Comments for Consumers
This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.
Australian Prescriber is unable to comment on individual cases or give second opinions.
Australian Prescriber Vol. 31 No. 5 2008
Lowering cholesterol
People with lots of cholesterol in their blood have a high risk of a heart attack or stroke. This risk is increased if the person also smokes or has diabetes.
Lowering the person's cholesterol will lower their risk of heart disease. Exercise and a diet that is low in fat can help. Some margarines can also assist in reducing cholesterol.
If exercise and diet do not work, a medicine may be added to control cholesterol. The statins are effective drugs for cholesterol. They reduce the risk of heart attacks, particularly in people who already have heart disease.
Most patients do not have any side effects from statins. Sometimes the medicine can cause muscle problems. As the liver may sometimes be inflamed by the medicine, blood tests are recommended.
