Side Effects: What You Need to Know When Taking Statins
Statins are necessary for some cardiovascular issues. Unfortunately, however, these drugs have side effects that you need to be prepared for. Let's look at the side effects and how to deal with them.
Dr. Mary
Why are statins taken?
The most common reason for taking statins is the presence of atherosclerotic plaque, which is a pathological formation in the blood vessels that interferes with normal blood flow. When blood pressure rises or there is a vascular spasm, plaque can rupture and block the lumen of the vessel, leading to a heart attack or stroke. Statins lower cholesterol levels, which contribute to plaque formation, by blocking the enzyme needed by the liver to produce it.
Side effects
Side effects from taking statins are pretty common—according to various sources, they occur in 5% to 20% of patients. The most common ones are:
- Muscle pain
- Liver damage
- Darkening (sometimes blue color) of urine
- Risk of developing type 2 [diabetes](https://ul.orna.me/KOge/librarydisease?id=43...
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