Side Effects of Cholesterol Drugs

Cholesterol is a type of fat found in the bloodstream and throughout the body. According to the Mayo Clinic, too much cholesterol in the bloodstream can cause a build-up on the walls of the arteries and lead to a heart attack. Doctors often prescribe statin drugs to bring a patient's cholesterol down to normal levels.

Side Effects

• The Mayo Clinic reports that statins are very effective at lowering cholesterol but can also cause side effects, including muscle pain, liver damage, digestive problems and neurological problems.

Risk

• Women, people 65 years of age or older, people who have liver or kidney disease and those with diabetes are more at risk of experiencing side effects from taking statins, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Interactions

• The Mayo Clinic warns that statins are likely to cause side effects when used in combination with antidepressants and antibiotics. In addition, grapefruit contains a chemical that makes statins more potent, increasing the severity of side effects.

Treating Side Effects

• According to the Mayo Clinic, there are ways to help reduce the severity of side effects, including adjusting the medication dosage, switching to a different statin drug and avoiding over-the-counter pain medications.

Considerations

• In a 2009 article on CNNhealth.com, Kate Stinchfield says that adopting a healthy diet can be effective in lowering cholesterol and does not cause unwanted side effects.