Arvostatin ‘call 111’ warning as NHS issues side effects list | UK | News
The NHS has urged people prescribed statins to “call 111” if they experience “serious side effects”.
Statins can lower cholesterol levels and prevent angina, heart attacks, stroke, or other complications if you have cardiovascular disease.
It may also be prescribed to people with diabetes, kidney disease, or familial hypercholesterolemia, which can cause high cholesterol.
Common side effects include headache, dizziness, nausea, and digestive problems. It can also cause muscle aches, nasal congestion or runny nose, and sleep problems.
Although most people do not experience serious side effects, in rare cases it can cause complications.
The official advice from the NHS is to call 111 “if you are taking atorvastatin and think you may have serious side effects”.
111 is the less urgent, non-emergency health advice number run by the NHS. It’s still 999 for life-threatening emergencies.
It is stated that rare serious side effects may include:
- Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) can cause your skin and the whites of your eyes to turn yellow; If you have brown or black skin, yellowed skin may be less noticeable.
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which can cause severe stomach pain
- You may also have other symptoms such as inflammation and muscle damage – high fever and red or brown urine – which can cause muscle cramps, severe pain and weakness.
- Allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), which may cause symptoms such as swelling of the throat or tongue, a raised, itchy rash, or difficulty breathing
Separately, the NHS also recommends that arvostatin not be taken with some other treatments.
He says: “There are some medications, treatments and supplements that do not mix well with atorvastatin.
- Other medications that lower cholesterol, such as fibrates
- antifungal medications such as itraconazole or fluconazole
- antibiotics such as fusidic acid, erythromycin, and clarithromycin
- Medicines for viral infections, including HIV and hepatitis C
- High blood pressure or heart disease medications, such as diltiazem or verapamil
- cyclosporine, a medication given after organ transplantation
- warfarin (a medicine that prevents blood clots)
- “St John’s wort, an herbal supplement”
The NHS adds: “You can eat normally while taking atorvastatin, but avoid drinking too much grapefruit juice as it may increase the chance of side effects. “Do not drink more than 1 or 2 small glasses of grapefruit juice a day.
“Also try to limit the amount of alcohol you drink while taking atorvastatin, as it may increase the risk of side effects such as liver problems.”
