Timed To Symptoms: Osteoarthritis Meds
According to the research published in Pharmaceutics, osteoarthritis pain peaks in the late afternoon and evening, so its best to start NSAIDs, such as naproxen and ibuprofenthe most widely used meds for osteoarthritisbefore noon, so theyll kick in at the appropriate time. If youre prone to afternoon pain, take meds between mid-morning and noon for evening pain, schedule them for mid-afternoon and for nighttime pain, take them with your evening meal.
How Statin Drugs Protect The Heart
More than 200 million people around the world take statin drugs for theirheart health. Shifting ideas about the risks and benefits of statins overthe years, however, have left some new patients confused about whetherthese drugs are rightor safefor them.
Traditionally, statins were viewed as purely cholesterol-lowering drugs. So it made sense just to use them for people with high cholesterol, explains Johns Hopkins cardiologist Michael Blaha, M.D.But weve learned that they also benefit people with lower levels of cholesterol who are at a high risk of heart disease. So we now think of statins as risk-reducing drugs.
This dramatic change in thinking means that people who once were not candidates for statins are now prescribed them to lower their risk of heart attack and stroke.
Mistake : Youre Only Focusing On Ldl Cholesterol Levels
While its good to know what your so-called bad LDLcholesterol number is, that doesnt give you the complete picture, and numbers alone do not tell the story. Doctors order a blood test to look at your lipid panel, which consists of your high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total blood cholesterol .
To evaluate your risk for cardiovascular disease, doctors will also consider other risk factors, such as your age, family history, and whether you have other health conditions related to heart disease, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association .
Dont Miss: How Much Cholesterol In Mussels
Don’t Miss: Are Cashews Bad For Cholesterol
How And When To Take Statins
Always take statins exactly as your GP or pharmacist has told you. Check with your GP or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Usually, statins should be taken once a day.
Simvastatin, pravastatin and fluvastatin should be taken at night. This is because most of the cholesterol your body produces is during the night time.
Atorvastatin or rosuvastatin can be taken at any time, as long as you stick to the same time every day.
Statins do not usually upset the stomach. You can take them with or without food.
Swallow statin tablets whole with a glass of water.
Get Medical Advice From Your Doctor Not The Internet
There is no reason to be afraid of taking statins if you are at high risk for heart attack or stroke. Whats really scary is the amount of inaccurate information out there that keeps so many people from getting the protection they need!
The risks and side effects associated with statins are real they arent zero, but theyre very small. However, the benefits of statins for high-risk patients are substantial, and theyre invisible. Patients often dont consider that they didnt have a stroke or heart attack last year theyre too busy living and enjoying their lives while the statin medication protects them behind the scenes.
Statins are not for everyone, and there are complementary ways to lower your risk for heart disease. But for high-risk patients, the benefits of statins far outweigh the risks, and statin medications have a very important role in protecting their hearts and their lives. Its vital that you get medical advice from a doctor instead of trusting potentially misleading information on the Internet.
Though statins are incredibly effective, there are many different forms of heart disease. Heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of men and women in our country, and the epidemic is spreading throughout the world. As long as the battle continues, well continue researching new ways to prevent and treat heart disease.
Also Check: What Is An Optimal Cholesterol Level
Some Substances Can Interact With Statins
With some statins, drinking grapefruit juice, or eating grapefruit, is a bad idea. Grapefruit juice can cause that statin to stay in your body much longer, and the drug can build up. This can increase the risk of muscle breakdown, liver damage, and even kidney failure. If your prescription label doesnt mention grapefruit juice, be sure to ask your doctor about it.
Statins can also interact with other medications, so tell your doctor about all the drugs you take. That includes supplements, over-the-counter medications, and prescription drugs.
Important Facts You Need To Know About Statins
There are certain facts about statins that you should be aware of if you are taking these medications. The most important thing is that not all statins are the same. This is why you need to first consult your doctor and find out everything you can about statins, and secondly, you must read the materials that come along with the medication. Follow the directions of your prescription carefully so that you are able to derive maximum benefit from the statins medication.
Your doctor should be aware of all your personal conditions and medical issues, such as allergies before they can prescribe you the best statin for your individual case. Do make sure that you inquire your doctor whether the statin has to be taken at a specific time of day or if it has to be taken with food.
If your doctor says that you can take the statin at any time, then also you should choose to maintain the same time each day. This is because statins work best when they are taken at the same time every day. Make it a part of your routine so that you dont forget to take it.
Also keep in mind that when you are taking statins, you cannot drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit. Grapefruit interacts with a statin and causes the medication to stay inside your body for a much longer period of time. This can cause a build-up of statin inside the body, increasing the risk of muscle breakdown, kidney damage or kidney failure and liver damage.
Also Check: How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Cholesterol
Statins: Should You Take Your Pills At Night
Blood pressure pills are not the only medicines that might be better taken at the end of the day. For years, many doctors have recommended that their patients taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs lovastatin or simvastatin take them in the evening, when they are most effective.
This recommendation doesnt hold for all statins, though. Time of day doesnt seem to make any difference for atorvastatin or rosuvastatin .
Side Effects Of Statins
Statins do not cause serious side effects for most people. According to the American College of Cardiology, as many as 90 percent of people taking statins do not experience bothersome side effects. For those who do experience side effects, these may include:
- muscle aches, weakness, or cramps
- muscle inflammation, or myositis, which can be serious
- new-onset diabetes, especially in people with other risk factors for diabetes
The state that the risk of these side effects is small and that the benefits of statins usually outweigh this risk.
Some reports have warned that statins can cause severe memory loss, but an investigation found inconsistent evidence of this side effect. Another review states that there is evidence to suggest that statins do not affect memory.
In rare cases, a person taking statins may have serious side effects, such as liver damage or an allergic reaction. The following side effects require immediate medical attention:
Statins can interact with some medications. People who take statins will need to make their doctor aware of any medicines, vitamins, herbs, or other supplements that they take to help prevent dangerous interactions.
Statins may also interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice. Therefore, it is important to avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking statins unless a doctor says it is safe.
Smoking is a significant risk factor for heart disease. A doctor may advise a person to get help with quitting if they do smoke.
Also Check: Are Beans Good For Cholesterol
Dr Pradip Shah Tells You Why You Shouldnt Miss Your Cholesterol Medicines
Written by Sandhya Raghavan | Updated : May 2, 2017 10:03 AM IST
Popping pills can be tedious especially if you have to do it every day. Many of us are caught up our busy schedules, and some of us are just plain lazy to follow a rigorous schedule as far as taking medicines is concerned. Despite doctors stressing upon the importance of not skipping doses and stopping treatment midway, especially while treating lifestyle diseases like blood pressure and diabetes, many still miss their meds on a routine basis. We know that the cornerstone of treating any disease successfully is regularity and consistency.
High blood cholesterol is one such lifestyle disease for which medicines are to be taken every day without fail. When the levels of cholesterol in the body increase, there is a threat of clots forming in the blood. This, in turn, can cause hypertension, angina, strokes and heart attacks.
How do cholesterol medications work?
How Are Doctors Sure That Statins Really Are Safe And Beneficial
Statins have been studied more than nearly any other drug that people take. In fact, more than 170,000 people who take statins have been studied in detail and for extended periods of time. We certainly know the benefits of statins.
We also understand the risks of statins. In some instances, after doctors have prescribed a drug for 10 years or more, it is taken off the market because of unforeseen, adverse side effects. Weve been prescribing statins since the 1990s for patients at high risk for stroke and heart disease. With statins, the side effects actually are well known. But how can we put that in perspective?
Any focus on statin side effects needs to be counterbalanced by the fact that statins reduce peoples risk of dying from heart attack, heart disease, or stroke. Data from the 2008 JUPITER Trial suggest a 54 percent heart attack risk reduction and a 48 percent stroke risk reduction in people at risk for heart disease who used statins as preventive medicine. The data are not speculative rather, they reflect statins real potential to save lives and avoid illness.
There are many varieties of brand name and generic statins available. All statins work in more or less the same way to lower bad cholesterol in patients at high risk for cardiac events.
Below are a few of the common brand names you may recognize, along with their generic counterparts:
Recommended Reading: Why Is My Ldl Cholesterol High
Can I Take Ezetimibe At The Same Time As My Other Cholesterol Medications
Ezetimibe is sometimes prescribed with other cholesterol lowering medications.These cholesterol lowering medications can be taken at the same time as ezetimibe:
- atorvastatin
These cholesterol lowering medications need to be taken at a different time time to ezetimibe:
- cholestyramine
- colesevelam
- colestipol
If you have taken ezetimibe you need to wait 2 hours before taking cholestyramine, colestipol, or colesevelam.If you have taken cholestyramine, colestipol, or colesevelam you need to wait at least 4 hours before taking ezetimibe.
Bottom line:
- Ezetimibe can be taken any time of the day, with or without food.
- Ezetimibe should be taken consistently at the same time each day.
- Take it at a time of the day when you are most likely to remember to take it.
Urgent Advice: Call A Gp Urgently And Stop Taking Statins If You Get:
- muscle pain, weakness or cramps, and dark pee – these are dangerous signs, particularly if you also feel unwell or have a high temperature
- yellow skin or eyes, pale poo or dark pee
- a severe skin rash with peeling and swelling of the skin, and pink-red blotches, especially on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- severe stomach pain
Recommended Reading: What Should Total Cholesterol Be For A Woman
You May Have Side Effects
Statins can be effective in getting your cholesterol under control, but they come with risks. Some common side effects include muscle and joint aches, nausea, and headache.
Serious risks include damage to your muscles, kidneys, and liver. If you have type 2 diabetes, statins may increase your blood sugar levels.
If you experience side effects, its important that you tell your doctor. Sometimes, switching to another statin can help.
Best At Night: Rheumatoid Arthritis Meds
The problem with taking a steroid-based pain reliever like prednisone when you wake up is that most arthritis sufferers experience joint stiffness and pain in the morning. If you take your medication at nightideally, a low-dose, delayed-release formula that takes effect around 3 a.m.it can curb the inflammation that happens while youre sleeping and ease those morning symptoms. Thats what Italian researchers found: They say this timing takes the bodys circadian rhythms into account and can help tamp down inflammatory substances like cortisol and cytokine that can peak during the night. Other research suggests taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories such as Motrin and Aleve at night may also reduce pain symptoms before they really kick in.
Dont Miss: Are Mussels High In Cholesterol
Don’t Miss: Does Walking Help Lower Cholesterol
Can I Take My Cholesterol Medication In The Morning Instead Of At Night
Dr. Brown answers the question: Cholesterol Medication At Night/Morning?
Heart Disease And The Causes?
Question: I have been told to take my cholesterol medication at night. Can I take it together with my other medications in the morning, instead?
Answer: So, your doctor says you must take these cholesterol medicines at night. Now, thats must be some reason for that. Why would the doctor say that if it wasnt necessary? And the answer is that the body makes when theres none in your stomach, and so, if youve just eaten, the liver, the main organ that makes cholesterol, takes a rest and absorbs cholesterol from the dietary source.
But once youve stopped eating for awhile, then the liver turns back on and starts doing its job to maintain levels of cholesterol in the blood. So, taking that pill at night actually times it with the onset of the livers activity. The liver goes to work while youre , and what the do is slow down the liver and reduce the amount of cholesterol that the liver makes, and that ultimately reduces the amount of cholesterol in your circulation in your bloodstream.
What Are The Risks
Before you start taking statins, tell your provider if:
- You are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Pregnant and nursing mothers should not take statins.
- You have allergies to statins.
- You are taking other medicines.
- You have diabetes.
- You have liver disease. You should not take statins if you have certain acute or long-term liver diseases.
Tell your provider about all of your medicines, supplements, vitamins, and herbs. Certain medicines may interact with statins. Be sure to tell your provider before taking any new medicines.
Overall, there is no need to avoid moderate amounts of grapefruit in the diet. An 8 ounce glass or one grapefruit can be safely consumed.
Regular blood tests will help you and your provider:
- See how well the medicine is working
- Monitor for side effects, such as liver problems
Recommended Reading: What Meats Are High In Cholesterol
Why Do Doctors Focus On My Ldl Cholesterol
Some cholesterol is necessary for normal cell and body function. But too much cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis , which results in heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
There are two types of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein . The amount of each that circulates in your blood is added together to form your total cholesterol number. Thus, focus on total cholesterol can be confusing as it may be elevated due to high HDL cholesterol.
When your LDL cholesterol is above 130 it is considered borderline, while above 160 is considered high. Ideally, we would all have an LDL under 100 , but not everyone needs medications above this level.
We focus on the bad cholesterol because it is one of the main culprits responsible for blocking and hardening the arteries. A blocked artery can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Statin therapy helps control the bad cholesterol of patients who are at high risk for heart disease, stroke, and other serious cardiovascular events. In general, the lower your LDL levels, the better off you will be.
Theres a lot of science around how HDL cholesterol affects your risk for heart disease. But its the function how well it works that may be more important thanhow high its level is.
How Long To Take It For
Depending on the reason why you’re taking atorvastatin, you may have to take it for a long time, even for the rest of your life.
You may want to stop atorvastatin if you think you’re having side effects. Talk to your doctor first to see if it really is a side effect of atorvastatin or an unrelated problem. Your doctor may decide to lower your dose or change your medicine.
You will not get any withdrawal symptoms. However, the benefits will only continue for as long as you take it. If you stop taking atorvastatin without starting a different treatment, your cholesterol level may rise again. This increases your risk of heart attacks and strokes.
If you want to stop taking your medicine, it’s important to find another way to lower your cholesterol.
Recommended Reading: How To Remove Ldl Cholesterol Naturally
Can Statins Damage My Liver
Liver damage from taking statins is extremely uncommon. We used to test patients for liver damage throughout the course of statin treatment, but because of the rarity of that potential side effect, the Food and Drug Administration determined that regular monitoring of liver function tests is unnecessary for patients taking statins. Now, we check a patients liver enzymes before we begin statin therapy to ensure the liver is healthy before treatment begins, and we dont put anyone through unnecessary testing during treatment, unless symptoms arise.
Interestingly, there is a statin study examining people who already had abnormal liver function tests and fatty liver. Roughly half of the participants took a statin medication, and the other half took a placebo. The people who took statins actually had improvements in their liver function compared to the placebo group and had a lower risk of cardiovascular events. People who have blood sugar issues, have insulin resistance, and are obese or have other risks for heart disease often have fatty liver and abnormal liver function tests. The study suggests that these people may need statins the most.