The #1 Mistake to Avoid When Taking Cholesterol Medication

High HDL cholesterol is one of the main risk factors for stroke or heart attack. Although a healthy diet and lifestyle habits can help keep cholesterol levels within a healthy range, prescription medications (mainly statins) can also play a crucial role in reducing it.

Most people who are prescribed statins must take them for life. If they stop, their LDL cholesterol levels will go back up. As with any medication, it is important to take cholesterol medications correctly. This includes knowing when to take them, what foods or drinks you should avoid taking them with, and what to do if you forget to take them.

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When is it useful to take cholesterol medication and how does it work?

Not everyone needs to take spot medication to manage their cholesterol levels. According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, if you are between the ages of 40 and 75 and your risk of developing atherosclerosis (a chronic disease that causes plaque buildup in the arteries) over the next decade is 10% or more is It is recommended that you consider taking a statin medication. This risk is determined using a cardiovascular risk calculator that takes into account factors such as age, race, gender, blood pressure, smoking history and diabetes. If you are not sure what your risk of atherosclerosis is, talk to your doctor to find out.

“The first group of people who should consider taking a statin are those who have had a heart attack, stroke, bypass surgery or stent,” explains Dr. David Davidson, MD, cardiologist at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals. The second group of people who should consider taking a statin, Dr. Davidson says, are people with high LDL cholesterol, defined as being above 190 and not due to an underlying health problem, such as a thyroid problem. Dr. Davidson says people with type 2 diabetes might also consider taking statins.

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Cardiologist Dr. Tracy Paeschke, MD, FACCexplains that all cholesterol medications work by decreasing the formation of cholesterol plaques. “Some cholesterol medications, like statins, are anti-inflammatory, meaning they decrease plaque inflammation, helping to stabilize it and making them less likely to rupture and cause an acute event, such as a stroke or a heart attack,” she says.

The #1 Mistake to Avoid When Taking Cholesterol Medication

Deciding whether to take cholesterol medication is a conversation you should have with your healthcare professional. They are also the best person to contact if you have questions about your medications, especially if you are taking other medications and are concerned about how they may interact. That said, there are some general guidelines for taking cholesterol medications that are helpful to know.

When it comes to the best time of day to take your cholesterol medications, it depends on the type of medication you’re taking. “Short-acting statins are best taken in the evening, while long-acting statins, such as rosuvastatin, can be taken at any time of the day. The most important thing is to remember to take your medications consistently and at the same time every day,” explains the cardiologist. Dr. Nieca Goldberg, MD.

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A big question that many people taking cholesterol medication may have is what to do if they forget to take it. If you are new to taking a cholesterol medication, you may not be used to taking it, causing you to forget. Or maybe you were traveling or had a particularly busy day, disrupting your routine. Luckily, if you forget to take a dose, Dr. Paeschke says it shouldn’t affect your cholesterol levels too much.

All three cardiologists caution against doubling your medication dose the next day to make up for a missed dose. Instead, they emphasize that you should only take one dose as usual. Taking high doses of statins can cause rhabdomyolysis, which can cause extreme muscle pain, liver damage, kidney damage, and even death.

Dr. Davidson says it’s also important to avoid taking statins that contain grapefruit or grapefruit juice. This is because grapefruit juice contains a chemical called furanocoumarin, which can prevent statins from breaking down properly in the body, causing too many statins in the body. Otherwise, all three doctors say statins can be taken with or without food.

Besides grapefruit juice, Dr. Goldberg says cholesterol medications should not be taken at the same time as Paxlovid, an oral antiviral agent for COVID-19. “Paxlovid may interact with certain statins and increase cardiovascular risk. It is therefore recommended not to take statins during treatment with Paxlovid,” she says.

It’s worth repeating that if you have any questions about whether a cholesterol medication is right for you or if you have questions about the best way to take it, you should talk to your doctor. When taken correctly and when necessary, cholesterol medications can save lives.

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