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Lipid modification - primary and secondary CVD prevention - Management
What advice should I give to someone on a statin?
- Advise the person to seek medical advice and to stop the statin:
- If they develop unexplained muscle symptoms (pain, tenderness, weakness).
- If they develop unexplained peripheral neuropathy.
- If they develop presenting features of interstitial lung disease such as dyspnoea, non-productive cough, and deterioration in general health (e.g. fatigue, weight loss, and fever).
- For further information and management, see Adverse effects.
- Emphasize the importance of compliance with treatment.
- Not all people who are prescribed statins will take them for any length of time. Between 5 and 15% are likely to discontinue therapy within the first year, and at the end of five years as many as 30% are likely to have discontinued [NICE, 2005].
- Additional advice:
- Avoid grapefruit juice with simvastatin. Concomitant intake of large quantities of grapefruit juice and atorvastatin is not recommended.
- Simvastatin and pravastatin should be taken in the evening (atorvastatin can be taken at any time). For further information, see Time of administration.
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