Are Statins Harmful?

Statin drugs, which lower LDL cholesterol, can prevent heart attacks in heart-disease patients. However, they can also cause side effects, and there is little data on the long-term safety of taking the drugs.

Benefits

Statins prevent the production of HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that is necessary for cholesterol synthesis. The drugs lower blood levels of LDL cholesterol. In doing so, they prevent plaques from forming in artery wells, and can lower the risk of heart attacks.

Side Effects

According to the Mayo Clinic, statin drugs cause side effects that include muscle and joint pain. Several studies, including one published in the American Journal of Medicine in 2004, have also shown that statins can cause memory loss in a small subset of patients.

Severe Complications

One in every 15 million people who take statins develop rare muscle damage called Rhabdomyolysis, and a study published in the journal, Drug Safety, in 2007 suggests that in rare instances, statins can also cause severe symptoms similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Preventing Side Effects

A study published in Current Atherosclerosis Reports in March 2009 suggests that the side effects of statins increase with dose. To prevent complications, it is best to take moderate doses of the drugs if possible.

Long-term Safety

The majority of clinical trials on statins have lasted for less than five years. As a result, there is little data on their long-term safety.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks
• "The American Journal of Medicine: Randomized Trial of the Effects of Simvastatin on Cognitive Functioning in Hypercholesterolemic Adults"; Muldoon, MD, MPH, Matthew F., Ryan, PhD, Christopher M., Sereika, PhD, Susan M., Flory, PhD, Janine D., Manuck, PhD, Stephen B.; 2004
• "Drug Safety: Statins, Neuromuscular Degenerative Disease and an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-like Syndrome: An Analysis of Individual Case Safety Reports from Vigibase"; Edwards IR, Star K, Kiuru A; 2007