All Statins Carry Rare Possibility of Kidney, Muscle Problems

A new study raises fresh questions about the safety of Crestor, one brand of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins.

Heart specialists say people should not stop taking such drugs, which remain a vital tool for preventing heart attacks and strokes.

“As a family, these are safe medications to use,” said Dr. Richard Karas, the Tufts-New England Medical Center cardiologist who led the study, which was based on side effects reported to the federal Food and Drug Administration.

Here are some answers about the new developments:

Q. What did the study find?

All statin drugs carry risks of rare side effects – kidney problems and severe muscle weakness. But these problems were two to eight times more frequent among Crestor users than those taking other statins such as Lipitor, Zocor and Pravachol.

Q. How does Crestor differ from the others?

The potency of statins ranges. Crestor, the newest one, is about twice as powerful as some others at the same dose, and doctors believe the dose makes a difference in the risk of side effects.

Q. I’m taking Crestor. Should I stop or switch?

No, but you should talk with your doctor, the American Heart Association advises. The most important thing is to get cholesterol to target levels, using the lowest effective dose possible.

Q. Are there other non-statin drugs to lower cholesterol?

Yes, but these older medications have been eclipsed by statins, which have become the most popular type of medicine used in America because they quickly and dramatically lower LDL or “bad cholesterol.” Alternatives to statins include the drugs colesevelam, cholestyramine and colestipol, and niacin.

Q. Who should take statin drugs?

Doctors want patients first to try diet, exercise and weight loss to manage cholesterol. Drugs should be considered for lowering LDL to 130 or less in people at moderate or moderately high risk of heart problems and to 100 or less for those at high risk.