Ask These 5 Questions Before Taking Statins

You have high cholesterol or are at risk Cardiovascular diseaseStatins may be recommended by your doctor. Statins, also known as HMG–CoA reductase inhibits, are one of the most prescribed medications. They may be able to help with: Reduce your cholesterol According to the Cleveland Clinic: 50% or more

“Statins get in the way when your liver is trying to make cholesterol,” Their experts will explain. “Like a good basketball player who doesn’t let an opponent get the ball, statins don’t let your liver have an enzyme it needs to create cholesterol. Your body makes 75 percent of your cholesterol, so helping it make less can make a big difference.”

Like all medications, statins can be risky. It’s important to talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of starting statins. Are you unsure where to start? Continue reading to find out the five most important questions your pharmacist wants you to ask before starting statins.

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It is important to be aware of the potential side effects before you start statins. “With them being so widely prescribed and utilized, there is a lot of information (and sometimes misinformation) out there regarding the potential side effects of statins,” Says Brian StaigerPharmD, a pharmacist with more than 13 years experience and the editor of HelloPharmacist.com. “Two of the most common side effects individuals are concerned about regarding statins are muscle pain and memory problems,” He tells Best Life.

It will help you make an informed decision about whether statins is right for you. This will help you to understand. “exactly what to look out for, how to potentially mitigate risks, and how to manage these side effects should they occur,” says Staiger.

This will reduce the likelihood that you stop medication abruptly or prematurely, which can lead to adverse side effects.

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It’s important to be aware of whether statins interact with any other medications or supplements. “There are a number of different statin medications available, and they each have their own specific precautions,” says Staiger. “Several statins can interact with foods (like grapefruit juice and simvastatin), while others can interact with antacids,” He notes.

The pharmacist added that statins often interact with certain substances. Supplements made from herbsSuch as red yeast rice. “It is important to be aware of medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, which include herbal supplements, that may interact and put you at risk for side effects.”

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You may need to take statins at different times of the day. You can ask your pharmacist which timing is best to optimize the drug’s effects.

“Some statins can be taken anytime during the day, while others should be taken at night for best effects,” says Staiger. “This is all based on how our body metabolizes these drugs, which varies based on the specific statin in question,” explains Staiger.

Your doctor will not only recommend a specific type of statin but also a low, medium or high dose. Kim RussoPharmD, BCPS. Co-founder and SVP Clinical Services. Aspen RxHealthAccording to, you should talk with your pharmacist about this before starting a new regimen.

“It’s important for patients to be engaged in their health. By asking their doctor about dosing, patients can feel like part of their health care team and understand why the prescriber chose a certain dose,” She shares her story Best Life. She says that it also helps patients understand. “what the next steps will be to assess if this dose is adequate, or if it should be adjusted in the coming weeks or months.”

Russo also says that it is important to raise any concerns, and take a moment to discuss what worries you have about the medication.

“This question helps the doctor or pharmacist meet the patient where they are,” She says. “Patients may have an exaggerated sense of concern about certain medications based on things they have heard from unreliable sources or anecdotes from friends or family members. Patients should have the information they need in order to feel as comfortable as possible,” Russo tells Best Life.

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