Stopping Statin Drugs

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Stopping Statin Drugs

Question:

Once you start taking Lipitor, do you have to stay on it for the rest of your life?

Answer:

Many people worry about starting medicines for conditions such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure because they fear that they can never stop them. With the exception of a handful of drugs such as insulin for type 1 diabetes, no drug has to be taken for life.

There are circumstances when a drug can be discontinued. And sometimes a person should stop taking a medicine; for example, new side effects, the development of a new diagnosis, or some other change in health status.

Regarding a statin drug such as Lipitor (atorvastatin), most often the doctor intends to continue the drug indefinitely. Let me explain why and also discuss a way you might be able to safely stop the drug.

If you have cardiovascular disease or you are at high risk of developing it, then you most likely will want to stay on Lipitor or some other statin for life. Cardiovascular disease includes a history of heart attack, stroke, angina, coronary artery disease or peripheral arterial disease. Statin drugs do more than just lower cholesterol. They significantly reduce the build up of fatty deposits in the arteries. Therefore, your risk of heart attack goes way down.

However, if you are not at high risk for these heart and vascular conditions, you can start using a statin and at the same time make a real commitment to diet and exercise to lower your cholesterol. After one year or perhaps a little longer, your cholesterol will likely have fallen dramatically. Given the improved lifestyle you have adopted, you and your doctor may decide to stop the statin and recheck your blood test in a couple months.

Even if you need to go back on Lipitor or another statin, your efforts at diet and exercise are paying off. You will be able to keep your dose of statin in the low range.

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