New Aspects of Statin Safety

Statins have been shown to have beneficial effects on preventing myocardial infarction, revascularization, and stroke, and decreasing cardiovascular mortality in numerous clinical trials. Statins are well tolerated and have been extensively studied all over the world. Physicians should not hesitate in prescribing statins to patients not only with hypercholesterolemia, but also those with high risk for atherosclerotic diseases although statins may have adverse effects such as muscle disease, liver dysfunction, and diabetes, because the incidence of these adverse effects is quite low. Physicians often need to treat patients with hypercholesterolemia and hepatic and renal disease or at the extremes of age with statins to prevent cardiovascular disease. Even in such patients, statins can be safely used with appropriate precautions. Statins sometimes need to be used with other lipid-lowering drugs to reach the recommended LDL-C goal and to improve atherogenic lipid profiles. Combination therapy is generally safe as well, if the drugs are prescribed appropriately and carefully.