Statins - what is it? Statins (preparations): names

Statins are drugs that can only be prescribed by a doctor and only after a series of blood tests that determine the level of cholesterol. In such cases, their main goal is to protect the cardiovascular system from diseases and acquired pathologies. When prescribing medications, the attending physician must advise the patient on the following points:

• Statins - what is it;
• A complex of side effects from taking medications.

Also, the doctor conducts a conversation on the topic that statins should be taken continuously. Only if this condition is met they really protect the heart and blood vessels and have a pronounced therapeutic effect.

The concept of cholesterol

Cholesterol is a lipid that has a natural nature: 80 percent is synthesized by the liver, and 20 enters the body with food. The role of cholesterol in the proper functioning of the body is quite important: it is one of the building materials at the cellular level, activates metabolic processes, protects cells from the effects of negative factors, participates in the production of bile acid and sex hormones. Cholesterol is "good" and "bad". And from a medical point of view, this classification is as follows:

• HDL - high-density lipoproteins. People with a high content of such cholesterol in the blood are not prone to heart disease. Excess HDL is transported back to the liver where it undergoes synthesis, so it does not collect into cholesterol plaques and does not pose a health hazard. In this case, taking statins is not necessary, because the body works smoothly and smoothly.
• LDL - low density lipoproteins. The main danger to the body they carry, when combined into cholesterol plaques. What is the danger of this?
  Phenomenon? Atherosclerotic deposits, which settle inside the vessels (on the walls), clog them, thereby disrupting the blood flow. This leads to oxygen starvation, stroke, heart attacks.

Statins - what is it?

In the XX century, atherosclerosis was recognized as one of the leading causes of death, because it is the cause of myocardial infarction and strokes. For a long time the opinion of doctors was erroneous, that atherosclerosis is an irreversible and natural process of aging. The discovery of statins was a revolution in the medical world: they had a powerful cholesterol-lowering property. The results of the study, which were conducted for 5 years, were the following indicators:

• Reducing the level of LDL (bad cholesterol) by 35%.
• Increase in HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) by 8%.
• Reduction of strokes by 30% and myocardial infarction by 42%.

Statins are drugs that accelerate and regulate the synthesis of cholesterol in the body, reduce its concentration by inhibiting the GMC-CoA reductase.

Who is prescribed statins

According to the conducted studies, after taking medications positive dynamics was noted in patients suffering from chronic ischemic heart disease. There is no evidence that the positive effect of statins on other pathologies and diseases exists. But these funds are not only curative, but also preventive. Since statins are drugs that lower cholesterol levels, they are prescribed to people belonging to the following categories:

• Persons with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia who can not be treated with lipid-lowering drugs.
• Patients suffering from ischemic heart disease, regardless of cholesterol level.
• Patients who had a heart attack, as well as suffering from angina pectoris.
• Patients with coronary syndrome.
• Diabetics to adjust the level of cholesterol in the blood.
• Patients suffering from hypertension, at risk for cardiovascular disease.
• Patients suffering from atherosclerotic vascular lesions. Such diseases include atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels, lower extremities, renal arteries, as well as the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid artery.
• Persons who are not suffering from cardiovascular disease, but with high cholesterol levels in the blood.

Statins are medicines, which are one of the best preventive drugs in the fight against diseases of the cardiovascular system. According to statistics, in countries where sales of these drugs are increasing, the death rate from diseases associated with high cholesterol in the blood is significantly reduced.

"Pros and cons"

So, statins. What it is and how much they are necessary - we have considered above. But the opinion of doctors about these drugs is ambiguous. There are valid "pros" and "against" for these medicines. Despite the fact that advertising slogans promise to save the population from atherosclerosis and all the resulting diseases, statins are not always and not in any way useful. Especially controversial is the question of their admission by the elderly: first, statins - drugs, the price of which is not acceptable for everyone; Secondly, side effects can cause more harm than benefits when taking drugs as a prophylactic. Based on the results of clinical studies conducted by different institutions, experts say:

• The use of statins as a preventive measure that reduces the risk of a heart attack or stroke is really high, but the side effects make doctors think about before assigning them to patients who have not previously had heart problems.
• Especially cautiously prescribed statins to people who have cataract symptoms or are already suffering from this disease. According to statistics, taking drugs increases the risk of developing cataracts by 52%.
• This applies to elderly people with diabetes. Taking statins provokes the development of cataracts 5.6 times faster.

But, nevertheless, the newest statins are used in medical practice more often and bring their own benefit. An experienced doctor is required to advise a patient before prescribing treatment with these medications, on the following issues:

• Statins - what is it?
• What to expect from taking medications: the positive side of treatment and prevention.
• Side effects and effects of taking the drug.
• How and in what doses to take the drug.

Statins and cholesterol: the reverse side of the medal

Drug reduction of cholesterol in the blood leads to a change in other indicators in the body:

• Statins reduce the production of not only cholesterol, but also its predecessor - mevalonate. It is the source of many important substances that perform biological functions in the body. The lack of such substances can lead to other diseases.
• Low cholesterol can be more harmful than high: it leads to an increased risk of cancer, anemia, nervous system diseases and liver.
• According to studies conducted in the US, the increase in cholesterol is provoked by a low content of magnesium in the body. Its deficiency leads to angina, hypertension, the development of diabetes and arrhythmia.
• "Bad" cholesterol takes an active part in tissue repair at the cellular level. Taking statins can suppress this function, leading to myalgia (weakness, edema, muscle pain) and even to muscular dystrophy.

Adverse events

Harm of statins with their long reception is expressed by such side effects:

• Allergic reactions: itching, rash on the skin, urticaria, anaphylaxis, exudative erythema, Lyell's syndrome.
• Digestive system: indigestion, nausea, vomiting, hepatitis, pancreatitis, jaundice.
• Hematopoiesis: thrombocytopenia.
• Nervous system: dizziness, paresthesia, amnesia, peripheral neuropathy, general malaise, weakness.
• Musculoskeletal: spasms, back pain, arthritis, miasitis.
• Exchange processes: hypoglycemia (reduction of sugar in the blood), risk of diabetes.

Long-term use of statins can lead to insomnia, headaches, impotence, weight gain or anorexia.

Some principles of statin selection

If after all the pros and cons were decided to prescribe statins, then it is worth taking into account some features: compatibility with other drugs and the presence of chronic diseases.

• Taking statins with medications for gout, diabetes mellitus and hypertension can provoke a risk of myopathy doubling.
• With chronic liver disease, you need to take drugs with additional protective functions. This is rosuvastatin in low doses and pravastatin ("Praviksol"). Along with them, it is strictly forbidden to take antibiotics and alcohol.
• With constant pain in the muscles or with physical exertion that can cause damage to muscle tissue, it is advisable to take pravastatin.
• With special care, prescribe drugs to patients with chronic kidney disease. Categorically, toxic for the kidneys of statins can not be used: the name of fluvastatin preparations is Lescola Forte, atorvastatin is Lipitor.

If the goal of taking statins is to lower low-density cholesterol, then they can be consumed in combination with nicotinic acid. Ideal agents are rosuvastatin or atorvastatin.

The conventional classification of statins

Regarding their activity to reduce cholesterol, statins are divided into 6 groups:

Statins (the name of the drugs we list below) are selected and appointed by the doctor, based on the level of cholesterol in the blood.

Rosuvastatin

The average daily dosage of rosuvastatin is 5-10 mg. For seriously ill patients in the treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia, the daily dose can reach 40 mg. It is the maximum permissible. The preparation is synthetic.

Pravastatin

The daily rate of pravastatin is 20-40 mg. The maximum allowable dose (80 mg) is not used because of incomplete study of the action. The drug is semisynthetic.

Atorvastatin

Atorvastatin is a synthetic preparation of the third generation. Among the statins of its generation is the most effective, for example, it is twice as effective as fluvastatin. Initial therapy is recommended with 10-20 mg per day. In the absence of the desired effect, the dosage is increased to 40 mg per day. Atorvastatin is used and at a dosage of 80 mg per day for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome. The preparation is synthetic.

Simvastatin

Simvastatin is a semisynthetic drug that is twice as effective as lovastatin. The initial daily dose is 10-20 mg, in the absence of the desired effect can be increased to 40 mg. The maximum allowable daily allowance is 80 mg per day.

Fluvastatin

Synthetic drug fluvastatin is prescribed in a dose of 20-40 mg per day, but the optimal dose is 80 mg per day. He is prescribed to patients who receive cytostatics after organ transplantation.

Lovastatin

Lovastatin is the only natural statin. Obtained from the fungus Aspergillus terreus. The initial dose is 20 mg per day. It is used once, at night, after supper. In some cases, the daily rate is increased to 40 mg per day. Practically it is not used in medical practice due to the appearance of more modern analog drugs.