According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 93 percent of adults using a cholesterol-lowering medication have used a statin. While it’s true that some statin side effects can be frustrating, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before deciding to stop taking your medication.
Statin treatment can be very effective in lowering LDL (bad cholesterol) and raising HDL (good cholesterol). Lowering your LDL cholesterol can greatly reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke. And, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), statins have proven to be relatively safe for most patients.
If this isn’t the case for you, and side effects from statin usage are interfering with your day-to-day life, then perhaps it’s time to have a conversation with your doctor about your options. The two of you may be able to come up with an alternative treatment plan.
Below are some questions to ask your doctor during your next visit.
1. Can lowering my statin dosage or switching statins help eliminate my side effects?
According to the Mayo Clinic, lowering your statin dose could help reduce certain side effects, but it could also decrease the cholesterol-lowering benefits from your medication.
Switching to another statin drug doesn’t guarantee a decrease in side effects. Because of this, your doctor might suggest using another statin that’s just as efficient but can be taken in a lower dose.
2. Are my lifestyle habits interfering with my statin therapy?
Certain lifestyle habits have been shown to adversely interact with certain statin medications. The FDA recommends avoiding grapefruit juice because it can increase the absorption of statins in the bloodstream. A higher concentration of statins in your body can lead to liver damage and muscle breakdown.
Doctors also advise patients to take care when exercising as too much physical exertion can sometimes make sore muscles from statin treatment worse. Talk to your doctor about your exercise program, and see if any changes can be made to keep your activity from interfering with your statin treatment.
Read More: Why You Shouldn't Mix Grapefruit and Statins
3. Are there any alternate treatments for lowering my LDL cholesterol?
If the side effects from your statin medication are too much to handle, your doctor will probably suggest certain lifestyle habits to help lower your LDL cholesterol naturally.
Changing your eating habits is one of the easiest and most effective ways to lower LDL. Keep the following guidelines in mind:
- substitute read meat with fish, particularly herring, tuna, salmon, and mackerel
- avoid processed, sugary foods
- trade fat-laden butter for cholesterol-lowering margarines
- eat more fiber in the form of vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains
- include more omega-3 fatty acids into your daily diet, such as walnuts, pecans, almonds, and pistachios
4. Can coenzyme Q10 supplements ease my side effects?
One of the most common side effects of statin usage is muscle aches and pains, sometimes referred to as muscle myopathy. This can be due to the depletion of coenzyme Q10 in the body.
While some researchers have hinted that taking a coenzyme Q10 supplement can decrease the risk of muscle myopathy, there have been no valid studies to confirm it.
5. Can I stop taking statins once my LDL cholesterol comes down?
If you stop taking your statin medication, your cholesterol will likely go back up in as little as two months. For this reason, it’s important to continue taking your medication to keep your cholesterol levels under control.
6. Can I take a break from statin therapy?
For statin users, it’s sometimes difficult to distinguish natural aging muscle aches from statin-induced muscle aches. Your doctor may have you temporarily stop taking your statin medications, somewhere around 10 to 14 days. This can help determine whether or not your pain is related to the medication.
Once you’re able to determine if your aches and pains are due to statins or something else, you and your doctor can work together to decide what the next step in your treatment should be.
Having an open conversation with your doctor is always important, but especially so if you’re thinking about stopping your statin medication. To get the most out of your appointment, write down these questions as well as any of your symptoms and side effects beforehand. You’ll feel more confident knowing that you and your doctor are working on a treatment plan that’s best for you.
