The NHS has issued a warning to patients taking atorvastatin, a widely prescribed statin for lowering cholesterol, about the risk of serious side effects and the importance of checking for interactions with other medicines.
What Is Atorvastatin and Who Needs It?
Atorvastatin is a type of statin that helps reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. It is commonly prescribed to patients with high blood cholesterol to lower the risk of heart disease, including heart attacks and strokes. Your GP may also recommend atorvastatin if you have a family history of heart disease or a long-term condition such as type 1 or type 2 diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis.
Key Warning: Drug Interactions Can Cause Muscle Damage
The NHS advises that certain medicines can affect how atorvastatin works and increase the chance of serious side effects, such as muscle damage. Patients must inform their doctor or pharmacist if they are taking any of the following: antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin, clarithromycin, rifampicin, fusidic acid), antifungals (e.g., ketoconazole, voriconazole, fluconazole), some HIV medicines, some hepatitis C medicines, warfarin, ciclosporin, colchicine, contraceptive pills, verapamil, diltiazem, amlodipine, or amiodarone.
If you need to take one of these medicines while on atorvastatin, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of atorvastatin, switch you to a different statin, or recommend temporarily stopping atorvastatin. The NHS notes that this list is not exhaustive and advises checking the leaflet inside your medicine packet or consulting a pharmacist for a full list.
Common Side Effects
Common side effects, affecting more than one in 100 people, include nausea or indigestion, headaches, nosebleeds, sore throat, cold-like symptoms (runny nose, blocked nose, sneezing), constipation or flatulence, and diarrhoea. The NHS warns that drinking alcohol regularly increases the risk of side effects and liver problems. If side effects are troublesome, patients should talk to their doctor before stopping the medication, as the symptoms may be caused by another issue. The doctor may suggest lowering the dose or changing the medicine.
Serious Side Effects: When to Call 111
Patients should stop taking atorvastatin and call a doctor or NHS 111 immediately if they experience any of the following: unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or cramps (signs of muscle breakdown and kidney damage); yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, pale poo, or dark pee (signs of liver problems); a skin rash with pink or red blotches, especially on palms or soles (possible erythema multiforme); severe stomach pain (possible acute pancreatitis); cough, shortness of breath, and weight loss (possible lung disease); or weakness in arms or legs that worsens after activity, double vision, drooping eyelids, problems swallowing, or shortness of breath (possible myasthenia gravis).
Additional Precautions
The NHS advises consulting a doctor or pharmacist before taking St John's wort supplements or CoQ10 while on atorvastatin. For more information, visit the NHS website.
