statins

Got muscle pain from statins? A cholesterol-lowering alternative might be for you

5:06am March 13, 2023

by Allison Aubrey

New evidence shows bempedoic acid works to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attacks, without the muscle pain that some people suffer when taking statins.

Millions of Americans are prescribed statins to reduce the risk of heart disease, but many prefer to take supplements like fish oil, garlic and flaxseed.

Statins vs. supplements: New study finds one is 'vastly superior' to cut cholesterol

6:12pm November 06, 2022

by Allison Aubrey

Millions of people are prescribed statins to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease, but many would rather take supplements instead. A new study shows statins are much more effective.

Health & Safety

Wake Forest Baptist Joins Duke Medical For $90 Million Statin Study

11:32am October 28, 2019

by Neal Charnoff

Wake Forest Baptist Health is teaming with the Duke University Medical Center to study the benefits and risks of cholesterol-lowering drugs for elderly adults.

Atorvastatin, the generic form of Lipitor, can reduce the chances of heart attacks and strokes in people at risk. Side effects, such as muscle pain, are uncommon but should be part of the conversation about starting the medicines, a study concludes.

Health & Safety

Before Starting A Statin, Talk It Over With Your Doctor

10:24am December 04, 2018

by Richard Harris

Patients and doctors should have nuanced conversations about the benefits and risks of statins before deciding to start them. The drugs can reduce heart attack odds but also carry some side effects.

Queue Listen Now

Lipitor, a best-seller as a cholesterol treatment, is being tested as a remedy for the flu.

Health & Safety

Scientists Find New Tricks For Old Drugs

5:31pm July 09, 2018

by Richard Harris

Researchers are looking to redeploy drugs used for years to treat cholesterol and high blood pressure as remedies for influenza and Ebola.

The injectable drug Repatha can lower cholesterol to unheard-of levels. The next question is whether the disease-prevention benefit it worth its high price.

Pricey New Cholesterol Drug's Effect On Heart Disease Is More Modest Than Hoped

9:36am March 17, 2017

by Harlan Krumholz

The injectible drug Repatha is spectacularly good at lowering cholesterol. But the first big clinical trial of its ability to prevent heart attack and stroke finds smaller benefits.

Tablets of Lipitor and its generic equivalent, atorvastatin, are among the drugs commonly prescribed to prevent heart attacks and strokes among people at risk.

Health & Safety

Doubts Rise About Surge In Statin Prescriptions For Oldest Americans

3:16pm September 21, 2015

by Lisa Gillespie

About a third of people over the age of 79 are taking a cholesterol-lowering statin to prevent the first occurrence of a heart attack or stroke. Proof is scant that the benefits outweigh the risks.

Are Statins Bad For Me? Personalized Medicine Can't Yet Say

4:39pm September 02, 2015

by Wendy Wolfson

Statins made her feel wretched, so she took a DNA test to find out why. But even the doctor with the genetic testing company admits that the test doesn't tell you much more than you already know.

Health & Safety

When To Start Taking A Cholesterol Pill? The Decision Is Yours

3:29pm July 16, 2015

by Harlan Krumholz

The latest cholesterol guideline identifies more people as candidates for treatment with statins. But the decision about taking a daily pill to reduce heart disease risk is more personal than ever.

If You're Going To Die Soon, Do You Really Need Statins?

4:30pm March 23, 2015

by Nancy Shute

Many older people are taking a lot of meds, and some drugs may not be doing them much good. When terminally ill people went off statins, they said they felt better. And it didn't increase their risk.