Does statin therapy treat high cholesterol?

High cholesterol often causes no symptoms, but cholesterol can collect inside artery walls over time. Statins reduce the amount made by the liver and help the liver remove more low-density lipoprotein cholesterol from the blood. The aim is to lower cardiovascular risk, not simply to improve a laboratory result. The size of the benefit depends on your starting level, other health conditions and your overall risk. A statin does not replace attention to food choices, movement, smoking or blood pressure.

Take your tablet on the schedule prescribed, even when you feel well, because high cholesterol usually has no warning signs. Keep follow-up appointments so your clinician can review cholesterol results, other medicines and symptoms. Tell them about unexplained muscle pain, weakness, dark urine or yellowing of the skin. Do not change the dose or add supplements without checking first. A heart-healthy eating pattern, regular activity and avoiding tobacco can work alongside the medicine.

High cholesterol itself is usually silent, so it does not normally require emergency care. Seek urgent help for chest pressure, sudden severe breathlessness, fainting, or sudden weakness or speech difficulty. Contact the prescribing clinician promptly for marked muscle weakness, severe muscle pain, dark urine or yellow skin or eyes after starting treatment.

What cholesterol level are we aiming for, and when will it be checked? Which side effects should I report? Could any of my medicines or supplements interact with this statin?