Statins - Lowering Cholesterol Levels

Statins are a class of medications commonly used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. They work by blocking a substance your liver needs to make cholesterol.

Statins FAQ

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What are statins used for?

Statins are a group of medicines that can help lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood. LDL cholesterol is often referred to as "bad cholesterol", and statins reduce the production of it inside the liver. Why have I been offered statins?

How do statins work?

They work by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol. Lowering cholesterol isn't the only benefit associated with statins. These medications have also been linked to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. These drugs may help stabilize the plaques on blood vessel walls and reduce the risk of certain blood clots.

What are the different types of statins?

Statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol XL), lovastatin (Altoprev), pitavastatin (Livalo), pravastatin, rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor). Having too much cholesterol in the blood increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Statins block an enzyme the liver needs to make cholesterol.

What are Statins & how do they work?

Statins are medications that reduce the level of cholesterol in your blood and protect the insides of your arteries. Reducing cholesterol helps lower the risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases, including angina, heart attack and stroke. What’s on this page? What is cholesterol? What are statins? Why do I need statins?

How many types of statins are there in the UK?

There are 5 types of statin available on prescription in the UK: Read about statins – medicines that lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood. Find out why you may be offered them, how they're taken, and the possible side effects.