The National Health Service has issued a crucial safety reminder to millions of Britons prescribed a common cholesterol-lowering drug, warning that mixing it with other everyday medications could trigger "serious" health risks.
Key Medications That Pose a Risk
In guidance updated on its official website, the NHS specifically highlights the statin drug atorvastatin. While effective at reducing high blood cholesterol to prevent heart attacks and strokes, its interaction with other substances requires vigilance. The health service states that some medicines can interfere with atorvastatin, significantly raising the risk of severe side effects like muscle damage.
Patients are urged to inform their doctor or pharmacist if they are taking any of the following alongside atorvastatin:
- Specific antibiotics, including erythromycin and clarithromycin.
- Antifungal treatments like ketoconazole or fluconazole.
- Medications for HIV and hepatitis C.
- The blood thinner warfarin.
- Drugs for conditions such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis (e.g., ciclosporin), and gout (colchicine).
- Certain contraceptive pills, notably the combined pill.
- Blood pressure and heart medicines like verapamil, diltiazem, amlodipine, and amiodarone.
If a course of one of these interacting medicines is necessary, a GP may respond by prescribing a lower statin dose, switching to a different statin, or recommending a temporary pause in atorvastatin use.
Recognising Common and Serious Side Effects
The NHS notes that common side effects, affecting more than one in 100 people, can include nausea, headaches, indigestion, cold-like symptoms, and digestive issues like constipation or diarrhoea. However, it is the serious reactions that demand immediate action.
Patients are advised to stop taking atorvastatin and contact a doctor or call 111 immediately if they experience:
- Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or cramps, which can signal muscle breakdown and kidney damage.
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), pale stools, or dark urine, indicating potential liver problems.
- A severe skin rash, particularly on palms or soles.
- Intense stomach pain, a potential symptom of acute pancreatitis.
- A persistent cough, shortness of breath, and weight loss, which may point to lung disease.
Essential Advice for Patients
The NHS further cautions that regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol can increase the likelihood of side effects and liver problems. It also specifically mentions that individuals considering herbal supplements like St John's wort or CoQ10 should consult a healthcare professional first, as these can also interact.
Critically, the health service stresses that patients should never simply stop taking their prescribed atorvastatin due to side effect concerns. Instead, they must speak to their doctor first, as symptoms may be unrelated. A medical professional can assess whether a dose adjustment or alternative treatment is needed.
For a complete list of interacting medicines, patients are directed to consult the leaflet inside their medication packet or speak directly with a pharmacist. More detailed information is available on the official NHS website.
