More Risks Faced by Patients Using Statins

Several Individuals have experienced complications after taking statins to lower their cholesterol, medical reports indicated, the use of statins is still being observed. Patients who have experienced severe complications from the medications are now questioning the effects of these medications if they do really outweigh the risks. The deputy director of the FDA's Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products (DMEP), Dr Amy G. Egan, believes that the benefits of statins are indisputable. The FDA urges patients not to discontinue their medications without notifying their doctors and to notify their health care providers of the symptoms.

To prevent the rising number of men and women who are suffering from heart diseases and stroke, statins were used to help lower the level of bad cholesterol in the body. Since its first introduction, statins made an impact in decreasing heart disease cases that it is now being used as preventive treatment. Studies of the side effects, however, point to a different scenario as taking these medications may take its toll on the health of the patients.

The following new information was released by the FDA to warn patients and doctors of the complications of this type of medication:

- Diabetes

• There is a high risk for patients taking statins to develop Type 2 diabetes. The rise of blood sugar levels may be detected through frequent monitoring.

- Memory loss

• Several patients have reported being forgetful and confused. Feeling unfocused when thinking, patients noted that these symptoms appeared sometime after starting the medication and disappeared when they stopped taking it.

- Muscle damage

• Those who were taking these cholesterol-lowering medications have also reported muscle problems. This muscle problem increases in likelihood among those who take many medications.

- Liver injury

• The production of cholesterol occurs in the liver, hence statins directly affect the liver but this problem is often rare. Liver enzyme tests may be performed before starting the treatment and regularly after.

Some of the popular brands of statins' labels will be changed by the FDA to include the new safety information. The possible occurrence of these side effects may entail a constant monitoring of individuals taking statins. For some patients, they were not aware of the possible risk. There are more information about these side effects at the ">http://lipitorlawyer.tumblr.com for those who are interested to know more.

URL References:

nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/dhd/

fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/UCM293705.pdf

healthland.time.com/2012/08/10/should-you-take-statins-study-says-heart-benefits-outweigh-diabetes-risk/

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