Millions on atorvastatin for high cholesterol given warning by pharmaceutical expert

Need to know Millions on atorvastatin for high cholesterol given warning by pharmaceutical expert All you need to know as an expert has explained the side effects and potential issues with food Statins side effects: what millions of britons need to know - A pharmaceutical expert has explained why millions of Britons should be aware of potential side effects from statins, one of the UK's most prescribed medications. - An estimated 7 to 8 million adults take these cholesterol-lowering drugs, with over 5.3 million prescribed in England alone according to NICE data. - Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice at Kingston University, said: "Like all medicines, statins have side effects. Common ones include headache, digestive upset and dizziness." - More serious but rare effects include liver inflammation and muscle problems, with severe muscle breakdown affecting only a few people per million users. - The main risks come from drug interactions with medications like antifungals, certain antibiotics, and even grapefruit, which can increase statin levels in the blood. - Statins can also cause a small rise in blood glucose, particularly affecting people with prediabetes or diabetes, though the heart attack prevention benefits outweigh this risk. - Ms Kamdar emphasised that lifestyle changes remain crucial, with national guidelines recommending reduced saturated fat intake and increased fibre consumption alongside medication. - "Statins have transformed cardiovascular care and saved millions of lives," she added, stressing that treatment decisions should balance proven benefits against potential side effects. - READ THE FULL STORY: Warning issued to millions on atorvastatin for high cholesterol