Everything you need to know about statins

If high cholesterol can't be lowered through diet and exercise, a prescription statin can help

What you should know:
•Statins can lower cholesterol by 60%
•Statins have good safety record
•Be careful when taking a statin with other drugs

Related Videos:
•Heart Health Videos, http://www.youtube.com/user/CVSPharmacyVideos#grid/user/B7D1A829D624391E
•Medication Safety Videos, http://www.youtube.com/user/CVSPharmacyVideos#grid/user/838F62928084BF79

Related Health Articles:
•Preventing Heart Disease (watch your cholesterol)
The lipid panel can better evaluate your risk for heart disease by measuring your levels of the two major forms of cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. That's because LDL cholesterol is the substance that clogs arteries by delivering Read More: http://bit.ly/c8496W
•Cholesterol-Lowering Medications
If you have high cholesterol that you can't lower through diet and exercise, statins are a good treatment option. Some of these medications - which include atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev), pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor), and fluvastatin (Lescol) - can lower your LDL ("bad") cholesterol by as much as 60 percent, depending on the dosage and your particular cholesterol problem... Read more: http://bit.ly/bOa3gH
•Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs (statins)
Drug therapy to reduce LDL cholesterol to below 70 mg/dL should be considered for those at "very high" risk for heart attacks, such as people who already have heart disease plus multiple risk factors such as diabetes, smoking, or high bloodRead More: http://bit.ly/cyiNW2

Transcript
Hi, I'm Vicmar Toro and I'm a CVS pharmacist. If you have high cholesterol, and you aren't able to lower it through diet and exercise, a prescription statin can lower your cholesterol as much as 60%.
You may be prescribed a statin to help control your high cholesterol if you have an LDL level higher than 100, an HDL level at 40 or below, and you have two or more of these risk factors: you are a man over 45 or a woman over 55, a smoker, have high blood pressure, or have a family history of heart disease, diabetes, or coronary heart disease.
Like other cholesterol-lowering drugs, statins have a good safety record and are easy to take. However, as with any drug, there are potential risks that you should be aware of, such as liver inflammation. Because of this risk you should limit your alcohol intake, or completely avoid it while you are taking statins.
Rhabdomyolysis, which is severe muscle damage, is a rare but serious side effect with an increased risk when statins are combined with other drugs, so be sure to tell your doctor and CVS pharmacist all the drugs you are taking, and ask for a list of drugs that interact with your statins. If you experience general weakness, dark urine, unusual pain, or tenderness in your muscles, particularly in your back and calves, talk to your doctor immediately as these could be signs of rhabdomyolysis. Other potential side effects of statin therapy include fever, nausea, and vomiting.
If you have any questions, ask your CVS pharmacist. We are happy to help.

Source: CVS Caremark Health Resources

Category:

Education

Tags:

• statins
• high cholesterol
• prescription statins
• lower your cholesterol
• control high cholesterol
• cholesterol-lowering drugs
• Rhabdomyolysis
• statin therapy
• cvs
• cvs pharmacy
• pharmacy
• pharmacist