Statins and Cholesterol (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
Side effects
Statins are well tolerated, and serious side effects are rare. If you have or experience any of the following, stop taking the statin and contact your doctor immediately:
These side effects could suggest possible muscle problems. A doctor will perform blood tests to check for these problems. Rarely, widespread muscle breakdown, known as rhabdomyolysis, can occur, usually in people who are taking other drugs that interfere with the breakdown of the statin and in people with advanced kidney problems. This is a medical emergency.
Less serious side effects could include the following:
- Upset stomach
- Gas
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain or cramps
These symptoms are usually mild to moderate and generally disappear as the body adjusts to the medication.
Other side effects and monitoring include the following:
- Liver toxicity may occur; therefore, liver function is usually monitored in patients taking statins.
- Rare reports of neuropathy (numbness and tingling) affecting the hands, arms, feet, and legs have been described.
Next: Synonyms and Keywords »
| Printer-Friendly Format | | | Email to a Friend |
Cholesterol Management
Tips to keep it under control.
From WebMD
Cholesterol Resources
- Cholesterol: Fact vs. Fiction
- Lowering Your Cholesterol: Doing Enough?
- 9 Food Tips to Lower Cholesterol
Featured Centers
- 12 Ways to Prevent the Spread of Viruses
- 10 Surprising Benefits of Treating Depression
- Healthy Home: To Buy or Not to Buy Organic?
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Hypercholesterolemia, Familial »
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disorder that causes severe elevations in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc).
Featured Topics
Explore 80+ Centers
- Allergy
- Allergy Medications
- Anaphylaxis
- Antidepressants
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Baby's Health
- Back, Neck, Head Injury
- Bioterrorism, Warfare
- Blood, Lymphatic System
- Bone, Joint, Muscle
- Brain, Nervous System
- Breathing Difficulties
- Burns
- Camping
- Cancer, Tumors
- Children's Health
- Cholesterol
- Cold and Flu
- CPR, Choking
- Cuts, Scrapes, Bruises
- Dementia
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Diabetic Coma, Insulin Shock
- Digestive System
- Dislocations
- Drowning
- Drug Overdose
- Ear, Nose, Throat
- Emotional Wellness
- Endocrine System
- Environmental Injuries
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Exercise, Nutrition
- Eye, Vision
- Fainting
- Fever
- First Aid, Emergency
- First Aid Kits
- Food Poisoning
- Foreign Bodies
- Fractures, Broken Bones
- Glaucoma
- Headache
- Health, Medical
- Heartburn, GERD, Reflux
- Heart, Blood Vessels
- Heart Attack
- Hepatitis
- Immune System
- Incontinence
- Infections
- Kidneys, Urinary System
- Lung, Airway
- Medications
- Men's Health
- Mental Health, Behavior
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nosebleeds
- Osteoporosis
- Outdoor Living
- Overexposure
- Poisoning
- Procedures
- Psoriasis
- Public Health
- Scuba Diving, Swimming
- Seizures
- Senior Health
- Shock
- Skin, Hair, Nails
- Sleep Disorders
- Social, Family Health
- Sports Injury
- Sprains, Strains
- Statins
- STDs
- Substance Abuse
- Teen Health
- Teeth, Mouth, Oral Health
- Weight Management
- Wilderness Emergencies
- Women's Health
- Wounds


