Statin side-effects revealed
Friday May 21st, 2010
The cholesterol lowering drugs, statins, have side effects including kidney failure, liver disease and eye cataracts, researchers warned today.
More
patients may suffer side effects than are spared heart disease, according
to an analysis published by the British Medical Journal.
Researchers said the findings highlighted the need for careful monitoring of patients.
And they released details of how patients at risk of side effects could be identified.
The British Heart Foundation urged the public not to be deterred from taking statins.
Researchers at Nottingham University, UK, led by Professor Julia Hippisley-Cox, studied the records of more than two million patients from 368 medical practices.
They found that out of every 10,000 high risk women treated with the drugs, 271 would be spared heart disease and eight saved from cancer of the oesophagus.
The analysis found that the drugs would lead to more than 300 additional cataracts and 23 women suffering kidney failure. And 74 would suffer from liver problems.
But the British Heart Foundation said the benefits of the drugs outweigh the risks.
Specialist nurse June Davison said: "We already know that a small number of people taking statins experience unwanted side effects. However for people with, or at high risk of heart disease, the benefits of statins far outweigh this risk.
"The good news is that the researchers found no significant link between the use of statins and risk of Parkinson’s disease or many cancers.
"Anybody experiencing side effects while taking statins should speak to their doctor."
* Meanwhile The Lancet today criticises European regulators for failing to release information about severe adverse reactions to drugs.
And it accuses the European Medicines Agency of making "questionable decisions".
Tags: Europe | Eye Health | Heart Health | Internal Medicine | Pharmaceuticals | UK News
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