Statin

class of drugs used to lower cholesterol levels

Statin drugs, also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, are lipid-lowering drugs that reduce illness in people who have a high risk of cardiovascular disease. They are the most common cholesterol-lowering drugs.[1]

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) carriers of cholesterol play key roles in arteriosclerosis, stroke and coronary heart disease.[2]

The common side effects of statins are diabetes mellitus, nausea, hormonal imbalance, and muscle pains.[3][4]

Statin drug names end in the word 'statin' to help know what the drugs do.

Atorvastatin, one of the most commonly prescribed brands, was in short supply in England in 2023 and the price rose from 49p through to £5.30 per pack. [5]

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References

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  1. "Cholesterol Drugs". American Heart Association. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  2. National Clinical Guideline Centre (UK) (2014). "Lipid Modification". National Institutes of Health. PMID 25340243. Retrieved May 24, 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. "Comparative Tolerability/Harms of Individual Statins" (PDF). London School of Economics. Retrieved May 24, 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. Schooling, C. Mary; Au Yeung, Shiu Lun; Freeman, Guy; Cowling, Benjamin J. (2013-02-28). "The effect of statins on testosterone in men and women, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials". BMC Medicine. 11 (1): 57. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-11-57. ISSN 1741-7015. PMC 3621815. PMID 23448151.
  5. "Negotiators warn statin shortage is having 'serious impact' on pharmacies as price spikes". The Pharmaceutical Journal. 2023-07-06. Retrieved 2023-07-07.