Mixed statin box
Health regulators are adding more warnings to the labels of some of the most commonly prescribed statin medications, such as Lipitor and Zocor. The widely used medication will now warn the users that taking these medications may raise blood sugar levels and could cause memory loss.
On Tuesday the FDA announced the changes to the safety information on the labels of statins such as Pfizer Inc’s Lipitor, AstraZeneca’s Zocor. These medications are taken by ten of millions of people, and health officials are stating that this new information should not scare people into stopping taking the drugs.
Amy Egan, deputy director for safety in FDA’s Division of Metabolism and Endrocrinology Products, said in a statement regarding the new warnings, “The value of statins in preventing heart disease has been clearly established, their benefit is indisputable, but they need to be taken with care and knowledge of their side effects.”
A person with heart disease must be on a statin. Statin medications are responsible for saving more lives than almost any other medication, and this new revelation does not change the big picture, which is that Statin medication saves lives.
“These are nuances, tiny little tweaks to the lable,” said Steve Nissen, chief of cardiology at Cleveland clinic. “If you have heart disease, you probably should be on a statin. If you’re at high risk, a statin may be warranted. But we don’t think these drugs should be put in the water supply,” Nissen said.
When asked what prompted the label changes, FDA spokeswomen Erica Jefferson said they were based in the agency’s review of medical literature, clinical trial data and reports of adverse events.
“We have known for three or four years that statins slightly increase blood sugar,” Nissen said. “The fact that the blood sugar went up a little bit did not diminish the effectiveness of the statins in reducing (heart) risk for patients.”
It is important to remember to take this new information with a grain of salt and that any person who has heart disease be on and stay on a statin medication. It is however; also important to be informed about the medications you are taking, and fully understand the risks associated with that medication. Be sure to always speak with you health care professional to ensure that the benefits of taking your medication outweigh the risks.
