Statins are commonly used for lipid regulation and are also important in the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease. Today, we will talk to you about statins. Types of drugs Currently, statins approved for clinical use include atorvastatin, resulvastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin and so on. These drugs have different lipid-regulating effects and different drug metabolic pathways and interactions with other drugs. Your specialist will choose the appropriate statin treatment for your condition. Statins work mainly by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis, which is most active at night, so they are usually most effective when taken at night before bedtime. Adverse effects (1) Abnormal liver function is the most common adverse effect of statins. The incidence of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation >3 times the upper limit of normal is 0.5% to 2.0%, which occurs mostly within 3 months after starting the drug. (2) Statin-induced muscle damage can be manifested as follows: ① myalgia or weakness without creatine kinase increase; ② myalgia or weakness with creatine kinase increase; ③ rhabdomyolysis with muscle symptoms such as myalgia or weakness with significant creatine kinase increase (10 times the upper limit of normal). The incidence of muscle symptoms is 1.5% to 3.0%, and the risk of rhabdomyolysis is 0.04% to 0.20%. In addition, there is evidence that statins can increase the risk of new-onset diabetes, but that risk is much lower than their cardiovascular benefit. Most of the adverse effects of statins are dose-related. Overall, the safety profile of regular doses of statins is good. When to stop medication For patients with cardiovascular disease or at high risk, even after lipid compliance, long-term maintenance medication is required for long-term treatment and long-term benefit, as long as no intolerable or serious adverse reactions occur.