What happens if stop taking lipitor

Statins include the drugs atorvastatin, known commercially as Lipitor; rosuvastatin, also known as Crestor, and simvastatin, or Zocor. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The drugs are almost universally prescribed to people with heart disease. Additionally, the U. Preventive Services Task Force recommends the drugs to people ages 40 to 75 years without a history of heart disease who have one or more risk factors and a year risk of a heart attack or stroke of at least 10 percent.

Despite the overwhelming evidence in favor of statins, a quarter to a half of patients stop taking the drugs within six months to a year, Dr. To see whether people who continue taking statins - including those who switch to a different type or a lower dose - end up with better outcomes than people who stop taking the drugs, the researchers analyzed data drawn from two Boston hospitals between and The actual risk of developing muscle pain as a result of taking statins is about 5 percent or less compared with taking a pill that doesn't contain medication placebo.

However, studies have found that nearly 30 percent of people stopped taking the pills because of muscle aches even when they were taking a placebo. A strong predictor you'll experience muscle aches when taking statins could be whether or not you read about the potential side effect. Very rarely, statins can cause life-threatening muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis rab-doe-my-OL-ih-sis. Rhabdomyolysis can cause severe muscle pain, liver damage, kidney failure and death. The risk of very serious side effects is extremely low, and calculated in a few cases per million people taking statins.

Rhabdomyolysis can occur when you take statins in combination with certain drugs or if you take a high dose of statins. Occasionally, statin use could cause an increase in the level of enzymes that signal liver inflammation. If the increase is only mild, you can continue to take the drug. Rarely, if the increase is severe, you may need to try a different statin.

Although liver problems are rare, your doctor may order a liver enzyme test before or shortly after you begin to take a statin. You wouldn't need any additional liver enzyme tests unless you begin to have signs or symptoms of trouble with your liver.

Contact your doctor immediately if you have unusual fatigue or weakness, loss of appetite, pain in your upper abdomen, dark-colored urine, or yellowing of your skin or eyes. It's possible your blood sugar blood glucose level may increase when you take a statin, which may lead to developing type 2 diabetes. The risk is small but important enough that the Food and Drug Administration FDA has issued a warning on statin labels regarding blood glucose levels and diabetes.

The increase generally occurs when blood sugar levels are already higher than normal and fall in the prediabetes or diabetes range when you begin taking a statin.

Statins prevent heart attacks in people with diabetes, so the relevance of the mild increase in sugar values with statins observed in some people is unclear.

The benefit of taking statins likely outweighs the small risk to have the blood sugar level go up. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns. 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 medication. There is limited evidence to prove a cause-effect relationship, but talk to your doctor if you experience memory loss or confusion while taking statins.

There has also 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 medication before talking to your doctor. Not everyone who takes a statin will have side effects, but some people may be at a greater risk than are others. Risk factors include:. Grapefruit juice contains a chemical that can interfere with the enzymes that break down metabolize the statins in your digestive system.

While you won't need to eliminate grapefruit entirely from your diet, ask your doctor about how much grapefruit you can have. There are many drugs that may interact with statins, so be sure your doctor is aware of all the medicines you take when being prescribed with statins. To relieve side effects believed to be caused by statins, your doctor may recommend several options. Discuss these steps with your doctor before trying them:. Although side effects believed to be caused by statins can be annoying, consider the benefits of taking a statin before you decide to stop taking your medication.

Remember that statin medications can reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke, and the risk of life-threatening side effects from statins is very low. If you have read about the potential side effects of statins, you may be more likely to blame your symptoms on the medication, whether or not they're truly caused by the drug.

Even if your side effects are frustrating, don't stop taking your statin medication for any period of time without talking to your doctor first. Your doctor may be able to come up with an alternative treatment plan that can help you lower your cholesterol without uncomfortable side effects.

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Statins are a class of drug that reduces levels of low-density lipoprotein LDL cholesterol in the blood. Statins are some of the only cholesterol lowering drugs that demonstrably reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. This article explores why a person may want to come off statins and the risks of stopping this type of medication. We also provide a list of alternative treatment options.

LDL deposits restrict blood flow through the arteries and cause inflammation , which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Second, they help the liver reabsorb and break down cholesterol that is already in the walls of the arteries. Statins also have anti-inflammatory effects. As with all drugs, however, a small minority of people experience mild to severe side effects when taking statins.

The adverse effects that they most commonly experience are muscle problems and a slightly increased risk of type 2 diabetes , which we cover in more detail below. Some people who take statins report having muscle pains, tenderness, or weakness.

Statins may, in rare cases, damage the muscles. If a person taking statins is having muscle aches, pains, or weakness, and they cannot link these symptoms to an obvious cause, such as exercise or physical labor, they should speak to a doctor.

A doctor can test the creatine kinase CK levels in their blood. The body releases CK when the muscles are damaged or inflamed. If a person has a high CK level, a doctor may advise stopping statin treatment.

Hyperglycemia, or increased blood sugar, is a potential side effect of statins. A person may hesitate about taking statins if they have concerns about their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A review from reported a slightly increased risk of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes among people taking this type of medication. The risk is highest among people with prediabetes. Taking statins increases type 2 diabetes risk by 0. In a person with normal baseline blood glucose levels, statins are highly unlikely to cause diabetes.

The benefits of taking statins to prevent a cardiac event usually outweigh the risk of developing diabetes. Some lifestyle changes can help people manage their cholesterol levels. Examples include exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a balanced diet.

However, people who adopt these lifestyle changes should not assume that they can stop taking statins. To determine whether this is the case, a doctor can use blood tests to check that cholesterol levels are within a healthy range.

Women who are pregnant or planning for pregnancy should talk to their doctors about coming off statins. In , the American Heart Association AHA published a review that included an investigation of the safety of statins during pregnancy.