you stop taking your statin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Increased Asthma Symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A recent study found that individuals who suffered from asthma <\/a>and were taking statin medications experienced an increase in their symptoms. These symptoms included a decrease in the function of the lungs, including the inability to effectively inhale oxygen. This study found that patients who were taking a statin and had asthma saw a significant decline in the function of their lungs, and that function was markedly worse than it was prior to taking the medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients involved in this study also reported that their asthmatic symptoms were worse during the day and that they experienced an increase in sleep disruptions as a result of worsening asthmatic symptoms during the night. The findings of this study are associations, as it was not proven that statins are the direct cause of increased breathing problems; however, if you have asthma and have been prescribed statin, you may want to speak to your doctor about other options for controlling your cholesterol. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Kidney Damage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to another study, taking high doses could increase the risk of kidney damage. This study found that patients who took high doses of this cholesterol medication where more than 30 percent likely to develop acute kidney failure compared to patients <\/a>who were taking low doses of the medication with the first 120 days of taking the medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, the risk for kidney damage remained high two years after beginning a statin regiment. In this study, researchers assessed the health of more than 2 million people who were 40 years of age or older and who were taking statins and either had or didn\u2019t have kidney disease. The study found that those who took higher doses did, indeed, experience kidney disease; however, the cause of their kidney disease was not directly linked to statin. Nevertheless, if you are concerned about kidney damage, you may want to consider talking to your doctor about switching your medication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Impaired Vision<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yet another study found that there is a high likelihood that taking statin medications to control blood cholesterol <\/a>levels could increase the risk of developing eye disorders and impaired vision. This study, which was conducted by the Casey Eye Institute at the Oregon Health and Science University, assessed patients who reported experiencing trouble with their vision after taking statins. These vision troubles included double vision, upper eyelid drooping, and a decrease in the range of motion of the eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The researchers believed that since statin medications have been found to definitively cause disorders of the skeletal muscles, that the muscles of the eyes could also be affected. This study found that patients who were taking statin medications did experience a decrease in range of motion in their eyes, drooping eyelids, and double vision; however, the findings did not conclusively illustrate that statin was the cause. However, it is a concern that should be taken into consideration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Depression<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is also believed that statin medications can increase the risk of developing depression. As mentioned, statin medications block the enzyme <\/a>that the liver needs in order to produce cholesterol, thereby reducing cholesterol levels. However, researchers are finding that this medication may also have an impact on serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a vital role in your mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lab testing involving serotonin receptors in humans found that statin medications can disturb both the structure and the function of cell receptors that process serotonin, preventing these receptors from working effectively. These serotonin receptors play a key role in maintaining mood by enabling the body to recognize the presence of serotonin; however, when the statin is present, the study found, these receptors may not be able to recognize serotonin. This means that these medications could increase the risk of developing the feelings that are associated with depression, as the body is unable to regulate the \u201cfeel good\u201d effects of this neurotransmitter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Heart Disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While statins are supposed to reduce cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of developing heart disease<\/a>, new studies are indicating that these medications can actually increase the risk of heart disease. According to the findings of a recent research study, statins may have a negative impact on crucial processes within the body that play a key role in heart health. Patients involved in this study who were taking statins were found to have an increased likelihood of developing deposits of calcium within their arteries, which can drastically increase the risk of suffering a heart attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Statin medications may also reduce the body\u2019s ability to produce vitamin K, a vitamin that plays an important role in preventing the arteries from calcifying. The findings of this study are not conclusive and further research is needed; however, there is a chance that taking this medication could do more harm for your heart than good. It\u2019s a wise idea to speak to your doctor to determine your risks of developing heart problems as a result of statin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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