Statin side effects: How common are they?
Reported side effects of statins include muscle pain, diabetes, and memory problems. Most people do not experience any side effects and the drug may not be the cause. Going off the statin temporarily and then starting again, called a statin rechallenge, can confirm whether the drug is the cause of the problem. For confirmed muscle side effects, adjusting the dose can reverse them. A typical approach is to use a more potent statin, at a lower dose, and only several times per week. The chance of diabetes is relatively small and often occurs in people whose blood sugar is already elevated. The evidence for major problems with memory and mental function due to statin use is not clear. Once starting a statin, it is necessary to stay on it long-term to get the promised benefit of reducing risk of heart attack, stroke, and death from heart-related causes.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Source matters. Subscribe to HarvardHealthOnline+ FREE for 30 days for unlimited access to the site – where all content is reviewed by an HMS physician or faculty expert.
With HHO+ you get these exclusive benefits:
- Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
- 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
- Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
- In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
- Interactive features like videos and quizzes
- Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources
SPECIAL OFFER! UNLOCK EXPERT ACCESS for 30 days FREE!
Already a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.