Taking statins to lower cholesterol in the blood reduces the risk of ischemic stroke, heart attack, or TIA. These drugs also prevent recurrent ischemic events after a stroke. In addition, they may reduce the number of fatty plaques in the artery walls, which can break off and cause clots. This article reviews the available evidence about the use of statins to prevent stroke and cardiovascular events.
The most comprehensive assessment of the efficacy of statins in preventing ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes was a network meta-analysis. It included results from two previous reviews that did not report statistically significant differences in the acute phase of ischemic stroke. It also included data from the Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive, which contains anonymized clinical trial data.
The reviewers found that statins decreased the overall risk of a cardiovascular event by 36 percent. The benefit was modest but was significantly greater in patients with high risk conditions. Several subgroup analyses were performed, including patients with non-cardioembolic strokes, cardioembolic strokes, and patients with low or medium-dose statins.
The results of the subgroup analyses indicate that statins are not more effective than placebo at preventing all cause mortality. However, the analysis did not show any difference in the overall risk of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.
There are some common side effects of taking statins, such as muscle pain, tenderness, and weakness. In some people, the side effects may be severe enough to affect daily activities. The good news is that the side effects usually disappear after the medication is discontinued. Nonetheless, you should still talk to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. You might need a different type of medication to treat your condition.
Other possible side effects of statins include kidney damage, liver damage, and death. Rhabdomyolysis is a common side effect of statins, which occurs when muscle cells break down and release myoglobin. It can be very painful, and can lead to kidney failure, liver damage, and even death. Generally, rhabdomyolysis is treated by switching to a different statin.
While statins are considered safe, there is still concern about their long-term effects. The FDA has classified them as category X medications, and they have been associated with fetal abnormalities in animal studies and human studies. The risk of taking these drugs during pregnancy is thought to be very low, but the risks still outweigh the benefits. If you are pregnant, you should consult your doctor to determine if taking these drugs is right for you.
Another important concern is that some statins may pass through breast milk. In addition, some medications such as erythromycin and gemfibrozil increase the risk of statin side effects. Other drugs that increase the risk of statin side effects are niacin, cyclosporine, and nefazodone. These drugs are often prescribed to pregnant women because they are thought to help prevent birth defects.
A comprehensive approach to the prevention of cardiovascular disease includes exercise, diet, and antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy. In this way, 80% of recurrent ischemic events can be prevented.
