Frequently asked questions

No. Lipid-lowering therapy works alongside reducing your risk factors for cardiovascular disease. By eating a healthy diet, stopping smoking and doing more exercise, you will reduce your cholesterol further and improve your health.

Most people don't have any side effects when they take a statin and take them every day without any problems.

However, side effects can occur with  all medications. The most commonly reported side effects of statins are muscle aches and pains.

In a typical year, only one in 500 patients wouldbe affected. Studies have shown that some of the side effects that people attribute to statins are not due to the statins.

If you do experience side effects, sometimes switching to a different statin or reducing the strength of a statin can reduce side effects. Speak to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are concerned. 

Yes. Decades of research have shown that statins are very effective in reducing the risk for major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, or needing a coronary stent or bypass surgery.

Data from over 20 statin trials involving more than 135,000 patients supports this.

You will be offered a blood test to make sure the drug you are taking is working for you. We would expect that you will have the test within eight to twelve weeks after starting the lipid lowering medication.

Probably for the rest of your life, because they only work for as long as you continue taking them.

First your health care professional may increase the strength of the statin you are taking. If this doesn't reduce your cholesterol enough, then you may be prescribed an additional drug called ezetimibe. This drug works with statins to further reduce cholesterol. If this combination does not reduce your cholesterol to target levels you may be offered an injectable treatment. Click here for information on drug treatments.

National guidance now recommends that patients take high intensity statins as they are more effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular events like strokes or heart attacks. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended that people on less effective statins should have their prescriptions reviewed. Click here for more information on statin intensities.

Frimley Health recognises the importance of offering patients the best available medication to reduce their future risk of developing CVD. Therefore, GP Practices are reviewing patients' treatment and may recommend switching to a more effective statin (e.g. atorvastatin).

Changing statins shouldn't cause you any additional side effects. However, if you are concerned, we recommend that you discuss this with your pharmacist.

About three months after starting a new statin, a blood test to check your cholesterol and liver function should be done. 

Some statins react with grapefruit and grapefruit juice, but not all of them.

Do not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit if you’re taking simvastatin.

If you’re taking atorvastatin then the occasional glass of grapefruit juice or half a grapefruit shouldn’t be a problem, but avoid having grapefruit too regularly, as it could increase your risk of side effects.

If you are concerned, please discuss with your healthcare professional.

You'll find answers to more statin questions by clicking here.