Heart Health High Cholesterol Treatment Side Effects of Statin Drugs for Cholesterol By Jennifer Moll, PharmD facebook Jennifer Moll, MS, PharmD, is a pharmacist actively involved in educating patients about the importance of heart disease prevention. Learn about our editorial process Jennifer Moll, PharmD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD on September 14, 2019 facebook linkedin Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. Learn about our Medical Review Board Richard N. Fogoros, MD Updated on October 05, 2019 Print Statins are the most commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications that affect all aspects of the cholesterol profile. Benefits of statins include: Lowering LDL and triglyceride levels Raising HDL levels Lowering the risk of heart disease Preventing subsequent heart attacks and strokes in patients who already have heart disease Even amid the benefits that taking statins may have, some patients shy away from them because they think the side effects may cause more harm than good. Are patients correct to avoid statins because of side effects? Tom Werner / DigitalVision / Getty Images Liver Enzyme Elevation Is a Side Effect of Statins All statin drugs elevate liver enzymes to some degree, including aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), which your healthcare provider monitors before you begin statin therapy, three months after beginning statins, and least every six months while on statin therapy. Those with elevated liver enzymes may not notice any symptoms. Standard doses of statins elevate liver enzymes in about 1 percent of patients, usually within the first four months. The likelihood of this elevation increases in older people and in those taking other medications that might interact with statins or also raise liver enzymes. This statin side effect is dose-dependent, which means that the higher the dose of statins you are taking, the more likely you will experience an increase in liver enzymes. There are rare reports of liver failure and hepatitis associated with statins and elevated liver enzymes. Current studies have not been able to establish a definite link between statin use and liver disease. Elevated liver enzyme levels go back to normal when you stop taking statins. Muscle Pain and Weakness Is a Side Effect of Statins Myopathies, or muscle symptoms such as weakness and pain, are another side effect of statins. Myopathies range from mild myalgias, or muscle pains, to a life-threatening condition known as rhabdomyolysis. The most common myopathy associated with statin use, myalgia, only occurs in about 1 out of every 1,000 patients taking statins. The chance of experiencing this statin side effect increases as you get older, with higher doses and while taking certain other medications. These symptoms will usually appear within four months of initiating statin therapy. Rhabdomyolysis, another myopathy that can occur with statin use, is extremely rare and deadly if not properly treated. It occurs in one person out of 10,000 individuals taking statins. Symptoms of Rhabdomyolysis Profound muscle pain Weakness Significantly increases amounts of creatinine phosphokinase Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks? That's a decision you and your healthcare provider should make. If you are taking statins for a current health condition, perhaps the side effects associated with statin use are relatively uncommon enough when you compare it to the benefits. If your healthcare provider suggests statins as a preventative measure, make sure you both have all the information you need, including new findings, to make an informed decision. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to start a diet to better manage your cholesterol? Changing lifelong eating habits can be scary at first, but our guide will make it easier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Armitage J. The safety of statins in clinical practice. Lancet. 2007; 6736(07):60716-8. De Denus S, Spinler SA, Miller K, et al. Statins and liver toxicity: a meta-analysis. Pharmacotherapy. 2004; 24(5):584-591. Harper CR and Jacobson TA. The broad spectrum of statin myopathy: from myalgia to rhabdomyolysis. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2007; 18(4):401-08. Jacobson TA. Statin safety: lessons from new drug applications for marketed statins. Am J Cardiol. 2006; 97(8A):44C-51C. Spencer B. Daily Mail: Healthy Patients Using Statins Are More Likely to Suffer Side-Effects than Gain Health Benefits'