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What Drugs Are Statins?

Statins are one of the most commonly prescribed medications. They are used to lower cholesterol in people with cardiovascular disease. Statins have been proven to lower the risk of heart attack and death in heart patients. There are currently six statins available on the market.

  1. Types

    • The six statins currently available are Lipitor, Lescol XL, Mevacor, Pravachol, Zocor and Crestor. All of these drugs work by lowering cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.

    Baycol

    • Baycol is a seventh statin that was removed from the market in 2001 due to potentially serious side effects.

    Common Side Effects

    • Common side effects of statins are nausea, gas and upset stomach. Less common side effects are dizziness, headache, rash and sleep problems.

    Uncommon Side Effects

    • Serious side effects of statins are rare, but include muscle weakness and pain, and an increase in liver enzymes. There are also claims that statins cause difficulty concentrating, though most experts do not agree.

    Other Uses for Statins

    • These drugs have been shown to improve cardiac risk in other ways than lowering cholesterol and may be prescribed for these reasons. Speak with your healthcare professional about these additional benefits.

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