Can cholesterol medicine cause eye problems?

The most highly reported ocular adverse events associated with statins were blurred vision (48.4%) and visual impairment (25.7%). Results from logistic regression indicated that the ocular problems formed a greater proportion of the adverse events for subjects taking atorvastatin (2.1%).


Can cholesterol medicine affect your eyes?

The Blue Mountains Eye Study III survey found that oral statins were associated with an increase in moderate to severe dry eye symptoms, possibly due to the disruption of essential cholesterol synthesis for meibum lipid homeostasis in the meibomian glands.

Can atorvastatin cause eye problems?

Mizranita et al. have reported that 1.8% of all statin-associated events recorded by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between 1988 and 2011 were adverse ocular events. The authors further concluded that among all statins, atorvastatin was associated with the highest incidence of ocular side effects [5].


What are some of the side effects of taking cholesterol medicine?

Common side effects
  • headache.
  • dizziness.
  • feeling sick.
  • feeling unusually tired or physically weak.
  • digestive system problems, such as constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion or farting.
  • muscle pain.
  • sleep problems.
  • low blood platelet count.


Do statins affect eye pressure?

Leung et al. and Marcus et al.25 reported no significant changes in IOP associated with statin use. Khawaja et al.31 reported a significant reduction in IOP among statin users compared to non-statin users when adjusted for age and sex (β −0.31, 95%CI −0.51, −0.12 P = 0.002).


Statin Side Effects | Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin Side Effects & Why They Occur



What is the most common adverse effect of statins?

Muscle pain and damage

One of the most common complaints of people taking statins is muscle pain. You may feel this pain as a soreness, tiredness or weakness in your muscles. The pain can be a mild discomfort, or it can be severe enough to make your daily activities difficult.

Can high cholesterol cause high pressure in eyes?

Research we're watching. Got a high cholesterol reading? You may have a higher risk for a dangerous eye condition called glaucoma, according to a recent study published online May 2 by JAMA Ophthalmology. The condition, characterized by pressure in the eye that can damage the optic nerve, can lead to vision loss.

What is the best cholesterol medication with the least side effects?

According to a research review people who take simvastatin (Zocor) or pravastatin (Pravachol) may experience fewer side effects.


Can you stop taking cholesterol medicine once you start?

If you're taking a statin medication to lower your cholesterol, you will need to keep taking your prescription, or your cholesterol will likely go back up. Stopping your statin can put you at risk of having heart disease and other preventable health problems like stroke and heart attack from high cholesterol.

What can I take instead of statins to lower cholesterol?

7 cholesterol-lowering alternatives to statins
  • Fibrates. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis. ...
  • Plant stanols and sterols. ...
  • Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins. ...
  • Niacin. ...
  • Policosanol. ...
  • Red yeast rice extract (RYRE) ...
  • Natural products.


What medications can affect eyesight?

Medications that may cause double vision or eye problems
  • Alendronate (Fosamax) ...
  • Topiramate (Topamax) ...
  • Isotretinoin (Accutane) ...
  • Amiodarone (Cordarone) ...
  • Tamsulosin (Flomax) ...
  • Sildenafil (Viagra) ...
  • Tamoxifen. ...
  • Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)


Is there a new drug to replace statins?

PCSK-9 inhibitors thus reduce cholesterol levels by maintaining higher levels of LDL receptors that remove cholesterol from the blood. Currently, PCSK-9 inhibitors are limited in use as they must be administered as shots. Further research into them could expand their use as an alternative to statins.

What damage can atorvastatin cause?

summarized several forms of side effects attributed to the use of atorvastatin, including hepatocellular injury, cholestatic injury, mixed pattern of atorvastatin-associated hepatocellular and cholestatic injury, autoimmune-type reaction and fulminant liver failure [2].

What are the signs of high cholesterol in the eyes?

One ocular sign of high cholesterol is a bluish ring that forms near the outside of the cornea, the otherwise clear, front part of the eye. These rings, called “arcus senilis,” appear most commonly with age as more cholesterol gets deposited into the cornea.


Does high cholesterol causes blurry vision?

Eye Symptoms of High Cholesterol

- White, grey and yellow deposits forming around the cornea; - Blurry Vision; - Yellow bumps around the eyes.

What happens if your cholesterol medication is too high?

Signs of an overdose on this drug include: Trouble breathing due to allergic reaction. Passing out. Jaundice, indicating liver damage.

Why do people not want to take statins?

Fear of side effects and perceived side effects are the most common reasons for declining or discontinuing statin therapy. Willingness to take a statin is high, among both patients who have declined statin therapy and those who have never been offered one.


Can you skip a day of cholesterol medication?

If you forget to take your dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and take the next one at the usual time.

What happens if you take cholesterol medication every other day?

Most of studies reviewed demonstrated that when compared with baseline, every-other-day dosing of statins significantly lowered low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG) levels.

What is the safest anti cholesterol drug?

Which cholesterol-lowering drug is the safest? Overall, statins are safe as a class of drugs. Serious adverse events are very rare. Among the individual medications, studies have shown that simvastatin (Zocor®) and pravastatin (Pravachol®) seem to be safer and better tolerated than the other statins.


What are natural alternatives to statins?

Natural Alternatives to Statins: Foods That Help Lower Cholesterol
  • Foods high in soluble fiber and plant phytosterols, such as legumes, avocados, broccoli and other fruits and vegetables.
  • Whole grains, including oatmeal, quinoa and barley.


How do I get off statins?

Reducing statin use
  1. Adding other cholesterol drugs. Drugs your doctor could add to your medication regimen while reducing your statin use include ezetimibe, bile acid sequestrants, or niacin. ...
  2. Adding L-carnitine supplements.
  3. Adding CoQ10 supplements.


Can high cholesterol cause dizziness and blurred vision?

High cholesterol itself does not cause dizziness. It often does not present noticeable symptoms, but it can result in conditions and diseases that may cause dizziness. An increase in cholesterol levels and the level of LDL cholesterol in the body may cause the buildup of fatty deposits known as plaques .


What are the signs of high cholesterol on face?

If you notice fatty deposits under your skin, yellowish bumps, patches around your eyes, or mild to severe skin discoloration, you might have a skin condition related to high cholesterol. It's important to work with your healthcare team to check and manage your cholesterol levels.

What are the side effects of taking statins for a long time?

The most common statin side effects include:
  • Headache.
  • Difficulty sleeping.
  • Flushing of the skin.
  • Muscle aches, tenderness, or weakness (myalgia)
  • Drowsiness.
  • Dizziness.
  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • Abdominal cramping or pain.
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