If you have high cholesterol your doctor may prescribe meds to help you control it. While these drugs help keep you healthy, side effects are sometimes an unfortunate part of taking them. But there are some tips that may help.
The side effects can range from mild to serious, depending on things like how much you take, your age, weight, and other health problems. They may go away over time as they build up in your system. But if you continue to have side effects, the best thing you can do is talk to your doctor. They may suggest:
- Switching to a different cholesterol-lowering drug
- Changing your dose
Continue taking your current medication until your doctor says it’s OK to stop. Stopping it suddenly, or taking less medicine, can cause harm. Here are some suggestions for managing side effects of some widely used cholesterol-lowering meds.
Common Side Effects and Tips for Managing Them
While you may not be able to avoid every side effect of your cholesterol meds, here are some ideas for controlling some common ones:
- Constipation. Add more fiber to your diet by eating whole-grain cereal, bran, fresh fruit, and vegetables. You can also ease constipation with regular exercise and drinking lots of fluid.
- Headache. Let your doctor know you’ve been having headaches and ask if they can suggest an over-the-counter pain reliever. Headaches may also go away on their own over time.
- Nausea. First, ask your doctor if it’s OK to take your medicine with food. If you have the green light, try taking it with bland foods like crackers or bread. Avoid fried, greasy, or sweet foods, and break up large meals into several small ones throughout the day.
- Diarrhea. Avoid foods with too much grease or fat and fried foods. Instead, eat bland foods like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.
- Flushing. This is a side effect of nicotinic acid (niacin), and you can ward it off by taking the drug with meals or taking aspirin 30 minutes ahead of time.
Other suggestions
Here are some final tips for dealing with the side effects of cholesterol-lowering medications:
- Tell your doctor about new medications. Medicines, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements, can interact with cholesterol medications and cause side effects. Talk to your doctor before starting a new medication.
- Follow a heart-healthy diet. Cholesterol-lowering drugs work best when paired with a healthy diet. A dietician can help tailor an eating plan just for you, such as the Mediterranean diet.
- Weigh the pros and cons. Medication side effects can be frustrating. But remember that the drugs you take for high cholesterol help keep your condition in check. Without them, you have a higher chance of a heart attack or stroke. Meanwhile, the odds of serious side effects from cholesterol-lowering drugs are low.
Widely Used Cholesterol Drugs and Common Side Effects
Side effects are common in cholesterol meds, but many can be managed so that you can keep taking them. Some of the most widely used meds and their most common side effects are:
Statins
Statins work by blocking an enzyme your liver uses to make cholesterol. They’re one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for high cholesterol. Possible side effects include:
- Muscle soreness
- Uncomfortable or less frequent bowel movements (constipation)
- The urge to throw up (nausea)
- Headache
- Symptoms that mimic a cold
- Liver enzyme changes
- Higher blood sugar levels
- Memory loss that improves once you stop taking the drug
If you’re unable to take statins because of side effects, you may be statin-intolerant. Muscle aches, pain, weakness, or cramps are common signs of statin intolerance.
You may want to stop or cut back on your intake of grapefruit while taking a statin because it can increase your chances of having side effects. And alcohol can raise your odds of liver damage, so drink it in moderation.
PCSK9 inhibitors
These injectable drugs bind to a protein on liver cells to lower LDL “bad” cholesterol. You may take it along with a statin if you have a higher chance of heart disease and other methods have not worked to lower your cholesterol. One drawback for these drugs may be their high cost. They can also cause these side effects:
- Muscle pain
- Back pain
- Symptoms that mimic a cold
- Swelling where the needle went in
Bile acid sequestrants
Inside your intestine, bile acid sequestrants (bile acid resins) latch on to bile, a kind of fluid your liver makes to digest food. This process helps curb the amount of LDL “bad” cholesterol in your body while boosting HDL, or “good” cholesterol. These can cause side effects such as:
- Sore throat
- Stuffy nose
- Uncomfortable or less frequent bowel movements (constipation)
- Loose, watery bowel movements that may happen more often (diarrhea)
- Burping
- Stomach bloating and pain
- The urge to throw up (nausea)
- Vomiting
Nicotinic acid
Also known as niacin, nicotinic acid is a B-complex vitamin that lowers your LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and raises your HDL cholesterol. Potential side effects include:
- Flushed face and body
- Itching or tingling skin
- Upset stomach
- Raised blood sugar
- Coughing
Fibrates
Fibric acid derivatives, or fibrates, lower your blood lipids -- fats from food when you eat calories without getting rid of them. These drugs could also work to raise your HDL and lower your LDL. Watch out for these possible side effects:
- Uncomfortable or less frequent bowel movements (constipation)
- Loose, watery bowel movements that may happen more often (diarrhea)
- Weight loss
- Stomach bloating
- Burping
- Upset stomach
- Headache
- Back pain
- Muscle pain and weakness
Show Sources
Photo Credit: Marcos Calvo / Getty Images
SOURCES:
Cleveland Clinic: “Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs,” “Nausea & Vomiting,” “Diarrhea.”
Circulation: “Statin Intolerance.”
Mayo Clinic: “Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks,” “Constipation,” “Headaches: Treatment depends on your diagnosis and symptoms.”