Discontinuing Statins

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Discontinuing Statins

Question:

I take Crestor to lower my cholesterol. Is it OK to stop taking it "cold-turkey?"

Answer:

The answer depends upon your personal circumstances.

If you have no history of heart disease or vascular disease, and you only take this statin drug to lower your LDL cholesterol, the answer would probably be yes — you could just stop taking it. However, in general, I tell people they should not suddenly stop taking their statin drug.

I would not recommend that people with coronary artery disease or other vascular diseases stop taking the drug "cold-turkey."

Statins have positive health benefits, and many are available as low cost generics. But statins do have certain potential side effects, such as muscle breakdown or the rare case of severe liver damage. Maybe this is why you are thinking about not taking your Crestor. Here is what I advise:

• If your muscles start to ache, don't take your next dose. Call your doctor to arrange a blood test for that day or the next. The blood test is called a CPK.

• If you have pain in the right upper part of your abdomen or you notice that your urine is turning dark and your skin or eyes look yellow, don't take your next dose. Call your doctor for advice.

I suggest you contact your doctor with your reasons for wanting to stop your statin.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is chief editor of Internet Publishing at Harvard Health Publications. He is recognized as an outstanding clinician and teacher and is a recipient of the Internal Medicine Teacher of the Year award at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. LeWine continues to practice Internal Medicine; most recently he became a hospitalist after practicing primary care for over 20 years.

Last updated:	July 20, 2009