Hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA) inhibitors have been considered safe and effective for twenty years, yet doctors often over hype the benefits and downplay the side effects.

There are six statin drugs available on the market today - pitavastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin and fluvastatin. These drugs work by lowering low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels by approximately 20-50%. They also lower triglyceride levels by 10-20% and cause a possible rise in serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels by 5-10%. Studies show that statins lower the risk of cardiovascular events and reduce all-cause mortality by 10% for every 1.0 mmol/L reduction in LDL-C levels.

However, there are several known risks with these drugs, and long-term use poses other life-threatening risks that may negate their over-hyped clinical benefits. Among the many risks include myalgia and rhabdomyolysis, new onset Type-2 diabetes, and acute kidney injury leading to hospitalization.