Statins may also help the body remove cholesterol that has started to accumulate in the arteries. Conversely, high-density lipoprotein HDL , or good, cholesterol can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Doctors consider HDL cholesterol to be beneficial because it can transport other forms of cholesterol from the blood to the liver, which helps the body get rid of bad cholesterol.
It is important that a person taking statins follows the advice of their prescribing doctor regarding the time of day to take them. The recommended time, which is something that a person should discuss with their doctor, will vary depending on the type of statin. A systematic review found that short-acting statins worked best when people took them in the evening.
The people who took these statins toward the end of the day had lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels compared with the people who took them in the morning. Another review came to the same conclusion. Short-acting statins work better at night because the liver enzyme that produces cholesterol is more active at this time.
Most short-acting statins have a half-life of 6 hours. It takes longer for the body to process long-acting statins, which may have a half-life of up to 19 hours. The two reviews above noted that long-acting statins worked equally well whether a person took them in the morning or the evening. Therefore, people taking long-acting statins can choose which time of the day best suits them.
The authors recommend that people using long-acting statins take them at a time of day that is easy for them to remember. It is important to be consistent with the timing of doses, so if a person prefers to take statins in the morning, they should take them in the morning every day. People who are taking statins may need to take them indefinitely.
In many cases, when a person stops taking statins, their cholesterol levels increase again. Some people might be able to stop taking statins or reduce their dosage if they significantly lower their risk of heart disease. A person may do this by losing a significant amount of weight, quitting smoking , or making other major lifestyle changes that improve their health. Even in these cases though, a person should talk to a doctor before they stop taking statins or any other medications.
Statins come in a range of types and dosages. A person can discuss with their doctor which type of statin may work best for them. If a person has an increased risk of heart disease, their doctor may prescribe a higher dosage or a long-acting statin. Please enter text to search. Search by Outlines. Set Search Limits. Summary : Endogenous cholesterol synthesis is cyclical in nature with the greatest production during fasting states. The elimination half-lives of statins determine if an agent should be dosed at bedtime.
Explanation Hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, more commonly known as statins, are recommended as first-line agents in the reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol LDL-C.
References: Expert panel on the detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults: executive summary of the third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program NCEP expert panel on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high cholesterol in adults adult treatment panel III. Plakogiannis R, Cohen H. Serious risks include damage to your muscles, kidneys, and liver.
If you have type 2 diabetes, statins may increase your blood sugar levels. Sometimes, switching to another statin can help. While statins can be very effective in lowering LDL cholesterol, you can also manage your cholesterol using alternative treatments or through lifestyle modifications.
Diet plays an important role in blood cholesterol levels. Your diet should be packed with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish. Try to reduce your intake of saturated and trans fats, and increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids. You should also go easy on salt and refined carbohydrates. Make exercise a part of your daily routine and try to sit less. You can also lower your risk for heart disease by not smoking and maintaining a healthy weight.
You may have heard that statins are bad for you. Learn more about the benefits and risks of statins. Statins are drugs that can help decrease your levels of LDL cholesterol.
Read about the pros and cons of using statins. Nexletol and Nexlizet were both approved by the FDA late last month to be used alongside statins to help reduce high cholesterol. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.
Talk to your doctor if you're planning to become pregnant. It's best to stop taking simvastatin at least 3 months before you start trying for a baby. If you become pregnant while taking simvastatin, stop taking the medicine and tell your doctor. It's not known if simvastatin passes into breast milk, but it may cause problems for your baby.
You may be able to stop taking simvastatin temporarily while you breastfeed. If you're taking simvastatin and need to take one of these medicines, your doctor may:. St John's wort, a herbal medicine taken for depression , reduces the amount of simvastatin in your blood, so it does not work as well.
Talk to your doctor if you're thinking about starting St John's wort, as it will change how well simvastatin works. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. Simvastatin acts on the liver to stop it making cholesterol. This lowers your blood cholesterol level. For the first 12 months on this medicine, you'll be offered a couple of routine tests to make sure your liver is working OK.
Your cholesterol levels should drop noticeably within 4 weeks — if you take your medicine regularly, as prescribed. Usually, treatment with a statin such as simvastatin is for life. The benefits will only continue for as long as you take it. If you stop taking simvastatin without starting a different treatment, your cholesterol level may rise again.
You may have read negative stories about statins, but they're thought to be very safe, effective medicines. Statins are thought to have very few side effects. Sometimes the side effects that people report aren't related to their medicine. However, if you're concerned about the safety of statins, talk to your doctor.
Simvastatin is safe to take for a long time. In fact, it works best if you take it for a long time. No, there's no evidence that simvastatin is addictive. You will not get any withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it. You may want to stop simvastatin if you think you're having side effects.
Talk to your doctor first to see if it really is a side effect of simvastatin or an unrelated problem. Your doctor may decide to lower your dose or change your medicine. You will not get any withdrawal symptoms. However, stopping simvastatin may cause your cholesterol to rise. This increases your risk of heart attacks and strokes. If you want to stop taking your medicine, it's important to find another way to lower your cholesterol. There's some interest in taking CoQ10 together with statins.
However there's no firm evidence that taking CoQ10 at the same time as simvastatin will benefit your health. More research is needed. If you decide to take a CoQ10 supplement, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Supplements can interfere with other medicines you may also be taking.
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