What to Consider When Choosing the Right Statin

Choosing the right statin isn’t just about lowering cholesterol—it’s about finding a medication that fits your unique health profile and lifestyle. Here are some key factors to keep in mind:

What Statin Intensity Do I Require?

Statin intensity refers to the degree to which a statin can lower your LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels. Statins are categorized into low, moderate, and high intensity based on their cholesterol-lowering capabilities. The right intensity for you depends on your individual cholesterol goals and medical history.

The Rule of 6

For every doubling of a statin dose, you can expect approximately a 6% additional reduction in LDL cholesterol.

However, increasing the dose often comes with a higher risk of side effects, such as muscle pain or liver enzyme elevations.

This means that while doubling a statin dose can offer a slight improvement in cholesterol reduction, the trade-off may not always be worth it.

How ZYPITAMAG Compares to Atorvastatin

• Zypitamag 2mg offers similar LDL-lowering benefits to Atorvastatin 10mg.
• Zypitamag 4mg is comparable to Atorvastatin 20mg in terms of reducing LDL cholesterol.

If you're not meeting your LDL-C goals with a statin alone, instead of simply increasing the dose, you might benefit from combination therapy. Adding a medication like ezetimibe, which blocks cholesterol absorption in the intestine, can provide significant additional LDL reduction without increasing statin side effects.

Statins and their Effect on Blood Sugar

Statins, including atorvastatin, can increase blood sugar levels. Data suggests that statins like ZYPITAMAG (pitavastatin), may have less of an effect on this compared to atorvastatin. Click to read more about the link between statins and blood sugar.

If You're Taking Multiple Medications

70-80% of medications, including atorvastatin, are metabolized by the same enzyme family called the cytochrome 450 (CYP450) family of enzymes.

Newer statins, like ZYPITAMAG, bypass these enzyme pathways and have reduced potential for drug-drug and drug-food interactions.

Side Effects and Tolerability

In general, higher doses of statins are associated with a greater likelihood of side effects. If you experience side effects while taking a statin, it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider. They may recommend lowering your dose or switching to a different statin to see how your body responds.

Muscle Pain: The #1 Reason People Stop Taking Statins

Muscle pain is the most commonly reported reason for discontinuing statin use.

However, there is hope, as a recent study found that the majority of those who experienced statin side effects, with proper consultation from their healthcare provider, can switch doses or statins to find a statin that works for them.

This finding underscores the importance of discussing any discomfort with your doctor to determine the true cause and explore alternative options.

If you’re facing these challenges, switching to a moderate intensity statin like ZYPITAMAG (pitavastatin) may be a good option.

Stock photos are used to represent actual testimonials of Marley Drug customers.