Statin Side Effects

Headaches, constipation, and fatigue are some of the common side effects reported with statins. Side effects of these medications tend to be mild and easily treated. However, some potentially serious side effects require medical attention. Notify your healthcare provider if you develop memory loss, yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin, or unexplained changes in the amount of urine you produce.

An Introduction to Statin Side Effects

Just like any medicine, statins can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes them will have problems. In fact, most people tolerate statin drugs quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider.
 
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with statins. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of statin side effects with you.)
 

Common Side Effects of Statin Drugs

The particular side effects vary with each individual statin medication, as does the particular percentages for each side effect that were reported during clinical trials.
 However, some side effects seem to occur with several different statins. Such common statin side effects include:
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
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