Statins and Cholesterol

• Statins and cholesterol overview
• How do statins work?
• Who should not use these medications?
• Drug or food interactions
• Side effects
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Statins and cholesterol overview

Statins, also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, are highly effective cholesterol-lowering medications. Statins have been studied extensively and overall have been proven to decrease the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other coronary artery diseases that are related to high cholesterol levels.

Statins, which are medications available only by prescription, are only considered after certain lifestyle changes have been made. These lifestyle changes include the following:

• Low-saturated fat, low-cholesterol diet



• Increased physical activity



• Smoking cessation



• Weight loss

If these changes have not lowered your risk for developing coronary heart disease after about 3 months, your doctor may consider prescribing a statin. If this medication is prescribed, the above lifestyle changes must still be followed. Results are usually seen after 4-6 weeks of taking statins.

Commonly prescribed statins include the following:

• Atorvastatin (Lipitor)



• Fluvastatin (Lescol)



• Lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor)



• Pravastatin (Pravachol)



• Simvastatin (Zocor) 



• Rosuvastatin (Crestor)

Statins come in tablet or capsule forms and are usually taken with the evening meal or at bedtime.

For more about medications used to lower cholesterol, see Understanding Cholesterol-Lowering Medications.