What are statins?
How do they work?
They reduce the amount of cholesterol in your blood.
Cholesterol is a fat which can clog the blood vessels and reduce blood flow to the heart.
When are they used?
Usually where a low fat diet has failed to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
What side-effects are common?
- Mild side-effects are:
- Constipation or diarrhoea
- Flatulence (wind)
- Feeling sick
- Headaches
These should wear off as your body adjusts to the medicine.
Rarely people can get:
- Muscle pain, muscle tenderness, muscle weakness.
