When to take cholesterol pills. Statins for cholesterol are the most effective and safest drugs in every generation. Drug harm

Behind a thorough examination and testing. After reviewing the results, the attending doctor comes to the conclusion that his patient needs to be prescribed drugs that lower blood cholesterol. Statins - that is what they are called - will have to be taken over a fairly long period of time, and maybe all the time. Naturally, almost every patient will want to know as much as possible about this group of drugs.

What are statins?

These drugs include medications, the main function of which is to lower the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL). At first, increased levels of this substance in the blood do not cause any negative symptoms. However, over time, without taking appropriate measures and medicines on the walls of blood vessels, the process of formation of atherosclerotic plaques will begin, which at one far from perfect moment will completely block the lumen of the vessel, thereby provoking the development of a heart attack, stroke, and even death. Therefore, if the doctor decides to start taking statins for cholesterol, most likely, the patient will have to follow the doctor's instructions.

Drugs of this type, according to a fairly large group of medical workers, are able to protect human vessels from serious damage, thereby significantly improving the quality of life. The results of serious studies have shown that statins practically do not cause side effects... Long-term use of these medicines can not only reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol, but also increase the amount of high-density lipoproteins - "good" cholesterol.

On the territory of the Russian Federation, under different names, you can purchase the following drugs to lower cholesterol: statins "Simvastatin", "Pravastatin", "Atorvastatin", "Fluvastatin" and "Lovastatin".

The effect of statins on the human body

There are no statistics on the frequency of use of drugs that lower blood cholesterol levels in the Russian Federation. However, doctors in other countries use these drugs more often than any other. There are two opinions about the effect on the processes of cholesterol production.

One thing speaks of the unconditional use of statins as drugs that reduce the risk of vascular occlusion and the development of serious cardiovascular diseases (myocardial infarction, stroke, etc.).

Another opinion on this matter comes out with a statement about the dangers of statin pills. In no case should you get rid of cholesterol for the simple reason that this substance is simply necessary for every cell in the body to recover in cases where cell membranes are damaged. Simply put, when, for whatever reason, the integrity of the walls of blood vessels and arteries is violated, the body uses cholesterol for "repair" work. By artificially reducing the content of this substance, we simply deprive our body of serious protection.

Of course, both of these opinions, discussing statins for cholesterol, have a right to life. The benefits and harms from the use of these drugs (if you read the special literature on this issue) have a place to be.

How much is normal cholesterol level?

It should be understood that cholesterol is not fat, but alcohol that this fat holds. If such a substance binds to low density lipoproteins (LDL), then “bad” cholesterol enters the vessels, and if it interacts with high density lipoproteins (HDL), fat is carried out of the vessels (“good” cholesterol).

According to medical professionals, a cholesterol level of less than 200 mg / dL can be considered normal. But everything is far from so simple. The level of HDL in men should be at least 40 mg / dl, in women - 50 mg / dl. It should be noted that this figure should not exceed 130 mg / dl.

However, the question of under what cholesterol statins are prescribed may not be considered if the use of these drugs is vital. Doctors consider it mandatory to take funds if a patient has coronary artery disease, after heart attacks or strokes, after surgical interventions on the vessels. In addition, in the opinion of sufficient a large number doctors, taking statins for cholesterol must be taken by people with diabetes, who have a potentially high risk of complications.

"Natural" statins

If the doctor, for some reason, decided to prescribe medication statins, then, of course, it is unacceptable to cancel them on their own. However, after consulting a doctor, you can increase the mass fraction of the so-called "natural" statins in your diet.

For example, vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has the most beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, inhibiting the production of LDL (low density lipoprotein) in the body. These kinds of cholesterol-lowering "statins" are found in many fruits and vegetables.

Further, meat and dairy products, cereals, green vegetables contain nacin (vitamin B3) - an excellent natural statin. Regular garlic can also help regulate blood cholesterol levels quite effectively. Curcumin, a well-known seasoning, stimulates the liver to produce cholesterol and at the same time removes excess cholesterol from the body. Fish oil and flaxseed are recommended for people with heart disease.

It may well be that a certain group of patients will not need to take cholesterol-lowering medications. Statins of natural origin and physical exercise can deal with this problem quite effectively.

Statin-induced adverse events

In most cases, statins are well tolerated by the body. According to doctors, it is better to take a pill as directed by a healthcare professional than aspirin for a headache on its own. After all, pain can be a consequence of developing atherosclerosis (narrowing of the lumen in the vessel due to blockage by atherosclerotic plaques). In this case, statin will remove the cause, and aspirin - only the consequences (and even then not a fact).

However, certain undesirable effects of statins from cholesterol can still provoke. Quite often you can hear about headaches, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea. From the side of the central nervous system, dizziness, paresthesia, hypesthesia may appear. Also, patients often complain of joint pain, the appearance of myositis, muscle cramps, and back pain.

Of the allergic manifestations, they most often talk about itching, skin rash, urticaria. Although in some cases there is a possibility of developing anaphylaxis. Sometimes manifestations of thrombocytopenia, obesity, impotence, peripheral edema are possible.

Basic rules for taking statins

In general, how to take statins for cholesterol should be indicated in the instructions for use. In addition, when making an appointment, the patient's attention to the treatment regimen should be sharpened by the attending physician. In addition to these two essential sources of information, people need to know that statins should not be taken with grapefruit juice. The substances contained in this product prevent their destruction and excretion from the body, as a result of which the concentration of the latter in the blood increases. This situation can provoke destructive processes in muscle fibers, the development of liver failure (and this is already a life-threatening condition).

In addition, it is advisable to take statins not in the first half of the day, but in the evening one and a half to two hours before bedtime.

If we talk about the duration of the course of treatment with these drugs, there is no such concept at all. In most cases, statins for cholesterol should be taken for life. It is only permissible to vary the dosage.

How do you choose statins?

All currently used drugs have a high level of effectiveness. However, the most popular are statins for the new generation of cholesterol. Most often, medical workers from a number of medicines isolate "Atorvastatin".

The most significant plus of this tool is a large evidence base. The largest number of studies has been carried out on this drug. It is the easiest and easiest to apply once a day. There is a pronounced dose-dependent effect, which some statins do not have at all. Also, Rosuvastatin belongs to the new generation of drugs. A feature of these two medicines is the ability to quickly and painlessly lower cholesterol levels in patients.

Medical professionals have several principles for choosing a statin for each individual patient, depending on the history and health condition. Any drug can be used to lower LDL cholesterol. For those who suffer from chronic liver diseases, it is better to prescribe "Pravastatin" or "Rosuvastatin" in low doses. In case of muscle pain, preference is given to Pravastatin, as a drug that has a minimal toxic effect on muscles. Patients with kidney disease are not prescribed "Atorvastatin" and "Fluvastatin".

Opinion "against" the use of statins

Once in the human body, statins with high cholesterol reduce its level in the blood, thereby inhibiting the production of mevalonate (a precursor of cholesterol). So the sequence is clear: Less mevalonate means less cholesterol. At first glance, nothing is wrong. However, mevalonate is a source not only for cholesterol, but also for a number of substances that carry important functions. The loss of these substances from the biological cycle can lead to a host of health problems.

The use of cholesterol to repair damaged tissues and blood vessels was discussed earlier. And the fact that in the event of crisis situations ("repair" of cell membranes, vascular walls, etc.) in the body, the synthesis of cholesterol increases, looks natural. Satisfies the increased needs of the liver, its resources are sufficient to increase cholesterol production by 400%.

It is clear that looking at things from this point of view radically changes the opinion of people about the need to reduce the level of this substance. So is it worth taking statins for cholesterol on an ongoing basis? According to doctors and most of consumers, artificially lowering cholesterol levels with the help of synthetic drugs can provoke the development of a number of complex diseases. Dysfunction of the adrenal glands (the first link in the chain of deviations) may well lead to an increase in glucose in the blood, brain damage, lack of mineral substances, asthma, and also cause a weakening of libido, infertility, inflammation and edema, abnormalities in the functioning of the reproductive system.

Who is required to take statins?

Currently, any lipid-lowering drug (statins for cholesterol among them) is undergoing an ambiguous attitude towards itself. As a result of some studies, it has been postulated that regularly lowering cholesterol levels through the use of such drugs reduces the risk of developing problems in the cardiovascular system. Other studies lead scientists to conclude that the amount side effects incomparable with the benefits of these medications.

Today in Russia statins are included in the standard treatment regimen for many cardiac pathologies. Their use reduces the mortality rate of the population. However, this does not mean at all that these medications should be prescribed to every patient with arterial hypertension or ischemic heart disease. Also, statins are not prescribed for people over the age of 45, and for those who have slightly elevated cholesterol levels in their blood.

At the same time, according to health workers, these drugs are simply necessary for those who have suffered a heart attack or stroke (for secondary prevention). They are also recommended for patients who are planning to undergo reconstructive surgery on the heart and large vessels (coronary artery bypass grafting). The reason for starting statins is the state of acute coronary syndrome, ischemia with high risks of stroke or heart attack.

From the foregoing, it follows that for patients with severe vascular lesions, statin medications are an opportunity to prolong life.

Are statins a medical breakthrough or not?

Evidence-based medicine advocates can sleep well. Clinical studies on the effectiveness of statin drugs have proven that these lipid-lowering drugs really effectively lower blood cholesterol levels and, as a result, reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular pathologies. In addition, some new generation statins can even affect the size of atherosclerotic plaques (Rosuvastatin has just such an effect). And this is an absolute plus for such medicines.

However, one cannot be completely sure that statins are only beneficial. Cholesterol is required by the body for many biological processes. They are very important for the normal life of every person. A lot of negative consequences can be provoked by constantly taking statins for cholesterol. Benefit and harm practically go hand in hand.

The safety of the use of these medicines by patients of the age group from 50 to 60 years old is questionable. Initially, the research results were so impressive that statins were approved 2 years ahead of schedule. This did not make it possible to evaluate the side effects manifested with long-term use. Up to 98% of people taking statins for a long period complain of rather severe muscle pain, increased fatigue, speech impairment and problems with the vestibular apparatus. There are cases of disorders of cognitive functions and fine motor skills of the hands.

There are situations when statin drugs are vital for patients. And it so happens that you can do well with a balanced diet and exercise.

The right to decide whether it is necessary to take lipid-lowering drugs or not belongs to the attending doctor, who can assess the state of health of his patient as a whole and take into account all the nuances and accompanying problems.

Today, 5 main classes of drugs are used to treat conditions that are accompanied by the accumulation and deposition of cholesterol (CS). Among them, statins for cholesterol deserve special attention, the benefits and harms of which have been debated since the 50s of the twentieth century. Passions around them do not subside to the present day, and the history of the creation of drugs resembles an exciting adventure novel.

The fact that drugs blocking the synthesis of cholesterol will do more harm to the body than good, they started talking back in the middle of the last century. After all, cholesterol is a plastic component - it is part of the cell membrane, participates in the synthesis of sex hormones and adrenal hormones, cholic acids. Skeptics doubted that it was possible to create such drugs that would be strictly controlled, capable of eliminating only excess cholesterol without interfering with lipid metabolism.

General information

To lower cholesterol, statins act as blockers of HMG-CoA reductase, a "bioactivator" of the initial stages of the reaction for the synthesis of cholesterol from precursor substances. A group of scientists from Japan, led by Akira Endo, conducting experiments to improve penicillin, noticed back in 1971 that some types of microscopic fungi produce not only antibiotics, but also substances that prevent the creation of cell membranes in bacteria and disrupt the metabolism of lipids necessary for their growth and activity. So from the mold that produces antibiotics, a component of bio active substances called Compactin. It took more than 15 years before the first commercial statin appeared on the world pharmaceutical market - Lovastatin (Mevacor), which was a specific inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase. Almost simultaneously with Akira Endo, statins were obtained in a research laboratory, the British pharmaceutical company Beecham, famous for its work on improving penicillin.

But in 1980, the Japanese pharmaceutical company Sankyo So stopped all research, without explanation. On Wednesday, scientists leaked rumors that as a result of ongoing trials of statin therapy in experimental animals, intestinal cancer was found. The possible carcinogenic effects of statins have prompted a conservative Japanese company to scale back its development.

The company's decision to stop the introduction of statins into medical practice could cost the lives of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, the most common hereditary disease in the world. Without treatment of the disease, patients have an early and rapid development of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, strokes, stenosis (narrowing) of the aorta and sudden death.

According to Professor John J.P. Kastelein (Netherlands), who has been dealing with the problem of treating familial hypercholesterolemia for many years, without statins, the outcome of the disease is as bad as in AIDS patients.

It is only through the support of clinicians who have seen the effectiveness of statins firsthand that Merck's research has been able to defend statins.

It is scientifically proven that statins:

• do not show side, and even more so carcinogenic properties, subject to the therapeutic dose of the drug;
• lower cholesterol to target values ​​much faster than diet therapy and drug therapy with other types of lipid-lowering patients;
• reduced mortality from heart failure by 42%;
• even aggressive therapy with statins does not violate the body's lipid balance;
• helps to stop the progression of atherosclerosis;
• reduce the absorption of exogenous cholesterol;
• affect inflammation and immune activation, which are responsible for the progression of chronic heart failure.

Long-term studies have proven the need for early statin use, high-dose drug use, and long-term treatment.

Indications for appointment

Statins are prescribed for hereditary or acquired high cholesterol levels.

Lipid-lowering patients are prescribed for:

• prevention of chronic heart failure and stroke in risk groups;
• rehabilitation after myocardial infarction;
• rehabilitation in the postoperative period (bypass surgery, stenting, angioplasty);
• treatment and prevention of ischemic heart disease;
• reducing the rate of development of atherosclerosis;
• treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease;
• metabolic disorders (obesity, diabetes mellitus);
• therapy of hypercholesterolemia - high hereditary or heterozygous.

In modern therapy of chronic heart failure and familial hypocholesterolemia, statins are included in the complex treatment regimen.

How to use?

The dosage and duration of statin use vary from generation to generation. On average, the recommended daily dose of drugs is 20-40 mg. An increase in the amount (~ 80 mg) is shown with a decrease in high levels of cholesterol. The table shows the daily doses for modern statins:

Since statins have different degrees of lipophilicity, their ability to penetrate cell membranes is different. This factor causes side effects, which affects the dose of the drug.

Since the synthesis of cholesterol depends on the time of day, it is recommended to take the drugs after dinner, before bedtime.

If the expected effect is not achieved with the use of a therapeutic dose, then:

• the dosage is increased;
• treatment is supplemented with a special diet and other drugs;
• replace one statin with another, stronger one.

Distinguish between therapeutic and maintenance dosage. After the level of cholesterol has returned to normal, the patient is transferred to a maintenance dose of a statin.

It interacts with medications in different ways. Therefore, it is prescribed individually, depending on many factors, including those drugs that the patient must take simultaneously with statins. You can not take the drug under discussion with drugs for the treatment of HIV infection (protease inhibitors, Cyclosporin, Gemfibrozil), they increase the dose of statin 5-6 times.

They can increase the effect of the anticoagulant warfarin. Their effectiveness is reduced by the simultaneous use of Erythromycin. It enhances intestinal motility and accelerates the elimination of statins from the body.

Mechanism of action

Pharmacodynamics (mechanism of action) of statins - blocking glycoprotein, which catalyzes the production of cholesterol in cells capable of synthesizing it (in the reproductive organs, gastrointestinal tract, liver, adrenal glands). They also increase the number of low density lipoprotein (LDL) sensitive receptors in hepatocytes, thereby reducing the activity of these lipoproteins in the blood. Statins lower cholesterol by blocking the synthesis of LDL precursors - very low density lipoproteins. To a lesser extent, statins inhibit the synthesis of triglycerides. Since their number in the blood decreases, the level of anti-atherogenic substances - high-density lipoproteins - increases accordingly. This mechanism determines the activity of statins as a hypolipidemic and atherosclerotic drug.

The big advantage of using statins is that they do not affect the synthesis of steroid hormones in the adrenal and gonads.

In addition, statins reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the gastrointestinal tract, which enters the human body with food. In addition to the pronounced lipid-lowering effect, statins have an effect on the endothelium ( inner surface) blood vessels. Statins improve migration and balance the process of "creation / destruction" of cells of smooth muscle tissue and epithelium, thereby improving the mechanical and plastic characteristics of the vascular wall.

The drugs not only improve the structure of the endothelium, but also affect the synthesis of cytokines - substances that contribute to the onset of inflammatory processes. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of statin action reduce the risk of plaque attachment and growth. Also, the discussed agent inactivates macrophage cells that synthesize substances that loosen cholesterol plaques and increase the risk of their detachment and vascular thrombosis.

Statins indirectly affect the volume and velocity of blood flow, eliminating the factor of the development of tissue ischemia. The mechanism of their anticoagulant action is complex and multistage. Such a variety of positive effects of statins on the body made drugs leaders in the fight against hypercholesterolemia.

Classification of statins for cholesterol

There are several principles for grouping statins, depending on:

1. The origin of drugs is divided into:

• natural, obtained from the lower fungi Aspergillus terreus;
• semi-synthetic, obtained as a result of chemical modification of natural compounds;
• synthetic resulting chemical reactions, analogs of natural statins.

2. For drugs that have a chemical structure in their structure:

• decalin ring;
• fluorophenyl group;
• methyl group.

Drugs are also subdivided by generations, but some scientists consider the division of statins into generations to be incorrect, since they are very similar in their properties and effectiveness, and group them depending on the chronology of release.

List of drugs - statins

All drugs have not only an international name, but also trade names:

Statins are gradually losing ground. Clinical studies of new hypolipidemics are already underway, the pharmacodynamics of which are based on completely different mechanisms.

But for now, statins are indispensable. In order to increase their effectiveness and reduce side effects, scientists from Amsterdam proposed to supplement the therapy regimen for familial hypercholesterolamia with a new drug Praluent (Alirokumab). However, statins are still leading in terms of sales and frequency of prescriptions.

Cholesterol statins - benefits

The main benefit of statins is their ability to lower cholesterol.

In addition, drugs have an effect on:

• vascular endothelium, preserving its integrity and smoothness, which prevents cholesterol from "clinging" to surface irregularities and form plaques;
• synthesis of inflammatory cytokines. Eliminating inflammation, statins reduce the risk of destruction of the vascular endothelium, the formation of blood clots, dysfunction of the heart muscle, reduce the level of soluble protein, which is associated with the recurrence of chronic cardiac pathologies and the progression of atherosclerosis;
• blood composition. By normalizing the process of blood clotting, statins reduce the risk of blood clots;
• synthesis of nitric oxide. This compound has a relaxing effect on the muscle layer of the blood vessel wall, increasing blood flow;
• the state of cholesterol plaques. Statins have a stabilizing effect on the state of atherosclerotic plaques, preventing their destruction and detachment with the formation of a blood clot. The body adapts to the presence of dense plaques by creating additional blood flow pathways. With prolonged statin therapy, the size of the plaques gradually decreases.

There are a number of other positive properties of statins, but they are rarely listed in articles, since the mechanism has not yet been sufficiently studied, and the facts have not been confirmed by scientific research. For example, a number of articles noted the effectiveness of statin therapy in complex treatment diabetes mellitus... The drugs not only reduced glucose activity, but also minimized the risk of developing coronary artery disease and other pathologies of the circulatory network. The drugs, increasing blood flow, restored tissue trophism, excluded their oxygen starvation and necrosis. Thus, it is noted that the treatment of diabetic patients with statins reduces the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

In addition, scientists in separate publications note the positive effects of statins. This:

• reducing the likelihood of spasm of the coronary arteries;
• stimulating the formation of new coronary blood vessels (angiogenesis);
• antioxidant;
• inhibition of the progression of Alzheimer's disease and blue dementia;
• antiarrhythmic and antihypertrophic;
• immunosuppressive.

In addition, statins have a suppressive effect on some tumors, disrupting DNA reproduction and cell proliferation. The drugs stimulate the synthesis of the growth factor of osteoblasts, have a beneficial effect on the condition and function of the thyroid gland.

But, since statins are long-term drugs, when they were created, not only the effectiveness of treatment was taken into account, but also their safety.

Side effects and harm

In addition to benefits, statins also bring harm, which is most often caused by non-compliance with the duration of use and exceeding the dosage of drugs. The first generation statins, despite the fact that they were of natural origin, had an impressive list of side effects and contraindications.

Generation III and IV statins have fewer side effects and, with the exception of individual cases of muscle cell necrosis (rhabdomyolysis) and myopathy, according to some scientists, their use is no more dangerous than aspirin treatment.

However, with long-term treatment with high doses of statins, the following side effects are noted.

1.From the gastrointestinal tract:

• dyspeptic manifestations;
• defecation disorders;
• loss of appetite;
• inflammation of the pancreas;
• flatulence;
• fatty and fibrous degeneration of the liver;
• anorexia;
• increased levels of liver enzymes in the blood;

2.from the nervous system:

• mood swings;
• sleep dysfunction;
• memory impairment;
• dizziness and headache;
• convulsions;
• increased risk of developing Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases;

3.from the musculoskeletal system:

• muscle pain;
• myopathy;
• rhabdomyolysis;

4.from the genitourinary system:

• sexual dysfunctions;
• tubulopathy;
• proteinuria;
• renal failure.

However, these side effects are not so common (1-2% of cases) that statin treatment should be abandoned, and for many patients these drugs are the only way to prolong life. In addition, the side effects of statins can be significantly reduced or completely eliminated if taken together with them at 200-300 mg / day Conzyme Q10.

List of contraindications for use

The instructions for each drug contain a list of contraindications, complete or partial.

• pregnancy;
• under the age of 16-18. As an exception, with hereditary hyperlipidemia, statins are allowed to be used from 8-9 years of age;
• persistent increase in the level of renal enzymes in the blood;
• acute renal failure;
• allergic reactions to drugs.

Statins are not a panacea and, with normal cholesterol levels, their use causes side effects of varying severity.

Since the benefits and harms of the drugs under discussion are still debated in scientific circles, there are many recommendations on how to lower cholesterol without statins. As an alternative, natural statins for cholesterol and drugs with a similar effect are offered.

Natural statins for cholesterol

Certain plants and foods have statin-like effects. For example, red yeast rice is sold as a dietary supplement, which contains natural statins, but also has side effects.

A good alternative to statins is called:

• a low-carb diet;
• eating varieties sea ​​fish rich in Omega 3 fatty acids;
• fiber-rich vegetables and fruits;
• greens rich in niacin;
• berries and fruits containing a natural antioxidant - vitamin C;
• garlic and turmeric, which contain natural statin analogues.

In all of these products, the proportion of natural statins is quite high. With strict adherence to diet therapy in combination with drug therapy, you can count on the same effect in the absence of side effects.

In addition to healthy foods, natural statins are found in medicinal plants such as:

• plantain;
• fenugreek;
• Dioscorea Caucasian;
• golden mustache or fragrant collision;
• mistletoe;
• fruits of Japanese sophora;
• cyanosis is blue;
• dandelion root, etc.

Diet therapy and phytopreparations will not be able to quickly normalize blood cholesterol levels, so they are used as elements of complex therapy together with other drugs that have the ability to inhibit the cholesterol synthesis enzyme.

How to lower cholesterol without statins?

In addition to the above methods of naturally lowering cholesterol, you can use the following lipid-lowering drugs:

• fibrates - Lipantil 200M, Traikor, Lipanor;
• sequestrants - Kolestyramine, Colestipol, Colesevelam;
• niacin - Nicotinic acid, Nicotinamide.

The decision on the choice of drugs to lower cholesterol levels is made only by a doctor. The effectiveness of statins has been proven by long-term (more than 5 years) randomized studies conducted in a number of countries. Therefore, if a doctor has prescribed statins, you should not replace them with similar drugs on your own.

Update: November 2018

After a blood test for cholesterol, the doctor prescribes to the patient expensive cholesterol pills that prevent diseases of the cardiovascular system - statins.

At the same time, the doctor must also explain to the patient that now he must take these medications constantly. Any pill - for lowering cholesterol or for other diseases - all, without exception, have their own set of side effects.

And the doctor must warn his patient about all the possible side effects of statins. How can you lower cholesterol with pills and should you do it? Of course, every person who has high blood cholesterol thinks about whether to take medications?

For cholesterol, there are 2 main groups of pharmacological drugs - statins and fibrates, it is also recommended to use Omega 3 and lipoic acid. In this article, we will take a closer look at what cholesterol pills exist, their harm and benefits.

The information provided in this article does not call for self-medication or discontinuation of physician-prescribed statins. If you have doubts about the advisability of taking them, you should contact several specialists and undergo a comprehensive examination. The risks and benefits of drugs should be assessed only by a doctor in each specific clinical case, taking into account the presence of chronic diseases of the patient and the state of the cardiovascular system.

Statins - drugs to lower cholesterol

Statins are chemicals that reduce the body's production of enzymes that are needed to synthesize cholesterol in the body. The instructions for these drugs, tablets that lower blood cholesterol, indicate the following:

• Statins reduce the concentration of cholesterol in plasma due to the inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, a decrease in cholesterol synthesis in the liver.
• Reduce the concentration of cholesterol in individuals with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, not amenable to treatment with lipid-lowering drugs.
• Reduce total cholesterol by 30-45%, "bad" cholesterol - by 40-60%.
• Increases the concentration of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) and apolipoprotein A.
• Reduces the risk of ischemic complications by 15%, including myocardial infarction and the risk of angina pectoris with signs of myocardial ischemia - by 25%.
• It has no mutagenic and carcinogenic effects.

Side effects of statins

The use of statins to lower cholesterol leads to a host of side effects:

• Very often: insomnia, asthenic syndrome, headache, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, myalgia.
• Nervous system: amnesia, malaise, dizziness, hypesthesia, paresthesia, peripheral neuropathy.
• Digestive system: vomiting, diarrhea, hepatitis, anorexia, cholestatic jaundice, pancreatitis.
• Musculoskeletal system:, back pain, muscle cramps, myopathy, arthritis of the joints.
• Allergic reactions: skin rash, urticaria, anaphylaxis, Lyell's syndrome, exudative erythema.
• Hematopoietic organs: thrombocytopenia.
• Metabolism: diabetes mellitus or - a decrease in blood sugar.
• , weight gain, obesity, peripheral edema.

Who is required to take statins to prolong life?

The instructions and advertisements of drugs to lower cholesterol convince people that statins significantly improve the quality of life and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Numerous studies claim that the use of statins has practically no side effects on the body and is effective method prevention of heart attacks and strokes. "Drink them constantly and your bad cholesterol will go down and your good cholesterol will increase." Is it possible to trust such statements and is it not just an advertisement for expensive drugs?

In fact, not everything is so simple and the need for statins for the elderly remains a very controversial issue. Today, the attitude towards statins is very ambiguous:

• Some studies support the need for statins when cholesterol levels are very high, while reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Others argue that side effects and potential health risks for an elderly person are not comparable to possible benefit such prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Today in the Russian Federation statins are included in the treatment standards for a large number of cardiac pathologies. Their appointment reduces mortality. This does not mean at all that statins should be treated for every patient with arterial hypertension or coronary heart disease. Also, you can not prescribe them to everyone who is over 45 years old or who simply has an increased level of cholesterol in the blood.

Prescribing statins is mandatory:

• for secondary prevention after a heart attack or stroke
• they are also indicated in reconstructive operations on the heart and large vessels (for example, in coronary artery bypass grafting)
• acute coronary syndrome or myocardial infarction
• coronary artery disease with a high risk of stroke or heart attack is also a reason to take statins.

In this way, all severe coronary patients need statins to prolong life, there is no other way out... To reduce side effects, the doctor must choose the right drug, control biochemistry (once every 3 months), with a 3-fold increase in transaminases, statins should be canceled. The most serious complication of statin therapy is rhabdomyolysis, which is rare.

It is doubtful the benefit when prescribed in patients:

• low risk
• in women before menopause
• in patients with diabetes mellitus

In Russia, the following types of statins with different cholesterol lowering activity can be found in pharmacy chains:

• Rosuvastatin - lowers cholesterol by 55%
• Atorvastatin - by 47%
• Simvastatin - by 38%
• Fluvastatin - by 29%
• Lovastatin - by 25%

Some principles for choosing statins

Whether or not to take statins is an individual decision based on the doctor's recommendations. And if a decision is made to take statins, then the choice of the drug should be carried out by the doctor, taking into account the existing chronic diseases of the patient.

You cannot take any cholesterol-lowering drugs on your own. In case of violations of lipid metabolism and changes in the analyzes, you should contact a cardiologist or therapist. Let them assess your risks taking into account:

• gender, age, weight
• bad habits
• existing diseases of the cardiovascular system and side pathologies (primarily diabetes mellitus).

If a statin is prescribed, it should be taken in the dosages recommended by the doctor, taking blood biochemistry as often as he prescribes. If what is recommended for admission is too expensive, it is worth discussing the possibility of replacing it with a cheaper, but better original drug. Unfortunately, Russian generics are still inferior in quality not only to original imported drugs, but also to foreign generics.

When prescribing statins to elderly people, it should be borne in mind that their simultaneous administration with drugs for gout, hypertension, diabetes mellitus increases the risk of myopathy by 2 times.

• If the patient has chronic liver disease, it is better for such patients to take rosuvastatin, but only in low doses, pravastatin (Pravaxol) can be used. These two types of statins protect the liver, however, while taking them, you should never drink alcohol or take antibiotics.
• If the patient has persistent muscle pain, or there is a risk of muscle damage, then the use of the same pravastatin is more appropriate, since it is less toxic to the muscles.
• In patients with chronic kidney disease, Fluvastin - Lescol and Atorvastatin calcium (Lipitor) should not be used, since they are very toxic to the kidneys.
• For patients seeking to lower their low-density cholesterol levels, you can take different types statins, for example, you can take atorvastatin or rosuvastatin.

To date, there is no convincing data on the advisability of combining statins with nicotinic acid. In addition, nicotinic acid can cause a drop in blood sugar in diabetic patients, provoke bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, exacerbate gout, and increase the risk of myopathies and rhabdomyolysis when taken with statins.

A little about research and the potential dangers of statins

Previously, guided by the recommendations of American specialists, our cardiologists tended to prescribe statins for all cases of ischemic disease, as well as for arterial hypertension and low risks of cardiovascular pathologies in adults. . Also, the Americans recommended fairly high dosages of drugs (about 80 mg).

However, in the fall of 2013, the British Medical Journal (The BMJ), represented by its editor Fiona Godley, initiated a scandal by publishing two comments regarding statins. They cited an observational study showing that 20 percent of patients taking statins experienced adverse events.

The chair of the statin research group, Rory Collins, who received money from the drug manufacturers, demanded that the articles be withdrawn. However, an independent commission confirmed the BMJ's data.

In Russia, not a single independent study has been conducted in this area, and doctors are actively prescribing these drugs to patients. In the United States, physicians prescribe statins to lower cholesterol very often; in 2007 alone, the global trade in statins was $ 40 billion.

According to Canadian scientists, when using statins in patients, the risk of developing increases by 57%), if + to statins the patient also suffers from diabetes, this risk increases by 82%, this was confirmed by statistical analysis. That is, in older people with diabetes who take statins, the processes leading to cataracts occur 5.6 times faster.

After analyzing the results of 14 clinical studies aimed at studying the effect of statins (34,000 patients), experts concluded that statins reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks, but due to the presence of serious side effects, they are not recommended for people who have not had any previous heart disease or there were no strokes. Those who regularly take statins have liver dysfunctions, the development of cataracts, renal failure, as well as depression, mood swings, short-term memory lapses, and muscle myopathy.

• Low cholesterol is much more dangerous than high cholesterol, and statins can significantly lower cholesterol.

Studies in Germany prove that low level cholesterol increases the risk of cancer, liver disease, the same stroke, nervous diseases, anemia, and even suicide and early death.

• Low magnesium levels - risk of stroke and heart attack

Studies in the United States claim that low magnesium, not high cholesterol, is the culprit for heart attacks and strokes in humans. A deficiency of this trace element just leads to an increase in cholesterol, the development of diabetes, hypertension, angina pectoris and arthymia.

• The most important function of cholesterol to restore disorders in body tissues can be suppressed by statins

Science knows that any scar tissue in the body, including arteries, contains a large amount of cholesterol, and when the walls of blood vessels are damaged by the accumulation of proteins and under the influence of acids, cholesterol actively removes these damage. For growth muscle mass and normal life, the body needs exactly low-density fat cells (bad cholesterol), with a lack of which there is myalgia (muscle pain, weakness, edema) and even muscular dystrophy.

• Statins lower cholesterol, but is it good for the body?

HMG CoA reductase inhibitors suppress cholesterol production by lowering the production of mevalonate, a precursor of cholesterol, but is that a good thing? Mevalonate is a source of not only cholesterol, but also many others, very important substances performing the necessary biological functions in the body, the lack of which leads to other diseases.

• Statins increase the risk of developing diabetes mellitus, which in turn provokes high cholesterol.

If the patient is constantly taking statins, this increases the likelihood of developing diabetes mellitus (according to various sources, from 10 to 70%). At the same time, it is known that diabetes mellitus increases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart disease by 2-4 times. Statins reduce the concentration of the GLUT4 protein in the cell, which is responsible for blood glucose levels. A group of British scientists has released a study that was conducted on 10242 women over 63 years old. They were divided into 2 control groups, one group using statins, the other not. As a result of the study, it was found that taking statins by 70% increases the risk of developing after menopause.

• Side effects of statins appear slowly, which is not noticeable to the patient and is very dangerous with prolonged use.
• Impact on human mental ability

The human body is biochemically and physiologically a very finely coordinated system, and prolonged interference with the natural life process necessarily turns into various unexpected consequences. Statins, by inhibiting certain enzymes of cholesterol metabolism, have an effect on the liver. At the same time, people with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle improve the condition of the blood vessels for some time. However, with constant intervention in the physiological system, a violation of more complex processes occurs, for example, a decrease in a person's mental abilities occurs, especially in the elderly.

High blood cholesterol in a patient under 50 is an indicator of serious disorders in the body - infections, diseases of the digestive system, disorders of carbohydrate metabolism. Cholesterol is not the cause of disease, but a mirror of the state of health, and its increase as “the most important representative of sterols in the body” indicates that it protects, and does not weaken, the body. Moreover, the concept of the influence of blood cholesterol levels on the occurrence of atherosclerosis is still just a hypothesis.

Mary Enig is a renowned lipid biochemist and president of the Maryland Dietetic Association calls high cholesterol an invented disease. An increase in cholesterol levels is a protective reaction of the body to the inflammation that has arisen, and first of all, it is necessary to find out the factors that harm the body and provoke inflammation. Some well-known doctors argue that the real causes of cardiovascular disease are stress, inflammation, diabetes.

In many developed countries of the world, 30 years ago, programs were launched to promote cholesterol lowering at the national level, including:

• dietary change
• to give up smoking
• keeping an active lifestyle
• taking statins

As a result, the death rate in the USA, Finland and other countries from cardiovascular diseases has decreased by 50% in 30 years. It is possible that quitting smoking and eating foods that lower cholesterol, increasing physical activity is a more reasonable and safer way to prolong life than taking modern drugs that have serious side effects, the tests of which and the study of their effect on the body are still ongoing.

Another argument about the need for a careful assessment of the harm and benefits before prescribing statins to older people

In one study of 3070 people 60 years and older who took statins, 30% of patients experience muscle pain as a side effect. They often complain that they have become less energetic, their fatigue has increased, and they have become very weak. Such pain is especially intense in people who have just started taking these drugs.

Thus, in a person taking statins, the indicators of physical (moderate) activity are reduced by 40 minutes. in Week. Because of muscle pain, people are less motivated to exercise, exercise, or just walk, which in itself brings heart attacks and strokes closer. Moreover, for this very reason, due to the lack of maintenance of physical activity, patients begin to rapidly gain weight, muscles weaken, an additional load on the cardiovascular system appears and, as a result, the same heart attacks and strokes !!!

Other pills for lowering cholesterol - fibrates

There are other pills that lower cholesterol in the blood - these are derivatives of fibric acid, which, by binding with bile acid, reduce the active production of cholesterol by the liver. Fenofibrates are able to reduce lipids in the body, leading to lower cholesterol levels.

According to clinical studies, it was found that the use of fenofibrates reduces the level of total cholesterol by 25%, triglycerides by 40-50%, while increasing good cholesterol by 10-30%. The instructions for tablets for lowering cholesterol fenofibrates, ciprofibrates indicate that their use helps to reduce extravascular deposits - tendon xanthomas, reduce triglycerides and cholesterol levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

However, the use of these drugs leads to a number of side effects, most often these are various kinds of digestive disorders - vomiting or diarrhea.

Side effects of fenofibrates:

• Digestive system: hepatitis, pancreatitis, abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, flatulence, diarrhea, gallstone formation
• Musculoskeletal system: muscle weakness, diffuse myalgia, rhabdomyolysis, myositis, muscle spasms.
• The cardiovascular system: venous thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism.
• Nervous system: headaches, sexual dysfunction.
• Allergic reactions: photosensitivity, itchy skin, skin rash, urticaria.

In order to reduce the dosage of statins, and therefore their side effects, statins are sometimes combined with fibrates.

Drugs that reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine

Ezetemib (Ezetrol 14 pcs 1100 rubles, 28 pcs 2000 rubles) is a new lipid-lowering drug, it has the ability to reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine. In addition, Ezetemib, unlike Orlistat (Xsenalan, Orsoten, Xenical, etc.) does not cause diarrhea. The recommended daily dose of Ezetemib is 10 mg.

However, it should be remembered that 80-70% of cholesterol is produced by the body itself and only 20-30% comes with food (the% ratio may fluctuate slightly).

Other funds

In general, dietary supplements are not drugs, and homeopathy does not undergo proper clinical research, therefore, from the point of view of evidence-based medicine, these drugs are significantly inferior to statins in the prevention of premature mortality or vascular accidents.

• Omega 3

Cardiologists in the United States strongly recommend that patients with high blood cholesterol take fish oil pills (Omega 3), which provides protection against cardiovascular disease, as well as prevention of arthritis and depression. However, fish oil should also be taken with caution as it increases the risk of developing chronic pancreatitis.

• Pumpkin

This is pumpkin seed oil, the use of the drug is recommended for people with hepatitis, cholecystitis. It is a phytopreparation with anti-inflammatory, choleretic, hepatoprotective, antioxidant action.

• Lipoic acid

It is used for the prevention and treatment of coronary atherosclerosis, since it is an endogenous antioxidant, has a positive effect on carbohydrate metabolism, increases glycogen in the liver, improves the trophism of neurons.

• Vitamin therapy

Also helps to maintain normal cholesterol levels. Especially necessary folic acid, vitamin B12 and B6, niacin - vitamin B3. However, vitamins should not be synthetic, but natural, that is, the amount of foods rich in these vitamins should be increased in the daily diet (see).

• BAA - SitoPren

This is an extract of fir paws, is a source of beta-sitosterol, and also contains polyprenols, is prescribed by a doctor for atherosclerosis, hypertension, high cholesterol and triglycerides.

In many cases, statins are prescribed after a cholesterol test. The main task of these tablets is to prevent the development of diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

The doctor is obliged to explain to the patient that now he needs to take statins every day. But, like any drug to lower cholesterol, statins have positive and negative effects.

What are statins?

Statins are chemicals that regulate the production of enzymes that make cholesterol in the human body.

How statins work:

1. Lowering the concentration of LDL in the blood by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase and stopping the synthesizing processes of cholesterol in the liver.
2. Decrease in the amount of LDL in people who have been diagnosed with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia that cannot be treated with other medications.
3. Lowering the amount of cholesterol by 35-47 percent, LDL - by 43-67 percent.
4. An increase in the concentration of high density lipoproteins.
5. Reducing the risk of developing ischemic pathologies by 14-17 percent, myocardium and angina pectoris - by 23-27 percent.
6. Lack of mutagenic and carcinogenic effects on the body.

Under what indicators are statins prescribed?

At what levels of cholesterol are statins effective? Prescribing drugs is advisable in such cases:

• Hypercholesterolemia. Exceeding the norm of cholesterol does not decrease for several months.
• Pronounced clinical atherosclerosis.

• Diagnosed cardiac ischemia.

Scientists still have not given an answer at what level of cholesterol statins are the best drugs for treatment. American scientists, after conducting a number of studies, argue that statins can be used to lower cholesterol when the norm is exceeded by 3.5 mmol / l. This is especially rational if the patient meets one of the criteria:

• Over 58 years old.
• Male gender.
• Obesity.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Hypertension.
• Has diabetes.

Benefits of statins

Statins for the treatment of patients have a number of indisputable advantages:

1. Reduces heart disease deaths by 39 percent in the first 5 years.
2. Reduce the possibility of developing a heart attack and stroke by 33 percent.
3. Effective. Systematic use lowers the level of LDL by 44-53 percent, increases the amount of HDL by 25 percent.
4. Wide range of analogs. The pharmaceutical market provides a wide range of statin drugs, which allows you to select statins for your financial capabilities.

Side effects

Despite the fact that drugs for lowering cholesterol are effective and well tolerated, their intake does not go unnoticed for health. This disadvantage is explained by the fact that statins need to be drunk for a long time, from 3 to 4 years to obtain a therapeutic effect.

Muscles are the most affected by statins. A patient who uses medication may develop myopathy over time, the main symptoms of which are skeletal muscle weakness and soreness. If, after the onset of the disease, you do not stop taking pills, rhabdomyolysis will appear - muscle breakdown, due to which the renal tubules are blocked by the decay products, and acute renal failure develops.

Memory and thinking problems are common. The patient has memory lapses for several hours, in which he cannot remember himself and his close environment.

The risk of developing side effects increases if, in parallel with the intake of statins, a person uses the following medications:

1. Antibiotics
2. Fibrates.
3. Cytostatics.
4. Amiodarone.
5. Verapamil.

Also, the likelihood of side effects is affected by:

• The age of the patient (in the elderly, it is observed 55 percent more often than in patients under 48 years of age).
• Diseases of a chronic nature.
• Improper nutrition.
• Survived surgical interventions.
• Improper liver function.
• Overuse alcoholic beverages.
• The use of a large number of pills.
• Drinking freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.

Taking statins with high cholesterol provokes an increased activity of transaminase, a renal enzyme, which signals the harm that the drug does to the liver. Especially, the situation is aggravated if the patient systematically takes alcohol.

Often, after taking statins, patients complain of the following conditions in the morning:

1. Headache.
2. Rash and redness on the skin.
3. Insomnia.
4. Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
5. Flatulence.
6. Lack of appetite.
7. General malaise.
8. Drowsiness.
9. Vomiting urge.

These symptoms are less common, and in some they completely disappear if the doctor allows you to lower the dose of the medicine.

Therefore, it is better to take statins under the supervision of the attending physician and, at least once every few months, take tests to check the state of health. Such studies include:

• Checking for the level of alanine aminotransferase.
• Check for the amount of aspartate aminotransferase in the blood plasma.
• Determination of the amount of cholesterol.
• Determination of the level of creatine phosphokinase.

Important! If in the blood test for creatine phosphokinase the results are higher than normal, then this signals the defeat of muscle mass.

List of drugs to lower blood cholesterol

We bring to your attention a list of statins and their effectiveness in lowering cholesterol.

Classification of statins

So far, there are four generations of statins. The representatives of the first - lovastatin and simvastatin - are based on penicillin mushrooms. Representatives of the other categories were bred in synthetic conditions.

It is a mistake to think that first generation statins have fewer side effects than more modern statins. Everyone who drank simvastatin complained of statin-like symptoms the latest generations.

How to choose statins correctly

Whether it is necessary to take statins is a personal choice of everyone, which he must make after consulting a specialist. If it is decided that medications should be taken, the selection of the drug is carried out by the doctor, who must take into account the individual characteristics of the patient.

Important! The patient is prohibited from choosing his own medicine to reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood.

If lipid metabolism is disturbed, and a blood test showed abnormalities, it is necessary to visit a cardiologist. The doctor will select the right statin based on the patient's characteristics:

1. Age category.
2. Addiction to bad habits.
3. The presence of CVD and diabetes mellitus.

If a decision is made to take a statin to increase the level of HDL, then this should be done according to the instructions prescribed by the doctor. He will also prescribe a schedule for donating blood biochemistry, which will help control the benefits and harms of statins from cholesterol. This recommendation is mandatory.

If the prescribed statin is too expensive for the patient, he should immediately tell about it and find a cheaper medication with the doctor. The main thing is that it is an original drug.

Principles of prescribing statins:

1. A patient with chronic liver disease should drink low dosage rosuvastatin or pravastatin. These statins act as reliable liver protection, but they cannot be combined with antibiotics and alcohol.
2. A patient who complains of muscle pain or has a tendency to such a disease is better off taking pravastatin, because of all statins, it has the least effect on muscle tissue.
3. For a patient with chronic kidney disease, it is dangerous to prescribe Fluvastin-Lescol and Atorvastatin, since the drugs are too toxic for these organs.
4. For patients with high LDL cholesterol, it is better to opt for rosuvastatin or atorvastatin.
5. When prescribing a statin for elderly patients, take into account that the drug provokes the development of myopathy 3 times.

Scientists have not yet been able to establish how the simultaneous administration of statins and nicotinic acid works, since the latter:

• Reduces sugar in diabetics.
• Provokes bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract.
• Aggravates gout.
• Increases the possibility of developing myopathy.
• Increases the risk of rhabdomyolysis.

How to take statins and when

To restore HDL levels, statins are drunk once a day, better evening... This is due to the fact that during this period of time the formation of lipids increases. But if atorvastatin or rosuvastatin is prescribed, then they can be drunk at any time, since they have a prolonged effect.

To improve the effect, adhere to certain restrictions in food and lifestyle. For example: minimize or completely eliminate alcohol and cigarettes. The amount of salt in dishes should be limited.

It is useful to take a walk in the fresh air or do simple physical exercises 3-5 times a week for 30-40 minutes. Such a load will improve the condition of blood vessels and enhance the effect of taking statins.

Statins for lowering cholesterol are classified as lipid-lowering drugs. These drugs block cholesterol-producing cells. Medicines are prescribed to patients if the risk of developing cardiovascular disease is increased, which occurs as a result of impaired cholesterol metabolism or as a result of atherosclerosis.

In addition, statins have other beneficial effects. For example, they support the inner layer of blood vessels in normal condition, when atherosclerosis cannot be determined, and cholesterol is already accumulating. This early stage diseases. Also, drugs help to reduce blood viscosity. And this is the prevention of blood clots.

What are statins?

Lipid-lowering modern medicines are most effective against high cholesterol levels. The composition of the latest generation of drugs includes such active substances as atorvastatin, cerivastatin, rosuvastatin, pitavastatin. These elements allow not only to fight the "bad" cholesterol, but also to maintain the "good".

The most effective statins are those that benefit from within the first month after regular use. Typically, medications are prescribed 1 tablet per day. They can be used together with other cardiac medications..

Before they are prescribed, the patient is prescribed a special diet, healthy image life. If such activities did not help lower cholesterol levels, then medications are prescribed.

How statins work

Medicines inhibit the substances that are responsible for the production of cholesterol. This is the so-called HMG-CoA reductase. Other enzymes in this organ receive a signal that cholesterol levels are low and begin to make proteins to increase the production of LDL (low density lipoprotein) receptors. This is called "bad" cholesterol.

These receptors are distributed to liver cells to bind passing LDL and VLDL (very low density lipoproteins). Most patients take statins specifically for cholesterol to lower cholesterol levels.

If it was not possible to achieve the set goal, the dose of the drug can be increased. Often, doctors recommend taking medication even after receiving the effect. Thus, the development of atherosclerosis can be prevented.

Adverse reaction from statins

Not all people are suitable for such lipid-lowering drugs. In some cases, an adverse reaction occurs, but a minor one. Among the consequences:

• bloating;
• diarrhea;
• abdominal pain;
• tingling sensation;
• nausea;
• allergic reaction on the skin.

Inflammatory processes in the muscles are rare. There are two types of adverse reactions that are most severe. They can appear while taking statins for cholesterol.

We are talking about damage to the muscles of the skeleton, as well as liver failure. Violations develop if the patient, along with drugs, takes other drugs that can cause rhabdomyolysis or an increase in the level of statins in the blood.

Rhabdomyolysis is a pathology that is accompanied by muscle abnormalities. This is a phenomenon that can be a side effect when taking cholesterol medications. The patient feels severe pain. The situation can be complicated by loss of muscle cells, kidney failure, or death.

Experts do not recommend taking statins if you have liver problems. If the pathological processes began to develop after the start of therapy, you should stop taking medications. In addition, doctors prohibit taking statins from cholesterol to pregnant and lactating women. The same applies to those girls who are planning pregnancy in the future.

The consequences can be serious. Therefore, before taking medication, you should consult your doctor. Only he will tell you why statins are dangerous for cholesterol. While taking medication, the patient should not drink grapefruit juice or eat the fruit itself. Otherwise, serious complications can be caused.

Why are statins prescribed?

Drugs are prescribed not only to reduce blood cholesterol levels. They help fight inflammatory processes that occur in the vessels. Statins are prescribed for any disorders that can become the main cause of atherosclerosis..

Given the positive effect of the drug, it is prescribed for:

1. Prevention of heart attack. Statins are taken by people who are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. Special studies have shown that no diet or supplement is as effective as statins.
2. Prevention of ischemic stroke. Sometimes there is a small risk of a patient developing a hemorrhagic stroke, so only a specialist can prescribe such a medicine. The patient should take the medicine strictly under the supervision of a qualified professional.
3. Treatment after a heart attack. In the first days, the patient takes statins in large doses, decreasing them over time. necessarily involves taking statins.
4. Reducing the likelihood of atherosclerosis. Considering that such a pathology today affects not only people in old age, but also young people, this is important. The first stages of the disease are accompanied by pain in the legs and heart. A man notices problems with potency. Lipid-lowering drugs affect the development of atherosclerosis, it's true. But at the same time, medications have a negative effect on the arteries in which calcium accumulates.

There is a small list of indications for which a specialist prescribes statins for his patient:

• Heart disease, atherosclerosis. Lipid-lowering drugs help stop the development of pathological processes.
• Diseases that can cause the development of atherosclerosis, including diabetes mellitus.
• Preventive measures, especially if there are people in the family with hereditary pathologies associated with the heart.
• Elderly patients are also prescribed statins by doctors. This is because the aging process increases the risk of atherosclerosis.

Should I take pills or not?

Medicines have entered the market after going through a lot of research. Studies of lipid-lowering drugs have shown that they are effective in lowering high cholesterol levels. There are benefits and harms from them, and this should be carefully understood. In addition, after taking medications, the risk of pathologies associated with the heart and blood vessels is reduced.

During the research, experts have recorded a reduced mortality rate from heart attacks and strokes. After a while, the studies were carried out again. And the results showed that the cholesterol data for people who took the medication and those who stopped taking it were the same. In addition, the medicine worked, but it could not prolong the life of a person.

Experts have concluded that statins can cause other diseases. For example, such pathologies as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease. They can also reduce the functioning of the immune system in the elderly.

Despite their high effectiveness, cholesterol drugs leave a negative mark behind. Especially because they are taken for a long time. Against the background of treatment, and this can be at least 3 years, most often violations occur muscular system... But there are other factors that contribute to the development of serious consequences:

• advanced age of a person;
• chronic diseases;
• wrong menu;
• surgery;
• pathology in the liver;
• bad habits, in particular, it concerns alcoholic beverages;
• taking medications in large quantities.

That the liver is under negative impact, say violations of the level of activity of enzymes of this organ. This is especially pronounced if the patient also abuses alcohol during treatment. Side effects that develop while taking medications can be removed, it is enough to reduce their dosage.

To control the patient's condition, strict medical supervision is required. In addition, blood tests should be done periodically while the person is on statin therapy. It will show your cholesterol level and other important parameters.

Natural statins

People who do not trust drugs because of their side effects, can abandon them in favor of natural substances. We are talking about elements that have specific activity, many of them are in products.

Natural statins for cholesterol:

1. Vitamin C. A substance necessary for the body. Found in citrus fruits, black currants, hot or sweet peppers, rose hips.
2. Niacin. Vitamin PP, B3. Found in meat, various nuts, cereals, red fish.
3. Omega-3 fatty acid. A substance more often found in vegetable oil or oily fish.
4. Monacolin. An element found in red rice yeast extract. It is a food supplement, but not all countries allow it to be used.
5. Curcumin. From the name it is clear that the substance is part of turmeric.
6. Policosanol. To obtain this substance, sugar cane is used.
7. Resveratrol A naturally occurring statin found in foods such as grape skins and red wine.
8. Dietary fiber such as pectin. A substance found in bran, cereals (pearl barley, buckwheat), legumes, cabbage, carrots and apples.

Some natural statins are found in garlic, an enzyme in soy foods. As a rule, the human body can digest and assimilate such substances much easier.

How to take statins

As a rule, the instructions for the drug provide strict recommendations.

You should consult a doctor. He will tell you at what cholesterol level you need to take statins. Medications are taken 2 hours before bedtime. It is not recommended to drink them in the morning, because at night the substances are better absorbed by the body.

Important! Medicines should not be taken with grapefruit juice, as it interferes with the processing of their active substances. Overdose may occur due to increased concentration. And this will lead to the destruction of muscle fibers, as well as liver failure.

You should not prescribe pills on your own. Only a qualified doctor is allowed to do this. It takes into account the characteristics of each patient and the medications that a person takes at the time of treatment.

Statins: myth and reality

Specialists prescribe such drugs not only to lower cholesterol levels. They use statins to prevent heart attacks or strokes, as well as other diseases that involve blood vessels. But many are interested in whether these drugs are really necessary and how to take them correctly.

There are several myths that confuse and confuse people. To dispel doubts, you need to understand in more detail.

Myth 1. Statins are harmful drugs

Exaggerated rumors if you look at the statistics. In most cases, the drugs are easily tolerated by patients. But like any medication, statins can cause side reactions.

This can be itching, irritation, muscle pain, or abnormal performance. digestive system... Rarely are there people who have an individual intolerance to these medications.

But, based on many years of research, experts are firmly convinced that the development of side effects is rarely observed, even if the patient takes statins with high cholesterol for a long time.

Myth 2. Low effectiveness of drugs

Statins do not prolong human life. But they can significantly reduce and change the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Thus, mortality from these pathologies also decreases.

If you look at the research results, you can see that statins have become a revolutionary solution in medicine. We are talking about the prevention and treatment of pathologies associated with the human cardiovascular system.

Lipid-lowering drugs have other positive effects, they can not only lower cholesterol levels. This effect on the state of blood vessels, endothelial function, blood flow.

Myth 3. Statins are necessary only for those patients who have high cholesterol

This is most often the case. But when a doctor prescribes statins, it is not just cholesterol levels that are considered. It is important to take into account the likelihood of developing vascular pathological processes. Prevention of heart attack and stroke is important. They can develop not only due to atherosclerosis. There are a number of other factors.

When a doctor prescribes statins, he or she relies on more than just cholesterol levels. He must choose the right medication and decide how long the patient should take statins.

Myth 4. Large doses of the drug help the plaques to dissolve and clean the blood vessels

Statins have no effect on the condition of the plaques that form inside the vessels. The positive effect of the medication is that the plaque remains stable.

When the patient is on statins, the risk of plaque damage and blockage is reduced. Thus, the likelihood of thrombosis is also reduced.

Myth 5. Statins are accepted by the course

As a rule, the medicine is taken continuously. There will be little effectiveness from the course. Moreover, it can be dangerous for the patient. Therefore, doctors prescribe medications for long-term use.

Myths about cholesterol, like about drugs, need to be carefully checked and handled with great responsibility. It must be remembered that only a doctor can prescribe effective treatment, otherwise you can only aggravate the situation.

Experts recommend passing tests in a timely manner and medical examination... Especially those over 35 years old. Thus, you can control the level of cholesterol in the blood, and at the first violations, start timely treatment.

Not only statins will help to avoid its increase, but also additional measures. For example, a healthy lifestyle, giving up bad habits. Don't forget about the moderate physical exercise as well as a low-calorie diet.