Q: I am a 45-year-old male, and my doctor gave me Lipitor. Should I be worried about the long-term side effects?
A: You are right to be concerned about this, since once you start taking cholesterol-lowering medication you likely will be on it for a while. All medications have potential risks and side effects that must be considered. Make sure your doctor has taken into account your overall risk for heart disease, your cholesterol levels, and your response to nondrug cholesterol treatment. Make sure that you understand and agree with the decision to start cholesterol-lowering medication.
The most common side effects are reversible and include mild increases in liver enzymes and muscle aches. These problems often can be managed by lowering the dose of the drug or switching to a different medication. More serious side effects are rare.
Sharonne Hayes, M.D., is associate professor of medicine and cardiology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota.
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