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Can Cholesterol Drugs Have Any Long Term Side Effect?
I am male 42 years old, my father is diabetic since 22 years and got heart surgery since 11 years, I have done some analysis last month and found the below following results: October 2011 Cholesterol 268 Trig. 290 LDL 190 HDL 38.8 HbA1c : 5.8 July 2011 Cholesterol 237 Trig. 274 LDL 160 HDL 38 HbA1c :5.6 The doctor interpretation was I am Pre-diabetes, and we need to start the treatment by giving me Lipostat 40mg once per day + Diaphage metformin 850 (first 10 days one pill and after 2 pill per day) and advise me to come after 2 months later and do some analysis to see what improvement we have and the function of liver and kidney. Note: I do not smoke. I do not drink I do practice few sports (swimming) By blood tension is normal I am afraid to take the cholesterol drugs, I’ve heard that I should take it all my life, please advise Thanks very much Bahjat Jebril
Mon, 21 Sep 2020
Hi,
Lipostat is pravastatin in therapeutic class which belongs to a group of medicines called statins or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors which prevents the production of cholesterol by the liver and consequently reduce the levels of cholesterol and other fats (triglycerides) in your body and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, TIA etc. This drug has some side effects too.
The long term side effects are rash, edema, fever, weight gain, weight loss, fatigue, chest pain, influenza, musculoskeletal pain, myalgia, dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, cough, pulmonary infection, sinus abnormality, tracheobronchitis, visual disturbance, viral infection, sleep disturbance, anxiety, urinary tract infection, alopecia, libido change, peripheral neuropathy, dementia, cholestatic jaundice, hepatitis, pancreatitis etc. But the chance of developing these side effects are less than 2%.
Statins are usually effective for lowering cholesterol, but they only work as long as you are taking them. For reducing cholesterol level as well as risks the chance of heart disease, stroke, TIA etc, u may need to take statin for the rest of life.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Zubayer Alam, General & Family Physician
Lipostat is pravastatin in therapeutic class which belongs to a group of medicines called statins or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors which prevents the production of cholesterol by the liver and consequently reduce the levels of cholesterol and other fats (triglycerides) in your body and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, TIA etc. This drug has some side effects too.
The long term side effects are rash, edema, fever, weight gain, weight loss, fatigue, chest pain, influenza, musculoskeletal pain, myalgia, dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, cough, pulmonary infection, sinus abnormality, tracheobronchitis, visual disturbance, viral infection, sleep disturbance, anxiety, urinary tract infection, alopecia, libido change, peripheral neuropathy, dementia, cholestatic jaundice, hepatitis, pancreatitis etc. But the chance of developing these side effects are less than 2%.
Statins are usually effective for lowering cholesterol, but they only work as long as you are taking them. For reducing cholesterol level as well as risks the chance of heart disease, stroke, TIA etc, u may need to take statin for the rest of life.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Zubayer Alam, General & Family Physician
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