Statins are cholesterol medications that both lower LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, often referred to as the unhealthy form of cholesterol.
A good overview of how statins work, what drugs are approved, benefits and side effects, and issues to be aware of.
Harvard Health: Statins: Types, uses, side effects, and alternatives
A brief overview of the types of statins, why they are prescribed, possible benefits and side effects, and alternatives.
HHS Million Hearts: The Scoop On Statins
This government website provides a quick overview about statins (in Spanish and English), videos on how statins work, and benefits and risks to consider.
Mayo Clinic: Statin Side Effects, Weighing the Benefits and Risks
A concise overview of the most common side effects of statins, how to alleviate them if they occur, and when to consider it’s time to stop taking statins.
Mayo Clinic: Rhabdomyolosis From Statins
Rhabdomyolosis, in which muscle pain is severe and muscle cells break down, is a rare side effect of statins but does occur. This brief article explains what to know.
Mayo Clinic Statin Choice Decision AID
This interactive risk assessment tool can help you understand whether statins might be an option for you. It is designed so that you can use it with your doctor, but if you know your “numbers” (cholesterol levels, blood pressure, etc), you could try it on your own.
This government publication explains what cholesterol is, why statins may be effective at lowering LDL cholesterol, what to consider when taking these medications, and where to find more detailed information.
National Library of Medicine: StatPearls: Statins
This comprehensive summary is written for a medical/professional audience, but it contains detailed information about the benefits and the risks of statins–including drug-drug interactions to avoid and the most serious side effects.
COMMENTARY
Are statins overprescribed? Are they life-saving? The debate is intense. Here are a few opinions, supported by evidence, offering different advice. (A reminder that it’s best to discuss your concerns with your own doctor, who knows more about your particular situation.)
Have the benefits of statins been overstated?
A researcher from the Health Research Board Centre for Primary Care Research, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, discusses a study she and her colleagues conducted which suggest that the benefits are overstated–and why you should ask your doctor about absolute risk reduction.
10 facts about statins and high cholesterol
Two cardiologists from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center discuss the pros and cons of statins, and why they think the benefits usually outweigh the risks for certain patients.
Ann MacDonald 