Statins are among the most widely prescribed medicines there are, and among the most often abandoned. People start them, take them for a few months, and then the box runs out and isn't reordered, or they read something worrying, or they get an ache and decide the tablet is to blame.
This guide looks at what statins do in general terms, why people stop, and what to do instead when you have doubts. It does not cover doses or which statin is right for you. Those are decisions for your doctor, and nothing here is a reason to start, stop or change a medicine without talking to them.
What statins do, in general terms
Cholesterol is a fatty substance your body needs, but too much of certain kinds, especially LDL cholesterol, can build up in the walls of your arteries. Over time that build-up can narrow the arteries and raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Statins work mainly by reducing the amount of cholesterol your liver makes. The NHS describes them as medicines that lower the amount of cholesterol your body makes, which helps prevent the arteries becoming blocked.
Doctors prescribe them for different reasons. Some people take them after a heart attack or stroke, to lower the chance of another. Others take them because their overall risk, based on cholesterol, blood pressure, age, diabetes, smoking and family history, is high enough that lowering it is worthwhile. Your doctor can explain which of those applies to you, and it's worth asking, because knowing the reason makes a long-term tablet easier to stick with.
Why statins are easy to stop
High cholesterol, like high blood pressure, usually has no symptoms. That shapes everything about how people take statins.
You can't feel it working
A statin doesn't make you feel better. The benefit is a lower chance of something that hasn't happened yet. On any given day, missing it changes nothing you notice. That makes it easy for a daily tablet to become an occasional one.
Side effects, real or suspected
The NHS lists common side effects that include headaches, dizziness, feeling sick, feeling unusually tired, digestive problems, muscle pain and trouble sleeping. Most people have none or only mild ones. But if you get an ache or feel tired while taking a statin, it's natural to wonder whether that's the cause, even when it isn't.
"My numbers are normal now"
A good cholesterol result after a few months on a statin is often a sign it's working. Statins lower cholesterol while you take them. When people stop, their cholesterol usually goes back up. The NHS notes that stopping may affect your cholesterol levels and advises talking to a doctor or pharmacist before stopping.
Things just get in the way
Plenty of stopping isn't a decision at all. A refill runs out over a holiday, a new prescription is needed and the appointment is weeks away, or the routine breaks on a trip and never quite comes back.
Talk to your prescriber instead of stopping
If you have doubts about your statin, the most useful thing you can do is bring them to your doctor or pharmacist. That conversation often ends better than people expect.
- If you have side effects, the NHS advice is to talk to a doctor, who may prescribe a different statin or change your dose. There are several statins, and one that doesn't suit you doesn't mean none will.
- If you have muscle pain, tell your doctor. Muscle symptoms are worth reporting, and your doctor can decide whether tests are needed. MedlinePlus lists muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, extreme tiredness, fever and dark-coloured urine among the uncommon but serious side effects of atorvastatin that need a call to your doctor straight away.
- If you're not sure it's worth it, ask what your risk is with and without it. A clear answer can make the decision feel less like a leap of faith.
- If cost is the problem, tell your pharmacist. Many statins are available as generics.
Be specific. "I've had aching thighs for three weeks, starting about a month after I began" is far more useful than "I don't think it agrees with me." Writing down when a symptom started and what it's like makes the appointment quicker and the answer better.
Things to check with your pharmacist
Statins interact with some other medicines and foods, and the details depend on which statin you take. The NHS notes, for example, that grapefruit or grapefruit juice can increase side effects with some statins. Rather than working from general lists, ask your pharmacist:
- Whether anything else you take, including supplements and over-the-counter medicines, interacts with your statin.
- Whether there's a best time of day to take yours.
- What to do if you miss a dose.
Write the answers down. Doz, for example, does not check for interactions, so this is a question for your pharmacist, not an app.
Make the daily tablet easy
Once you and your doctor are happy with the plan, the goal is a routine you don't have to think about.
- Attach it to something daily. If your pharmacist has said the time of day doesn't matter for your statin, pick whatever you do reliably, such as breakfast or brushing your teeth at night.
- Keep refills ahead. Reorder a week or more before you run out. The refill date calculator works out the date from the tablets you have left, and refill reminders before you run low covers the habit in more depth.
- Check how you're actually doing. If you've been missing doses, it helps to know how often. The adherence rate calculator turns doses taken and doses prescribed into a percentage you can share with your doctor.
A reminder app can take care of the first two. Doz can remind you at the same point in your day, send a follow-up nudge if a dose stays unlogged, and send a refill reminder while you still have tablets left.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do statins do?
Statins lower the amount of cholesterol your body makes, mainly in the liver. Lower levels of LDL cholesterol reduce the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries, which lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Your doctor can explain why a statin has been prescribed for you.
Why do people stop taking statins?
Common reasons include side effects, real or suspected, not feeling any difference, seeing good cholesterol results and assuming the tablet is no longer needed, cost, and refills that simply run out. Many of these can be solved by talking to a doctor or pharmacist.
What happens if I stop taking my statin?
Statins lower cholesterol while you take them, so stopping usually lets cholesterol levels rise again. The NHS advises talking to a doctor or pharmacist before stopping. If side effects are the problem, a different statin or dose may suit you better.
What should I do if I think my statin is causing side effects?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist rather than stopping on your own. They may change the dose or suggest a different statin. Contact your doctor promptly about unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, especially if you also feel unwell or have dark urine.
Is it OK to miss a dose of my statin?
Ask your pharmacist what to do if you miss a dose of your particular statin, and write the answer down. Don't take extra to make up unless you've been told to. If you miss doses often, a daily routine or reminder can help.
Where to start
If you take a statin, check two things today: how many tablets are left in the box, and whether you know why you were prescribed it. If you've been having side effects or doubts, write them down with dates and book a conversation with your doctor or pharmacist instead of stopping.
Sources
- NHS, Statins
- MedlinePlus, Cholesterol Medicines
- MedlinePlus, Atorvastatin
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