Cholesterol Tablets (Statins)

To find out if you have high cholesterol you have to take a test which we can supply for you. You send a finger-prick sample of blood to our lab through the post and will receive the results through your patient account in 2 to 3 days.

There are different tests available. They can measure:

• the total amount of cholesterol in your blood, including both good and bad cholesterol (a healthy level is 5 or below)
• good cholesterol called HDL (a healthy level is 1 or above)
• bad cholesterol called LDL and non-HDL (a healthy level is 3 or below for LDL and 4 or below for non-HDL)
• triglycerides which is a fatty substance similar to bad cholesterol (a healthy level is 2.3 or below)

There are no typical symptoms of high cholesterol and it can often be diagnosed after you have a serious incident, like a heart attack or stroke. The best way to check if you have high cholesterol is to get a test. It is recommended all adults get tested and the test is included in the free NHS over 40 health check.

You can only be diagnosed with high cholesterol following a blood test that has been reviewed by a doctor. Blood can be taken using a needle in your arm which is then sent away to a lab. Our cholesterol test is a finger prick blood test which you can do at home. You collect a small amount of blood from a finger into a small vial. This is then sent to a lab to be tested.

It is recommended that all adults are tested, especially those over 40 with any of the risk factors.

You can treat high cholesterol through lifestyle changes such as eating healthily, getting more exercise, stopping smoking, and reducing your alcohol intake.

If these changes do not work, your doctor may recommend that you take tablets to reduce your cholesterol. These are known as statins. Our service can provide a repeat prescription of statins, but we cannot provide the initial prescription.

The different types of statins available in the UK are:

• atorvastatin (Lipitor)
• fluvastatin (Lescol)
• pravastatin (Lipostat)
• rosuvastatin (Crestor)
• simvastatin (Zocor)

If statins do not work, there are other tablets (such as ezetimibe, fibrates, and bile acid sequestrants) or injections (such as alirocumab and evolocumab) that your doctor may prescribe.

Although many people who take statins will have no or very few side effects, these tablets can cause side effects. These vary from person to person and in severity.

If you suffer side effects while taking statins, talk to your doctor. You may be able to change the dosage or switch medication.

One common side effect of statins which you need to be aware of is muscle pain. If you get unusual muscle pain, talk to your doctor right away. It can sometimes indicate a serious condition called rhabdomyolysis which needs to be treated urgently.

Other common side effects include:

• muscle weakness or tiredness
• nausea (feeling sick)
• diarrhoea, wind, constipation, or indigestion
• sore throat
• nosebleeds, nasal congestion, or a runny nose
• headaches
• increased risk of diabetes

The patient information leaflet (PIL) that comes with your medication provides a comprehensive list of potential side effects. You can find the PIL for your medication online if you have lost it.

You should not take cholesterol tablets if you:

• have severe liver disease or there is any suggestion that your liver is not working properly
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Certain types of medication can interact with statins and make them less effective. You must tell your doctor if you are taking any other medication, including herbal supplements.

Medications specifically known to interact with statins include:

• antibiotics, antifungal, and HIV medications
• Warfarin
• immunosuppressant drugs
• fibrates (which can also be used to treat high cholesterol)
• drugs to treat cardiovascular problems and irregular heartbeat

Alcohol can increase the risk of rhabdomyolysis (a condition that leads to the destruction of muscle cells), which can be a side effect of taking statins. It is therefore recommended that people taking statins do not drink large amounts of alcohol.

Yes, there is no interaction between Vitamin D and statins. We need cholesterol in our skin to help us make Vitamin D from sunlight. Even though statins lowers cholesterol, your body has enough cholesterol in your skin to make Vitamin D. It is important to make sure you are getting enough Vitamin D regardless of whether you are taking statins or not.

It is recommended to avoid drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit while taking statins. This is because the interaction between grapefruit juice and the statins can cause an increase in the level of statins in your blood, which can be dangerous.