Articles
Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks
What causes statin side effects?
Drugs and food that interact with statins
Statins lower cholesterol and protect against heart attack and stroke. But they may lead to side effects in some people.
Content
What are statin side effects?
Muscle pain and damage
Liver damage
Increased blood sugar or type 2 diabetes
Neurological side effects
Who's at risk of developing statin side effects?
Foods and medicines that interact with statins
How to relieve statin side effects
Weigh the risks and benefits
Drugs and food that interact with statins
Statins lower cholesterol and protect against heart attack and stroke. But they may lead to side effects in some people.
Content
What are statin side effects?
Muscle pain and damage
Liver damage
Increased blood sugar or type 2 diabetes
Neurological side effects
Who's at risk of developing statin side effects?
Foods and medicines that interact with statins
How to relieve statin side effects
Weigh the risks and benefits
Neurological side effects
The FDA warns on statin labels that some people have developed memory loss or confusion while taking statins. These side effects reverse once you stop taking the medicines. There is limited evidence to prove a cause-effect relationship, and several studies have found that statins have no effect on memory. Talk to your care team if you experience memory loss or confusion while taking statins.
There also has been evidence that statins may help with brain function — in people with dementia, for example. This is still being studied. Don't stop taking your statin medicine before talking to your healthcare professional.