A major new study from Oxford University has found that the vast majority of side-effects listed for statins are not actually caused by the drugs. The research, published in The Lancet, is the most comprehensive review of evidence on statin side-effects to date.
Researchers examined 19 randomised controlled trials involving 124,000 people over an average of 4.5 years. They found that of the 66 side-effects currently listed on product labels, only four—muscle pain, diabetes, liver test changes, and tissue swelling—are supported by evidence. The risks for these are very small.
Commonly cited side-effects such as memory loss, depression, sleep disturbances, and nerve damage were not found to be caused by statins. Lead author Dr Christina Reith said: 'What we were able to show reliably was that statins did not make these commonly experienced events occur more often.'
The researchers argue that labels should be updated to reflect the evidence, allowing patients and doctors to make better-informed decisions. Professor Sir Rory Collins, a senior author, said: 'Now that we know that statins do not cause the majority of side-effects listed in package leaflets, statin information requires rapid revision.'
Statins are proven to reduce heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths, but millions have been put off taking them due to safety concerns. The British Heart Foundation, which part-funded the research, called the findings 'a much-needed counter to the misinformation around statins.'
